INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS INC
S-3, 1997-07-15
COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
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<PAGE>   1
 
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 15, 1997
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
                    DELAWARE                                       94-3136539
        (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                         (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
         INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                       IDENTIFICATION NO.)
</TABLE>
 
                               3174 PORTER DRIVE
                          PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
                                 (415) 855-0555
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                                ROY A. WHITFIELD
                            CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                               3174 PORTER DRIVE
                          PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
                                 (415) 855-0555
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                            ------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
                STANTON D. WONG                                  DAVID J. SEGRE
                 SALLY BRAMMELL                                 ADAM R. DOLINKO
                BARBARA M. LANGE                                  AMY E. REES
         PILLSBURY MADISON & SUTRO LLP                  WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                 P.O. BOX 7880                              PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
        SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94120                        650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                                                          PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
  As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [ ]
 
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
- ------
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
- ------
 
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>
=====================================================================================================
                                                       PROPOSED         PROPOSED
                                                        MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM
     TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF         AMOUNT TO BE    OFFERING PRICE      AGGREGATE       AMOUNT OF
   SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED     REGISTERED(1)     PER SHARE(2)   OFFERING PRICE(2) REGISTRATION FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.001 par value....  1,150,000 shares      $62.25        $71,587,500       $21,694
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) Includes 150,000 shares that the Underwriters have the option to purchase to
    cover over-allotments, if any.
 
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
    pursuant to Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the high and low prices of
    the Company's Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on July 8, 1997.
 
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 15, 1997
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                                1,000,000 SHARES
 
                                     INCYTE
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
     All of the 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby are being sold
by the Company. The Company's Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market under the symbol INCY. On July 11, 1997, the last reported sale price for
the Common Stock was $68.00 per share. See "Price Range of Common Stock."
                            ------------------------
 
            THE SHARES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
                    SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 6.
                            ------------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE
   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
         PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
             REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===============================================================================================
                                              PRICE TO        UNDERWRITING      PROCEEDS TO
                                               PUBLIC         DISCOUNT(1)        COMPANY(2)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>               <C>               <C>
Per Share...............................         $                 $                 $
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(3)................................         $                 $                 $
===============================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) See "Underwriting" for indemnification arrangements with the several
    Underwriters.
 
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $260,000.
 
(3) The Company has granted to the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up
    to 150,000 additional shares of Common Stock solely to cover
    over-allotments, if any. If all such shares are purchased, the total Price
    to Public, Underwriting Discount and Proceeds to Company will be
    $          , $          and $          , respectively. See "Underwriting."
                            ------------------------
 
     The shares of Common Stock are offered by the several Underwriters subject
to prior sale, receipt and acceptance by them and subject to the right of the
Underwriters to reject any order in whole or in part and certain other
conditions. It is expected that certificates for such shares will be available
for delivery on or about               , 1997, at the office of the agent of
Hambrecht & Quist LLC in New York, New York.
 
HAMBRECHT & QUIST
 
          ALEX. BROWN & SONS
                  INCORPORATED
 
                                           VECTOR SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
               , 1997
<PAGE>   3
 
                                   [GRAPHIC]
 
     Incyte's products include an integrated platform of genomic databases, data
management software tools and related reagents and services. Shown above are
computer screen displays for selected database modules.
                            ------------------------
 
     LifeSeq and LifeSeq FL are registered trademarks of the Company. LifeSeq
Atlas, LifeSeq GeneAlbum, PathoSeq, ZooSeq, PhytoSeq, LifeTools and LifeTools 3D
are trademarks of the Company. Trademarks of other corporations and
organizations are also referred to in this Prospectus.
                            ------------------------
 
     CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK,
INCLUDING BY ENTERING STABILIZING BIDS OR EFFECTING SYNDICATE COVERING
TRANSACTIONS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AND SELLING GROUP
MEMBERS (IF ANY) OR THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES MAY ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET
MAKING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK ON THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET IN ACCORDANCE
WITH RULE 103 OF REGULATION M. SEE "UNDERWRITING."
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
     The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information and the financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Incyte" or the "Company") is a leader in the
design, development and marketing of genomic database products, genomic data
management software tools and related reagents and services. The Company's
genomic databases integrate bioinformatics software with proprietary and, when
appropriate, publicly available genetic information to create information-based
tools used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in drug discovery and
development. In building the databases, the Company utilizes high-throughput,
computer-aided gene sequencing and analysis technologies to identify and
characterize the expressed genes of the human genome, as well as certain animal,
plant and microbial genomes. Incyte currently provides access to its genomic
databases through collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
worldwide. As of June 30, 1997, fifteen pharmaceutical or biotechnology
companies and one agricultural company had entered into multi-year database
collaboration agreements to obtain access to the Company's databases on a
non-exclusive basis. Current database collaborators are:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>                            <C>
Abbott Laboratories                Glaxo Wellcome plc             Novo Nordisk A/S
ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.        Hoechst AG                     Pfizer Inc
BASF AG                            F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.      Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company       Johnson & Johnson              Schering AG
Eli Lilly and Company              Monsanto Company               Zeneca Ltd.
Genentech, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
Revenues from these collaborators generally include database access fees and, in
some cases, additional fees for custom sequencing services, referred to as
"satellite" database services. The Company's database agreements also provide
for milestone payments and royalties to be received from database collaborators
from the sale of products derived from proprietary information contained within
one or more database modules. In addition, the Company has entered into an
agreement with Novartis AG to furnish a customized enterprise-wide
bioinformatics data management system based upon the Company's LifeTools suite
of genomic software products.
 
     The Company's genomic databases are designed to meet the need of the
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to utilize genomic information for
the acceleration of the discovery and development of new diagnostic and
therapeutic products. The construction of these databases has been made possible
by technological advances enabling the production of large quantities of genetic
information and by the development of sophisticated data management software
tools. By searching the genomic databases, collaborators can integrate and
analyze genetic information from multiple sources in order to discover genes
that may represent the basis for new biological targets, therapeutic proteins,
or gene therapy, antisense or diagnostic products.
 
     Since early 1996, the Company has expanded its portfolio of database
modules from the LifeSeq gene sequence and expression database to also include
the LifeSeq FL database of full-length genes, the LifeSeq Atlas mapping
database, the PathoSeq microbial genomic database, the LifeTools suite of
bioinformatics software programs, the LifeTools 3D data mining and visualization
software, the LifeSeq GeneAlbum archive of DNA clones, and a variety of custom
database and sequencing services. The introduction of the ZooSeq animal genomic
database in 1997 marked the Company's first initiative to expand beyond
databases with applications in drug discovery to those with applications in
preclinical and clinical development. Each database module consists of a
relational database that runs on UNIX-based client/server networks and
incorporates HTML graphical user interfaces enabling collaborators to use
multiple search tools and browse various database modules. The databases are
available using either Oracle or Sybase database architectures and operate on
Sun Microsystems, Digital Equipment Corporation and Silicon Graphics
workstations.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
     To date, the Company has focused predominantly on gene discovery, or the
identification of new genes through the sequencing of partial gene fragments.
Incyte has recently begun an initiative to obtain the full-length sequence of
every human gene, or "gene closure." This multi-year effort could clarify
information obtained with gene fragments as well as make available a set of DNA
clones representing every gene. The Company believes that this effort will
accelerate the ability of its collaborators to translate the information in the
databases into products.
 
     The Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1991. Unless the context
requires otherwise, the terms "Incyte" and the "Company" mean Incyte
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company's executive
offices are located at 3174 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, California 94304 and its
telephone number is (415) 855-0555.
                            ------------------------
 
     When used in this Prospectus, the words "expects," "anticipates,"
"estimates," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Such statements, which include statements under the captions "Risk
Factors," "Use of Proceeds," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations," and "Business" and elsewhere in this
Prospectus as to the timing of availability of products under development, the
ability to commercialize products developed under collaborations and alliances,
the performance and utility of the Company's products and services, and the
adequacy of capital resources, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those risks discussed below as
well as the extent of utilization of genomic information by the pharmaceutical
and biotechnology industries in both research and development, risks relating to
the development of new database products and their use by potential
collaborators of the Company, the impact of technological advances and
competition, and the risks set forth below under "Risk Factors." The cautionary
statements made in this Prospectus should be read as being applicable to all
related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this Prospectus.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                <C>
Common Stock offered.............................  1,000,000 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after the           11,570,583 shares(1)
  offering.......................................
Use of proceeds..................................  For capital expenditures, including data
                                                   processing-related computer hardware,
                                                   purchase of laboratory equipment,
                                                   scientific instrumentation and expansion
                                                   of facilities, strategic equity
                                                   investments in joint ventures or
                                                   businesses, acquisitions of businesses,
                                                   technologies or products and working
                                                   capital and other general corporate
                                                   purposes. See "Use of Proceeds."
Nasdaq National Market symbol....................  INCY
</TABLE>
 
                            RECENT FINANCIAL RESULTS
 
     The Company's revenues, net income and earnings per share for the three
months ended June 30, 1997 were $21.2 million, $1.9 million and $0.17,
respectively, as compared to revenues of $8.4 million, net loss of $1.6 million
and a net loss per share of $0.16, for the three months ended June 30, 1996. For
the six months ended June 30, 1997, the Company's revenues, net income and
earnings per share were $39.1 million, $2.9 million and $0.26, respectively, as
compared to revenues of $14.7 million, a net loss of $3.6 million and a net loss
per share of $0.36, for the six months ended June 30, 1996. The increase in
revenues and net income resulted primarily from an increase in the number of
database collaboration agreements, partially offset by continuing increases in
costs and expenses.
 
                        SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION(2)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             THREE MONTHS
                                                                                                 ENDED
                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,            MARCH 31,
                                                          ----------------------------     -----------------
                                                            1994      1995      1996        1996      1997
                                                          --------   -------   -------     -------   -------
<S>                                                       <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Revenues..............................................  $  1,512   $12,212   $41,785     $ 6,274   $17,859
  Total costs and expenses..............................    13,497    23,139    50,821       8,990    17,304
  Net income (loss).....................................  $(11,475)  $(9,937)  $(6,761)    $(2,038)  $   981
  Net income (loss) per share...........................  $  (1.63)  $ (1.19)  $ (0.67)    $ (0.20)  $  0.09
  Shares used in computation of net income (loss) per
    share...............................................     7,030     8,367    10,156      10,034    11,453
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     MARCH 31, 1997
                                                                                -------------------------
                                                                                 ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED(3)
                                                                                --------   --------------
<S>                                                                             <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities............................  $ 38,547      $102,547
  Working capital.............................................................    16,951        80,951
  Total assets................................................................    79,609       143,609
  Accumulated deficit.........................................................   (35,541)      (35,541)
  Stockholders' equity........................................................    46,258       110,258
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Based upon the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of June 30,
    1997. Does not include (i) 1,583,753 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
    exercise of stock options outstanding as of June 30, 1997 at a weighted
    average exercise price of $25.92 per share, (ii) 614,250 additional shares
    reserved for issuance and available for grant or sale under the Company's
    stock option plans as of June 30, 1997, and (iii) 200,000 shares reserved
    for issuance and available for sale under the Company's employee stock
    purchase plan as of June 30, 1997. See "Capitalization."
 
(2) Restated to reflect the combined results and financial position of Incyte
    and Genome Systems, Inc. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
    Statements.
 
(3) Adjusted to give effect to the receipt of the estimated net proceeds from
    the sale of the 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered by the Company
    hereby at an assumed public offering price of $68.00 per share. See "Use of
    Proceeds" and "Capitalization."
                            ------------------------
 
     Except as otherwise noted, all information in this Prospectus assumes no
exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     The following risk factors should be considered carefully in addition to
the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus
before purchasing the Common Stock offered hereby.
 
     Limited Operating History; History of Operating Losses; Uncertainty of
Continued Profitability or Revenues. The Company has had a limited operating
history and is at an early stage of development. For the years ended December
31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company had net losses of $6.8 million, $9.9
million and $11.5 million, respectively, and as of March 31, 1997, the Company
had an accumulated deficit of $35.5 million. The Company's increase in
throughput of its gene sequencing and database efforts, together with the
development of new products and expansion of its marketing, sales and customer
service staff, will require a continued increase in expenditures in 1997 and
beyond. While the Company has reported profits since the fourth quarter of 1996,
there can be no assurance that the Company can maintain profitability. The
Company's ability to achieve and maintain significant revenues will be dependent
upon its ability to obtain additional database collaborators and retain existing
collaborators. The Company's ability to maintain profitability will be dependent
upon its ability to obtain such database collaborators, the level of
expenditures necessary for the Company to maintain and support its services to
its collaborators, and the extent to which it incurs research and development,
investment, acquisition-related or other expenses related to the development and
provision of its products and services to database collaborators. While the
Company currently has sixteen database collaborations, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to obtain any additional agreements for such
products and services. Further, the Company's database collaboration agreements
typically have a term of three years, which may be terminated earlier by a
collaborator if the Company breaches the database collaboration agreement, which
may include certain performance obligations, and fails to cure such breach
within a specified period. One of the Company's database collaboration
agreements expires at the end of 1997 and there can be no assurance that the
agreement will be renewed, and, if renewed, under what terms. Further, beginning
in August 1997, one database collaborator has the right on 30 days' written
notice to terminate its database collaboration agreement. There can be no
assurance that any of the Company's database collaboration agreements will be
renewed upon expiration or not terminated earlier in accordance with its terms.
The loss of revenues from any database collaborator could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
 
     An element of the Company's commercialization strategy is the licensing to
database collaborators of the Company's patent rights to individual partial
genes or full-length cDNA sequences from the Company's proprietary sequence
database for development as potential pharmaceutical, diagnostic or other
products. Any potential product that is the subject of such a license would
require several years of further development, clinical testing and regulatory
approval prior to commercialization. Accordingly, the Company does not expect to
receive any milestone or royalty payments from any such licenses for a
substantial period of time, if at all. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
     Fluctuations in Operating Results. The Company's operating results may
fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter as a result of a variety of
factors, including changes in the demand for the Company's products and
services, the pricing of database access to database collaborators, the nature,
pricing and timing of other products and services provided to the Company's
collaborators, changes in the research and development budgets of the Company's
collaborators and potential collaborators, capital expenditures, acquisition and
licensing costs and other costs related to the expansion of Incyte's operations,
and the introduction of competitive databases or services. In particular, the
Company has a limited ability to control the timing of database installations,
there is a lengthy sales cycle required for the Company's database products, the
Company's revenue levels are difficult to forecast, the time required to
complete custom orders can vary significantly and the Company's increasing
levels of investment in external alliances could result in significant quarterly
fluctuations in expenses due to the payment of milestones, license fees or
research payments. The Company's investments in joint
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
ventures and businesses may require the Company to record losses or expenses
related to its proportionate ownership interest in such entities, the
acquisition of in-process technologies, or the impairment in the value of the
securities underlying such investments. In addition, the need for continued
investment in development of the Company's databases and related products and
services and for extensive ongoing collaborator support capabilities results in
significant fixed expenses. If revenue in a particular period does not meet
expectations, the Company may not be able to adjust significantly its level of
expenditures in such period, which would have an adverse effect on the Company's
operating results. The Company believes that quarterly comparisons of its
financial results will not necessarily be meaningful and should not be relied
upon as an indication of future performance. Due to the foregoing and other
unforeseen factors, it is likely that in some future quarter or quarters the
Company's operating results may be below the expectations of public market
analysts and investors. In such event, the price of the Company's Common Stock
would likely be materially and adversely affected. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
     Competition and Technological Changes. There are a finite number of genes
in the human genome, and competitors may seek to identify, sequence and
determine in the shortest time possible the biological function of a large
number of genes in order to obtain a proprietary position with respect to the
largest number of new genes discovered. There are a number of companies, other
institutions, and government-financed entities, including Human Genome Sciences,
Inc. ("HGS"), the National Institutes of Health ("NIH"), the Department of
Energy, Merck & Co., Inc. ("Merck") (in conjunction with Washington University)
and The Institute for Genomic Research ("TIGR"), engaged in gene sequencing.
Many of these companies, institutions and entities have greater financial and
human resources than the Company. In addition, the Company is aware that HGS and
at least one other company have developed genomic databases and are marketing
their data to pharmaceutical companies. Merck and TIGR have each made the
results of their sequencing efforts publicly available. The Company expects that
additional competitors may attempt to establish gene sequence, gene expression
or other genomic databases in the future.
 
     In addition, competitors may discover and establish patent positions with
respect to gene sequences in Company's databases. Such patent positions or the
public availability of gene sequences comprising substantial portions of the
human genome or on microbial or plant genes could decrease the potential value
of the Company's databases to the Company's collaborators and adversely affect
the Company's ability to realize royalties or other revenue from
commercialization of products based upon such genetic information.
 
     The gene sequencing machines that are utilized in the Company's
high-throughput computer-aided gene sequencing operations are commercially
available and are currently being utilized by several competitors. Moreover,
some of the Company's competitors or potential competitors are in the process of
developing, and may successfully develop, proprietary sequencing technologies
that may be more advanced than the technology used by the Company. Specifically,
the Company is aware that there are a number of companies pursuing alternative
methods for generating gene expression information, including those developing
microarray technologies. There can be no assurance that such advanced sequencing
or gene expression technologies, if developed, will be commercially available
for purchase or license by the Company on reasonable terms, or at all.
 
     A number of companies have announced their intent to develop and market
software to assist pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers in the
management and analysis of their own genomic data, as well as the analysis of
sequence data available in the public domain. Some of these entities have access
to significantly greater resources than the Company and there can be no
assurance that these products would not achieve greater market acceptance than
the products offered by the Company.
 
     The Company's databases also require extensive software support and
incorporate features determined by database collaborators' needs. To the extent
the Company experiences delays or difficulties in implementing its database
software or collaborator-requested features, its ability to
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
service its collaborators may be adversely affected, which might have an adverse
effect on the Company's business and operating results.
 
     The genomics industry is characterized by extensive research efforts and
rapid technological progress. To remain competitive, the Company will be
required to continue to expand its databases and to enhance the functionality of
its bioinformatics and database software. New developments are expected to
continue and there can be no assurance that discoveries by others will not
render the Company's services and potential products noncompetitive. See
"Business -- Competition."
 
     New and Uncertain Business. The Company's genomic database business and the
use of its databases, software tools and related services to assist its
collaborators and potentially improve the efficiency of the traditional drug
discovery process represent a business for which there is no precedent. There
can be no assurance that the Company's database collaborators or potential
collaborators will determine the Company's databases, software tools and related
services to be useful and cost-effective. The Company's strategy of using
high-throughput sequencing to identify genes rapidly and obtain proprietary
rights in as many genes as possible is unproven. In addition, the Company has
limited experience in providing software-based relational database products or
services. The Company's ability to sustain profitability depends on attracting
additional collaborators and retaining existing collaborators for its database
and sequencing products and services. The nature and price of the Company's
database and sequencing products and services are such that there is a limited
number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are potential
collaborators for such products and services. Additional factors that may affect
demand for the Company's products and services include the extent to which
potential collaborators choose to conduct in-house gene sequencing and
bioinformatics analysis, the emergence of competitors offering similar services
at competitive prices, the ability of the Company to service satisfactorily its
existing collaborators, the extent to which the gene and related information in
the Company's database is made public by, or is the subject of, patents issued
to others, and the emergence of technological innovations in gene sequencing,
gene expression profiling or bioinformatics and relational database software
that are more advanced than the technology used by and available to the Company.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to attract additional
collaborators on acceptable terms for its products and services or develop a
sustainable profitable business.
 
     Risks Associated with Strategic Investments. The Company intends to use a
portion of the net proceeds from this offering to fund strategic equity
investments in joint ventures or businesses that complement the business of the
Company. These investments may require the Company to record losses and expenses
related to its proportionate ownership interest in such entities, the
acquisition of in-process technologies, or the impairment in the value of the
securities underlying such investments. Such losses may exceed amounts
anticipated, which could result in the Company's operating results being below
the expectations of public market analysts and investors. In addition, the
Company could be required to invest greater amounts than initially anticipated
or to devote substantial management time to the management of research and
development relationships and joint ventures. The occurrence of any of the
foregoing could result in a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
     Risks Associated with Acquisitions. As part of its business strategy, the
Company may from time to time acquire assets and businesses principally relating
to or complementary to its operations, including for the purpose of acquiring
specific technology. The Company acquired Genome Systems, Inc. ("Genome
Systems") and Combion, Inc. ("Combion") in July 1996 and August 1996,
respectively. Genome Systems, located in St. Louis, Missouri and Combion,
located in Pasadena, California, are geographically disparate from the Company's
Palo Alto, California headquarters, which may make the integration and
management of their operations more difficult. These and any other acquisitions
by the Company will be accompanied by the risks commonly encountered in
acquisitions of companies. Such risks include, among other things, potential
exposure to unknown liabilities of acquired companies or to acquisition costs
and expenses exceeding amounts anticipated for such purposes, fluctuations in
the
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
Company's quarterly and annual operating results due to the costs and expenses
of acquiring and integrating new businesses or technologies, the difficulty and
expense of assimilating the operations and personnel of the acquired businesses,
the potential disruption of the Company's ongoing business and diversion of
management time and attention, the inability to successfully integrate or to
complete the development and application of acquired technology and the
potential failure to achieve anticipated financial, operating and strategic
benefits from such acquisitions, difficulties in establishing and maintaining
uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies, the impairment of
relationships with and possible loss of key employees and customers of acquired
businesses as a result of changes in management and ownership, the incurrence of
amortization expenses if an acquisition is accounted for as a purchase, and
dilution to the stockholders of the Company if the consideration for the
acquisition consists of equity securities. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems
encountered in connection with such acquisitions. If the Company is unsuccessful
in doing so, its business, financial condition and results of operations could
be materially and adversely affected.
 
     Lengthy Sales Cycle. The ability of the Company to obtain new collaborators
for its databases, software tools and related services depends in significant
part upon prospective collaborators' perceptions that the Company's databases,
software tools, and related services can help accelerate drug discovery efforts.
The sales cycle is typically lengthy due to the education effort that is
required, as well as the need to effectively sell the benefits of the Company's
databases, software tools, and related services to a variety of constituencies
within potential collaborator companies, including research and development
personnel and top management. In addition, each database collaboration involves
the negotiation of agreements containing terms that may be unique to each
partner, such as the scope of any licenses granted and whether satellite
database services or access to multiple database modules is desired. The Company
may expend substantial funds and management effort with no assurance that a
database collaboration will result.
 
     Uncertainty of Protection of Patents and Proprietary Rights. The Company's
database business and competitive position are dependent in part upon its
ability to protect its proprietary database information and software technology.
Despite the Company's efforts to protect its proprietary database information
and software technology, unauthorized parties may attempt to obtain and use
information that the Company regards as proprietary. Although the Company's
database collaboration agreements require its collaborators to provide adequate
security for the Company's databases and access thereto, policing unauthorized
use of the Company's databases and software by the Company or its collaborators
is difficult. The Company relies on patent, trade secret, and copyright law, and
nondisclosure and other contractual arrangements to protect its proprietary
information.
 
     To date, the Company has been issued a number of patents with respect to
the gene sequences in the Company's databases and has not been issued patents or
registered copyrights for its related software. Patents cannot prevent others
from developing, selling or licensing databases which include sequences which
might be covered by the Company's patents and copyrights. The Company cannot
prevent others from independently developing software which might be covered by
any copyrights issued to the Company and trade secret laws do not prevent
independent development. Thus, there can be no assurance that others will not
independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and
techniques or otherwise gain access to the Company's proprietary information,
that such information will not be disclosed or that the Company can effectively
protect its rights to unpatented trade secrets.
 
     The Company pursues a policy of having its employees, consultants and
advisors execute proprietary information and invention agreements upon
commencement of employment or consulting relationships with the Company, which
agreements provide that all confidential information developed or made known to
the individual during the course of the relationship shall be kept confidential
except in specified circumstances. There can be no assurance, however, that
these agreements will provide meaningful protection for the Company's trade
secrets or other proprietary information in the event of unauthorized use or
disclosure of such information.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
     The Company's current policy is to file patent applications on what it
believes to be novel full-length cDNA sequences and partial sequences obtained
through the Company's high-throughput computer-aided gene sequencing efforts.
The Company has filed U.S. patent applications in which the Company has claimed
certain partial gene sequences and has filed U.S. and European patent
applications claiming full-length gene sequences associated with cells and
tissues that are the subject of the Company's high-throughput gene sequencing
program. To date the Company holds a number of issued U.S. patents on
full-length genes, but no patent has issued under any of the Company's patent
applications claiming partial gene sequences. The Company is aware that Merck
(in conjunction with Washington University) and TIGR have made certain gene
sequences publicly available, which may adversely affect the ability of the
Company and others to obtain patents on such genes. There can be no assurance
that such publication of sequence information will not adversely affect the
Company's ability to obtain patent protection for certain sequences that have
been made publicly available.
 
     The Company is aware that certain of its patent applications cover genes
which are also contained in patent applications filed by others with potentially
competing patent claims. Some of these potential conflicts may be decided in
interference proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
("USPTO"). Given the large number of applications filed by the Company, a large
number of interference proceedings could be expensive and time consuming. In
addition, it is impossible to predict how many, if any, of these competing
patent claims will be resolved in the Company's favor.
 
     The patentability of partial gene sequences in general is uncertain,
involves complex legal and factual questions, and has recently been the subject
of much controversy. As a result, there can be no assurance that patent
applications filed by the Company on such partial gene sequences will result in
patents being issued, or that any issued patents will provide protection against
competitors. Even if patents are issued for partial gene sequences, there may be
uncertainty as to the scope of the coverage, enforceability or commercial
protection provided by any such patents. Certain court decisions suggest that
disclosure of a partial sequence may not be sufficient to support the
patentability of a full-length sequence and that patent claims to a partial
sequence may not cover a full-length sequence inclusive of that partial
sequence.
 
     There has been substantial backlog of biotechnology patent applications
and, in particular, applications which claim gene sequences at the USPTO. In
1996, the USPTO issued guidelines limiting the number of gene sequences that can
be contained within a single patent application. Many of the Company's patent
applications containing multiple partial sequences contain more sequences than
the maximum number allowed under the new guidelines. The Company is reviewing
its options and it is possible that due to the resources needed to comply with
the guidelines, the Company may decide to abandon seeking patent protection for
some of its partial gene sequences.
 
     In view of the delay in obtaining allowance of patent applications, and the
secrecy of patent applications, the Company does not know if other applications
that would have priority over the Company's applications have been filed.
Furthermore, changes in U.S. patent laws resulting from the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade ("GATT") became effective in June 1995. Most notably, GATT
resulted in U.S. law being amended to change the term of patent protection from
seventeen years from patent issuance to twenty years from the earliest effective
filing date of the application. Because the average time from filing to issuance
of biotechnology applications is at least one year and may be more than three
years depending on the subject matter, a twenty-year patent term from the date
of filing may result in a substantially shortened term of patent protection,
which may adversely affect the Company's period of exclusivity under any patents
that may issue to the Company. Pending applications claiming large numbers of
gene sequences may, in some situations, need to be refiled while claiming
priority to the earliest filing date and, in such situations, the patent term
will be measured from the date of the earliest priority application, thereby
reducing the patent term and having a potentially adverse effect on the
Company's period of exclusivity.
 
     Biotechnology patent law outside the United States is even more uncertain
and is currently undergoing review and revision in many countries. Further, the
laws of certain foreign countries may
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
not protect the Company's intellectual property rights to the same extent as do
the laws of the United States. The Company may participate in opposition
proceedings to determine the validity of its or its competitors non-U.S.
patents, which could result in substantial costs to and diversion of effort by
the Company.
 
     As the biotechnology industry expands, more patents are issued and other
companies engage in the business of discovering genes through the use of high
speed sequencers and in other genomic-related businesses, the risk increases
that the Company's potential products may be subject to claims that they
infringe the patents of others. Further, the Company is aware of several issued
patents in the field of microarray or gridding technology, which can be utilized
in the generation of gene expression information. Certain of these patents are
the subject of litigation. Therefore, the Company's operations may require it to
obtain licenses under any such patents or proprietary rights, and no assurance
can be given that such licenses would be made available on terms acceptable to
the Company. Litigation may be necessary to defend against or assert claims of
infringement, to enforce patents issued to the Company, to protect trade secrets
or know-how owned by the Company, or to determine the scope and validity of the
proprietary rights of others. The Company is aware that certain of its patent
applications cover genes which are also contained in patent applications filed
by others with potentially competing patent claims. Interference proceedings may
be necessary to establish which party was the first to invent or the first to
obtain a particular gene sequence for the purpose of patent protection. Such
litigation or proceedings could result in substantial costs to and diversion of
effort by the Company and may have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, there can
be no assurance that these efforts by the Company will be successful.
 
     As is typical in the genomics and software industries the Company has from
time to time received notices from third parties alleging infringement claims.
The Company believes that it is not infringing the patent rights of any such
third party, and in circumstances in which the Company has determined a response
to such a claim to be appropriate, the Company has so notified the claimant. To
date, no third party has taken any action with respect to an alleged claim
against the Company. There can be no assurance that action will not be taken
against the Company in the future, either with respect to previously asserted or
new claims or that if any action is taken, what the outcome of such action will
be. See "Business -- Patents and Proprietary Technology."
 
     Future Capital Needs; Uncertainty of Additional Funding. The Company
believes that the net proceeds from this offering, together with its existing
cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, should be adequate to satisfy
the Company's projected working capital, capital expenditure and other cash
requirements at least through 1998. However, the Company can offer no assurance
that the Company will be able to obtain additional database collaborators or
retain existing collaborators for the Company's databases or that such database
products and services will produce revenues, which together with the Company's
cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, will be adequate to fund the
Company's cash requirements. The Company's cash requirements depend on numerous
factors, including the ability of the Company to attract collaborators to its
databases and genomic products and services; the Company's research and
development activities, including expenditures in connection with alliances,
license agreements and acquisitions of and investments in complementary
technologies and businesses; competing technological and market developments;
the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending, and enforcing patent claims and
other intellectual property rights; the purchase of additional capital
equipment, including capital equipment necessary to ensure that the Company's
sequencing operation remains competitive; and the costs associated with the
integration of new operations assumed through mergers and acquisitions. In
particular, the Company expects its cash requirements to increase in the
remainder of 1997 and in 1998 as it increases its investment in data
processing-related computer hardware in order to support its existing and new
database products; continues to seek access to technologies through investments,
alliances, license agreements, and/or acquisitions; and addresses its needs for
larger facilities and/or improvements in existing facilities. There can be no
assurance that changes in the Company's research and development plans or other
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
changes affecting the Company's operating expenses will not result in changes in
the timing and amount of expenditures of the Company's capital resources. To the
extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or
convertible debt securities, the issuance of such securities could result in
dilution to the Company's existing stockholders. There can be no assurance that
additional funding, if necessary, will be available on favorable terms, if at
all. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to curtail
operations significantly or to obtain funds through entering into collaborative
arrangements that may require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its
technologies, product candidates, products or potential markets. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
 
     Management of Growth. The Company has recently experienced, and expects to
continue to experience significant growth in the number of its employees and the
scope of its operations. This growth has placed, and may continue to place, a
significant strain on the Company's management and operations. The Company's
ability to manage effectively such growth will depend upon its ability to
broaden its management team and its ability to attract, hire and retain skilled
employees. The Company's success will also depend on the ability of its officers
and key employees to continue to implement and improve its operational,
management information and financial control systems and to expand, train and
manage its employee base. In addition, the Company must continue to take steps
to provide customer support resources as the number of overall database
collaborators and the number of requests from collaborators increases. Further,
the Company's database collaborators typically have worldwide operations and may
require support at multiple U.S. and foreign sites. Providing this support will
require the Company to manage international customer support services from its
Palo Alto, California headquarters or to open non-U.S. offices, either of which
could result in additional burdens on the Company's systems and resources. The
Company's inability to manage growth effectively could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
     Dependence on Key Employees. The Company is highly dependent on the
principal members of its scientific and management staff, including Roy A.
Whitfield, its Chief Executive Officer, and Randal W. Scott, its President and
Chief Scientific Officer, the loss of whose services would have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business. The Company has not entered into any
employment agreements with any of such persons and does not maintain any key
person life insurance policy on the life of any employee. The Company's future
success also will depend in part on the continued service of its key scientific,
software, bioinformatics and management personnel and its ability to identify,
hire and retain additional personnel, including personnel in the customer
service and marketing areas. There is intense competition for such qualified
personnel in the areas of the Company's activities, especially with respect to
experienced bioinformatics and software personnel, and there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to continue to attract and retain such personnel
necessary for the development of the Company's business. Failure to attract and
retain key personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. See "Business -- Human
Resources" and "Management."
 
     Dependence on Others. The Company currently uses a single supplier to
provide its gene sequencing machines and a single supplier to provide certain
reagents required in connection with the gene sequencing process. While other
gene sequencing machines are available, the Company does not believe that they
are as efficient as the machines currently used by the Company. In addition,
while the Company is evaluating certain second generation gene sequencing
machines, there can be no assurance that these second generation sequencing
machines will ever become commercially available, available at acceptable costs,
or prove to be more effective than current machines. Should the Company be
unable to obtain additional machines or an adequate supply of reagents or other
materials at commercially reasonable rates, its ability to continue to identify
genes through gene sequencing would be adversely affected. In addition, although
the Company obtains tissue samples from which mRNA may be isolated from a number
of sources, the loss of access to some of these sources, increased fees for
access to these sources or increased restrictions on use of the information
generated could
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
adversely affect the Company's business. See "Business -- Products,"
"-- Database Production" and "-- Development Programs."
 
     The Company's strategy for the development of its database and sequencing
business and the commercialization of its portfolio of partial and full-length
gene sequences may require the Company to enter into various research and
development relationships with corporate and academic collaborators and others.
The success of these relationships is dependent upon the performance of outside
parties of their responsibilities. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to establish collaborative arrangements or license agreements that
the Company deems necessary or acceptable to develop its database and sequencing
business or, in the future, to commercialize its portfolio of partial and
full-length gene sequences or that such collaborative arrangements or license
agreements will be successful. In addition, there can be no assurance that the
collaborators will not be pursuing alternative technologies or developing
alternative products either on their own or in collaboration with others,
including the Company's competitors.
 
     The Company has relied on scientific, technical, pathology, commercial and
other data supplied and disclosed by others, including its academic
collaborators and sources of tissue samples, and may rely on such data in the
construction of its database. There can be no assurance that such data contains
no errors or omissions, the knowledge of which would adversely change the
prospects for the Company's business. See "Business -- Database Production."
 
     Hazardous Materials; Environmental Matters. The Company's research and
development involves the controlled use of hazardous and radioactive materials
and biological waste. The Company is subject to federal, state and local laws
and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal
of such materials and certain waste products. Although the Company believes that
its safety procedures for handling and disposing of such materials comply with
the standards prescribed by such laws and regulations, the risk of accidental
contamination or injury from these materials cannot be completely eliminated. In
the event of such an accident, the Company could be held liable for any damages
that result and any such liability could exceed the resources of the Company.
Although the Company believes that it is in compliance in all material respects
with applicable environmental laws and regulations and currently does not expect
to make material additional capital expenditures for environmental control
facilities in the near-term, there can be no assurance that the Company will not
be required to incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws and
regulations in the future, or that the operations, business or assets of the
Company will not be materially or adversely affected by current or future
environmental laws or regulations. See "Business -- Government Regulation."
 
     Reliance on Pharmaceutical Industry; Uncertainty of Health Care Reform and
Related Matters. The Company expects that all of its revenues in the foreseeable
future will be derived from products and services provided to the pharmaceutical
and biotechnology industries. Accordingly, the Company's success in the
foreseeable future is directly dependent upon the success of the companies
within those industries and their continued demand for the Company's products
and services. The Company's operations may in the future be subject to
substantial period-to-period fluctuations as a consequence of reductions and
delays in research and development expenditures by companies in such industries
resulting from factors such as changes in economic conditions, pricing
pressures, market-driven pressures on companies to consolidate and reduce costs,
and other factors affecting research and development spending. In addition, the
levels of revenues and profitability of pharmaceutical companies may be affected
by the continuing efforts of governmental and third party payors to contain or
reduce the costs of health care through various means. The Company cannot
predict the effect health care reforms may have on its business, and no
assurance can be given that any such reforms will not have a material effect on
the Company. Further, to the extent that such proposals or reforms have a
material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or profitability of
pharmaceutical companies that are prospective collaborators or licensees for the
Company's databases or the Company's potentially novel genes that may lead to
therapeutic or diagnostic products, the Company's ability to commercialize such
products may be adversely affected. There can be no assurance that the
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   15
 
occurrence of any of the foregoing factors will not have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
     Risk of Business Interruption. The Company conducts all of its sequencing
and other activities at its facilities in Palo Alto, California, a seismically
active area. Although the Company maintains business interruption insurance, the
Company does not currently have, nor does it plan to obtain, earthquake
insurance. A major catastrophe (such as an earthquake or other natural disaster)
could result in a prolonged interruption of the Company's business.
 
     Possible Volatility of Stock Price. The market price of the shares of
Common Stock, like that of the common stock of many other life sciences and
technology companies, is likely to be highly volatile, and the market has from
time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are
unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. The Common Stock
may be particularly subject to such fluctuations due to its relatively limited
trading volume. The market price of the Common Stock could be subject to
significant fluctuations in response to variations in the Company's anticipated
or actual operating results, sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock,
announcements concerning the Company or its competitors, including technological
innovations or new commercial products or services, developments in patent or
other proprietary rights of the Company or its competitors, including
litigation, conditions in the life sciences, pharmaceuticals or genomics
industries, governmental regulation, health care legislation, changes in
estimates of the Company's performance by securities analysts, failure to meet
securities analysts' expectations, market conditions for life sciences or
technology stocks in general, and other events or factors.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   16
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 1,000,000 shares of
Common Stock offered by the Company hereby at an assumed public offering price
of $68.00 per share are estimated to be $64,000,000 ($73,639,000 if the
Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full).
 
     Of the net proceeds of this offering, the Company currently anticipates
that approximately $35 million of the net proceeds will be used for capital
expenditures, including data processing-related computer hardware, laboratory
equipment, scientific instrumentation and expansion of the Company's facilities.
In addition, the Company expects to utilize a significant portion of the net
proceeds to make strategic equity investments in joint ventures or businesses,
or for the acquisition of businesses, technologies and products that complement
the Company's business. Although the Company is continually in discussions with
respect to strategic investments and acquisitions, as of the date of this
Prospectus, no commitments have been made and no definitive agreements have been
reached. See "Risk Factors -- Risks Associated with Strategic Investments" and
"-- Risks Associated with Acquisitions." The balance of the net proceeds will be
utilized for working capital and general corporate purposes, including research
and development expenses to expand the Company's high-throughput gene sequencing
program and software development in connection with the Company's databases.
Pending such uses, the Company intends to invest the net proceeds in short-term,
investment grade, interest-bearing obligations.
 
     The cost, timing and amount of funds required for such uses by the Company
cannot be determined precisely at this time and will be based on competitive
developments, the Company's research and development activities, technological
advances, payments under database collaboration agreements with the Company and
the availability of alternate methods of financing. The Board of Directors has
broad discretion in determining how the proceeds of this offering will be
applied. Based upon its current plans, the Company believes the proceeds of this
offering, together with its existing resources and anticipated cash flow from
operations, will be adequate to satisfy its capital needs at least through 1998.
See "Risk Factors -- Future Capital Needs; Uncertainty of Additional Funding"
and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   17
 
                          PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
 
     The Common Stock was traded on the American Stock Exchange from the
Company's initial public offering on November 4, 1993 until January 15, 1996.
Since January 16, 1996, the Common Stock has been traded on the Nasdaq National
Market under the symbol INCY. The following table sets forth for the periods
indicated the high and low sales prices for the Common Stock on the applicable
market.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        1995                                                          HIGH       LOW
                                                                     ------     ------
        <S>                                                          <C>        <C>
          1st Quarter..............................................  $19.50     $12.88
          2nd Quarter..............................................   17.25      14.25
          3rd Quarter..............................................   24.38      16.00
          4th Quarter..............................................   25.13      16.50
 
        1996
          1st Quarter..............................................   39.38      24.63
          2nd Quarter..............................................   39.88      23.13
          3rd Quarter..............................................   49.75      32.50
          4th Quarter..............................................   52.88      35.50
 
        1997
          1st Quarter..............................................   74.50      48.13
          2nd Quarter..............................................   71.75      41.50
          3rd Quarter (through July 11, 1997)......................   70.50      61.25
</TABLE>
 
     On July 11, 1997, the last reported sale price for the Common Stock on the
Nasdaq National Market was $68.00. As of June 30, 1997, there were approximately
170 holders of record of the Common Stock.
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
     The Company has never declared or paid dividends on its capital stock and
does not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company
currently intends to retain its earnings, if any, for the development of its
business.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   18
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company at March
31, 1997 (i) on an actual basis and (ii) as adjusted to give effect to the sale
of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby at an assumed public offering
price of $68.00 per share and the receipt of the estimated net proceeds
therefrom. This table should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated
Financial Statements of the Company and the Notes thereto included elsewhere in
this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             MARCH 31, 1997
                                                                        ------------------------
                                                                         ACTUAL      AS ADJUSTED
                                                                        --------     -----------
                                                                             (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                     <C>          <C>
Noncurrent portion of capital lease obligations and notes payable.....  $     28      $      28
                                                                        --------       --------
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none
     issued and outstanding...........................................        --             --
  Common Stock, $0.001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized(1);
     10,474,715 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 11,474,715
     shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted(2)....................        10             11
  Additional paid-in capital..........................................    81,923        145,922
  Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities.............      (134)          (134)
  Accumulated deficit.................................................   (35,541)       (35,541)
                                                                        --------       --------
     Total stockholders' equity.......................................    46,258        110,258
                                                                        --------       --------
          Total capitalization........................................  $ 46,286      $ 110,286
                                                                        ========       ========
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
 
(1) On July 2, 1997, the Company filed an amendment to its Certificate of
    Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized to
    75,000,000.
 
(2) Excludes (i) 1,583,753 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
    stock options outstanding as of June 30, 1997 at a weighted average exercise
    price of $25.92 per share, which were granted pursuant to the Company's
    stock option plans, (ii) 614,250 additional shares reserved for issuance and
    available for grant or sale under the Company's stock option plans as of
    June 30, 1997, and (iii) 200,000 shares reserved for issuance and available
    for sale under the Company's employee stock purchase plan as of June 30,
    1997.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   19
 
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The statement of operations data for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1996, and the balance sheet data at December 31, 1995 and
1996 are derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the
Company audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, which are included
elsewhere in this Prospectus and are qualified by reference to such Consolidated
Financial Statements and Notes related thereto. The statement of operations data
for the years ended December 31, 1992 and 1993 and the balance sheet data at
December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994 have been derived from audited financial
statements of the Company audited by Ernst & Young LLP that are not included or
incorporated by reference herein. The statement of operations data for the three
months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997 and balance sheet data at March 31, 1997
are derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere
in this Prospectus. The unaudited consolidated financial statements include all
adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which the Company
considers necessary for a fair statement of the information set forth therein.
Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 1997 are not necessarily
indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period. The data
set forth below should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the Consolidated
Financial Statements and related Notes included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            THREE MONTHS
                                                                                                                ENDED
                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                           MARCH 31,
                                           ---------------------------------------------------------     -------------------
                                            1992        1993         1994         1995        1996        1996        1997
                                           -------     -------     --------     --------     -------     -------     -------
                                                               (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                        <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:(1)
Revenues.................................  $ 1,701     $   672     $  1,512     $ 12,212     $41,785     $ 6,274     $17,859
Costs and expenses:
  Research and development...............    3,194       4,764       11,169       19,212      40,864       7,745      14,730
  Selling, general and administrative....      666         737        2,328        3,927       6,792       1,245       2,574
  Charge for purchase of in-process
    research and development.............       --          --           --           --       3,165          --          --
                                           -------     -------     --------     --------     -------     -------     -------
Total costs and expenses.................    3,860       5,501       13,497       23,139      50,821       8,990      17,304
                                           -------     -------     --------     --------     -------     -------     -------
Income (loss) from operations............   (2,159)     (4,829)     (11,985)     (10,927)     (9,036)     (2,716)        555
Interest and other income, net...........       33          60          510          990       2,275         678         478
                                           -------     -------     --------     --------     -------     -------     -------
Income (loss) before income taxes........   (2,126)     (4,769)     (11,475)      (9,937)     (6,761)     (2,038)      1,033
Provision for income taxes...............       --          --           --           --          --          --         (52)
                                           -------     -------     --------     --------     -------     -------     -------
Net income (loss)........................  $(2,126)    $(4,769)    $(11,475)    $ (9,937)    $(6,761)    $(2,038)    $   981
                                           =======     =======     ========     ========     =======     =======     =======
Net income (loss) per share..............  $ (0.98)    $ (2.01)    $  (1.63)    $  (1.19)    $ (0.67)    $ (0.20)    $  0.09
                                           =======     =======     ========     ========     =======     =======     =======
Shares used in computation of net income
  (loss) per share.......................    2,178       2,369        7,030        8,367      10,156      10,034      11,453
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------     MARCH 31,
                                                   1992        1993         1994         1995         1996         1997
                                                  -------     -------     --------     --------     --------     ---------
                                                                               (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                               <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:(1)
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable
  securities....................................  $ 5,480     $15,540     $ 25,257     $ 41,181     $ 38,250     $ 38,547
Working capital.................................    4,903      14,865       20,866       38,983       22,047       16,951
Total assets....................................    6,832      17,807       29,350       58,782       66,876       79,609
Capital lease obligations, less current
  portion.......................................      372         517          148          147           37           28
Accumulated deficit.............................   (3,580)     (8,349)     (19,824)     (29,761)     (36,522)     (35,541) 
Stockholders' equity............................    5,861      16,451       24,344       47,503       45,247       46,258
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Restated to reflect the combined results and financial position of Incyte
    and Genome Systems. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
    Statements.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   20
 
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with
"Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus. When used in
this discussion, the word "expects" and similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, which include statements
as to expected expenditure levels and the adequacy of capital resources, are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to, those risks discussed below as well as the ability of the
Company to obtain and retain database collaborators, competition from other
entities, and the cost of accessing technologies developed by other companies,
and the risks set forth under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
OVERVIEW
 
     The Company designs, develops and markets genomic database products,
genomic data management software and related reagents and services. The
Company's database products and services integrate bioinformatics software with
proprietary and, when appropriate, publicly available genetic information to
create information-based tools marketed to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industries on a non-exclusive basis for use in drug discovery and development.
In building its genomic databases, the Company utilizes high-throughput,
computer-aided gene sequencing and analysis technologies to identify and
characterize the expressed genes of the human genome as well as certain animal,
plant and microbial genomes.
 
     Revenues recognized by the Company are predominantly related to database
collaboration agreements and consist primarily of non-exclusive database access
fees. Revenues also include the sales of genomic screening products and services
and fees for custom or "satellite" database services. The Company's database
collaboration agreements also provide for future milestone payments and
royalties from the sale of products derived from proprietary information
obtained through the databases. There can be no assurance that any database
collaborators will ever generate products from information contained within the
databases and thus that the Company will ever receive milestone payments or
royalties. In addition, there can be no assurance that any of the Company's
database agreements will be renewed upon expiration, typically after a term of
three years, or will not be terminated earlier if the Company breaches the
database agreement. See "Risk Factors -- Limited Operating History; History of
Operating Losses; Uncertainty of Continued Profitability or Revenues."
 
     The Company's operating results may fluctuate significantly from quarter to
quarter as a result of a variety of factors, including changes in the demand for
the Company's products and services, the pricing of database access to database
collaborators, the nature, pricing and timing of other products and services
provided to the Company's collaborators, changes in the research and development
budgets of the Company's collaborators and potential collaborators, capital
expenditures, acquisition and licensing costs and other costs related to the
expansion of Incyte's operations, and the introduction of competitive databases
or services. See "Risk Factors -- Fluctuations in Operating Results."
 
     In July 1996, the Company issued Common Stock in exchange for all of the
outstanding shares of Genome Systems, a genomics service company located in St.
Louis, Missouri. The transaction has been accounted for as a pooling of
interests, and the consolidated financial statements discussed herein and all
historical financial information have been restated to reflect the combined
operations of both companies. In August 1996, the Company acquired for stock
Combion, a microarray technology company located in Pasadena, California. The
acquisition of Combion has been accounted for as a purchase, and the
consolidated financial statements discussed herein include the results of
Combion from the date of acquisition, August 15, 1996, forward. See Note 6 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   21
 
RECENT FINANCIAL RESULTS
 
     The Company's revenues, net income and earnings per share for the three
months ended June 30, 1997 were $21.2 million, $1.9 million and $0.17,
respectively, as compared to revenues of $8.4 million, a net loss of $1.6
million and a net loss per share of $0.16 for the three months ended June 30,
1996. For the six months ended June 30, 1997, the Company's revenues, net income
and earnings per share were $39.1 million, $2.9 million and $0.26, respectively,
as compared to revenues of $14.7 million, a net loss of $3.6 million and a net
loss per share of $0.36 for the six months ended June 30, 1996. The increase in
revenues and net income resulted primarily from an increase in the number of
database collaboration agreements, partially offset by continuing increases in
costs and expenses.
 
COMPARISON OF THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND 1996
 
     Revenues. Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 1997 increased to
$17.9 million, compared to $6.3 million for the corresponding period in 1996.
Revenues resulted primarily from database access fees and, to a much lesser
extent, from genomic screening products and services and custom satellite
database services. The increase in revenues from the corresponding quarter of
1996 was primarily due to an increase in the number of database collaboration
agreements. The Company recognizes revenue from these agreements ratably over
the terms of the agreements commencing upon installation. Revenue is deferred
for fees received before earned. Revenues for reagents and genomic screening
products are recognized when shipped and revenues for genomic screening services
are recognized upon completion.
 
     Costs and Expenses. Total costs and expenses for the three months ended
March 31, 1997 increased to $17.3 million, compared to $9.0 million for the
corresponding period in 1996. Research and development expenses accounted for
84% of the increase and selling, general and administrative expenses represented
16% of the increase from period to period. Total costs and expenses are expected
to increase in the foreseeable future due to continued investment in new product
development and data production, obligations under existing and future research
and development alliances, and increased investment in marketing, sales and
customer services. The magnitude of the Company's operating expenses will
largely be a function of the Company's ability to secure new collaborators for
its database products and services. However, if the Company does not obtain
additional collaborators in a timely manner or if the Company's database
collaborators do not renew their collaboration agreement at the end of their
applicable terms, the Company may not be able to adjust significantly its level
of expenditures in any period, which would have an adverse effect on the
Company's operating results.
 
     Research and development expenses increased to $14.7 million for the three
months ended March 31, 1997, compared to $7.7 million for the corresponding
period in 1996. The increase from 1996 to 1997 was primarily attributable to the
increase in the production of gene sequence and mapping information, increased
bioinformatics and database development efforts, costs related to intellectual
property protection and expenses related to continuing operations at Combion and
expanding operations at Genome Systems. The Company expects research and
development spending to increase over the next few years as the Company
continues to broaden its gene sequence production operations, pursue the
development of new database products and services, invest in new technologies
and invest in the continued protection of its intellectual property.
 
     Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $2.6 million for
the three months ended March 31, 1997, compared to $1.2 million for the
corresponding period in 1996. The increase is due primarily to growth in
marketing, sales and customer services and additional administrative personnel
required to support growth of the Company. The Company expects that selling,
general and administrative expenses will increase throughout 1997 due to
continued growth in marketing, sales and customer support, as well as expanding
operations.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   22
 
     Interest and Other Income, Net. Interest and other income, net decreased to
$0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 1997 compared to $0.7 million
for the same period in 1996. The decrease is due primarily to reduced interest
income from lower average cash and investment balances.
 
     Provision for Income Taxes. The estimated effective annual income tax rate
for the three months ended March 31, 1997 is 5%, which represents the provision
for federal and state alternative minimum taxes after utilization of net
operating loss carryforwards. No provisions have been recorded prior to this
quarter as the Company has historically incurred annual net operating losses.
See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
COMPARISON OF YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
 
     Since inception, the Company has incurred annual operating losses and, as
of December 31, 1996, had an accumulated deficit of $36.5 million. The Company
incurred a net loss for the year ended December 31, 1996 of $6.8 million,
compared to a loss of $9.9 million and $11.5 million for 1995 and 1994,
respectively. On a per share basis, the losses for the years ended December 31,
1996, 1995 and 1994 were $0.67, $1.19 and $1.63, respectively. The sequential
decrease in net loss per share is due in part to the decrease in net loss and in
part due to the increase in the number of shares used to calculate net loss per
share from year to year. In November 1995, the Company completed a follow-on
public offering of 1.8 million shares and in 1996 the Company issued a total of
277,244 shares in connection with its business combinations with Genome Systems
and Combion.
 
     Revenues. Total revenues were $41.8 million in 1996, compared to $12.2
million in 1995 and $1.5 million in 1994. The increases in revenues were
primarily due to an increase in the number of database collaboration agreements.
In accordance with its revenue recognition policy, the Company recognized
revenue from ten of twelve database agreements in 1996, compared to five of six
in 1995.
 
     Costs and Expenses. Total costs and expenses increased to $50.8 million in
1996, compared to $23.1 million in 1995 and $13.5 million in 1994. Total costs
and expenses for 1996 include a one-time charge of $3.2 million for the purchase
of in-process research and development related to the acquisition of Combion.
 
     Research and development expenses increased to $40.9 million in 1996,
compared to $19.2 million in 1995 and $11.2 million in 1994. Increases in
expenses from 1995 to 1996 were primarily due to increases in sequencing
production levels, new product development, and increased investment in new
technologies through alliances. Increases in expenses from 1994 to 1995 were
predominantly associated with expanded sequencing production, software and
database development, sequencing technology assessment, and intellectual
property protection.
 
     Selling, general and administrative expenses were $6.8 million in 1996,
compared to $3.9 million in 1995 and $2.3 million in 1994. The increase from
1995 to 1996 was due primarily to growth in marketing, sales, and customer
services as well as growth in general management and corporate services. The
increase from 1994 to 1995 was due primarily to the recruitment of new database
collaborators, particularly with respect to increased marketing and business
development expenses, and the continued expansion of the Company's sequencing
production and data analysis capabilities.
 
     Interest and Other Income, Net. Interest and other income, net, increased
to $2.3 million in 1996 from $1.0 million in 1995 and $0.5 million in 1994. The
increase from 1995 to 1996 was primarily due to larger average investment
balances resulting from the full-year impact of the Company's follow-on public
stock offering completed in late 1995 and increased payments from database
collaborators. The increase from 1994 to 1995 was primarily due to larger cash
balances held by the Company as a result of the full-year impact of equity
investments by Pfizer Inc and Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc. in July and December
1994.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   23
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
     As of March 31, 1997, the Company had $38.5 million in cash, cash
equivalents and marketable securities, compared to $38.3 million as of December
31, 1996 and $41.2 million as of December 31, 1995. During the three month
period ended March 31, 1997 and the year ended December 31, 1996, cash provided
by operations was largely offset or exceeded by investments in capital
equipment, consisting primarily of data processing-related computer hardware and
laboratory equipment, as well as expenditures for as research and development
relationships and facilities improvements. The Company has classified all of its
marketable securities as short-term, as the Company may not hold its marketable
securities until maturity in order to take advantage of favorable market
conditions. Available cash is invested in accordance with the Company's
investment policy's primary objectives of liquidity, safety of principal and
diversity of investments.
 
     Net cash provided by operating activities was $7.9 million for the three
months ended March 31, 1997, resulting primarily from deferred revenue and
depreciation and amortization, partially offset by accounts receivable due to
the timing of signing of collaboration agreements. Net cash provided by
operating activities was $16.6 million in 1996, compared to net cash used in
operating activities of $8.8 million in 1995 and $6.1 million in 1994. The
increase in net cash provided by operating activities in 1996 compared to 1995
resulted from increases in deferred revenue and accounts payable and decreases
in the net loss and accounts receivable. The increase in cash used in operating
activities in 1995 compared to 1994 was due to an increase in accounts
receivable, offset in part by an increase in deferred revenues. Net cash
generated by operating activities may fluctuate significantly from period to
period due to the timing of large prepayments by database collaborators.
 
     The Company's investing activities, other than purchases, sales and
maturities of short-term investments, totaled $7.6 million for the three months
ended March 31, 1997, $20.8 million in 1996, $8.0 million in 1995 and $3.0
million in 1994. Investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 1997
and the year ended December 31, 1996 consisted of capital expenditures and
strategic equity investments. Investing activities in 1995 and 1994 consisted of
capital expenditures. Capital expenditures in the three months ended March 31,
1997 and in 1996 consisted primarily of investments in data processing-related
computer hardware and laboratory equipment, as well as leasehold improvements
related to the expansion of the Company's facilities. Capital expenditures in
1995 were primarily due to leasehold improvements in the Company's new
facilities and the purchases of new gene sequencing equipment and workstations
required in conjunction with the Company's expanded production and software
capabilities. The Company expects to continue to make capital expenditures and
strategic equity investments, if deemed appropriate in connection with
collaborations to develop or acquire access to technologies. See "Risk
Factors -- Risks Associated with Strategic Investments."
 
     Net cash provided by financing activities was $58,000 for the three months
ended March 31, 1997, $1.5 million in 1996, $32.8 million in 1995 and $18.8
million in 1994. During the three months ended March 31, 1997 and during 1996,
net cash provided by financing activities was due to issuances of Common Stock
upon exercise of stock options and warrants. Net cash provided by financing
activities in 1995 was primarily due to the net proceeds of the November 1995
public offering. Net cash provided by financing activities in 1994 reflected
primarily the $19.4 million in net proceeds from the sales of Common Stock, the
majority of which was received from Pfizer Inc and Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc.,
partially offset by principal payments on capital lease obligations.
 
     The Company expects its cash requirements to increase in the remainder of
1997 and in 1998 as it increases its investment in data-processing-related
computer hardware in order to support its existing and new database products,
continues to seek access to technologies through investments, research and
development relationships, license agreements and/or acquisitions, and addresses
its needs for larger facilities and/or improvements in existing facilities. The
Company expects to continue to fund future operations with revenues from genomic
database products and services in addition to using the net proceeds from this
offering, its current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The
Company expects these resources will satisfy the Company's projected working
capital, capital
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   24
 
expenditure and other cash requirements at least through 1998. However, the
Company can offer no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain
additional collaborators or retain existing collaborators for the Company's
databases or that such database products and services will produce revenues,
which together with the Company's cash, cash equivalents and marketable
securities, will be adequate to fund the Company's cash requirements. The
Company's cash requirements depend on numerous factors, including the ability of
the Company to attract and retain collaborators for its databases and genomic
products and services; the Company's research and development activities,
including expenditures in connection with alliances, license agreements and
acquisitions of and investments in complementary technologies and businesses;
competing technological and market developments; the cost of filing,
prosecuting, defending, and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual
property rights; the purchase of additional capital equipment, including capital
equipment necessary to ensure that the Company's sequencing operation remains
competitive; and the costs associated with the integration of new operations
assumed through mergers and acquisitions. There can be no assurance that
additional funding, if necessary, will be available on favorable terms, if at
all. See "Risk Factors -- Future Capital Needs; Uncertainty of Additional
Funding."
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   25
 
                                    BUSINESS
 
OVERVIEW
 
     Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Incyte" or the "Company") is a leader in the
design, development and marketing of genomic database products, genomic data
management software tools and related reagents and services. The Company's
genomic databases integrate bioinformatics software with proprietary and, when
appropriate, publicly available genetic information to create information-based
tools used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in drug discovery and
development. In building the databases, the Company utilizes high-throughput,
computer-aided gene sequencing and analysis technologies to identify and
characterize the expressed genes of the human genome, as well as certain animal,
plant and microbial genomes. Incyte currently provides access to its genomic
databases through collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
worldwide. As of June 30, 1997, fifteen pharmaceutical or biotechnology
companies and one agricultural company had entered into multi-year database
collaboration agreements to obtain access to the Company's databases on a
non-exclusive basis. Revenues from these collaborators generally include
database access fees and, in some cases, additional fees for custom sequencing
services, referred to as "satellite" database services. The Company's database
agreements also provide for milestone payments and royalties to be received from
database collaborators from the sale of products derived from proprietary
information contained within one or more database modules. In addition, the
Company has entered into an agreement with Novartis AG ("Novartis") to furnish a
customized enterprise-wide bioinformatics data management system based upon the
Company's LifeTools suite of genomic software products.
 
     The Company's genomic databases are designed to meet the need of the
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to utilize genomic information for
the acceleration of the discovery and development of new diagnostic and
therapeutic products. The construction of these databases has been made possible
by technological advances enabling the production of large quantities of genetic
information and by the development of sophisticated data management software
tools. By searching the genomic databases, collaborators can integrate and
analyze genetic information from multiple sources in order to discover genes
that may represent the basis for new biological targets, therapeutic proteins,
or gene therapy, antisense or diagnostic products.
 
     Since early 1996, the Company has expanded its portfolio of database
modules from the LifeSeq gene sequence and expression database to also include
the LifeSeq FL database of full-length genes, the LifeSeq Atlas mapping
database, the PathoSeq microbial genomic database, the LifeTools suite of
bioinformatics software programs, the LifeTools 3D data mining and visualization
software, the LifeSeq GeneAlbum archive of DNA clones, and a variety of custom
database and sequencing services. The introduction of the ZooSeq animal genomic
database in 1997 marked the Company's first initiative to expand beyond
databases with applications in drug discovery to those with applications in
preclinical and clinical development. Each database module consists of a
relational database that runs on UNIX-based client/server networks and
incorporates HyperText Markup Language ("HTML") graphical user interfaces
enabling collaborators to use multiple search tools and browse various database
modules. The databases are available using either Oracle or Sybase database
architectures and operate on Sun Microsystems, Digital Equipment Corporation and
Silicon Graphics workstations.
 
     To date, the Company has focused predominantly on gene discovery, or the
identification of new genes through the sequencing of partial gene fragments.
Incyte has recently begun an initiative to obtain the full-length sequence of
every human gene, or "gene closure." This multi-year effort could clarify
information obtained with gene fragments as well as make available a set of DNA
clones representing every gene. The Company believes that this effort will
accelerate the ability of its collaborators to translate the information in the
databases into products.
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
     Incyte's strategy is to position its databases as an essential technology
platform to assist research and development efforts within the pharmaceutical
and biotechnology industries. By providing non-
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   26
 
exclusive access to the Company's databases, Incyte seeks to gain industry-wide
adoption of its databases for the discovery and development of a broad range of
potential therapeutic and diagnostic products. Incyte's ability to offer the
same dataset to multiple end-users provides significant operating leverage while
allowing the Company to broadly distribute its tools. As a result, Incyte has
been able to expand rapidly the data content of its human genomic databases, as
well as to begin to build additional genomic databases focused on medically
relevant microbes, preclinical animal models and plants. Incyte believes that
its products and services can assist pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
in accelerating the drug discovery and development process, resulting in time
and cost savings. This strategy is being implemented through the following
initiatives:
 
     - Generate Revenues through Database Collaboration Agreements. The Company
       provides database collaborators with non-exclusive access to one or more
       of the Company's databases, as well as additional services such as DNA
       cloning and customized satellite databases. The fees and periods of
       access are negotiated with each collaborator with the initial term
       typically being for a period of three years.
 
     - Generate Royalty Income. The Company's database collaboration agreements
       provide for milestone payments and royalties from the development and
       sale of products derived from proprietary information obtained from
       LifeSeq and other databases. This strategy allows the Company to avoid
       the financial risk associated with drug development, while retaining
       future revenue-earning capability from the portfolio of products
       developed by its database collaborators with information from Incyte's
       databases. The Company believes that as its collaborator base expands,
       the likelihood of collaborators discovering drugs based in part on usage
       of the LifeSeq database and related products may increase.
 
     - Expand Database Product Line. Incyte intends to continue to expand the
       information content of its existing databases, as well as to create new
       databases. New databases are generated primarily in response to the needs
       of the Company's database collaborators, with whom the Company conducts
       quarterly research meetings to exchange ideas on how best to obtain and
       use genomic information. In particular, the Company plans to expand its
       product line to include information from a diversity of organisms.
       Frequently it is easier to assess gene function in lower organisms, such
       as yeast, microbes or animals, than it is in humans. Given the
       significant sequence similarities, or homologies, between genes of
       plants, animals and humans, the functions of human genes may then be
       inferred. Incyte believes that such initiatives in comparative genomics
       will be critical to maximizing the utility of genomic information.
 
     - Provide New Products to Address Preclinical and Clinical Phases of Drug
       Development. The Company is expanding its product portfolio to address
       the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries' needs, not only with
       respect to drug discovery, but also with respect to preclinical and
       clinical development. Incyte believes that future products, developed by
       leveraging the Company's current technologies, will assist its
       collaborators in assessing the pharmacology and toxicology of potential
       new drugs, identifying the genetic factors that determine drug efficacy
       and toxicity, and stratifying drug responders and non-responders based
       upon their genetic profiles.
 
     - Develop Enterprise-Wide Information Management Product. The Company is
       developing an enterprise-wide genomic information management system
       capable of updating, reprocessing and integrating genetic data from
       multiple sources and from different organisms. Such a system will be
       designed to integrate Incyte proprietary, collaborator-specific and
       public domain data, as well as to compare information from humans,
       animals, microbes, fungi and plants. The system will incorporate the
       architecture necessary to integrate Incyte's software tools with
       three-dimensional visualization tools, data mining programs, project
       management capabilities, multicasting technology and any additional
       technologies developed to more efficiently manage and analyze genomic
       data. These tools and technologies are being developed independently by
       Incyte as well as cooperatively with third parties.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   27
 
BACKGROUND
 
     Genes are found in all living cells and are comprised of DNA, which in turn
is comprised of nucleotide base pairs, or bases. Genes provide the necessary
information to code for the synthesis of proteins which conduct all functions
within the cell. Many human diseases are associated with inadequate or
inappropriate presence, production or performance of proteins. As such,
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies often seek to develop drugs that will
bind to a targeted protein involved in disease in order to regulate, inhibit or
stimulate its biological activity. Other proteins, known as therapeutic
proteins, have direct biological activity capable of treating disease. Insulin
and human growth hormone are examples of therapeutic proteins. Understanding the
role genes play in disease, and the protein targets or therapeutic proteins
which they encode, has thus become a significant area of interest and research
within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
 
     One frequently employed method for determining gene function involves the
grouping of genes into "related" families based on similarities in sequence. DNA
sequencing is a process that identifies the order in which the bases in DNA are
arranged in a particular section of DNA, or DNA fragment. Once a gene's sequence
is known, its function may be inferred by comparing its sequence with the
sequences of other human genes of known function, as genes with similar, or
homologous, sequences may have related functions. For example, if an unknown
gene shares sequence homology with a known tumor suppressor gene, the unknown
gene could similarly play a role in cancer. Comparing gene sequences across
species has also become a useful tool for understanding gene function, as
frequently it is easier to assess gene function in lower organisms than it is in
humans.
 
     Another method used to determine gene function focuses on the analysis of
gene activity within a cell. When a gene is active, its DNA is copied into
messenger RNA or "mRNA." The population of mRNA within a cell can be isolated
and converted into copy DNA or "cDNA," thereby creating a cDNA library that
represents the population of mRNAs present in a cell type at a particular time.
In a process called "gene expression profiling," high-throughput cDNA sequencing
and computer analysis can be used to identify which genes are active or inactive
and, if active, at what levels. Expression profiles provide a more detailed
picture of cellular genetics than conventional laboratory techniques by
indicating which genes, both known and novel, are specifically correlated to
discrete biological events in normal and disease-state cells.
 
     Due to improvements in sequencing technology, genomic information from both
public and private sources is increasing at a dramatic rate. As a result,
bioinformatics, or the use of computers and sophisticated algorithms to store,
analyze and interpret large volumes of biological data, is essential in order to
capture value from this growing pool of data. To date, the main focus of
bioinformatic and genomic tools has been drug discovery. The Company believes
these tools, as well as tools under development, will also assist researchers
with the preclinical and clinical development process. For example, with the
help of new technology and bioinformatic analyses, scientists may be able to
correlate genetic and physiologic response in preclinical animal models, examine
gene expression profiles in drug-treated animals to assess the pharmacological
activity and toxicity of new drugs, and stratify clinical trial patients
according to their genetic profiles.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   28
 
PRODUCTS
 
     Incyte's products include an integrated platform of genomic databases, data
management software tools, and related reagents and services.
 
                                    [CHART]
 
     Genomic Databases. The Company provides its database collaborators with
non-exclusive database access. Database collaborators receive periodic data
updates, typically monthly, as well as software upgrades and additional search
and analysis tools when they become available. The fees and the period of access
are negotiated with each database collaborator, with the initial term typically
lasting for a period of three years. Fees generally consist of database access
fees, non-exclusive or exclusive license fees and option fees corresponding to
patent rights on proprietary sequences. Incyte may also receive milestone and
royalty payments from database collaborators from the sale of products derived
from the Company's technology and database information. Additional fees may be
received for custom sequencing and database services and the supply of DNA
clones. Where appropriate, collaborators can browse not only Incyte-generated
data, but also public domain information provided through HTML links to the
World Wide Web. Incyte currently offers the following database modules:
 
     - LifeSeq Database. The LifeSeq gene sequence and expression database
       consists of a proprietary sequence database module linked to a
       proprietary gene expression database module. Researchers can easily move
       from one module to another through HTML-based graphical interfaces. The
       sequence database contains Incyte's computer-edited gene sequence files
       and is used by collaborators to identify related or homologous genes. For
       example, a collaborator may wish to identify new genes homologous to a
       gene identified through the collaborator's own research and believed to
       be linked to a disease. Additionally, a collaborator may wish to discover
       a potentially related family of genes homologous to an interesting gene
       uncovered while searching another Incyte database module. The expression
       database contains biological information about each sequence in the
       Company's sequence database, including tissue source, homologies, and
       annotations regarding characteristics of the gene sequence. Most
       importantly, the expression database contains a gene expression profile
       for every tissue in the database combined with proprietary bioinformatics
       software to allow collaborators to browse data and compare differences in
       gene expression across cells, tissues, and different disease states.
       Thus, the expression database can be used to assist researchers in
       correlating the presence of specific genes to discrete biological events
       in normal and disease-state cells. Incyte continually adds additional
       sequences and expression data from normal and diseased tissues to the
       LifeSeq database.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   29
 
     - LifeSeq FL Database. This database contains the full-length gene
       sequences for DNA fragments of medically interesting genes found in the
       LifeSeq gene sequence and expression database. Incyte scientists and the
       Company's collaborators select genes for inclusion in this database based
       on a number of factors, including their sequence homologies to known
       therapeutically important gene families, unusual tissue or
       disease-related expression patterns and chromosomal location. A variety
       of methods, including a proprietary, high-throughput cloning technology,
       is used to obtain the full-length sequence once a DNA fragment for a
       medically interesting gene is identified.
 
     - LifeSeq Atlas Database. This database contains the chromosomal locations
       for certain of the genes and gene fragments identified in the Company's
       LifeSeq gene sequence and expression database that the Company believes
       may be of utility to its database collaborators. In particular, this
       database may be useful for companies engaged in positional cloning, a
       technique used to identify genes believed to be responsible for genetic
       disorders, which relies heavily on comparative analysis of the
       chromosomes of members of families afflicted by a disease.
 
     - PathoSeq Database. With drug-resistant strains of bacteria and other
       microorganisms posing an increasing threat to world health,
       pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are searching for genes unique
       to these pathogens that will aid in the development of new drugs for
       combating infectious disease. The PathoSeq database currently contains
       proprietary and public domain genomic data for over one dozen medically
       relevant bacterial and fungal microorganisms. PathoSeq's software and
       bioinformatic tools edit all sequence data to remove artifacts and
       contamination, assemble all sequences, display the relative position of
       the DNA coding regions, and identify genes either common among multiple
       microorganisms or unique to one microbial genome. The Company believes
       PathoSeq can help researchers understand the biology of microorganisms,
       study the mechanisms of drug resistance, identify genes that may make
       effective drug targets, and, ultimately, develop new therapeutics to
       treat and prevent infectious disease.
 
     - ZooSeq Database. The ZooSeq database, introduced in June 1997, was
       developed to aid pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in designing
       and evaluating preclinical drug studies in animals, a crucial step in the
       drug development process. ZooSeq will focus on genomic information from
       animals commonly used in preclinical drug pharmacology and toxicology
       studies. The database currently contains gene sequence and expression
       data for the Sprague-Dawley rat, the most common animal used in drug
       toxicology studies. The Company plans to expand this database in 1998 to
       include mice and other research animals. ZooSeq is designed to allow
       scientists to compare gene sequence, expression patterns and function
       across species. By correlating a drug's effects on a rat with the
       animal's genetic makeup, and then cross-referencing this data with
       Incyte's LifeSeq database, a researcher may better predict the drug's
       efficacy, and side effects before moving to human clinical trials.
 
     Other databases in development by the Company include the PhytoSeq
database, a database of plant sequences designed for agricultural and
agrochemical companies interested in identifying genes responsible for desirable
crop and disease resistance characteristics, and the LifeChipTM databases, a
series of disease or application-specific database modules being constructed in
conjunction with Affymetrix, Inc.
 
     Satellite Database Services. To construct satellite databases, Incyte
generates sequence data and gene expression profiles using genetic material from
tissues or cells selected by the database collaborators. Such databases are
provided exclusively for a negotiated time period in a format compatible with
the Company's non-exclusive database modules. These tissues and cells can be
provided by the database collaborators from their own tissue banks or internal
research programs or from other sources.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   30
 
     Software. LifeTools, a suite of specialized bioinformatic software
programs, consists of high-throughput sequence analysis and data management
tools for handling complex genomic information from multiple sources. LifeTools
Blocks reads and edits raw sequence data, including data imported from public
databases, and annotates and clusters sequence fragments based on sequence
similarity. LifeTools SeqServer is a fast, scaleable database search engine with
intranet-based graphical tools for interactive queries and analyses. LifeTools
Relational, a relational database management system, stores and distributes
sequence cluster, homology, tissue expression information and biological data.
LifeTools 3D provides sophisticated three-dimensional visualization and analysis
tools. Incyte's database management architecture is based on open system
standards, providing interconnectivity between disparate systems and
applications, and enterprise-wide access to data and functions.
 
     Incyte intends to continue to aggressively develop new bioinformatic
software programs internally, as well as with third party software developers
and development groups. Some of the bioinformatic software tools under
development include project management tools and multicasting or "push"
software. The Company is working with TIBCO Software, Inc. ("TIBCO") to develop
push software that will allow individual scientists to receive customized
database information broadcast to their desktops over the Internet and private
networks.
 
     The Company also is developing an enterprise-wide genomic information
management system capable of updating, reprocessing and integrating genetic data
from multiple sources and from different organisms. Such a system will be
designed to integrate Incyte proprietary, collaborator-specific and public
domain data, as well as to compare information from humans, animals, microbes,
fungi and plants. The system will incorporate the architecture necessary to
integrate Incyte's software tools with three-dimensional visualization tools,
data mining programs, project management capabilities, multicasting technology
and any additional technologies developed to more efficiently manage and analyze
genomic data. These tools and technologies are being developed independently by
Incyte as well as cooperatively with third parties.
 
     DNA Clone and Other Services. Incyte offers a variety of DNA clone and
other services designed to assist its collaborators in using information from
its databases in internal lab-based experiments. The DNA fragments from which
the information in Incyte's databases is derived represent valuable resources
for researchers, enabling them to perform bench-style experiments to supplement
the information obtained from searching Incyte's databases. Incyte retains a
copy of all isolated clones corresponding to the sequences in the database. The
Company's collaborators may request from the Company clones corresponding to a
sequence of interest on a one-by-one basis or through LifeSeq GeneAlbum, a
subscription-based service that provides database collaborators with large
numbers of DNA clones. Genome Systems produces a broad line of genomic research
products, such as DNA clones and insert libraries, and offers technical support
services, including high-throughput DNA screening, custom robotic services,
contract DNA preparation, and fluorescent in-situ hybridization, to assist
researchers in the identification and isolation of novel genes.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   31
 
DATABASE PRODUCTION
 
                         THE LIFESEQ DATABASE DATA FLOW
 
                                   [DIAGRAM]
 
     The Company engages in the high-throughput automated sequencing of genes
derived from tissue samples followed by the computer-aided analysis of each gene
sequence to identify homologies to genes of known function in order to predict
the biological function of newly identified sequences. The derivation of
information in the Company's databases involves the following steps:
 
          Tissue Access. Incyte obtains tissue samples representing most major
     organs in the human body from various academic and commercial sources.
     Where possible, in addition to the tissue sample, the Company obtains
     information as to the medical history and pathology of the tissue. The
     genetic material is isolated from the tissue and prepared for analysis. The
     results of this analysis as well as the corresponding pathology and medical
     history information are incorporated into the database.
 
          High-Throughput cDNA Sequencing. The Company utilizes specialized
     teams in an integrated approach to its high-throughput sequencing and
     analysis effort. Gene sequencing is performed using multiple work shifts to
     increase daily throughput. The Company is currently sequencing
     approximately 60,000 DNA sequences per week. One team develops and prepares
     cDNA libraries from biological sources of interest. A second team prepares
     the cDNAs using robotic workstations to perform key steps that result in
     purified cDNAs for sequencing (called cDNA templates). A third team
     operates automated DNA sequencers that typically sequence from 200 to 800
     base pairs from each cDNA template. These base pairs represent a portion of
     the entire cDNA sequence. The Company believes that partial gene sequences
     are often sufficient to identify the expressed gene and allow for more
     rapid gene discovery.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   32
 
          Bioinformatics. Sequence information generated from Incyte's
     high-throughput sequencing operations is uploaded to a network of servers.
     Incyte's proprietary bioinformatic software then assembles and edits the
     sequence information. The sequence of each cDNA is compared via automated,
     computerized algorithms to the sequences of known genes in the Company's
     databases and public domain databases to identify whether the cDNA codes
     for a known protein or is homologous to a known gene. Each sequence is
     annotated as to its cell or tissue source, its relative abundance and
     whether it is homologous to a known gene with known function or previously
     unidentified. The bioinformatics staff monitors this computerized analysis
     and may perform additional analyses on sequence information. The finished
     data are then added to Incyte's proprietary sequence databases.
 
CUSTOMERS
 
     The Company has entered into database collaboration agreements with sixteen
companies as of June 30, 1997. Each collaborator has agreed to pay, during an
average term of three years, annual fees to receive non-exclusive access to the
Company's databases. For the three months ended March 31, 1997, the Company
recognized revenue from 14 of these companies, two of which each contributed 10%
or more of total revenues. In 1996, the Company recognized revenue from ten of
these companies, three of which each contributed in excess of 10% of total
revenues. Current database collaborators are:
 
             Abbott Laboratories                 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
             ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.         Johnson & Johnson
             BASF AG                             Monsanto Company      
             Bristol-Myers Squibb Company        Novo Nordisk A/S
             Eli Lilly and Company               Pfizer Inc
             Genentech, Inc.                     Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc.
             Glaxo Wellcome plc                  Schering AG
             Hoechst AG                          Zeneca Ltd.
 
     In addition, the Company has an agreement with Novartis pursuant to which
the Company is developing an enterprise-wise bioinformatics software and data
management system that will be based on the Company's LifeTools product line and
include custom features designed specifically for Novartis.
 
     Certain of the Company's database collaboration agreements contain minimum
annual update requirements which if not met could result in Incyte's breach of
the respective agreement. One of the Company's database agreements expires at
the end of 1997 and there can be no assurance that the agreement will be
renewed, and if renewed, under what terms. Further, beginning in August 1997 one
database collaborator has the right on 30 days' written notice to terminate its
database collaboration agreement. There can be no assurance that any of the
Company's database collaboration agreements will be renewed upon expiration or
will not be terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. The loss of
revenues from any database collaborator could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See "Risk
Factors -- Limited Operating History; History of Operating Losses; Uncertainty
of Continued Profitability or Revenues," "-- New and Uncertain Business," and
"-- Competition and Technological Changes."
 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
 
     Since its inception, the Company has made substantial investments in
research and technology development. During the three months ended March 31,
1997 and the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company spent
approximately $14.7 million, $40.9 million, $19.2 million, and $11.2 million,
respectively, on research and development activities. This investment in
research and development includes an active program to enter into relationships
with other technology-driven companies and, when appropriate, acquire licenses
to technologies for evaluation or use in the production and analysis process.
The Company has entered into a number of research and develop-
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   33
 
ment relationships with companies and research institutions. The Company's
commitments under any one of these agreements do not represent a significant
expenditure in relation to the Company's total research and development expense.
 
     The Company is currently evaluating new technologies relating to tissue
processing, DNA amplification, microarray production, and advanced automated
sequencing and expression profiling to expand the productivity, efficiency and
quality of its database products. Technologies in which the Company has made
investments to increase and enhance the content of such products include mass
spectrometry for high-throughput expression profiling and microarray technology
to monitor the activity of many specific genes simultaneously in multiple tissue
samples.
 
     To enhance the functionality of the Company's products, Incyte is
developing an enterprise-wide database management architecture, together with
improvements to its bioinformatics capabilities and additional data analysis
tools. The Company's development efforts with respect to this architecture are
focused on creating a genomic information management system in a format
compatible with Incyte's existing proprietary database software that will enable
collaborators to integrate their proprietary data with Incyte's and public
domain information. The system will incorporate the architecture necessary to
integrate Incyte's software tools with three-dimensional visualization tools,
data mining programs, project management capabilities, multicasting technology
and any additional technologies developed to more efficiently manage and analyze
genomic data.
 
     The following table represents certain of the Company's recent research and
development relationships:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  COMPANY                      DESCRIPTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Affymetrix                   Development of gene expression databases and services using
                               Affymetrix's GeneChipTM DNA probe array technology
  Centre National de la        Development of new bioinformatics algorithms
     Recherche Scientifique
  GeneTrace                    Development of mass spectrometry DNA analysis applications
  Molecular Dynamics           Evaluation of capillary gel electrophoresis technology in
                               high-throughput DNA sequencing
  NetGenics                    Application of Common Object Request Broker Architecture
                               (CORBA) and project management tools
  OncorMed                     Development of tissue databank and performance of functional
                               studies of selected genes
  Molecular Simulations        Integration of LifeSeq with Molecular Simulations' WebLabTM
                               Gene Explorer
  Silicon Graphics             Application of Silicon Graphics' MineSetTM 3D visualization
                               software
  TIBCO                        Application of TIBCO's patented "push" software and
                               multicasting technology
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY
 
     The Company's database business and competitive position is dependent upon
its ability to protect its proprietary database information and software
technology. The Company relies on patent, trade secret and copyright law, and
nondisclosure and other contractual arrangements to protect its proprietary
information.
 
     The Company's ability to license proprietary genes may be dependent upon
its ability to obtain patents, protect trade secrets and operate without
infringing upon the proprietary rights of others.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   34
 
Other pharmaceutical, biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies, as well as
academic and other institutions have filed applications for, may have been
issued patents or may obtain additional patents and proprietary rights relating
to products or processes competitive with those of the Company. Patent
applications filed by competitors, may claim some of the same gene sequences or
partial gene sequences as those claimed in patent applications filed by the
Company. The Company is aware that Merck (in conjunction with Washington
University) and TIGR have made certain gene sequences publicly available, which
may adversely affect the ability of the Company and others to obtain patents on
such genes. There can be no assurance that such publication of sequence
information will not adversely affect the Company's ability to obtain patent
protection for sequences that have been made publicly available.
 
     The Company's current policy is to file patent applications on what it
believes to be novel full-length cDNA sequences and partial sequences obtained
through the Company's high-throughput computer-aided gene sequencing efforts.
The Company has filed U.S. patent applications in which the Company has claimed
certain partial gene sequences and has filed U.S. and European patent
applications claiming full-length gene sequences associated with cells and
tissues that are the subject of the Company's high-throughput gene sequencing
program. To date, the Company has been issued a number of patents with respect
to full-length gene sequences, and the Company has not been issued registered
copyrights for its database-related software.
 
     The patentability of partial gene sequences in general is highly uncertain,
involves complex legal and factual questions and has recently been the subject
of much controversy. No clear policy has emerged with respect to the breadth of
claims allowable for partial gene fragments. There is significant uncertainty as
to what claims, if any, will be allowed on partial gene sequences derived
through high-throughout gene sequencing. Certain court decisions suggest that
disclosure of a partial sequence may not be sufficient to support the
patentability of a full-length sequence and that patent claims to a partial
sequence may not cover a full-length sequence inclusive of that partial
sequence. In 1996, the USPTO issued guidelines limiting the number of gene
sequences that can be contained within a single patent application. Many of the
Company's patent applications containing multiple partial sequences contain more
sequences than the maximum number allowed under the new guidelines. The Company
is reviewing its options, and it is possible that due to the resources needed to
comply with the guidelines, the Company may decide to abandon seeking patent
protection for some of its partial gene sequences. To date, no patent has issued
under any of the Company's patent applications claiming partial gene sequences.
 
     As the biotechnology industry expands, more patents are issued and other
companies engage in the business of discovering genes through the use of high
speed sequencers and other genomic-related businesses, the risk increases that
the Company's potential products may be subject to claims that they infringe the
patents of others. Further, the Company is aware of several issued patents in
the field of microarray or gridding technology, which can be utilized in the
generation of gene expression information. Certain of these patents are the
subject of litigation. Therefore, the Company's operations may require it to
obtain licenses under any such patents or proprietary rights, and no assurance
can be given that such licenses would be made available on terms acceptable to
the Company. Litigation may be necessary to defend against or assert claims of
infringement, to enforce patents issued to the Company, to protect trade secrets
or know-how owned by the Company, or to determine the scope and validity of the
proprietary rights of others. The Company is aware that certain of its patent
applications cover genes which are also contained in patent applications filed
by others with potentially competing patent claims. Interference proceedings may
be necessary to establish which party was the first to invent or the first to
obtain a particular sequence for the purpose of patent protection. Such
litigation or interference proceedings could result in substantial costs to and
diversion of effort by the Company and may have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, operating results and financial condition. In addition,
there can be no assurance that such proceedings or litigation would be resolved
in the Company's favor.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   35
 
     As a result, there can be no assurance that patent applications relating to
the Company's products or processes will result in patents being issued, or that
any issued patents will provide protection against competitors. Even if patents
are issued on the basis of gene sequences, there may be uncertainty as to the
scope of the coverage, enforceability or commercial protection provided by any
such patents. See "Risk Factors -- Uncertainty of Protection of Patents and
Proprietary Rights."
 
COMPETITION
 
     There are a finite number of genes in the human genome, and competitors may
seek to identify, sequence and determine in the shortest time possible the
biological function of a large number of genes in order to obtain a proprietary
position with respect to the largest number of new genes discovered. There are a
number of companies, other institutions, and government-financed entities,
including HGS, the NIH, the Department of Energy, Merck (in conjunction with
Washington University) and TIGR, engaged in gene sequencing. Many of these
companies, institutions and entities have greater financial and human resources
than the Company. In addition, the Company is aware that HGS and at least one
other company have developed genomics databases and are marketing their data to
pharmaceutical companies. Merck and TIGR have each made the results of their
sequencing efforts publicly available. The Company expects that additional
competitors may attempt to establish gene sequence, gene expression or other
genomic databases in the future.
 
     In addition, competitors may discover and establish patent positions with
respect to gene sequences in the Company's databases. Such patent positions or
the public availability of gene sequences comprising substantial portions of the
human genome or on microbial or plant genes could decrease the potential value
of the Company's databases to the Company's collaborators and adversely affect
the Company's ability to realize royalties or other revenue from
commercialization of products based upon such genetic information. See "Risk
Factors -- Uncertainty of Protection of Patents and Proprietary Rights."
 
     The gene sequencing machines that are utilized in the Company's
high-throughput computer-aided gene sequencing operations are commercially
available and are currently being utilized by several competitors. Moreover,
some of the Company's competitors or potential competitors are in the process of
developing, and may successfully develop, proprietary sequencing technologies
that may be more advanced than the technology used by the Company. Specifically,
the Company is aware that there are a number of companies pursuing alternative
methods for deriving gene expression information, including those developing
microarray technologies. There can be no assurance that such advanced sequencing
or gene expression technologies, if developed, will be commercially available
for purchase or license by the Company on reasonable terms, or at all.
 
     A number of companies have announced their intent to develop and market
software to assist pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers in the
management and analysis of their own genomic data, as well as the analysis of
sequence data available in the public domain. Some of these entities have access
to significantly greater resources than the Company and there can be no
assurance that these products would not achieve greater market acceptance than
the products offered by the Company.
 
     The Company believes that the features and ease of use of its database
software, its experience in high-throughput gene sequencing, the cumulative size
of its database, the quality of the data, including the annotations in its
database, and its experience with bioinformatics and database software are
important aspects of the Company's competitive position.
 
     The genomics industry is characterized by extensive research efforts and
rapid technological progress. New developments are expected to continue and
there can be no assurance that discoveries by others will not render the
Company's services and potential products noncompetitive. In addition,
significant levels of research in biotechnology and medicine occur in
universities and other non-profit research institutions. These entities have
become increasingly active in seeking patent protection and
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   36
 
licensing revenues for their research results. These entities also compete with
the Company in recruiting talented scientists. See "Risk Factors -- Competition
and Technological Changes."
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
     Regulation by governmental authorities in the United States and other
countries will be a significant factor in the production and marketing of any
pharmaceutical products that may be developed by a licensee of the Company or by
the Company. At the present time the Company does not intend to develop any
pharmaceutical products itself. The Company will receive royalties from its
database collaborators on any pharmaceutical products developed by such
collaborators derived from information obtained from Incyte's genomic databases.
Thus, the receipt and timing of regulatory approvals for the marketing of such
products may have a significant effect in the future on the Company's revenues.
Pharmaceutical products developed by licensees will require regulatory approval
by governmental agencies prior to commercialization. In particular, human
pharmaceutical therapeutic products are subject to rigorous preclinical and
clinical testing and other approval procedures by the United States Food and
Drug Administration in the United States and similar health authorities in
foreign countries. Various federal and, in some cases, state statutes and
regulations also govern or influence the manufacturing, safety, labeling,
storage, recordkeeping and marketing of such pharmaceutical products, including
the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials and
certain waste products. The process of obtaining these approvals and the
subsequent compliance with appropriate federal and foreign statutes and
regulations require the expenditure of substantial resources over a significant
period of time, and there can be no assurance that any approvals will be granted
on a timely basis, if at all. Any such delay in obtaining or failure to obtain
such approvals could adversely affect the Company's ability to earn milestone
payments, royalties or other license-based fees. Additional governmental
regulations that might arise from future legislation or administrative action
cannot be predicted, and such regulations could delay or otherwise affect
adversely regulatory approval of potential pharmaceutical products. See "Risk
Factors -- Reliance on Pharmaceutical Industry; Uncertainty of Health Care
Reform and Related Matters."
 
HUMAN RESOURCES
 
     As of June 30, 1997, the Company had 515 full-time equivalent employees,
including 146 in sequencing production, 138 in bioinformatics, 71 in research
and technology development, 76 in marketing, sales and administrative positions
and 84 in the Company's Genome Systems subsidiary. None of the Company's
employees is covered by collective bargaining agreements, and management
considers relations with its employees to be good. The Company's future success
will depend in part on the continued service of its key scientific, software,
bioinformatics and management personnel and its ability to identify, hire and
retain additional personnel, including personnel in the customer service and
marketing area. There is intense competition for qualified personnel in the
areas of the Company's activities, especially with respect to experienced
bioinformatics and software personnel, and there can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to continue to attract and retain such personnel necessary
for the development of the Company's business. Failure to attract and retain key
personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and operating results. See "Risk Factors -- Management of
Growth" and "-- Dependence on Key Employees."
 
PROPERTIES
 
     Incyte's headquarters are in Palo Alto, California, where its main research
laboratories, sequencing facility, bioinformatics and administrative facilities
are located. Incyte also operates facilities in St. Louis, Missouri, through its
merger with Genome Systems and in Pasadena, California through its acquisition
of Combion. As of June 30, 1997, Incyte had multiple sublease and lease
agreements covering approximately 187,000 square feet that expire on various
dates ranging from April 1998 to August 2006. In July 1997, the Company entered
into a multi-year lease with respect to a 95,000 square foot building to be
constructed adjacent to the Company's Palo Alto headquarters. The
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   37
 
Company is currently pursuing options to obtain temporary space suitable to meet
current growth requirements until the Company can occupy the new Palo Alto
building. There can be no assurance that suitable additional space will be
available to the Company, when needed, on commercially reasonable terms. The
Company's inability to obtain sufficient additional space, when needed, could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   38
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     The directors and executive officers of the Company and their ages as of
July 15, 1997 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 NAME                    AGE                          POSITION
- ---------------------------------------  ---     --------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>     <C>
Roy A. Whitfield.......................  43      Chief Executive Officer and Director
Randal W. Scott, Ph.D. ................  39      President and Chief Scientific Officer, Secretary
                                                 and Director
Denise M. Gilbert, Ph.D. ..............  39      Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
                                                 and Treasurer
Jeffrey J. Collinson(1)(2).............  55      Chairman of the Board of Directors
Barry M. Bloom, Ph.D.(1)(2)............  68      Director
Frederick B. Craves, Ph.D.(1)(2).......  51      Director
Jon S. Saxe(1)(2)......................  61      Director
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Member of Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
 
(2) Member of Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
 
     Roy A. Whitfield has been Chief Executive Officer of the Company since June
1993 and a director since June 1991. Mr. Whitfield served as President of the
Company from June 1991 until January 1997 and as Treasurer of the Company from
April 1991 until October 1995. Previously, Mr. Whitfield served as the President
of Ideon Corporation, which was a majority owned subsidiary of Invitron
Corporation ("Invitron"), a biotechnology company, from October 1989 until April
1991. From 1984 to 1989, Mr. Whitfield held senior operating and business
development positions with Technicon Instruments Corporation ("Technicon"), a
medical instrumentation company, and its predecessor company, CooperBiomedical,
Inc., a biotechnology and medical diagnostics company. Prior to his work at
Technicon, Mr. Whitfield spent seven years with the Boston Consulting Group's
international consulting practice. Mr. Whitfield received a B.S. with First
Class Honors in mathematics from Oxford University, and an M.B.A. with
Distinction from Stanford University.
 
     Randal W. Scott, Ph.D., has been President of the Company since January
1997. He has served as Chief Scientific Officer of the Company since March 1995,
a director since June 1991 and Secretary of the Company since April 1991. Dr.
Scott served as Executive Vice President of the Company from March 1995 until
January 1997 and as Vice President, Research and Development of the Company from
April 1991 through February 1995. Dr. Scott was one of Invitron's founding
scientists and was employed by Invitron from March 1985 to June 1991. In 1987,
Dr. Scott started the Protein Biochemistry Department at Invitron's California
Research Division and became Senior Director of Research in November 1988. Dr.
Scott was responsible for developing Invitron's proprietary products and
discovery programs and is an inventor of several of the Company's patents. Prior
to joining Invitron, he was a Senior Scientist at Unigene Laboratories, a
biotechnology company. Dr. Scott received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the
University of Kansas.
 
     Denise M. Gilbert, Ph.D., has been Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company since October 1995. From July
1993 to October 1995 Dr. Gilbert was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of Affymax N.V., a biopharmaceutical company. Prior to joining Affymax, Dr.
Gilbert spent seven years as a Wall Street biotechnology analyst, serving as a
Managing Director of Smith Barney from July 1991 to July 1993, Vice President at
NatWest Securities from July 1990 to July 1991, and senior analyst at Montgomery
Securities from July 1986 to July 1990. Dr. Gilbert received her B.A. in
Biological Sciences from Cornell University and Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental
Biology from Harvard University.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   39
 
     Jeffrey J. Collinson has been a director of the Company since inception and
has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since April 1991. Mr. Collinson
has served as President of Collinson Howe Venture Partners Inc. (formerly named
Schroder Venture Advisers, Inc.), a venture capital management firm, since 1990
and was President of Schroder Venture Managers, Inc., a venture capital firm,
from 1983 to 1990. Mr. Collinson is also a director of Intensiva Healthcare
Corporation, Neurogen Corporation and Spare, Kaplan, Bischel & Associates.
 
     Barry M. Bloom, Ph.D., has been a director of the Company since October
1994. Dr. Bloom retired in 1993 from Pfizer Inc, where he was most recently
Executive Vice President, Research and Development, and a member of the Board of
Directors. Dr. Bloom began his career with Pfizer in 1952 as a research chemist.
He was named president of Pfizer Central Research, and elected a corporate vice
president in 1971, a member of the Board of Directors in 1973, and a member of
the Corporate Management Committee in 1984. He was named senior vice president
in 1990 and executive vice president in 1991. Dr. Bloom serves on the Boards of
Directors of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Neurogen Corporation, Southern New
England Telecommunications Corporation, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and is
a scientific adviser to Philadelphia Ventures, Axiom Venture Partners and Virus
Research Institute.
 
     Frederick B. Craves, Ph.D., has been a director of the Company since July
1993. Since January 1, 1997, Dr. Craves has been Managing Director and Chairman
of The Craves Group, a private merchant bank focused on life science. He also is
a general partner of Burrill & Craves, a private merchant bank specializing in
life science, which he co-founded in 1994. Dr. Craves has been an independent
management consultant since May 1993 and in July 1993, he was appointed Chairman
of the Board of NeoRx Corporation and of Epoch Pharmaceuticals, Inc., each of
which is a biotechnology company. From January 1991 to May 1993, he was
President and Chief Executive Officer of Berlex Biosciences, a biotechnology
company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Schering AG. Dr. Craves was
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Codon, a biotechnology
company, from 1982 until its acquisition by Schering AG in 1990.
 
     Jon S. Saxe has been a director of the Company since July 1993. Since
January 1995, he has been the President of Protein Design Labs, Inc., a
biotechnology company. From April 1993 through December 1994, he was President
of Saxe Associates, a consultancy. Mr. Saxe served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Synergen, Inc., a biotechnology company, from October 1989
to April 1993. Mr. Saxe served as Vice President, Licensing and Corporate
Development, for Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., a pharmaceutical company, from August
1984 to September 1989, and as Head, Patent Law from September 1978 to September
1989. Mr. Saxe is also a director of Ribogene, Inc., ID Biomedical, Inc. and
Protein Design Labs, Inc.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   40
 
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
     The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock at June 30, 1997, and as adjusted to reflect the
sale by the Company of the shares offered hereby (assuming no exercise of the
Underwriters' over-allotment option), by: (i) each person who is known by the
Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Common Stock, (ii) each of the
Company's directors, (iii) each of the Company's executive officers, and (iv)
all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. Ownership
information is based upon information furnished by the respective individuals or
entities, as the case may be.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    PERCENTAGE
                                                                                   BENEFICIALLY
                                                                                     OWNED(1)
                                                                     SHARES     -------------------
                                                                    BENEFICIALLY  BEFORE    AFTER
                                                                    OWNED(1)    OFFERING   OFFERING
                                                                    ---------   --------   --------
<S>                                                                 <C>         <C>        <C>
INVESCO PLC(2)....................................................    807,300      7.6%       7.0%
  11 Devonshire Square
  London EC2M 4YR
  England
Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc. .........................................    791,333      7.5        6.8
  The Pharmacia & Upjohn Centre
  67 Alma Road
  Windsor, Berkshire
  SL4 3HD, United Kingdom
Pfizer Inc........................................................    710,000      6.7        6.1
  235 East 42nd Street
  New York, NY 10017
Jeffrey J. Collinson(3)...........................................    262,326      2.5        2.3
Roy A. Whitfield(4)...............................................    356,280      3.3        3.1
Randal W. Scott(5)................................................    205,700      1.9        1.8
Denise M. Gilbert(6)..............................................    117,500      1.1        1.0
Frederick B. Craves(7)............................................     48,800     *          *
Jon S. Saxe(8)....................................................     41,000     *          *
Barry M. Bloom(9).................................................     21,750     *          *
All directors and executive officers as a group (7 persons)(10)...  1,053,356      9.6        8.8
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* Less than 1%.
 
(1) To the Company's knowledge, the persons named in the table have sole voting
    and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as
    beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where
    applicable and the information contained in the notes to this table.
 
(2) According to a Schedule 13G dated February 14, 1997 filed by INVESCO PLC,
    INVESCO PLC has shared voting power and shared dispositive power with
    INVESCO North American Group, Ltd., INVESCO, Inc., INVESCO North American
    Holdings, Inc. and INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. with respect to all shares
    listed in the table.
 
(3) Includes 100,000 shares held by Schroders Incorporated, 107,123 shares held
    by Schroder Ventures Limited Partnership, 27,877 shares held by Schroder
    Ventures U.S. Trust and 100 shares held by Collinson Howe Venture Partners,
    Inc. Mr. Collinson, a director of the Company, shares voting and investment
    power with respect to such shares. Mr. Collinson disclaims beneficial
    ownership of shares held by Schroders Incorporated, Schroder Ventures
    Limited Partnership and Schroder Ventures U.S. Trust, except to the extent
    of his proportionate interest therein. Mr. Collinson is the majority
    shareholder of Collinson Howe Venture Partners, Inc. and may be deemed to be
    the beneficial owner of the shares held by that entity. Also includes 11,316
    shares held by Indian Chase, Inc., over which Mr. Collinson has voting and
    investment power, and 902 shares held by
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   41
 
    Mr. Collinson's minor child. Mr. Collinson disclaims beneficial ownership of
    shares held by Indian Chase, Inc. except to the extent of his proportionate
    interest therein and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by
    his child.
 
 (4) Includes 86,200 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     June 30, 1997.
 
 (5) Includes 82,284 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     June 30, 1997.
 
 (6) Includes 117,500 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     June 30, 1997.
 
 (7) Includes 2,000 shares held by Burrill & Craves, a general partnership. Dr.
     Craves is a general partner of such partnership and may be deemed to be the
     beneficial owner of the shares held by the partnership. Also includes 2,100
     shares held by a trust for which Dr. Craves is a trustee, 3,700 shares held
     by Dr. Craves' spouse, and 41,000 shares subject to options exercisable
     within 60 days of June 30, 1997.
 
 (8) Includes 41,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     June 30, 1997.
 
 (9) Includes 21,750 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     June 30, 1997.
 
(10) Includes shares included pursuant to notes (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and
     (9) above.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   42
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters named below have severally agreed to purchase from the Company the
following number of shares of Common Stock:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            NUMBER
                                      NAME                                 OF SHARES
        -----------------------------------------------------------------  ---------
        <S>                                                                <C>
        Hambrecht & Quist LLC............................................
        Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated..................................
        Vector Securities International, Inc.............................
                                                                             ------
                  Total..................................................  1,000,000
                                                                             ======
</TABLE>
 
     The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the
Underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent, including the absence
of any material adverse change in the Company's business and the receipt of
certain certificates, opinions and letters from the Company and its counsel and
independent auditors. The nature of the Underwriters' obligation is such that
they are committed to purchase all shares of Common Stock offered hereby if any
of such shares are purchased.
 
     The Underwriters propose to offer shares of Common Stock directly to the
public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess
of $          per share. The Underwriters may allow and such dealers may reallow
a concession not in excess of $          per share to certain other dealers.
After the public offering of the shares, the offering price and other selling
terms may be changed by the Underwriters.
 
     The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable no later
than 30 days after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to 150,000
additional shares of Common Stock at the public offering price, less the
underwriting discount, set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus. To the
extent that the Underwriters exercise this option, each of the Underwriters will
have a firm commitment to purchase approximately the same percentage thereof
which the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by it shown in the
above table bears to the total number of shares of Common Stock offered hereby.
The Company will be obligated, pursuant to the option, to sell such shares to
the Underwriters to the extent the option is exercised. The Underwriters may
exercise such option only to cover overallotments made in connection with the
sale of shares of Common Stock offered hereby.
 
     The offering of the shares is made for delivery when, as and if accepted by
the Underwriters and subject to prior sale and to withdrawal, cancellation or
modification of the offering without notice. The Underwriters reserve the right
to reject an order for the purchase of shares in whole or in part.
 
     The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), and to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be
required to make in respect thereof.
 
     Certain stockholders of the Company, including the executive officers and
directors who will own in the aggregate approximately 1,900,000 shares of Common
Stock after the offering, have agreed that they will not, without the prior
written consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC acting alone or each of the
Underwriters acting jointly, offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of
Common Stock or securities exchangeable for or convertible into or exercisable
for or any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock owned by them during the
90-day period following the date of this Prospectus. Hambrecht & Quist LLC may,
in its sole discretion and at anytime without notice to the Company's
stockholders or the public market release all or any part of the shares subject
to the lock-up agreements. The Company has agreed that it will not, without the
prior written consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC, offer, sell or otherwise dispose
of any shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable for or convertible
into or exercisable for or any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock during
the 90-day period following the date of this Prospectus, except that the Company
may,
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   43
 
pursuant to its stock plans, sell shares, grant additional options or issue
shares upon the exercise of options granted prior to the date hereof.
 
     In connection with the offering, certain Underwriters and selling group
members (if any) or their respective affiliates who are qualified registered
market makers on the Nasdaq National Market, may engage in passive market making
transactions in the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market in accordance
with Rule 103 under Regulation M. Such passive market makers must comply with
applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as such. In
general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of
the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are
lowered below the passive market maker's bid, however, such bid must then be
lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.
 
     In connection with this offering, certain Underwriters and selling group
members (if any) and their respective affiliates may engage in transactions that
stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Common Stock.
Such transactions may include stabilization transactions effected in accordance
with Rule 104 of Regulation M, pursuant to which such persons may bid for or
purchase Common Stock for the purpose of stabilizing its market price. The
Underwriters also may create a short position for the account of the
Underwriters by selling more Common Stock in connection with the offering than
they are committed to purchase from the Company, and in such case may purchase
Common Stock in the open market following completion of the offering to cover
all or a portion of such short position. The Underwriters may also cover all or
a portion of such short position, up to 150,000 shares of Common Stock, by
exercising the Underwriters' over-allotment option referred to above. Any of the
transactions described in this paragraph may result in the maintenance of the
price of the Common Stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in
the open market. None of the transactions described in this paragraph is
required, and, if they are undertaken, they may be discontinued at any time.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of Common Stock offered
hereby are being passed upon for the Company by Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP,
San Francisco, California and for the Underwriters by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &
Rosati, Professional Corporation, Palo Alto, California.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements of Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at
December 31, 1995 and 1996, and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1996, appearing in this Prospectus and Registration Statement and
in Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996 incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon appearing
elsewhere herein and appearing in Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Annual Report
on Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial
statements are included and incorporated by reference in reliance upon such
report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy and information statements, and other information
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports,
proxy and information statements, and other information filed by the Company can
be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., as well as the regional
offices of the Commission located at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois, and 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300,
 
                                       42
<PAGE>   44
 
New York, New York. Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549 at prescribed rates. The Commission maintains a World Wide Web site that
contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information that
are filed through the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and
Retrieval System. This Web site can be accessed at http://www.sec.gov.
 
     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to the Common Stock offered
hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, certain parts of
which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Commission. For further information with respect to the Company and the Common
Stock, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and
schedules thereto. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of
any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and, in each
instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in
all respects by such reference. Copies of the Registration Statement, including
all exhibits thereto, may be obtained from the Commission's principal office in
Washington, D.C. upon payment of the fees prescribed by the Commission, or may
be examined without charge at the offices of the Commission described above.
 
                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents previously filed with the Commission are hereby
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus: (i) the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, (ii) the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997, and (iii) the
description of the Common Stock contained in the Company's Registration
Statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange Act on January 5, 1996. All
documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering to which
this Prospectus relates shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus and to be part of this Prospectus from the date of filing
thereof.
 
     Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus and
the Registration Statement of which it is a part to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is
incorporated herein modifies or replaces such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, in its unmodified form, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus or such Registration Statement. The Company
will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of the Prospectus has
been delivered, and who makes a written or oral request, a copy of any and all
of the foregoing documents incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement (other than exhibits unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into such documents). Requests should be submitted in
writing or by telephone to Investor Relations, Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
3174 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, California 94304, telephone (415) 845-4111.
 
                                       43
<PAGE>   45
 
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        PAGE
                                                                                        ----
<S>                                                                                     <C>
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.....................................   F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1995 and 1996 and March 31, 1997
  (unaudited).........................................................................   F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years in the period ended
  December 31, 1996 and the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997 (unaudited)....   F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for each of the three years in the
  period ended December 31, 1996 and the three months ended March 31, 1997
  (unaudited).........................................................................   F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended
  December 31, 1996 and the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997 (unaudited)....   F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................................   F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-1
<PAGE>   46
 
               REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 
     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Incyte
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as of December 31, 1995 and 1996, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Incyte
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at December 31, 1995 and 1996, and the consolidated
results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
                                                           /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Palo Alto, California
February 7, 1997
 
                                       F-2
<PAGE>   47
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
             (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT NUMBER OF SHARES AND PAR VALUE)
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               DECEMBER 31,
                                                           ---------------------      MARCH 31,
                                                             1995         1996           1997
                                                           --------     --------     ------------
                                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                        <C>          <C>          <C>
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents..............................  $ 10,547     $  7,628       $  8,008
  Marketable securities -- available-for-sale............    30,634       30,622         30,539
  Accounts receivable....................................     7,643        2,469          8,678
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets..............       756        2,456          2,597
                                                           --------     --------       --------
          Total current assets...........................    49,580       43,175         49,822
Property and equipment, net..............................     9,084       22,936         25,346
Long-term investments....................................        --          313          3,313
Deposits and other assets................................       118          452          1,128
                                                           --------     --------       --------
                                                           $ 58,782     $ 66,876       $ 79,609
                                                           ========     ========       ========
 
                              LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable.......................................     2,344     $  4,670       $  3,953
  Accrued expenses.......................................       714        1,121          2,469
  Accrued compensation...................................       187          386            454
  Deferred revenue.......................................     7,268       14,878         25,946
  Current portion of capital lease obligations and notes
     payable.............................................        84           73             49
                                                           --------     --------       --------
          Total current liabilities......................    10,597       21,128         32,871
Noncurrent portion of capital lease obligations and notes
  payable................................................       147           37             28
Noncurrent portion of accrued rent.......................       535          464            452
Commitments
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares
     authorized; none issued and outstanding at December
     31, 1995, 1996 and March 31, 1997...................        --           --             --
  Common Stock, $0.001 par value; 20,000,000 shares
     authorized; 9,995,783, 10,447,301 and 10,474,715
     shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 1995,
     1996 and March 31, 1997, respectively...............        10           10             10
  Additional paid-in capital.............................    77,250       81,832         81,923
  Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale
     securities..........................................        33          (73)          (134)
  Deferred compensation..................................       (29)          --             --
  Accumulated deficit....................................   (29,761)     (36,522)       (35,541)
                                                           --------     --------       --------
          Total stockholders' equity.....................    47,503       45,247         46,258
                                                           --------     --------       --------
                                                           $ 58,782     $ 66,876       $ 79,609
                                                           ========     ========       ========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-3
<PAGE>   48
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,               MARCH 31,
                                         ---------------------------------     -------------------
                                           1994         1995        1996        1996        1997
                                         --------     --------     -------     -------     -------
                                                                                   (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                      <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
Revenues (Notes 1 and 2)...............  $  1,512     $ 12,212     $41,785     $ 6,274     $17,859
Costs and expenses:
  Research and development.............    11,169       19,212      40,864       7,745      14,730
  Selling, general and
     administrative....................     2,328        3,927       6,792       1,245       2,574
  Charge for purchase of in-process
     research and development..........        --           --       3,165          --          --
                                         --------     --------    --------     -------     -------
Total costs and expenses...............    13,497       23,139      50,821       8,990      17,304
                                         --------     --------    --------     -------     -------
Income (loss) from operations..........   (11,985)     (10,927)     (9,036)     (2,716)        555
Interest income........................       674        1,186       2,495         679         580
Interest and other expense, net........      (164)        (196)       (220)         (1)       (102)
                                         --------     --------    --------     -------     -------
Income (loss) before income taxes......   (11,475)      (9,937)     (6,761)     (2,038)      1,033
Provision for income taxes.............        --           --          --          --         (52)
                                         --------     --------    --------     -------     -------
Net income (loss)......................  $(11,475)    $ (9,937)    $(6,761)    $(2,038)    $   981
                                         ========     ========    ========     =======     =======
Net income (loss) per share............  $  (1.63)    $  (1.19)    $ (0.67)    $ (0.20)    $  0.09
                                         ========     ========    ========     =======     =======
Shares used in computation of net
  income (loss) per share..............     7,030        8,367      10,156      10,034      11,453
                                         ========     ========    ========     =======     =======
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-4
<PAGE>   49
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT NUMBER OF SHARES)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            NOTES        UNREALIZED
                                            ADDITIONAL    RECEIVABLE    GAIN/LOSS ON                                    TOTAL
                                   COMMON    PAID-IN         FROM        MARKETABLE      DEFERRED     ACCUMULATED   STOCKHOLDERS'
                                   STOCK     CAPITAL     STOCKHOLDERS    SECURITIES    COMPENSATION     DEFICIT        EQUITY
                                   ------   ----------   ------------   ------------   ------------   -----------   -------------
<S>                                <C>      <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>
Balances at December 31, 1993.....  $  7     $ 25,182        $(34)         $   --         $ (355)      $  (8,349)     $  16,451
  Issuance of 29,044 shares of
     Common Stock upon exercise of
     stock options................    --           28          --              --             --              --             28
  Issuance of 1,501,333 shares of
     Common Stock to database
     collaborators................     1       19,141          --              --             --              --         19,142
  Payment of notes receivable from
     shareholders.................    --           --          34              --             --              --             34
  Deferred compensation, Genome
     Systems......................    --          142          --              --           (142)             --             --
  Amortization of deferred
     compensation.................    --           --          --              --            142              --            142
  Net change in unrealized gains
     on available-for-sale
     securities...................    --           --          --              22             --              --             22
  Net loss........................    --           --          --              --             --         (11,475)       (11,475)
                                     ---      -------        ----           -----          -----        --------       --------
Balances at December 31, 1994.....     8       44,493          --              22           (355)        (19,824)        24,344
  Issuance of 28,815 shares of
     Common Stock upon exercise of
     stock options................    --           88          --              --             --              --             88
  Issuance of 1,837,000 shares of
     Common Stock, net of expenses
     and underwriters' fees of
     $2,232.......................     2       32,669          --              --             --              --         32,671
  Amortization of deferred
     compensation.................    --           --          --              --            326              --            326
  Net change in unrealized gains
     on available-for-sale
     securities...................    --           --          --              11             --              --             11
  Net loss........................    --           --          --              --             --          (9,937)        (9,937)
                                     ---      -------        ----           -----          -----        --------       --------
Balances at December 31, 1995.....    10       77,250          --              33            (29)        (29,761)        47,503
  Issuance of 228,648 shares of
     Common Stock upon exercise of
     stock options and 149,699
     shares upon exercise of
     warrant......................    --        1,582          --              --             --              --          1,582
  Issuance of 73,171 shares of
     Common Stock in exchange for
     shares of Combion, Inc.......    --        3,000          --              --             --              --          3,000
  Amortization of deferred
     compensation.................    --           --          --              --             29              --             29
  Net change in unrealized gains
     on available-for-sale
     securities...................    --           --          --            (106)            --              --           (106)
  Net loss........................    --           --          --              --             --          (6,761)        (6,761)
                                     ---      -------        ----           -----          -----        --------       --------
Balances at December 31, 1996.....    10       81,832          --             (73)            --         (36,522)        45,247
  Issuance of 19,947 shares of
     Common Stock upon exercise of
     stock options and 7,467
     shares upon exercise of
     warrant (unaudited)..........    --           91          --              --             --              --             91
  Net change in unrealized gains
     on available-for-sale
     securities (unaudited).......    --           --          --             (61)            --              --            (61)
  Net income (unaudited)..........    --           --          --              --             --             981            981
                                     ---      -------        ----           -----          -----        --------       --------
Balances at March 31, 1997
  (unaudited).....................  $ 10     $ 81,923        $ --          $ (134)        $   --       $ (35,541)     $  46,258
                                     ===      =======        ====           =====          =====        ========       ========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-5
<PAGE>   50
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,           MARCH 31,
                                                    ------------------------------   ------------------
                                                      1994       1995       1996       1996      1997
                                                    --------   --------   --------   --------   -------
                                                                                        (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss).................................. $(11,475)  $ (9,937)  $ (6,761)  $ (2,038)  $   981
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
  provided by (used in) operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization....................      982      2,750      6,461      1,036     2,238
  Expense for abandoned equipment..................      442        124         --         --        --
  Noncash portion of purchase of in-process
     research and development......................       --         --      3,000         --        --
  Changes in certain assets and liabilities:
     Accounts receivable...........................      (69)    (7,439)     5,174      7,169    (6,209)
     Prepaid expenses and other assets.............     (118)      (571)    (1,722)      (141)     (817)
     Accounts payable..............................    1,119        760      2,326        (24)     (717)
     Deferred revenue..............................    2,769      4,498      7,610      5,525    11,068
     Accrued vacation and other expenses...........      241      1,014        535        735     1,404
                                                    --------   --------   --------   --------   -------
Total adjustments..................................    5,366      1,136     23,384     14,300     6,967
                                                    --------   --------   --------   --------   -------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating
  activities.......................................   (6,109)    (8,801)    16,623     12,262     7,948
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Long-term investments..............................       --         --       (625)      (625)   (3,000)
Capital expenditures...............................   (2,978)    (8,042)   (20,188)    (3,821)   (4,625)
Purchases of short-term investments................  (26,206)   (74,037)   (16,526)   (11,180)   (4,511)
Sale of short-term investments.....................       --         --         --         --     4,510
Maturities of short-term investments...............    7,920     61,722     16,336      5,078        --
                                                    --------   --------   --------   --------   -------
Net cash (used in) investing activities............  (21,264)   (20,357)   (21,003)   (10,548)   (7,626)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net proceeds from issuances of common stock........   19,370     32,759      1,582        394        91
Payment of notes receivable from stockholders......       34         --         --         --        --
Proceeds from capital leases and notes payable.....       87         69         --         --        --
Principal payments on capital lease obligations....     (709)       (72)      (121)       (20)      (33)
                                                    --------   --------   --------   --------   -------
Net cash provided by financing activities..........   18,782     32,756      1,461        374        58
                                                    --------   --------   --------   --------   -------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
  equivalents......................................   (8,591)     3,598     (2,919)     2,088       380
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the
  period...........................................   15,540      6,949     10,547     10,547     7,628
                                                    --------   --------   --------   --------   -------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period..... $  6,949   $ 10,547   $  7,628   $ 12,635   $ 8,008
                                                    ========   ========   ========   ========   =======
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Interest paid...................................... $    288   $     45   $     17   $      4   $     5
                                                    ========   ========   ========   ========   =======
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND
  FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Property and equipment acquired pursuant to capital
  lease obligations................................ $    606   $     69         --         --        --
                                                    ========   ========   ========   ========   =======
Deferred compensation.............................. $    142   $     --         --         --        --
                                                    ========   ========   ========   ========   =======
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities --
  available-for-sale............................... $     22   $     11   $   (106)  $   (258)  $  (148)
                                                    ========   ========   ========   ========   =======
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                       F-6
<PAGE>   51
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
  Organization and Business
 
     Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated in Delaware
in April 1991. The Company designs, develops, and markets genomic databases,
software tools, and related genomic reagents and services. The Company's
databases, available singly or in combination, integrate bioinformatics software
with proprietary and, when appropriate, publicly available genetic information.
Non-exclusive access to the Company's databases is offered to pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies worldwide for use in drug discovery and development of
diagnostic and therapeutic products.
 
  Principles of Consolidation
 
     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Incyte
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All material
intercompany accounts, transactions, and profits have been eliminated in
consolidation.
 
  Interim Financial Information
 
     The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements as of March 31,
1997 and for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997 are unaudited but
include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which
the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial
position and operating results. The results of operations for the three months
ended March 31, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the
entire year.
 
  Use of Estimates
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
  Concentrations of Credit Risk
 
     Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and trade receivables are
financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of
credit risk. The estimated fair value of financial instruments approximates the
carrying value based on available market information. The Company primarily
invests its excess available funds in notes and bills issued by the U.S.
government and its agencies and, by policy, limits the amount of credit exposure
to any one issuer and to any one type of investment, other than securities
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government. The Company has not experienced any
credit losses to date and does not require collateral on receivables.
 
  Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
     Cash and cash equivalents are held in U.S. banks or in custodial accounts
with U.S. banks. Cash equivalents are defined as all liquid investments with
maturity from date of purchase of 90 days or less that are readily convertible
into cash and have insignificant interest rate risk. All other investments are
reported as marketable securities.
 
                                       F-7
<PAGE>   52
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
  Marketable Securities Available-for-Sale
 
     All marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale.
Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains
and losses reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. The
amortized cost of debt securities in this category is adjusted for amortization
of premiums and accretions of discounts to maturity. Such amortization is
included in interest income. Realized gains and losses and declines in value
judged to be other than temporary for available-for-sale securities are included
in interest and other income.
 
     The following is a summary of the Company's investment portfolio, including
cash equivalents of $2,173,000 and $398,000 as of December 31, 1995 and 1996,
respectively, and $825,000 as of March 31, 1997:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     NET
                                                                  UNREALIZED       ESTIMATED
                                                  AMORTIZED        (LOSSES)          FAIR
                                                    COST            GAINS            VALUE
                                                  ---------     --------------     ---------
                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
        <S>                                       <C>           <C>                <C>
        DECEMBER 31, 1995
        U.S. Treasury notes and other U.S.
          government securities.................   $31,779          $   32          $31,811
        Corporate debt securities...............       995               1              996
                                                   -------           -----          -------
                                                   $32,774          $   33          $32,807
                                                   =======           =====          =======
        DECEMBER 31, 1996
        U.S. Treasury notes and other U.S.
          government securities.................   $30,695          $  (73)         $30,622
        Corporate debt securities...............       398              --              398
                                                   -------           -----          -------
                                                   $31,093          $  (73)         $31,020
                                                   =======           =====          =======
        MARCH 31, 1997
        U.S. Treasury notes and other U.S.
          government securities.................   $27,075          $ (220)         $26,855
        Corporate debt securities...............     4,510              (1)           4,509
                                                   -------           -----          -------
                                                   $31,585          $ (221)         $31,364
                                                   =======           =====          =======
</TABLE>
 
     All marketable securities -- available-for-sale mature within two years. At
December 31, 1995 and 1996 and at March 31, 1997, all of the Company's
investments are classified as short-term, as the Company may not hold its
investments until maturity in order to take advantage of market conditions. Of
the marketable securities held at December 31, 1996, $23,148,000 had maturities
under a year and $7,872,000 had maturities over a year and of the marketable
securities held at March 31, 1997, $21,403,000 had maturities under a year and
$9,961,000 had maturities over a year. Unrealized gains were not material and
have therefore been netted against unrealized losses.
 
                                       F-8
<PAGE>   53
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
  Property and Equipment
 
     Property and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and
amortization. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of the respective assets (generally two to five years).
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of estimated useful life
of the assets or lease term. Property and equipment consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       DECEMBER 31,
                                                    -------------------       MARCH 31,
                                                     1995        1996            1997
                                                    -------     -------     --------------
                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
        <S>                                         <C>         <C>         <C>
        Office equipment..........................  $   406     $   950        $  1,669
        Laboratory equipment......................    6,825      12,982          13,449
        Computer equipment........................    1,950       9,935          12,931
        Leasehold improvements....................    3,179       8,679           9,123
                                                    -------     -------        --------
                                                     12,360      32,546          37,172
        Less accumulated depreciation and
          amortization............................   (3,276)     (9,610)        (11,826)
                                                    -------     -------        --------
                                                    $ 9,084     $22,936        $ 25,346
                                                    =======     =======        ========
</TABLE>
 
     Depreciation expense was $723,000, $2,154,000, and $5,230,000 for 1994,
1995, and 1996, respectively. Amortization was $103,000, $266,000, and
$1,061,000 for 1994, 1995, and 1996, respectively.
 
     Certain laboratory and computer equipment used by the Company could be
subject to technological obsolescence in the event that significant advancement
is made in competing or developing equipment technologies. Management
continually reviews the estimated useful lives of technologically sensitive
equipment and believes that those estimates appropriately reflect the current
useful life of its assets. In the event that a currently unknown significantly
advanced technology became commercially available, the Company would re-evaluate
the value and estimated useful lives of its existing equipment, possibly
requiring a material effect to the financial statements.
 
  Software Costs
 
     In accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board Statement No. 86, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software to be
Sold, Leased or Otherwise Marketed," the Company has capitalized software
development costs incurred in developing certain products once technological
feasibility of the products has been determined. Capitalized software costs are
amortized over three years and have been immaterial to date.
 
  Stock-Based Compensation
 
     The Company accounts for stock option grants in accordance with APB Opinion
No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." The Company currently grants
stock options for a fixed number of shares to employees and directors with an
exercise price equal to the fair value of the shares at the date of grant, and
therefore records no compensation expense.
 
  Revenue Recognition
 
     The Company recognizes revenue for database collaboration agreements evenly
over the term of the agreement. Revenue is deferred for fees received before
earned. Revenues from custom orders, such as satellite databases, are recognized
upon shipment. Revenues from reagents and genomic
 
                                       F-9
<PAGE>   54
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
screening products are recognized when shipped, and revenues from genomic
screening services are recognized upon completion.
 
  Businesses Acquired
 
     In July 1996, the Company issued 204,073 shares of its Common Stock in
exchange for all of the outstanding shares of Genome Systems, Inc. ("Genome
Systems"), a privately held genomics service company in St. Louis, Missouri. The
transaction has been accounted for as a pooling of interests, and the
consolidated financial statements discussed herein and all historical financial
information have been restated to reflect the combined operations of both
companies. Genome Systems has retained its name and operations, continuing to
offer a range of customized genomic screening products and services used by
scientists to assist in the identification and isolation of novel genes.
 
     In August 1996, the Company acquired Combion, Inc. ("Combion"), a privately
held microarray technology company located in Pasadena, California, for 73,171
shares of the Company's Common Stock. The acquisition of Combion has been
accounted for as a purchase, and the consolidated financial statements discussed
herein reflect the inclusion of the results of Combion from the date of
acquisition, August 15, 1996.
 
     See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
  Net Income (Loss) Per Share
 
     Net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding. Common equivalent shares from stock options and
warrants are excluded from the computation for periods prior to 1997, as their
effect is antidilutive. For the three months ended March 31, 1997, common
equivalent shares from stock options are included in the computation using the
treasury stock method, as their effect is dilutive.
 
     In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No. 128, Earnings per Share, which is required to be adopted on December 31,
1997. At that time, the Company will be required to change the method currently
used to compute earnings per share and to restate all prior periods. Under the
new requirements for calculating primary earnings per share, the dilutive effect
of stock options will be excluded. The Company expects that there will be no
material impact on the earnings per share for the quarters ended March 31, 1997
and 1996.
 
  Reclassifications
 
     Certain reclassifications were made to the prior periods' balances to
conform with the 1997 presentation.
 
2. COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had entered into database
collaboration agreements with eleven pharmaceutical companies and one
agricultural company. Each collaborator has agreed to pay, during the term of
the agreement, annual fees to receive non-exclusive access to selected modules
of the Company's databases. In addition, if a partner develops certain products
utilizing the Company's technology and database information, potential milestone
and royalty payments could be received by the Company. If these agreements are
not renewed and if the Company cannot sign a sufficient number of new database
agreements, the loss of revenue could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business and operating results. Certain companies also have satellite
database agreements, whereby the Company provides custom sequencing services,
which are billed for separately. Satellite
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>   55
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
database services are provided to the collaborator on an exclusive basis for a
negotiated period of time. Over 90% of the revenues in 1996 are derived from ten
collaborators, three of which individually contributed more than 10% of the
total, or approximately 37% in the aggregate. In 1995, the majority of the
revenues were derived from five collaborators, including three of which
contributed more than 10% individually, or approximately 73% in the aggregate.
In 1994, the Company recognized its first database collaboration revenues,
primarily from one collaborator, which contributed more than 10% of the total.
 
     As of March 31, 1997, the Company has entered into additional collaboration
agreements under similar terms.
 
     In addition to the database collaboration agreements, the Company has
entered into a number of research and development alliances with companies and
research institutions. These agreements provide for the funding of research
activities by the Company and the possible payment of milestones, license fees,
and, in some cases, royalties.
 
3. COMMITMENTS
 
     At December 31, 1996, the Company had signed noncancelable operating leases
on multiple facilities, including facilities in Palo Alto and Pasadena,
California, and St. Louis, Missouri. The leases expire on various dates ranging
from September 1997 to August 2006. Rent expense for the years ended December
31, 1994, 1995, and 1996 were approximately $443,000, $1,251,000, and
$1,645,000, respectively, and $385,000 and $514,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 1996 and 1997, respectively.
 
     The Company had laboratory equipment with a cost of approximately $370,000
at December 31, 1995 and 1996, and related accumulated amortization of
approximately $194,000 and $268,000 at December 31, 1995 and 1996, respectively,
under capital leases. These leases are secured by the equipment leased
thereunder.
 
     At December 31, 1996, future noncancelable minimum payments under the
operating and capital leases were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             CAPITAL
                                                                             LEASES
                                                                               AND
                                                               OPERATING      NOTES
                                                                LEASES       PAYABLE
                                                               ---------     -------
                                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
            <S>                                                <C>           <C>
            Year ended December 31:
              1997...........................................   $ 2,228       $  78
              1998...........................................     1,907          25
              1999...........................................     1,580          14
              2000...........................................     1,554          --
              2001 and thereafter............................     2,666          --
                                                                 ------        ----
            Total minimum lease payments.....................   $ 9,935         117
                                                                 ======
            Less amount representing interest................                    (7)
                                                                               ----
            Present value of minimum lease payments..........                   110
            Less current portion.............................                   (73)
                                                                               ----
            Noncurrent portion...............................                 $  37
                                                                               ====
</TABLE>
 
     The Company has entered into a number of research and development alliances
with companies and research institutions. The Company's commitments in aggregate
and under any one of these
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>   56
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
agreements do not represent a significant expenditure in relation to the
Company's total research and development expense. See Note 2 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
4. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
  Common Stock
 
     At December 31, 1996, the Company had reserved a total of 1,917,315 shares
of its Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants and stock
options described below. On May 21, 1997, the Company's stockholders approved an
increase in the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance from
20,000,000 to 75,000,000.
 
  Sales of Stock
 
     In November 1995, the Company completed a follow-on public stock offering
and issued 1,837,000 shares of Common Stock, including 137,000 shares issued on
December 13, 1995 upon partial exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment
option, at $19.00 per share before deducting the underwriting discount and
offering expenses.
 
  Warrants
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had outstanding a warrant to purchase
8,868 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.50 per share. The
warrant was exercised in January 1997.
 
  Stock Compensation Plans
 
     The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25 and related Interpretations in
accounting for its stock compensation plans. Accordingly, no compensation cost
has been recognized for its fixed stock option plans. Had compensation cost for
the Company's two stock-based compensation plans been determined consistent with
FASB Statement No. 123, the Company's pro forma net loss and loss per share in
1995 and 1996 would have been increased to approximately $10.6 million and $10.5
million, or $1.27 per share and $1.03 per share, respectively. The fair value of
the options granted during 1995 and 1996 are estimated at $8.68 and $18.88 per
share, respectively, on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes
multiple-option pricing model with the following assumptions: dividend yield 0%,
volatility of 55%, risk-free interest rate with an average of 6.68% and 6.10%
for 1995 and 1996, respectively, and an average expected life of 3.25 years.
 
     The effects on pro forma disclosures of applying FASB 123 are not likely to
be representative of the effects on pro forma disclosures of future years. As
FASB 123 is only applicable to options granted after December 31, 1994, the pro
forma effect will not be fully reflected until the year ending December 31,
1998.
 
     The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in
estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions
and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the
input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price
volatility and option life. Because the Company's employee stock options have
characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, because
changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value
estimate, and because the Company has a relatively limited history with option
behavior, in management's opinion the existing models do not necessarily provide
a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>   57
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
     Summaries of stock option activity for the Company's two fixed stock option
plans as of December 31, 1995 and 1996, and related information for the years
ended December 31 are included in the plan descriptions below.
 
  1991 Stock Plan
 
     In November 1991, the Board of Directors adopted the 1991 Stock Plan, which
was amended and restated in 1992, 1995, and 1996, for issuance of Common Stock
to employees, consultants, and scientific advisors. Options issued under the
plan shall, at the discretion of the compensation committee of the Board of
Directors, be either incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options. The
exercise prices of incentive stock options granted under the plan are not less
than the fair market value on the date of the grant, as determined by the Board
of Directors. Options generally vest over approximately four years, pursuant to
a formula determined by the Company's Board of Directors, and expire after ten
years. At December 31, 1996, the Company had reserved 2,000,000 shares of Common
Stock for issuance under the plan. On May 21, 1997, the Company's stockholders
approved an increase in the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance under the plan from 2,000,000 to 2,400,000.
 
     Activity under the plan was as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     SHARES SUBJECT TO
                                                                    OUTSTANDING OPTIONS
                                                                   ----------------------
                                                                                 WEIGHTED
                                                      SHARES                     AVERAGE
                                                     AVAILABLE                   EXERCISE
                                                     FOR GRANT      SHARES        PRICE
                                                     ---------     ---------     --------
        <S>                                          <C>           <C>           <C>
        Balance at December 31, 1993...............    416,750       372,834      $ 2.60
        Options granted............................   (310,700)      310,700      $13.28
        Options exercised..........................         --       (29,044)     $ 0.97
        Options canceled...........................      2,782        (2,782)     $ 5.67
                                                      --------     ---------      ------
        Balance at December 31, 1994...............    108,832       651,708      $ 7.71
        Additional authorization...................    800,000            --          --
        Options granted............................   (623,400)      623,400      $18.28
        Options exercised..........................         --       (28,815)     $ 3.06
        Options canceled...........................      9,959        (9,959)     $13.02
                                                      --------     ---------      ------
        Balance at December 31, 1995...............    295,391     1,236,334      $13.12
        Additional authorization...................    400,000            --          --
        Options granted............................   (526,150)      526,150      $39.49
        Options exercised..........................         --      (223,278)     $ 7.08
        Options canceled...........................     70,163       (70,163)     $16.76
                                                      --------     ---------      ------
        Balance at December 31, 1996...............    239,404     1,469,043      $23.26
                                                      ========     =========      ======
</TABLE>
 
     Options to purchase a total of 1,161,137 and 1,457,298 shares at December
31, 1995 and 1996 respectively, were exercisable. Of the shares exercisable,
300,064 and 401,502 shares were vested at December 31, 1995 and 1996,
respectively.
 
  Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan
 
     In August 1993, the Board of Directors approved the 1993 Directors' Stock
Option Plan (the "Directors' Plan"), which was amended in 1995. The Directors'
Plan provides for the automatic grant
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>   58
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
of options to purchase shares of Common Stock to non-employee directors of the
Company. The maximum number of shares issuable under the Directors' Plan is
200,000.
 
     The Directors' Plan provides immediate issuance of options to purchase an
initial 20,000 shares of Common Stock to each new non-employee director joining
the Board. The initial options are exercisable in five equal annual
installments. Additionally, members who continue to serve on the Board will
receive annual option grants for 5,000 shares exercisable in full on the first
anniversary of the date of the grant. All options are exercisable at the fair
market value of the stock on the date of grant. Through December 31, 1996, the
Company had granted options under the Directors' Plan to purchase 113,750 shares
of Common Stock at exercise prices ranging from $4.00 per share to $34.625 per
share (98,750 shares of Common Stock at exercise prices ranging from $4.00 per
share to $15.13 per share at December 31, 1995); 70,750 shares are vested and
exercisable at December 31, 1996 (43,750 shares were vested and exercisable at
December 31, 1995).
 
     The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding
at December 31, 1996, for both the 1991 Stock Plan and the 1993 Directors' Stock
Option Plan.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              OPTIONS OUTSTANDING                    OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
                                 ---------------------------------------------     ------------------------
                                                     WEIGHTED         WEIGHTED                     WEIGHTED
                                                     AVERAGE          AVERAGE                      AVERAGE
           RANGE OF                NUMBER           REMAINING         EXERCISE       NUMBER        EXERCISE
        EXERCISE PRICES          OUTSTANDING     CONTRACTUAL LIFE      PRICE       EXERCISABLE      PRICE
- -------------------------------  -----------     ----------------     --------     -----------     --------
<S>                              <C>             <C>                  <C>          <C>             <C>
$0.30-2.00.....................     141,594            6.02            $ 1.53         129,849       $ 1.49
$4.00-10.63....................     130,017            7.00            $ 6.26         102,017       $ 6.54
$10.88-15.13...................     247,273            8.01            $14.44         247,273       $14.44
$16.88-22.50...................     530,509            8.78            $18.41         530,509       $18.41
$30.25-46.75...................     533,400            9.68            $39.42         518,400       $39.56
                                  ---------            ----            ------       ---------       ------
$0.30-46.75....................   1,582,793            8.57            $22.36       1,528,048       $22.71
</TABLE>
 
     In July 1996, in connection with the Genome Systems transaction described
in Note 6 below, the Company issued, in exchange for an option to purchase
capital stock of Genome Systems, an option to purchase 10,741 shares of Common
Stock at an exercise price of $0.047 per share. The option was not issued under
the provisions of either plan described above. The option has been exercised
with respect to 5,370 shares as of December 31, 1996.
 
  Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
     On May 21, 1997, the Company's stockholders adopted the 1997 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"). The Company has authorized 200,000 shares of Common
Stock for issuance under the ESPP. Each regular full-time and part-time employee
is eligible to participate after one year of employment. The initial offering
period commences August 1, 1997 and ends November 1, 1999.
 
5. INCOME TAXES
 
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had federal net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $29,800,000. The net operating loss carryforwards
will expire at various dates, beginning on 2006, through 2011 if not utilized.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>   59
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
     Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 DECEMBER 31,
                                                             ---------------------
                                                               1995         1996
                                                             --------     --------
                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
            <S>                                              <C>          <C>
            Deferred tax assets:
              Net operating loss carryforwards.............  $  9,700     $ 10,100
              Research credits.............................       900        1,500
              Capitalized research and development.........     1,400        1,600
            Other, net.....................................       100        1,500
                                                             --------     --------
            Deferred tax assets............................    12,100       14,700
            Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets....   (12,100)     (14,700)
                                                             --------     --------
            Net deferred tax asset.........................  $     --     $     --
                                                             ========     ========
</TABLE>
 
     The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets increased by approximately
$4.6 million and $4.1 million during the years ended December 31, 1994 and 1995,
respectively.
 
     Utilization of the net operating losses and credits may be subject to an
annual limitation, due to the ownership change limitations provided by the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
 
     The estimated effective annual income tax rate for the three months ended
March 31, 1997 is 5%, which represents the provision for federal and state
alternative minimum taxes after utilization of net operating loss carryforwards.
 
6. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
 
     In July 1996, the Company issued 204,073 shares of Common Stock in exchange
for all of the capital stock of Genome Systems, a privately held genomics
company located in St. Louis, Missouri. Genome Systems provides genomic research
products and technical support services to scientists to assist them in the
identification and isolation of novel genes. The merger has been accounted for
as a pooling of interests and, accordingly, the Company's financial statements
and financial data have been restated to include the accounts and operations of
Genome Systems since inception.
 
     The table below presents the separate results of operations for Incyte and
Genome Systems for the periods prior to the merger. Incyte's results of
operations include Genome Systems since the transaction:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      ---------------------------------
                                                        1994         1995        1996
                                                      --------     --------     -------
        <S>                                           <C>          <C>          <C>
        Revenue:
          Incyte....................................  $    243     $  9,908     $40,051
          Genome Systems............................     1,269        2,304       1,734
                                                      --------     --------     -------
                                                      $  1,512     $ 12,212     $41,785
                                                      ========     ========     =======
        Net income (loss):
          Incyte....................................  $(11,500)    $(10,142)    $(6,724)
          Genome Systems............................        25          205         106
          Merger related expenses...................        --           --        (143)
                                                      --------     --------     -------
                                                      $(11,475)    $ (9,937)    $(6,761)
                                                      ========     ========     =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>   60
 
                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 (INFORMATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
     In August 1996, the Company acquired all the common stock of Combion, Inc.,
a microarray technology company in Pasadena, California, in a stock-for-stock
exchange, issuing 73,171 shares of its Common Stock valued at $3 million. The
acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase transaction and, accordingly,
the purchase price was allocated to assets and liabilities based on the
estimated fair value as of the date of acquisition. The excess of the
consideration paid over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired has been
recorded as the purchase of in-process research and development. Combion's
results of operations have been included in the consolidated results of
operations since the date of acquisition. Pro forma results of operations have
not been presented because the effect of this acquisition was not material to
the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>   61
                        Appendix-Description of Graphics



                        
GRAPHIC ON INSIDE FRONT COVER

     Computer screen displays of seven of the Company's databases -- LifeSeq
database screen display in center - six screens surrounding center from upper
left hand corner: LifeSeq FL, ZooSeq, PhytoSeq, PathoSeq, LifeSeq Gene 
Album and LifeSeq Atlas.




CHART ON PAGE 27-INCYTE'S PRODUCTS

        1995              1996               1997
        LifeSeq           LifeSeq            LifeSeq
        Satellites------> Satellites         Satellites
                          LifeSeq FL         LifeSeq FL
                          PathoSeq           PathoSeq
                          LifeSeq Atlas      LifeSeq Atlas
                          GeneAlbum          GeneAlbum
                          Life Tools-------> Life Tools
                                             Life Tools 3D
                                             ZooSeq


DIAGRAM ON PAGE 30 UNDER THE CAPTION THE "LIFESEQ DATABASE DATA FLOW"

     Arrow from cDNA sequencing production line and public-domain databases
(Wash. U/Merck, GenBank, TIGR) into automated bioanalysis system arrow into
LifeSeq Expression database.

     Arrow from LifeSeq Expression database to Sequence database and Sequence
database to/from Search tools (Smith-Waterman, BLAST, GCG, FASTA, etc.)

     Arrows from LifeSeq Expression database (HTML interface on client Macs,
PCs, or Unix machines) to Library Information, Clone Information, Electronic
Northern, Transcript Imaging, Library Comparisons, Protein Function

     Telephone poles as links between Public-domain databases (Gen Bank, Blocks,
Citation Indices, Swiss Prot, etc.) and UNIX-based server (Sybase or Oracle
RDBMS) 

<PAGE>   62
 
================================================================
 
     NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITERS.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY TO ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER
THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY OFFER OR SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL,
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN
THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT
AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 PAGE
                                                 ----
<S>                                              <C>
Prospectus Summary.............................    3
Risk Factors...................................    6
Use of Proceeds................................   15
Price Range of Common Stock....................   16
Dividend Policy................................   16
Capitalization.................................   17
Selected Consolidated Financial Data...........   18
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
  Financial Condition and Results of
  Operations...................................   19
Business.......................................   24
Management.....................................   37
Principal Stockholders.........................   39
Underwriting...................................   41
Legal Matters..................................   42
Experts........................................   42
Available Information..........................   42
Documents Incorporated by Reference............   43
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.....  F-1
 
=====================================================
</TABLE>
 
================================================================
 
                                1,000,000 SHARES
 
                                     INCYTE
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
                            -----------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
                            -----------------------
                               HAMBRECHT & QUIST
 
                               ALEX. BROWN & SONS
                                  INCORPORATED
 
                        VECTOR SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL,
                                      INC.
                                          , 1997
 
================================================================
<PAGE>   63
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
     The following table sets forth the various expenses payable by the
Registrant in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being
registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All
amounts are estimated except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration
fee and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. filing fee.
 
<TABLE>
        <S>                                                                 <C>
        SEC registration fee..............................................  $ 21,694
        National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. filing fee.......     7,659
        Nasdaq Stock Market additional listing fee........................    17,500
        Blue Sky fees and expenses........................................     5,000
        Accounting fees and expenses......................................    45,000
        Legal fees and expenses...........................................    75,000
        Printing and engraving expenses...................................    80,000
        Registrar and Transfer Agent's fees...............................     5,000
        Miscellaneous fees and expenses...................................     3,147
                                                                              ------
                  Total...................................................  $260,000
                                                                              ======
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides for the
indemnification of officers, directors, and other corporate agents in terms
sufficiently broad to indemnify such persons under certain circumstances for
liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). Article VII of the Registrant's
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (Exhibit 4.1), and Article V
of the Registrant's Bylaws (Exhibit 4.2) provide for indemnification of the
Registrant's directors, officers, employees and other agents to the extent and
under the circumstances permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The
Registrant has also entered into agreements with its directors and officers that
will require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify them against
certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as
directors or officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by law.
 
     The Underwriting Agreement (Exhibit 1.1) provides for indemnification by
the Underwriters of the Registrant, its directors and officers, and by the
Registrant of the Underwriters, for certain liabilities, including liabilities
arising under the Act, and affords certain rights of contribution with respect
thereto.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
        NUMBER                              DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
        ------     --------------------------------------------------------------------------
        <C>        <S>
          1.1      Form of Underwriting Agreement
          4.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company
          4.2      Bylaws, as amended, of the Company
          5.1      Opinion of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
         23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors
         23.2      Consent of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP (included in its opinion filed as
                   Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).
         24.1      Power of Attorney (see page II-3)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   64
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
          (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Act, the
     information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
     registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form
     of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
     497(h) under the Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
     statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
          (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each
     post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed
     to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   65
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3, and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Palo Alto, State of California, on July 14, 1997.
 
                                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
                                          By:     /s/ ROY A. WHITFIELD
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                      Roy A. Whitfield
                                                  Chief Executive Officer
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Roy A. Whitfield, Randal W. Scott and Denise M.
Gilbert, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement,
and any registration statement relating to the offering covered by this
Registration Statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities
Act of 1933, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and
agents or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    NAME                                     TITLE                     DATE
- ---------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------  --------------
<C>                                            <S>                                <C>
            /s/ ROY A. WHITFIELD               Chief Executive Officer             July 14, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------  (Principal Executive Officer) and
              Roy A. Whitfield                 Director
 
            /s/ DENISE M. GILBERT              Executive Vice President, Chief     July 14, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------  Financial Officer and Treasurer
              Denise M. Gilbert                (Principal Financial Officer)
 
             /s/ JANET L. NIBEL                Director, Finance and               July 14, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------  Administration (Principal
               Janet L. Nibel                  Accounting Officer)
 
          /s/ JEFFREY J. COLLINSON             Chairman of the Board               July 14, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------
            Jeffrey J. Collinson
 
             /s/ BARRY M. BLOOM                Director                            July 14, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------
               Barry M. Bloom
 
           /s/ FREDERICK B. CRAVES             Director                            July 14, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------
             Frederick B. Craves
 
               /s/ JON S. SAXE                 Director                            July 14, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------
                 Jon S. Saxe
 
             /s/ RANDAL W. SCOTT               Director                            July 14, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------
               Randal W. Scott
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   66
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT                                                                          SEQUENTIALLY
NUMBER                          DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT                          NUMBERED PAGE
- ------   ----------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------
<C>      <S>                                                                     <C>
  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement........................................
  4.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company.....
  4.2    Bylaws, as amended, of the Company....................................
  5.1    Opinion of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP..............................
 23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors....................
 23.2    Consent of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP (included in its opinion
         filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement)..................
 24.1    Power of Attorney (see page II-3).....................................
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                              ____________ Shares(1)

                                  Common Stock

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT


                                                                 July ___, 1997

HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC
ALEX. BROWN & SONS INCORPORATED
VECTOR SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
c/o Hambrecht & Quist LLC
One Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94104

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called the
Company), proposes to issue and sell ___________ shares of its authorized but
unissued Common Stock, $.001 par value (herein called the Common Stock) (said
_____________ shares of Common Stock being herein called the Underwritten
Stock). The Company proposes to grant to the Underwriters (as hereinafter
defined) an option to purchase up to _________ additional shares of Common Stock
(herein called the Option Stock and with the Underwritten Stock herein
collectively called the Stock). The Common Stock is more fully described in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus hereinafter mentioned.

         The Company hereby confirms the agreements made with respect to the
purchase of the Stock by the several underwriters, for whom you are acting,
named in Schedule I hereto (herein collectively called the Underwriters, which
term shall also include any underwriter purchasing Stock pursuant to Section
3(b) hereof). You represent and warrant that you have been authorized by each of
the other Underwriters to enter into this Agreement on its behalf and to act for
it in the manner herein provided.

         1.       REGISTRATION STATEMENT.  The Company has filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (herein called the Commission) a registration
statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-_____), including the related preliminary
prospectus, for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(herein called the Securities Act) of the Stock. Copies of such registration
statement and of each amendment thereto, if any, including the related
preliminary prospectus (meeting the requirements 

- -----------------
     (1) Plus an option to purchase from the Company up to _________ additional
shares to cover over allotments.

<PAGE>   2



of Rule 430A of the rules and regulations of the Commission) heretofore filed by
the Company with the Commission have been delivered to you.

         The term Registration Statement as used in this agreement shall mean
such registration statement, including all documents incorporated by reference
therein, all exhibits and financial statements, all information omitted
therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the Prospectus referred to
below, in the form in which it became effective, and any registration statement
filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission
with respect to the Stock (herein called a Rule 462(b) registration statement),
and, in the event of any amendment thereto after the effective date of such
registration statement (herein called the Effective Date), shall also mean (from
and after the effectiveness of such amendment) such registration statement as so
amended (including any Rule 462(b) registration statement). The term Prospectus
as used in this Agreement shall mean the prospectus, including the documents
incorporated by reference therein, relating to the Stock first filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A (or if no such filing is
required, as included in the Registration Statement) and, in the event of any
supplement or amendment to such prospectus after the Effective Date, shall also
mean (from and after the filing with the Commission of such supplement or the
effectiveness of such amendment) such prospectus as so supplemented or amended.
The term Preliminary Prospectus as used in this Agreement shall mean each
preliminary prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference
therein, included in such registration statement prior to the time it becomes
effective.

         The Registration Statement has been declared effective under the
Securities Act, and no post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
has been filed as of the date of this Agreement. The Company has caused to be
delivered to you copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and has consented to the
use of such copies for the purposes permitted by the Securities Act.

         2.       Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company 
hereby represents and warrants as follows:

                  (i) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has full corporate power and
authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and as being conducted, and is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing in all
jurisdictions in which the character of the property owned or leased or the
nature of the business transacted by it makes qualification necessary (except
where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on
the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company); the Company is in
possession of and operating in compliance with all authorizations, licenses,
certificates, consents, orders and permits from state, federal and other
regulatory authorities which are material to the conduct of its business, all of
which are valid and in full force and effect; the Company is not in violation of
its charter or bylaws or in default in the performance or observance of any
material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material
bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or in any material
contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, joint venture




                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it
or any of its properties may be bound or in material violation of any law,
order, rule, regulation, writ, injunction or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, of which it has
knowledge; and the Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any
corporation, association or other entity.

                  (ii) The Company has full legal right, power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is
a valid and binding agreement on the part of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity and contribution
hereunder may be limited by applicable law and public policy considerations and
except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally, and by general equitable principles of general
applicability; the performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated will not result in a breach or violation of any
of the terms and provisions of or constitute a default under, (A) any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement or
other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the property of the
Company is bound, (B) the charter or bylaws of the Company, or (C) any law,
order, rule, regulation, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or over the
properties of the Company; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of
any court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the
Company of the transactions herein contemplated, except such as may be required
under the Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (herein called
the Exchange Act), or under state or other securities or Blue Sky laws.

                  (iii) Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any
materially adverse change in the business, properties, condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company,
whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business,
other than as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and
since such dates, except in the ordinary course of business, the Company has not
entered into any material transaction not referred to in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus.

                  (iv) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply, and
on the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) and any later date on which Option
Stock is to be purchased, the Prospectus will comply, in all material respects,
with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (herein called the Exchange Act) and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder; on the Effective Date, the Registration Statement
did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein not misleading; and, on the Effective Date, the
Prospectus did not and, on the Closing Date and any later date on which Option
Stock is to be purchased, will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

misleading; provided, however, that none of the representations and warranties
in this subparagraph (iv) shall apply to statements in, or omissions from, the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information herein or otherwise furnished in writing to the Company by or
on behalf of the Underwriters for use in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus.

                  (v) Prior to the Closing Date, the Underwritten Stock and
Option Stock to be issued by the Company will be authorized for listing by the
Nasdaq National Market upon official notice of issuance.

                  (vi) All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal securities laws,
were not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive rights or other
rights to subscribe for or purchase securities, and the authorized and
outstanding capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to
the statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (and such statements correctly state the substance of the instruments
defining the capitalization of the Company); the shares of Stock to be purchased
from the Company hereunder have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to
the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by
the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable; and
no preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right, right of first refusal
or other similar right of stockholders exists with respect to any of the Stock
or the issuance and sale thereof other than those that have been expressly
waived prior to the date hereof and those that will automatically expire upon
the consummation of the transactions contemplated on the Closing Date. No
further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or
others is required for the issuance and sale of the Stock by the Company except
as may be required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or under state or
other securities or Blue Sky laws. Except as disclosed in or contemplated by the
Prospectus, the Company has no outstanding options to purchase, or any 
preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, any 
securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts of commitments to 
issue or sell, shares of its capital stock or any such options, rights, 
convertible securities or obligations. The description of the Company's stock 
option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or 
other rights granted and exercised thereunder, incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown 
with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

                  (vii) The Company has not distributed any offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Stock other than the Prospectus,
the Registration Statement and the other materials permitted by the Securities
Act.

                  (viii) The Company has filed all necessary federal and state
income and franchise tax returns and has paid all taxes shown thereon as due or
has duly requested extensions thereof, and there is no tax deficiency that has
been or, to the Company's knowledge, might be asserted against the 



                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

Company that might have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company,
and all tax liabilities are adequately provided for on the books of the Company.

                  (ix) Except as set forth in the Prospectus, (A) the Company
has good and marketable title to all material properties and assets described in
the Prospectus as owned by it, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security
interest, encumbrance, claim or equitable interest other than such as are not
material to the business of the Company, and (B) the agreements to which the
Company is a party described in the Prospectus or attached as Exhibits to the
Registration Statement are valid agreements, enforceable by the Company (as
applicable), except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles of
general applicability and, to their knowledge, the other contracting party or
parties thereto are not in material breach or material default under any of such
agreements.

                  (x) To the best of Company's knowledge, no labor disturbance
by the employees of the Company exists or is imminent; and the Company has no
actual knowledge of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees
of any of its principal suppliers, subassemblers, or distributors that might be
expected to result in any material adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company.
No collective bargaining agreement exists with any of the Company's employees
and, to the Company's knowledge, no such agreement is imminent.

                  (xi) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus or
reasonably contemplated thereby, the Company owns, possesses or can acquire on
reasonable terms, all trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions,
know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual
property (collectively, "intellectual property rights") necessary to conduct the
business now operated by it, or presently used by it, and has not received any
notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with
respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the
Company, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect
on the Company.

                  (xii) The Company has not received any notice of any pending
or threatened action, suit, claim or proceeding against the Company or any of
its respective officers or any of its properties, assets or rights before any
court or governmental agency or body, which (A) might result in any material
adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company, or (B) might prevent consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (xiii) The Company is not, and upon receipt and upon
application of the net proceeds from the sale of the Stock to be sold by the
Company in the manner described in the Prospectus, will



                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

not be, an "investment company" or "controlled" by an "investment company"
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder.

                  (xiv) To the best of the Company's knowledge, each current and
former employee and each consultant of the Company has executed a
confidentiality agreement and all such agreements are presently in effect and,
to the Company's knowledge, are enforceable. To the best of the Company's
knowledge, each of the Company's customers who has access to proprietary
information is subject to confidentiality agreements and all such agreements are
presently in effect and are enforceable.

                  (xv) The Company maintains insurance in such amounts generally
as are prudent and customary in the business in which it is engaged, including,
but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or
leased by the Company against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and
all other risks customarily insured against, all of which insurance is in full
force and effect.


         3.       PURCHASE OF THE STOCK BY THE UNDERWRITERS.

                  (a) On the basis of the representations and warranties and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to
issue and sell __________ shares of the Underwritten Stock to the several
Underwriters and each of the Underwriters agrees to purchase from the Company
the aggregate number of shares of Underwritten Stock set forth opposite its name
in Schedule I. The price at which such shares of Underwritten Stock shall be
sold by the Company and purchased by the several Underwriters shall be $______
per share. The obligation of each Underwriter to the Company shall be to
purchase from the Company that number of shares of the Underwritten Stock which
represents the same proportion of the total number of shares of the Underwritten
Stock to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement as the number of
shares of the Underwritten Stock set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter
in Schedule I hereto represents of the total number of shares of the
Underwritten Stock to be purchased by all Underwriters pursuant to this
Agreement, as adjusted by you in such manner as you deem advisable to avoid
fractional shares. In making this Agreement, each Underwriter is contracting
severally and not jointly; except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this
Section 3, the agreement of each Underwriter is to purchase only the respective
number of shares of the Underwritten Stock specified in Schedule I.

                  (b) If for any reason one or more of the Underwriters shall
fail or refuse (otherwise than for a reason sufficient to justify the
termination of this Agreement under the provisions of Section 8



                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

or 9 hereof) to purchase and pay for the number of shares of the Stock agreed to
be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters, the Company shall immediately
give notice thereof to you, and the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the
right within 24 hours after the receipt by you of such notice to purchase, or
procure one or more other Underwriters to purchase, in such proportions as may
be agreed upon between you and such purchasing Underwriter or Underwriters and
upon the terms herein set forth, all or any part of the shares of the Stock
which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase. If the
non-defaulting Underwriters fail so to make such arrangements with respect to
all such shares and portion, the number of shares of the Stock which each
non-defaulting Underwriter is otherwise obligated to purchase under this
Agreement shall be automatically increased on a pro rata basis to absorb the
remaining shares and portion which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed to purchase; provided, however, that the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall not be obligated to purchase the shares and portion which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase if the aggregate number of such
shares of the Stock exceeds 10% of the total number of shares of the Stock which
all Underwriters agreed to purchase hereunder. If the total number of shares of
the Stock which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase
shall not be purchased or absorbed in accordance with the two preceding
sentences, the Company shall have the right, within 24 hours next succeeding the
24-hour period above referred to, to make arrangements with other underwriters
or purchasers satisfactory to you for purchase of such shares and portion on the
terms herein set forth. In any such case, either you or the Company shall have
the right to postpone the Closing Date determined as provided in Section 5
hereof for not more than seven business days after the date originally fixed as
the Closing Date pursuant to said Section 5 in order that any necessary changes
in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any other documents or
arrangements may be made. If neither the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the
Company shall make arrangements within the 24-hour periods stated above for the
purchase of all the shares of the Stock which the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed to purchase hereunder, this Agreement shall be terminated
without further act or deed and without any liability on the part of the Company
to any non-defaulting Underwriter and without any liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter to the Company. Nothing in this paragraph (b), and no
action taken hereunder, shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability
in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

                  (c) On the basis of the representations, warranties and
covenants herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase,
severally and not jointly, up to _______ shares in the aggregate of the Option
Stock from the Company at the same price per share as the Underwriters shall pay
for the Underwritten Stock. Said option may be exercised only to cover
over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten Stock by the Underwriters and
may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but not more than once) on or
before the thirtieth day after the date of this Agreement upon written or
telegraphic notice by you to the Company setting forth the aggregate number of
shares of the Option Stock as to which the several Underwriters are exercising
the option. Delivery of certificates for the shares of Option Stock, and payment
therefor, shall be made as provided in Section 5 hereof. The number of shares of
the Option Stock to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same
percentage of the total number of shares of the Option Stock to be purchased by
the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of 



                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

the Underwritten Stock, as adjusted by you in such manner as you deem advisable
to avoid fractional shares.

         4.       OFFERING BY UNDERWRITERS.

                  (a) The terms of the public offering by the Underwriters of
the Stock to be purchased by them shall be as set forth in the Prospectus. The
Underwriters may from time to time change the public offering price after the
closing of the public offering and increase or decrease the concessions and
discounts to dealers as they may determine.

                  (b) The information set forth in the last paragraph on the
front cover page and under the caption "Underwriting" in the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus relating to the Stock
filed by the Company (insofar as such information relates to the Underwriters)
constitutes the only information furnished by the Underwriters to the Company
for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus, and you on behalf of the respective Underwriters represent and
warrant to the Company that the statements made therein are correct.

         5.       DELIVERY OF AND PAYMENT FOR THE STOCK.

                  (a) Delivery of certificates for the shares of the
Underwritten Stock and the Option Stock (if the option granted by Section 3(c)
hereof shall have been exercised not later than 7:00 a.m. California time, on
the date two business days preceding the Closing Date), and payment therefor,
shall be made at the office of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP, 235 Montgomery
Street, San Francisco, CA 94104 at 7:00 a.m., California time, on the third
business day after the date of this Agreement, or at such time on such other
day, not later than the fourth business day after the date of this Agreement, as
shall be agreed upon in writing by the Company and you. The date and hour of
such delivery and payment (which may be postponed as provided in Section 3(b)
hereof) are herein called the Closing Date.

                  (b) If the option granted by Section 3(c) hereof shall be
exercised after 7:00 a.m., California time, on the date two business days
preceding the Closing Date, delivery of certificates for the shares of Option
Stock, and payment therefor, shall be made at the office of Pillsbury Madison &
Sutro LLP, 235 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94104 at 7:00 a.m., 
California time, on the third business day after the exercise of such option.

                  (c) Payment for the Stock purchased from the Company shall be
made to the Company or its order by wire transfer in immediately available
funds. Such payment shall be made upon delivery of certificates for the Stock to
you for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against receipt
therefor signed by you. Certificates for the Stock to be delivered to you shall
be registered in such name or names and shall be in such denominations as you
may request at least one business day before the Closing Date, in the case of
Underwritten Stock, and at least one business day prior to the purchase thereof,
in the case 



                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9

of the Option Stock. Such certificates will be made available to the
Underwriters for inspection, checking and packaging at the offices of Lewco
Securities Corporation, 2 Broadway, New York, New York 10004, on the business
day prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Stock, by 3:00 p.m.,
New York time, on the business day preceding the date of purchase.

         It is understood that you, individually and not on behalf of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment to the Company
for shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose check shall not have been
received by you on the Closing Date or any later date on which Option Stock is
purchased for the account of such Underwriter. Any such payment by you shall not
relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations hereunder.

         6.       FURTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY.  The Company covenants and
agrees as follows:

                  (a) The Company will (i) prepare and timely file with the
Commission under Rule 424(b) a Prospectus containing information previously
omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance
on Rule 430A and (ii) not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or
supplement to the Prospectus of which you shall not previously have been advised
and furnished with a copy or to which you shall have reasonably objected in
writing or which is not in compliance with the Securities Act or the rules and
regulations of the Commission.

                  (b) The Company will promptly notify each Underwriter in the
event of (i) the request by the Commission for amendment of the Registration
Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information,
(ii) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) the institution or notice of
intended institution of any action or proceeding for that purpose, (iv) the
receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Stock for sale in any jurisdiction, or (v) the receipt by
it of notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance
of such a stop order and, if such an order shall at any time be issued, to
obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

                  (c) The Company will (i) on or before the Closing Date,
deliver to you a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed
and of each amendment thereto filed prior to the time the Registration Statement
becomes effective and, promptly upon the filing thereof, a signed copy of each
post-effective amendment, if any, to the Registration Statement (together with,
in each case, all exhibits thereto unless previously furnished to you) and will
also deliver to you, for distribution to the Underwriters, a sufficient number
of additional conformed copies of each of the foregoing (but without exhibits)
so that one copy of each may be distributed to each Underwriter, (ii) as
promptly as possible deliver to you and send to the several Underwriters, at
such office or offices as you may designate, as many copies of the Prospectus as
you may reasonably request, and (iii) thereafter from time to time during the
period in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an
Underwriter or dealer, likewise send to the Underwriters as many additional
copies of the Prospectus and as many copies of any supplement to the Prospectus
and of any amended prospectus, filed by the Company with the Commission, as you
may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the Securities Act.



                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10

                  (d) If at any time during the period in which a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer any event relating
to or affecting the Company, or of which the Company shall be advised in writing
by you, shall occur as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company or of counsel for the Underwriters, to supplement or
amend the Prospectus in order to make the Prospectus not misleading in the light
of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser of the
Stock, the Company will forthwith prepare and file with the Commission a
supplement to the Prospectus or an amended prospectus so that the Prospectus as
so supplemented or amended will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time such
Prospectus is delivered to such purchaser, not misleading. If, after the initial
public offering of the Stock by the Underwriters and during such period, the
Underwriters shall propose to vary the terms of offering thereof by reason of 
changes in general market conditions or otherwise, you will advise the Company
in writing of the proposed variation, and, if in the opinion either of counsel
for the Company or of counsel for the Underwriters such proposed variation
requires that the Prospectus be supplemented or amended, the Company will
forthwith prepare and file with the Commission a supplement to the Prospectus or
an amended prospectus setting forth such variation. The Company authorizes the
Underwriters and all dealers to whom any of the Stock may be sold by the several
Underwriters to use the Prospectus, as from time to time amended or
supplemented, in connection with the sale of the Stock in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations thereunder for such period.

                  (e) Prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, the
Company will submit to you, for your information, a copy of any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement and any supplement to the Prospectus or
any amended prospectus proposed to be filed.

                  (f) The Company will cooperate, when and as requested by you,
in the qualification of the Stock for offer and sale under the securities or
blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as you may designate and, during the period
in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or
dealer, in keeping such qualifications in good standing under said securities or
blue sky laws; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to
file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified. The Company
will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other
documents as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect
for so long a period as you may reasonably request for distribution of the
Stock.

                  (g) During a period of five years commencing with the date
hereof, the Company will furnish to you, and to each Underwriter who may so
request in writing, copies of all periodic and special reports furnished to
stockholders of the Company and of all information, documents and reports filed
with the Commission.

                  (h) Not later than the 45th day following the end of the
fiscal quarter first occurring after the first anniversary of the Effective
Date, the Company will make generally available to its 



                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11

security holders an earnings statement in accordance with Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

                  (i) The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident
to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including all costs
and expenses incident to (i) the preparation, printing and filing with the
Commission and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") of
the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, (ii)
the furnishing to the Underwriters of copies of any Preliminary Prospectus and
of the several documents required by paragraph (c) of this Section 6 to be so
furnished, (iii) the printing of this Agreement and related documents delivered
to the Underwriters, (iv) the preparation, printing and filing of all
supplements and amendments to the Prospectus referred to in paragraph (d) of
this Section 6, (v) the furnishing to you and the Underwriters of the reports
and information referred to in paragraph (g) of this Section 6 and (vi) the
printing and issuance of stock certificates, including the transfer agent's
fees.

                  (j) The Company agrees to reimburse you, for the account of
the several Underwriters, for blue sky fees and related disbursements (including
counsel fees and disbursements and cost of printing memoranda for the
Underwriters) paid by or for the account of the Underwriters or their counsel in
qualifying the Stock under state securities or blue sky laws and in the review
of the offering by the NASD.

                  (k) The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written
consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC on behalf of the Underwriters, the Company will
not, for a period of 90 days following the commencement of the public offering
of the Stock by the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, offer,
contract to sell, make any short sale, pledge, sell any option or contract to
purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or
warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or
any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or
other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences or ownership of Common Stock, whether any such transaction
described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common
Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence
shall not apply to (A) the Stock to be sold to the Underwriters pursuant to this
Agreement, (B) shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of
options granted under the Company's 1991 Stock Plan, the 1993 Director's Stock
Option Plan and the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plans"), all as
described in footnote (1) to the table under the caption "Capitalization" in the
Preliminary Prospectus, and (C) options to purchase Common Stock granted under
the Plans.

                  (l) The Company agrees to use its best efforts to cause all
directors and executive officers to agree that, without the prior written
consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC on behalf of the Underwriters, such person will
not, for a period of 90 days following the commencement of the public offering
of the Stock by the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, offer,
contract to sell, make any short sale, pledge, sell any option or contract to
purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or
warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into or 



                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12

exchangeable or exercisable for or any rights to purchase or acquire Common
Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or
in part, any of the economic consequences or ownership of Common Stock, whether
any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by
delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.

         7.       INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

                  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person (including each partner or officer thereof) who
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which such indemnified parties or any of them may become subject
under the Securities Act, or the common law or otherwise, and the Company agrees
to reimburse each such Underwriter and controlling person for any legal or other
expenses (including, except as otherwise hereinafter provided, reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the respective indemnified parties in
connection with defending against any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities or in connection with any investigation or inquiry of, or other
proceeding which may be brought against, the respective indemnified parties, in
each case arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
(including the Prospectus as part thereof and any Rule 462(b) registration
statement) or any post-effective amendment thereto (including any Rule 462(b)
registration statement), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (as
amended or as supplemented if the Company shall have filed with the Commission
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided, however, that (1) the indemnity agreements of the Company
contained in this paragraph (a) shall not apply to any such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished as herein stated to
the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use in any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, (2) the indemnity agreement contained in this
paragraph (a) with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the
benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses purchased the Stock which is the
subject thereof (or to the benefit of any person controlling such Underwriter)
if at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Stock a copy of
the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented) was not sent or
delivered to such person and the untrue statement or omission of a material fact
contained in such Preliminary Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus (or the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented) unless the failure is the result of
noncompliance by the Company with paragraph (c) of Section 6 hereof.

         The indemnity agreement of the Company contained in this paragraph (a)
and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2
hereof shall remain operative and in full force and 


                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified
party and shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Stock.

                  (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement
on his own behalf or pursuant to a power of attorney, each of its directors,
each other Underwriter and each person (including each partner or officer
thereof) who controls the Company or any such other Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such indemnified
parties or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, or the
common law or otherwise and to reimburse each of them for any legal or other
expenses (including, except as otherwise hereinafter provided, reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the respective indemnified parties in
connection with defending against any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities or in connection with any investigation or inquiry of, or other
proceeding which may be brought against, the respective indemnified parties, in
each case arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
(including the Prospectus as part thereof and any Rule 462(b) registration
statement) or any post-effective amendment thereto (including any Rule 462(b)
registration statement) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (as amended or as supplemented if
the Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, if such statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished as herein stated for use in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The indemnity
agreement of each Underwriter contained in this paragraph (b) shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by
or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the delivery of and
payment for the Stock.

                  (c) Each party indemnified under the provision of paragraphs
(a) and (b) of this Section 7 agrees that, upon the service of a summons or
other initial legal process upon it in any action or suit instituted against it
or upon its receipt of written notification of the commencement of any
investigation or inquiry of, or proceeding against, it in respect of which
indemnity may be sought on account of any indemnity agreement contained in such
paragraphs, it will promptly give written notice (herein called the Notice) of
such service or notification to the party or parties from whom indemnification
may be sought hereunder. No indemnification provided for in such paragraphs
shall be available to any party who shall fail so to give the Notice if the
party to whom such Notice was not given was unaware of the action, suit,
investigation, inquiry or proceeding to which the Notice would have related and
was prejudiced by the failure to give the Notice, but the omission so to notify
such indemnifying party or parties of any such service or notification shall not
relieve such indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they
may have to the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on account
of such indemnity agreement. Any indemnifying party shall be entitled at its own
expense to participate in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding against,
or investigation 



                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

or inquiry of, an indemnified party. Any indemnifying party shall be entitled,
if it so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of the Notice by giving
written notice (herein called the Notice of Defense) to the indemnified party,
to assume (alone or in conjunction with any other indemnifying party or parties)
the entire defense of such action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding,
in which event such defense shall be conducted, at the expense of the
indemnifying party or parties, by counsel chosen by such indemnifying party or
parties and reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or parties;
provided, however, that (i) if the indemnified party or parties reasonably
determine that there may be a conflict between the positions of the indemnifying
party or parties and of the indemnified party or parties in conducting the
defense of such action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding or that there
may be legal defenses available to such indemnified party or parties different
from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party or parties,
then counsel for the indemnified party or parties shall be entitled to conduct
the defense to the extent reasonably determined by such counsel to be necessary
to protect the interests of the indemnified party or parties and (ii) in any
event, the indemnified party or parties shall be entitled to have counsel chosen
by such indemnified party or parties participate in, but not conduct, the
defense. If, within a reasonable time after receipt of the Notice, an
indemnifying party gives a Notice of Defense and the counsel chosen by the
indemnifying party or parties is reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party or parties, the indemnifying party or parties will not be liable under
paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party or parties in connection with the
defense of the action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding, except that
(A) the indemnifying party or parties shall bear the legal and other expenses
incurred in connection with the conduct of the defense as referred to in clause
(i) of the proviso to the preceding sentence and (B) the indemnifying party or
parties shall bear such other expenses as it or they have authorized to be
incurred by the indemnified party or parties. If, within a reasonable time after
receipt of the Notice, no Notice of Defense has been given, the indemnifying
party or parties shall be responsible for any legal or other expenses incurred
by the indemnified party or parties in connection with the defense of the
action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding.

                  (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7, then each indemnifying party, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7 (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by each
indemnifying party from the offering of the Stock or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of each indemnifying party in
connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, or actions in respect thereof, as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Company and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Stock received by
the Company and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, as
set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, bear to the
aggregate public offering price of the Stock. Relative fault shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to



                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

information supplied by each indemnifying party and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such untrue statement or omission.

         The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contributions pursuant to this paragraph (d) were to be determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph
(d). The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, or actions in respect thereof, referred to in the first
sentence of this paragraph (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigation, preparing to defend or defending against any action or claim
which is the subject of this paragraph (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of
this paragraph (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the Stock purchased by such
Underwriter. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this paragraph (d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.

         Each party entitled to contribution agrees that upon the service of a
summons or other initial legal process upon it in any action instituted against
it in respect of which contribution may be sought, it will promptly give written
notice of such service to the party or parties from whom contribution may be
sought, but the omission so to notify such party or parties of any such service
shall not relieve the party from whom contribution may be sought from any
obligation it may have hereunder or otherwise (except as specifically provided
in paragraph (c) of this Section 7).

                  (e) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of
each Underwriter, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment
in any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of
which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not such Underwriter
or any person who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act is a party to such claim,
action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of such Underwriter and each such controlling
person from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

         8. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated by you at any time
prior to the Closing Date by giving written notice to the Company if after the
date of this Agreement trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended, or
if there shall have occurred (i) the engagement in hostilities or an escalation
of major hostilities by the United States or the declaration of war or a
national emergency by the United States on or after the date hereof, (ii) any
outbreak of hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis or
change in economic or political conditions if the effect of such outbreak,
calamity, crisis or change in economic or political conditions in the financial
markets of the United States would, in the Underwriters' reasonable judgment,
make the offering or delivery of the Stock impracticable, (iii) suspension of
trading in securities generally or a material adverse decline in value of
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock
Exchange, or The



                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
Nasdaq Stock Market, or limitations on prices (other than limitations on hours
or numbers of days of trading) for securities on either such exchange or system,
(iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any federal or
state statute, regulation, rule or order of, or commencement of any proceeding
or investigation by, any court, legislative body, agency or other governmental
authority which in the Underwriters' reasonable opinion materially and adversely
affects or will materially or adversely affect the business or operations of the
Company, (v) declaration of a banking moratorium by either federal or New York
State authorities or (vi) the taking of any action by any federal, state or
local government or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in
the Underwriters' reasonable opinion has a material adverse effect on the
securities markets in the United States. If this Agreement shall be terminated
pursuant to this Section 8, there shall be no liability of the Company to the
Underwriters and no liability of the Underwriters to the Company; provided,
however, that in the event of any such termination the Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters from all costs or expenses incident
to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement,
including all costs and expenses referred to in paragraphs (i) and (j) of
Section 6 hereof.

         9. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Stock shall be subject to the
performance by the Company of all its obligations to be performed hereunder at
or prior to the Closing Date or any later date on which Option Stock is to be
purchased, as the case may be, and to the following further conditions:

                  (a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective;
and no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued
and no proceedings therefor shall be pending or threatened by the Commission.

                  (b) The legality and sufficiency of the sale of the Stock
hereunder and the validity and form of the certificates representing the Stock,
all corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the foregoing, and
the form of the Registration Statement and of the Prospectus (except as to the
financial statements contained therein), shall have been approved at or prior to
the Closing Date by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation,
counsel for the Underwriters.

                  (c) You shall have received from Pillsbury Madison & Sutro
LLP, counsel for the Company, an opinion addressed to the Underwriters and dated
the Closing Date, covering the matters set forth in Annex A hereto, and if
Option Stock is purchased at any date after the Closing Date, additional
opinions from such counsel, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such later
date, confirming that the statements expressed as of the Closing Date in such
opinions remain valid as of such later date.

                  (d) You shall have received from the Company's in-house patent
counsel an opinion addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Closing Date,
covering the matters set forth in Annex B hereto, and if Option Stock is
purchased at any date after the Closing Date, additional opinions from such
counsel, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such later date, confirming
that the statements expressed as of the Closing Date in such opinions remain
valid as of such later date.



                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17

                  (e) You shall be satisfied that (i) as of the Effective Date,
the statements made in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus were true
and correct and neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus omitted to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, respectively, not misleading, (ii) since the
Effective Date, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a
supplement or amendment to the Prospectus which has not been set forth in such a
supplement or amendment, (iii) since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement in the form in which it
originally became effective and the Prospectus contained therein, there has not
been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise),
earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company, whether or
not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, and, since
such dates, except in the ordinary course of business, the Company has not
entered into any material transaction not referred to in the Registration
Statement in the form in which it originally became effective and the Prospectus
contained therein, (iv) the Company has no material contingent obligations which
are not disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (v) there
are not any pending or known threatened legal proceedings to which the Company
is a party or of which property of the Company is the subject which are material
and which are not disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
(vi) there are not any franchises, contracts, leases or other documents which
are required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have
not been filed as required, (vii) the representations and warranties of the
Company herein are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing
Date or any later date on which Option Stock is to be purchased, as the case may
be, and (viii) there has not been any material change in the market for
securities in general or in political, financial or economic conditions from
those reasonably foreseeable as to render it impracticable in your reasonable
judgment to make a public offering of the Stock, or a material adverse change in
market levels for securities in general (or those of companies in particular) or
financial or economic conditions which render it inadvisable to proceed.

                  (f) You shall have received on the Closing Date and on any
later date on which Option Stock is purchased a certificate, dated the Closing
Date or such later date, as the case may be, and signed by the Chief Executive
Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, stating that the
respective signers of said certificate have carefully examined the Registration
Statement in the form in which it originally became effective and the Prospectus
contained therein and any supplements or amendments thereto, and that the
statements included in clauses (i) through (vii) of paragraph (f) of this
Section 9 are true and correct.

                  (g) You shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP , a letter
or letters, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Closing Date and any
later date on which Option Stock is purchased, confirming that they are
independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of
the Securities Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder
and based upon the procedures described in their letter delivered to you
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (herein called the Original
Letter), but carried out to a date not more than three business days prior to
the Closing Date or such later date on which Option Stock is purchased (i)
confirming, to the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set forth in
the Original Letter are accurate as of the 



                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18

Closing Date or such later date, as the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any
revisions and additions to the statements and conclusions set forth in the
Original Letter which are necessary to reflect any changes in the facts
described in the Original Letter since the date of the Original Letter or to
reflect the availability of more recent financial statements, data or
information. The letters shall not disclose any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business or properties of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries which, in your sole judgment, makes it
impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering of the Stock or
the purchase of the Option Stock as contemplated by the Prospectus.

                  (h) You shall have been furnished evidence in usual written or
telegraphic form from the appropriate authorities of the several jurisdictions,
or other evidence satisfactory to you, of the qualification referred to in
paragraph (f) of Section 6 hereof.

                  (i) Prior to the Closing Date, the Stock to be issued and sold
by the Company shall have been duly authorized for listing on the Nasdaq
National Market upon official notice of issuance.

                  (j) On or prior to the Closing Date, you shall have received
from all directors and executive officers of the Company, in a form reasonably
satisfactory to Hambrecht & Quist LLC, stating that without the prior written
consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC on behalf of the Underwriters, such person or
entity will not, for a period of 90 days following the commencement of the
public offering of the Stock by the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, (i)
sell, offer, contract to sell, make any short sale, pledge, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of
Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for or any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock or (ii) enter into any
swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences or ownership of Common Stock, whether any such transaction
described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common
Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.

         All the agreements, opinions, certificates and letters mentioned above
or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the
provisions hereof only if Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
Corporation, counsel for the Underwriters, shall be satisfied that they comply
in form and scope.

         In case any of the conditions specified in this Section 9 shall not be
fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by you by giving notice to the
Company. Any such termination shall be without liability of the Company to the
Underwriters and without liability of the Underwriters to the Company; provided,
however, that (i) in the event of such termination, the Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters from all costs or expenses incident
to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement,
including all costs and expenses referred to in paragraphs (i) and (j) of
Section 6 hereof, and (ii) if this Agreement is terminated by you because of any
refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein, to fulfill any of the conditions herein, or to comply with any
provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the 



                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19

Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally upon demand
for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         10. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY. The obligation of the
Company to deliver the Stock shall be subject to the conditions that (a) the
Registration Statement shall have become effective and (b) no stop order
suspending the effectiveness thereof shall be in effect and no proceedings
therefor shall be pending or threatened by the Commission.

         In case either of the conditions specified in this Section 10 shall not
be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company by giving notice
to you. Any such termination shall be without liability of the Company to the
Underwriters and without liability of the Underwriters to the Company; provided,
however, that in the event of any such termination the Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters from all costs or expenses incident
to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement,
including all costs and expenses referred to in paragraphs (i) and (j) of
Section 6 hereof.

         11. REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN EXPENSES. In addition to its other
obligations under Section 7 of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to
reimburse on a quarterly basis the Underwriters for all reasonable legal and
other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any claim,
action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon
any statement or omission, or any alleged statement or omission, described in
paragraph (a) of Section 7 of this Agreement, notwithstanding the absence of a
judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the obligations
under this Section 11 and the possibility that such payments might later be held
to be improper; provided. however, that (i) to the extent any such payment is
ultimately held to be improper, the persons receiving such payments shall
promptly refund them and (ii) such persons shall provide to the Company, upon
request, reasonable assurances of their ability to effect any refund, when and
if due.

         12. PERSONS ENTITLED TO BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of the Company and the several Underwriters and, with
respect to the provisions of Section 7 hereof, the several parties (in addition
to the Company and the several Underwriters) indemnified under the provisions of
said Section 7, and their respective personal representatives, successors and
assigns. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to
any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The
term "successors and assigns" as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as
such purchaser, of any of the Stock from any of the several Underwriters.

         13.      NOTICES.  Except as otherwise provided herein, all 
communications hereunder shall be in writing or by telegraph and, if to the
Underwriters, shall be mailed, telegraphed or delivered to Hambrecht & Quist
LLC, One Bush Street, San Francisco, California 94104; and if to the Company,
shall be mailed, telegraphed or delivered to it at its office, 3174 Porter
Drive, Palo Alto, California 



                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20

94304, Attention: Roy A. Whitfield. All notices given by telegraph shall be
promptly confirmed by letter.

         14. MISCELLANEOUS. The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution
agreements contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and
covenants in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of
(a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of
the Company or the respective directors or officers, and (c) delivery and
payment for the Stock under this Agreement; provided. however, that if this
Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing Date, the provisions of paragraphs
(k), and (l) of Section 6 hereof shall be of no further force or effect.

         This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.

         This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of California.




                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21

         Please sign and return to the Company in care of the Company the
enclosed duplicates of this letter, whereupon this letter will become a binding
agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with
its terms.

                                 Very truly yours,

                                 INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


                                 By
                                   -------------------------------------
                                   Roy A. Whitfield
                                   President and Chief Executive Officer



The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first above
written.

HAMBRECHT & QUIST LLC
ALEX. BROWN & SONS INCORPORATED
VECTOR SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
  By Hambrecht & Quist LLC

By
  --------------------------------------
         Managing Director

Acting on behalf of the several Underwriters, 
including themselves, named in Schedule I
hereto.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22

                                   SCHEDULE I

                                  UNDERWRITERS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                         NUMBER
                                                                                                           OF
                                                                                                      UNDERWRITER
                                                                                                        SHARES
                                                                                                         TO BE
                                                                                                        PURCHASED     
                                                                                                      -----------
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
Hambrecht & Quist LLC.............................................................................     _________
Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated ..................................................................     _________
Vector Securities International, Inc..............................................................     _________

                                                                                                       ---------
Total.............................................................................................
                                                                                                       =========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   23



                                     ANNEX A

                     MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF
                         PILLSBURY MADISON & SUTRO LLP
                            COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY

         (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing
in each state of the United States of America in which its ownership or leasing
of property requires such qualification (except where the failure to be so
qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the business, properties,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company, and has full
corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement;

         (ii) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 5,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, of which there are no outstanding
shares, and 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value, of which as of
July ____, 1997, there are outstanding _________ shares (including the
Underwritten Stock plus the number of shares of Option Stock issued on the date
hereof); proper corporate proceedings have been taken validly to authorize such
authorized capital stock, all of the outstanding shares of such capital stock
(including the Underwritten Stock and the shares of Option Stock issued, if any)
have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable; any
Option Stock purchased after the Closing Date, when issued and delivered to and
paid for by the Underwriters as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, will
have been duly and validly issued and be fully paid and nonassessable; and no
preemptive rights of, or rights of refusal in favor of, stockholders exist with
respect to the Stock, or the issue and sale thereof, pursuant to the Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company and, to the knowledge of such counsel,
there are no contractual preemptive rights that have not been waived, rights of
first refusal or rights of co-sale which exist with respect to the issue and
sale of the Stock;

         (iii) the Registration Statement has become effective under the
Securities Act and, to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or suspending or preventing the use
of the Prospectus is in effect and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or contemplated by the Commission;

         (iv) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except as to the
financial statements and schedules and other financial data contained therein,
as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and with the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

         (v) the information required to be set forth in the Registration
Statement in answer to Items 9 and 10 (insofar as it relates to such counsel) of
Form S-3 is to the best of such counsel's knowledge accurately and adequately
set forth therein in all material respects or no response is required with
respect to such Items;


<PAGE>   24



         (vi) such counsel do not know of any franchises, contracts, leases,
documents or legal proceedings, pending or threatened, which in the opinion of
such counsel are of a character required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement, which are not described and filed as required;

         (vii)    the Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company;

         (viii) the issue and sale by the Company of the shares of Stock sold by
the Company as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement will not conflict
with, or result in a breach of, the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of
the Company or any agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the
Company is a party or any applicable law or regulation, or so far as is known to
such counsel, any order, writ, injunction or decree, of any jurisdiction, court
or government instrumentality;

         (ix) all holders of securities of the Company having rights to the
registration of shares of Common Stock, or other securities, because of the
filing of the Registration Statement by the Company have waived such rights or
such rights have expired by reason of lapse of time following notification of
the Company's intent to file the Registration Statement or such rights have been
satisfied;


                      ------------------------------------


         Counsel rendering the foregoing opinion may rely as to questions of law
not involving the laws of the United States or of the State of upon opinions of
local counsel satisfactory in form and scope to counsel for the Underwriters.
Copies of any opinions so relied upon shall be delivered to the representatives
and to counsel for the underwriters and the foregoing opinion shall also state
that counsel knows of no reason the Underwriters are not needed to rely upon the
opinions of such local counsel.

         In addition to the matters set forth above, counsel rendered the
foregoing opinion shall also include a statement to the effect that nothing has
come to the attention of such counsel that leads them to believe that the
Registration Statement (except as to the financial statements and schedules and
other financial data contained or incorporated by reference therein, as to which
such counsel need not express any opinion or belief) at the Effective Date
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or opinion to state a material
fact required to be stated thereon or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, that the Prospectus (except as to the financial statements and
schedules and other financial data contained or incorporated by reference
therein, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion or belief) as of
its date or at the Closing Date (or any later date on which Option Stock is
purchased), contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements thereon, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>   25



                                     ANNEX B

                     MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF
                     IN-HOUSE PATENT COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY


         1. To the best of our knowledge, there are no judicial proceedings
pending relating to patents or proprietary information to which the Company is a
party, and to the best of our knowledge, except as set forth in the Final
Prospectus, no such judicial proceedings are threatened by any person.

         2. To the best of our knowledge, each of the Company's currently
pending U.S. and foreign patent applications (other than the BPI-related
applications) has been properly prepared and filed by or on behalf of the
Company; and, to the best of our knowledge, each of such applications is held by
the Company and no other entity or individual has any right or claim in any of
such applications or any patent to be issued therefrom, by virtue of any
contract, license or other agreement, known to us, entered into between such
entity and the Company, except for those applications listed on Schedule I
hereto with respect to which certain of the Company's collaborators have certain
rights as co-inventors.

         3. With respect to issued patents or patents being prosecuted by or on
behalf of the Company, no patent rights are scheduled to expire during the
five-year period following the date hereof which expiration would materially and
adversely affect the financial or business condition, business, operations or
business prospects of the Company.

         4. To the best of our knowledge, the Company has not received any
notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with
respect to any patents which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially adversely affect the
condition (financial or other) business, results of operations or prospects of
the Company, except with respect to [claims], with respect to which the Company
believes it has meritorious defenses.

         In addition, we have considered the statements contained in the
sections of the Prospectus entitled "Risk Factors -- Uncertainty of Protection
of Patents and Proprietary Rights" and "Business -- Patents and Proprietary
Technology" (collectively, the "Intellectual Property Paragraphs"), although we
have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such
statements. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, nothing has come to our
attention that leads us to believe that the Intellectual Property Paragraphs, at
the time the Registration Statement became effective and as of the date hereof,
contained or contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or that the Intellectual Property Paragraphs,
as of the date hereof, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.

<PAGE>   26

         For purposes of the foregoing opinions, the term "the Company" shall
refer also to Combion, Inc. and Genome Systems, Inc., its consolidated
subsidiaries.


                                      -4-


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                      RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            (as amended as of 7/2/97)


                  INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

                  FIRST:  The name of the corporation is Incyte
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

                  SECOND: The original Certificate of Incorporation of the
corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on
April 8, 1991 and the original name of the corporation was INCYTE
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

                  THIRD: Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, this Restated Certificate of
Incorporation restates, integrates and further amends the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation.

                  FOURTH:  The text of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation
as heretofore amended or supplemented is hereby restated and amended to read in
its entirety as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                  The name of the corporation is Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.


                                   ARTICLE II

                  The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware
is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington,
County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such
address is The Corporation Trust Company.


                                   ARTICLE III

                  The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or
promoted is to engage in any lawful act or
<PAGE>   2
activity for which corporations may be organized under the
General Corporation Law of Delaware.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                  A. Classes of Stock. The total number of shares of all classes
of capital stock which the corporation shall have authority to issue is eighty
million (80,000,000), of which seventy-five million (75,000,000) shares of the
par value of one-tenth of one cent ($.001) each shall be Common Stock (the
"Common Stock") and five million (5,000,000) shares of the par value of
one-tenth of one cent ($.001) each shall be Preferred Stock (the "Preferred
Stock"). The number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may
be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then
outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock, without a vote of the holders of the
Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such Preferred
Stock holders is required pursuant to the provisions established by the Board of
Directors of this Corporation (the "Board of Directors") in the resolution or
resolutions providing for the issue of such Preferred Stock, and if such holders
of such Preferred Stock are so entitled to vote thereon, then, except as may
otherwise be set forth in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the only
stockholder approval required shall be the affirmative vote of a majority of the
combined voting power of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock so entitled to
vote.

                  B. Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued from
time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors is expressly
authorized to provide for the issue, in one or more series, of all or any of the
remaining shares of Preferred Stock and, in the resolution or resolutions
providing for such issue, to establish for each such series the number of its
shares, the voting powers, full or limited, of the shares of such series, or
that such shares shall have no voting powers, and the designations, preferences
and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of
such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The
Board of Directors is also expressly authorized (unless forbidden in the
resolution or resolutions providing for such issue) to increase or decrease (but
not below the number of shares of the series then outstanding) the number of
shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series. In
case the number of shares of any such series shall be so decreased, the shares
constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the
adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such
series.

                                       -2-
<PAGE>   3
                  C.       Common Stock.

                  1. Relative Rights of Preferred Stock and Common Stock. All
preferences, voting powers, relative, participating optional or other special
rights and privileges, and qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of the
Common Stock are expressly made subject and subordinate to those that may be
fixed with respect to any shares of the Preferred Stock.

                  2. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law or this
restated certificate of incorporation, each holder of Common Stock shall have
one vote in respect of each share of stock held by him of record on the books of
the corporation for the election of directors and on all matters submitted to a
vote of stockholders of the corporation.

                  3.       Dividends.  Subject to the preferential rights of the
Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and
if declared by the board of directors, out of the assets of the corporation
which are by law available therefor, dividends payable either in cash, in
property or in shares of capital stock.

                  4.       Dissolution, Liquidation or Winding Up.  In the event
of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the corporation,
after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, to be
distributed to the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock, holders of Common
Stock shall be entitled, unless otherwise provided by law or this Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, to receive all of the remaining assets of the
corporation of whatever kind available for distribution to stockholders ratably
in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them respectively.


                                    ARTICLE V

                  The corporation is to have perpetual existence.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                  In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred
by the laws of the State of Delaware:

                  A. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt,
amend or repeal the by-laws of the corporation; provided, however, that the
by-laws may only be amended in accordance with the provisions thereof.


                                       -3-
<PAGE>   4
                  B.       Elections of directors need not be by written
ballot unless the by-laws of the corporation shall so
provide.

                  C.       The books of the corporation may be kept at
such place within or without the State of Delaware as the
by-laws of the corporation may provide or as may be
designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                  A. A director of the corporation shall not be personally
liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the corporation and its stockholders; (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
knowing violations of law; (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit.

                  B. Each person who is or is made a party or is threatened to
be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"),
by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal
representative, is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether
the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a
director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a
director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by
the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General
Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the
case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the
corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted
the corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense,
liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise
taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably
incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such
indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in the
second paragraph hereof, the corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking
indemni-

                                       -4-
<PAGE>   5
fication in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such
person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of
Directors of the corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this
section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the
corporation any expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of
its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the Delaware General
Corporation Law requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or
officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other
capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or
officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in
advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon
delivery to the corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director
or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be
determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under
this section or otherwise. The corporation may, by action of its Board of
Directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the corporation
with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and
officers.

                  If a claim under the first paragraph of this section is not
paid in full by the corporation within thirty (30) days after a written claim
has been received by the corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter
bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim
and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be
paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any
such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses
incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where
the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the
corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make
it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the corporation to
indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such
defense shall be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation
(including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances
because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the
Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the corporation
(including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct,
shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has
not met the applicable standard of conduct.

                                       -5-
<PAGE>   6
                  The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses
incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred
in this section shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may
have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise.

                  C. The corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to
protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation
or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the corporation
would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or
loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

                  D. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of
this Article VII shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation existing at the time of
such repeal or modification.

                  E. The amendment or repeal of this Article VII shall require
the approval of the holders of shares representing at least sixty six and
two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the shares of the corporation entitled to vote
in the election of directors, voting as one class.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                  The corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any
provision contained in this restated certificate of incorporation, in the manner
now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon a
stockholder herein are granted subject to this reservation.


                  FIFTH:  This Restated Certificate of Incorporation
was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of this
corporation.

                  SIXTH:  This Restated Certificate of Incorporation
was duly adopted by written consent of the stockholders in
accordance with Sections 228, 245 and 242 of the General

                                       -6-
<PAGE>   7
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and written notice of such action has
been given as provided in Section 228.





                                      -7-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                                     BYLAWS

                                       OF

                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            (amended as of 05/21/97)

                                    ARTICLE I

                            MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

                  Section 1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders
shall be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may be
fixed from time to time by the board of directors or the chief executive
officer, or if not so designated, at the registered office of the corporation.

                  Section 2. Annual Meeting. Annual meetings of stockholders
shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by
the board of directors or the chief executive officer and stated in the notice
of meeting. At the annual meeting the stockholders shall elect by a plurality
vote a board of directors and shall transact such other business as may properly
be brought before the meeting.

                  To be properly brought before the annual meeting, business
must be either (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement
thereto) given by or at the direction of the board of directors or the chief
executive officer, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at
the direction of the board of directors or the chief executive officer, or (c)
otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder of record. In
addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly
brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have
given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the corporation. To
be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered by a nationally recognized
courier service or mailed by first class United States mail, postage or delivery
charges prepaid, and received at the principal executive offices of the
corporation, addressed to the attention of the secretary of the corporation, not
less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the scheduled date of the
meeting (regardless of any postponements, deferrals or adjournments of that
meeting to a later date); provided, however, that in the event that less than 70
days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the scheduled meeting is
given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so
received not later than the earlier of (a) the close of business on the 10th day
following the day on which such notice of the date of the scheduled annual
meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made, whichever first occurs,
and (b) two days prior to the date of the scheduled meeting. A stockholder's
notice to the secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder
proposes to
<PAGE>   2
bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired
to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such
business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and record address of the
stockholder proposing such business, (iii) the class, series and number of
shares of the corporation that are owned beneficially by the stockholder, and
(iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding
anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at the
annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Section; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall be deemed to
preclude discussion by any stockholder of any business properly brought before
the annual meeting.

                  The chairman of the board of the corporation (or such other
person presiding at the meeting in accordance with these bylaws) shall, if the
facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not
properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this
Section, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and
any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be
transacted.

                  Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the
stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may, unless otherwise prescribed by
statute or by the certificate of incorporation, be called only by the board of
directors or the chief executive officer and shall be called by the chief
executive officer or secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the
board of directors. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the
proposed meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting shall be limited to
matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

                  Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by
law, written notice of each meeting of stockholders, annual or special, stating
the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting,
the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less
than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting, to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.

                  Section 5. Voting List. The officer who has charge of the
stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before
every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to
vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of
each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each
stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for
any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period
of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city or
town where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the
notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified,

                                       -2-
<PAGE>   3
at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced
and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and
may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

                  Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the stock
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or
represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the
stockholders for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by
statute, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.

                  Section 7. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may be
adjourned from time to time to any other time and to any other place at which a
meeting of stockholders may be held under these bylaws, which time and place
shall be announced at the meeting, by a majority of the stockholders present in
person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote, though less
than a quorum, or, if no stockholder is present or represented by proxy, by any
officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting, without
notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present
or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or
represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at
the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if
after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a
notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record
entitled to vote at the meeting.

                  Section 8. Action at Meetings. When a quorum is present at any
meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock present in person or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the question shall decide any
question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by
express provision of law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, a
different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern
and control the decision of such question.

                  Section 9. Voting and Proxies. Unless otherwise provided in
the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall at every meeting of the
stockholders be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock having
voting power held of record by such stockholder. Each stockholder entitled to
vote at a meeting of stockholders, or to express consent or dissent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, may authorize another person or persons to
act for him by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three
years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.

                  Section 10.  Action Without Meeting.  Any action
required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stock-
holders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or

                                       -3-
<PAGE>   4
special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without
prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the
action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not
less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or
take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were
present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a
meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those
stockholders who have not consented in writing.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                    DIRECTORS

                  Section 1. Number, Election, Tenure and Qualification. The
number of directors which shall constitute the whole board of directors shall
not be less than one (1) nor more than seven (7). Within such limit, the number
of directors which shall constitute the whole board of directors shall be fixed
from time to time by resolution of the board of directors. The directors shall
be elected at the annual meeting or at any special meeting of the stockholders,
except as provided in Section 3 of this Article, and each director elected shall
hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, unless sooner
displaced. Directors need not be stockholders.

                  Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the
following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors. Nominations of
persons for election to the board of directors at the annual meeting, by or at
the direction of the board of directors, may be made by any nominating committee
or person appointed by the board of directors; nominations may also be made by
any stockholder of record of the corporation entitled to vote for the election
of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in
this Section. Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of
the board of directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to
the secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be
delivered by a nationally recognized courier service or mailed by first class
United States mail, postage or delivery charges prepaid, and received at the
principal executive offices of the corporation addressed to the attention of the
secretary of the corporation not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior
to the scheduled date of the meeting (regardless of any postponements, deferrals
or adjournments of that meeting to a later date); provided, however, that, in
the case of an annual meeting and in the event that less than 70 days' notice or
prior public disclosure of the date of the scheduled meeting is given or made to
stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not
later than the earlier of (a) the close of business on the 10th day following
the day on which such notice of the date of the scheduled meeting was mailed or
such public

                                       -4-
<PAGE>   5
disclosure was made, whichever first occurs, or (b) two days prior to the date
of the scheduled meeting. Such stockholder's notice to the secretary shall set
forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for
election or reelection as a director, (i) the name, age, business address and
residence address of the person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of
the person, (iii) the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the
corporation that are owned beneficially by the person, (iv) a statement as to
the person's citizenship, and (v) any other information relating to the person
that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of
directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (b) as to the
stockholder giving the notice, (i) the name and record address of the
stockholder and (ii) the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of
the corporation that are owned beneficially by the stockholder. The corporation
may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may
reasonably be required by the corporation to determine the eligibility of such
proposed nominee to serve as director of the corporation. No person shall be
eligible for election as a director of the corporation unless nominated in
accordance with the procedures set forth herein.

                  In connection with any annual meeting, the chairman of the
board of directors (or such other person presiding at such meeting in accordance
with these by-laws) shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the
meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing
procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and
the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

                  Section 2.  Enlargement.  The number of the board of
directors may be increased at any time by vote of a majority of
the directors then in office.

                  Section 3. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors
may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a
quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold
office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly
elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced. If there are no directors in
office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by
statute. In the event of a vacancy in the board of directors, the remaining
directors, except as otherwise provided by law or these bylaws, may exercise the
powers of the full board until the vacancy is filled.

                  Section 4.  Resignation and Removal.  Any director may
resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation at its
principal place of business or to the chief executive officer or

                                       -5-
<PAGE>   6
the secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is
specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other
event. Any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or
without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote
at an election of directors, unless otherwise specified by law or the
certificate of incorporation.

                  Section 5. General Powers. The business and affairs of the
corporation shall be managed by its board of directors, which may exercise all
powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by
statute or by the certificate of incorporation or by these bylaws directed or
required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

                  Section 6. Chairman of the Board. If the board of directors
appoints a chairman of the board, he shall, when present, preside at all
meetings of the stockholders and the board of directors. He shall perform such
duties and possess such powers as are customarily vested in the office of the
chairman of the board or as may be vested in him by the board of directors.

                  Section 7.  Place of Meetings.  The board of directors
may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or
without the State of Delaware.

                  Section 8. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the board of
directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall
from time to time be determined by the board; provided that any director who is
absent when such a determination is made shall be given prompt notice of such
determination. A regular meeting of the board of directors may be held without
notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of
stockholders.

                  Section 9. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board may
be called by the chief executive officer, secretary, or on the written request
of two or more directors, or by one director in the event that there is only one
director in office. Two days notice to each director, either personally or by
telegram, cable, telecopy, commercial delivery service, telex or similar means
sent to his business or home address, or three days notice by written notice
deposited in the mail, shall be given to each director by the secretary or by
the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. A notice or waiver of
notice of a meeting of the board of directors need not specify the purposes of
the meeting.

                  Section 10. Quorum, Action at Meeting, Adjournments. At all
meetings of the board, a majority of directors then in office, but in no event
less than one third of the entire board, shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at
any meeting at

                                       -6-
<PAGE>   7
which there is a quorum shall be the act of the board of directors, except as
may be otherwise specifically provided by law or by the certificate of
incorporation. For purposes of this section, the term "entire board" shall mean
the number of directors last fixed by the stockholders or directors, as the case
may be, in accordance with law and these bylaws; provided, however, that if less
than all the number so fixed of directors were elected, the "entire board" shall
mean the greatest number of directors so elected to hold office at any one time
pursuant to such authorization. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting
of the board of directors, a majority of the directors present thereat may
adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at
the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

                  Section 11. Action by Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by
the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors or of any
committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board or
committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee.

                  Section 12. Telephonic Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted
by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the board of
directors or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the board
of directors or of any committee, as the case may be, by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a
meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

                  Section 13. Committees. The board of directors may, by
resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more
committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the
corporation. The board may designate one or more directors as alternate members
of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any
meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the
resolution of the board of directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers
and authority of the board of directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be
affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the
power or authority in reference to amending the certificate of incorporation,
adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the
stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the
corporation's property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a
dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the
bylaws of the corporation; and, unless the resolution designating such committee
or the

                                       -7-
<PAGE>   8
certificate of incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have
the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of
stock. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be
determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the board of directors.
Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and make such reports
to the board of directors as the board of directors may request. Except as the
board of directors may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the
conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the directors or in
such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same
manner as is provided in these bylaws for the conduct of its business by the
board of directors.

                  Section 14. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the
certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the board of directors shall have
the authority to fix from time to time the compensation of directors. The
directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of
the board of directors and the performance of their responsibilities as
directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the
board of directors and/or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall
preclude any director from serving the corporation or its parent or subsidiary
corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. The
board of directors may also allow compensation for members of special or
standing committees for service on such committees.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                    OFFICERS

                  Section 1. Enumeration. The officers of the corporation shall
be chosen by the board of directors and shall be a president, a secretary and a
treasurer and such other officers with such titles, terms of office and duties
as the board of directors may from time to time determine, including a chairman
of the board, one or more vice-presidents, and one or more assistant secretaries
and assistant treasurers. If authorized by resolution of the board of directors,
the chief executive officer may be empowered to appoint from time to time
assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person, unless the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws
otherwise provide.

                  Section 2. Election. The board of directors at its first
meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a president, a
secretary and a treasurer. Other officers may be appointed by the board of
directors at such meeting, at any other meeting, or by written consent.


                                       -8-
<PAGE>   9
                  Section 3. Tenure. The officers of the corporation shall hold
office until their successors are chosen and qualify, unless a different term is
specified in the vote choosing or appointing him, or until his earlier death,
resignation or removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the board of
directors or by the chief executive officer may be removed at any time by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors or a committee duly
authorized to do so, except that any officer appointed by the chief executive
officer may also be removed at any time by the chief executive officer. Any
vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation may be filled by the board of
directors, at its discretion. Any officer may resign by delivering his written
resignation to the corporation at its principal place of business or to the
chief executive officer or the secretary. Such resignation shall be effective
upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon
the happening of some other event.

                  Section 4. President. The president shall be the chief
operating officer of the corporation. He shall also be the chief executive
officer unless the board of directors otherwise provides. The president shall,
unless the board of directors provides otherwise in a specific instance or
generally, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the board of
directors, have general and active management of the business of the corporation
and see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried
into effect. The president shall execute bonds, mortgages, and other contracts
requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation, except where required or
permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the
signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board of
directors to some other officer or agent of the corporation.

                  Section 5. Vice-Presidents. In the absence of the president or
in the event of his inability or refusal to act, the vice-president, or if there
be more than one vice-president, the vice-presidents in the order designated by
the board of directors or the chief executive officer (or in the absence of any
designation, then in the order determined by their tenure in office) shall
perform the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all the
powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The
vice-presidents shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as
the board of directors or the chief executive officer may from time to time
prescribe.

                  Section 6. Secretary. The secretary shall have such powers and
perform such duties as are incident to the office of secretary. He shall
maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as
required and shall be the custodian of corporate records. The secretary shall
attend all meetings of the board of directors and all meetings of the
stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of

                                       -9-

<PAGE>   10
the corporation and of the board of directors in a book to be kept for that
purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required.
He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders
and special meetings of the board of directors, and shall perform such other
duties as may be from time to time prescribed by the board of directors or chief
executive officer, under whose supervision he shall be. He shall have custody of
the corporate seal of the corporation and he, or an assistant secretary, shall
have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so
affixed, it may be attested by his signature or by the signature of such
assistant secretary. The board of directors may give general authority to any
other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing by
his signature.

                  Section 7. Assistant Secretaries. The assistant secretary, or
if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by
the board of directors, the chief executive officer or the secretary (or if
there be no such determination, then in the order determined by their tenure in
office), shall, in the absence of the secretary or in the event of his inability
or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary
and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of
directors, the chief executive officer or the secretary may from time to time
prescribe. In the absence of the secretary or any assistant secretary at any
meeting of stockholders or directors, the person presiding at the meeting shall
designate a temporary or acting secretary to keep a record of the meeting.

                  Section 8. Treasurer. The treasurer shall perform such duties
and shall have such powers as may be assigned to him by the board of directors
or the chief executive officer. In addition, the treasurer shall perform such
duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of treasurer. The
treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall
keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging
to the corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in
the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be
designated by the board of directors. He shall disburse the funds of the
corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, taking proper vouchers
for such disbursements, and shall render to the chief executive officer and the
board of directors, when the chief executive officer or board of directors so
requires, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the financial
condition of the corporation.

                  Section 9. Assistant Treasurers. The assistant treasurer, or
if there shall be more than one, the assistant treasurers in the order
determined by the board of directors, the chief executive officer or the
treasurer (or if there be no such determination, then in the order determined by
their tenure

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11
in office), shall, in the absence of the treasurer or in the event of his
inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the
board of directors, the chief executive officer or the treasurer may from time
to time prescribe.

                  Section 10. Bond. If required by the board of directors, any
officer shall give the corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or
sureties and upon such terms and conditions as shall be satisfactory to the
board of directors, including without limitation a bond for the faithful
performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the
corporation of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever
kind in his possession or under his control and belonging to the corporation.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                     NOTICES

                  Section 1. Delivery. Whenever, under the provisions of law, or
of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, written notice is required
to be given to any director or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail,
addressed to such director or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the
records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall
be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United
States mail. Unless written notice by mail is required by law, written notice
may also be given by telegram, cable, telecopy, commercial delivery service,
telex or similar means, addressed to such director or stockholder at his address
as it appears on the records of the corporation, in which case such notice shall
be deemed to be given when delivered into the control of the persons charged
with effecting such transmission, the transmission charge to be paid by the
corporation or the person sending such notice and not by the addressee. Oral
notice or other in-hand delivery (in person or by telephone) shall be deemed
given at the time it is actually given.

                  Section 2. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required
to be given under the provisions of law or of the certificate of incorporation
or of these bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall
be deemed equivalent thereto.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

                  Section 1.  Actions Other than by or in the Right of
the Corporation.  Subject to Section 4 of this Article V, the

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or
was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner
he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a
plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

                  Section 2. Actions by or in the Right of the Corporation.
Subject to Section 4 of this Article V, the corporation shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or
suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of
Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine
upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware
or such other court shall deem proper.

                  Section 3.  Success on the Merits.  To the extent that any
person described in Section 1 or 2 of this Article V has been successful on the
merits or otherwise in defense of any

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
action, suit or proceeding referred to in said Sections, or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.

                  Section 4. Specific Authorization. Any indemnification under
Section 1 or 2 of this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by
the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination
that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in
the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in Section 1 or 2, as the case may be, of this Article V. Such
determination shall be made (1) by the board of directors by a majority vote of
a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or
proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders of the corporation.

                  Section 5. Advance Payment. Expenses incurred in defending a
civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in
advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as
authorized by the board of directors in the manner provided for in Section 4 of
this Article V upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of any person
described in said Section to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be
determined that he is entitled to indemnification by the corporation as
authorized in this Article V.

                  Section 6. Non-Exclusivity. The indemnification and
advancement of expenses provided by this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive
of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of
expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall
continue as to a person who has ceased to be director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors
and administrators of such a person; provided, however, that any repeal or
amendment of any of the provisions of this Article V shall not adversely affect
any right or protection of any indemnitee existing at the time of such repeal or
amendment.

                  Section 7. Insurance. The board of directors may authorize, by
a vote of the majority of the full board, the corporation to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of
his

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify
him against such liability under the provisions of this Article V.

                  Section 8. Severability. If any word, clause or provision of
this Article V or any award made hereunder shall for any reason be determined to
be invalid, the provisions hereof shall not otherwise be affected thereby but
shall remain in full force and effect.

                  Section 9. Intent of Article. The intent of this Article V is
to provide for indemnification to the fullest extent not prohibited by section
145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware. To the extent that such Section
or any successor section may be amended or supplemented from time to time, this
Article V shall be amended automatically and construed so as to permit
indemnification to the fullest extent from time to time not prohibited by law.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                  CAPITAL STOCK

                  Section 1. Certificates of Stock. Every holder of stock in the
corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name
of the corporation by, the chairman or vice-chairman of the board of directors,
or the president or a vice-president and the treasurer or an assistant
treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation,
certifying the number of shares owned by him in the corporation. Any or all of
the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer,
transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been
placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent
or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the
corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or
registrar at the date of issue. Certificates may be issued for partly paid
shares and in such case upon the face or back of the certificates issued to
represent any such partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to
be paid therefor, and the amount paid thereon shall be specified.

                  Section 2. Lost Certificates. The board of directors may
direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any
certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new
certificate or certificates, the board of directors may, in its discretion and
as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such
lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal
representative, to give reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction,
to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim
that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged
to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the issuance of such new certificate.

                  Section 3. Transfer of Stock. Upon surrender to the
corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for
shares, duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession,
assignment or authority to transfer, and proper evidence of compliance with
other conditions to rightful transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation
to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old
certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

                  Section 4. Record Date. In order that the corporation may
determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or
for the purpose of any other lawful action, the board of directors may fix, in
advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty days nor less then
ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any
other action to which such record date relates. A determination of stockholders
of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall
apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the board of
directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. If no record date
is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or
to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the
day before the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the
close of business on the day before the day on which the meeting is held. The
record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to
corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the board
of directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent
is expressed. The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose
shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors
adopts the resolution relating to such purpose.

                  Section 5. Registered Stockholders. The corporation shall be
entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as
the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold
liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner
of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to
or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or
not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided
by the laws of Delaware.


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
                                   ARTICLE VII

                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

                  Section 1.  Transactions with Interested Parties.  No contract
or transaction between the corporation and one or more of its directors or
officers, or between the corporation and any other corporation, partnership,
association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or
officers are directors or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable
solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at
or participates in the meeting of the board or committee thereof which
authorizes the contract or transaction or solely because his or their votes are
counted for such purpose, if:

                  (a) the material facts as to his relationship or interest and
         as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the
         board of directors or the committee, and the board or committee in good
         faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes
         of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the
         disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or

                  (b) The material facts as to his relationship or interest and
         as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the
         stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction
         is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or

                  (c) The contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation
         as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the board of
         directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders.

                  Section 2.  Quorum.  Common or interested directors may be
counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the board of
directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

                  Section 1. Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the
corporation, if any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or
special meeting or by written consent, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in
cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions
of the certificate of incorporation.


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17
                  Section 2.  Reserves.  The directors may set apart out of
any funds of the corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for
any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.

                  Section 3. Checks. All checks or demands for money and notes
of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other
person or persons as the board of directors may from time to time designate.

                  Section 4.  Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year of the corporation
shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.

                  Section 5. Seal. The board of directors may, by resolution,
adopt a corporate seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name
of the corporation, the year of its organization and the word "Delaware." The
seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed
or otherwise reproduced. The seal may be altered from time to time by the board
of directors.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   AMENDMENTS

                  These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new bylaws
may be adopted by the stockholders or by the board of directors, when such power
is conferred upon the board of directors by the certificate of incorporation, at
any regular meeting of the stockholders or of the board of directors or at any
special meeting of the stockholders or of the board of directors provided,
however, that in the case of a regular or special meeting of stockholders,
notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new bylaws be
contained in the notice of such meeting.


                                      -17-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  Exhibit 5.1



                                 July 14, 1997


Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
3174 Porter Drive
Palo Alto, California 94304


     Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
     --------------------------------------


Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We are acting as counsel for Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 1,150,000 shares of Common Stock, par
value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company, all of which are
authorized but heretofore unissued shares are to be offered and sold by the
Company (including 150,000 shares subject to the underwriters' over-allotment
option). In this regard we have participated in the preparation of a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 relating to such 1,150,000 shares of Common
Stock. (Such Registration Statement, as amended, and including any registration
statement related thereto and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act (a "Rule 462(b) registration statement") is herein referred to
as the "Registration Statement.")

     We are of the opinion that the shares of Common Stock to be offered and
sold by the Company (including any shares of Common Stock registered pursuant
to a Rule 462(b) registration statement) have been duly authorized and, when
issued and sold by the company in the manner described in the Registration
Statement and in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus included therein.

                               Very truly yours,



                               /s/ PILLSBURY MADISON & SUTRO LLP
                            



<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Selected
Financial Data" and "Experts" in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and
related Prospectus of Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the registration of
shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
report dated February 7, 1997, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form
10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1996, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
 
                                                           /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Palo Alto, California
July 14, 1997


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