UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 13G
Amendment No. 1
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
(Title of Class of Securities)
87156R109
(CUSIP Number)
Wayne P. Merkelson, Esq.
Novartis Corporation
556 Morris Avenue
Summit, NJ 07901-1398
Telephone: (908) 522-6777
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of
Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
Communications)
Copy to:
Spencer D. Klein, Esq.
Shearman & Sterling
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Telephone: (212) 848-4000
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<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 87156R109
(1) Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
Novartis AG
-------------
(2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of Group (See Instructions)
|_| (a)
|_| (b)
(3) SEC Use Only
(4) Citizenship or Place of Organization Switzerland
Number of (5) Sole Voting Power -0-
Shares -------
Beneficially (6) Shared Voting Power 695,715
Owned by ---------
Each (7) Sole Dispositive Power -0-
Reporting -------
Person (8) Shared Dispositive Power 695,715
With ---------
- ----
(9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 695,715
---------
(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
Instructions)
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
6.52%
-------
(12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 87156R109
(1) Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
Novartis Produkte AG
----------------------
(2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of Group (See Instructions)
|_| (a)
|_| (b)
(3) SEC Use Only
(4) Citizenship or Place of Organization Switzerland
Number of (5) Sole Voting Power -0-
Shares -------
Beneficially (6) Shared Voting Power 695,715
Owned by ---------
Each (7) Sole Dispositive Power -0-
Reporting -----
Person (8) Shared Dispositive Power 695,715
With ---------
- ----
(9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 695,715
---------
(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
Instructions)
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
6.52%
------
(12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO
----
<PAGE>
Item 1. Issuer
This Amendment to Schedule 13G amends the Statement on
Schedule 13G filed on February 13, 1996 by Ciba-Geigy Ltd.
with respect to shares of Common Stock of the Issuer listed
below.
(a) Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation
(b) 215 College Road
Paramus. NJ 07652
Item 2. Person Filing
(a) Name of Person Filing: Novartis AG ("Novartis") and
Novartis Produkte AG.
(b) Address of Principal Office: The principal offices
of Novartis and Novartis Produkte AG are located at
Schwarzwaldallee 215, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland.
(c) Citizenship: Novartis and Novartis Produkte AG are
Swiss corporations.
(d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, $0.01
par value.
(e) CUSIP Number: 87156R109
Item 3. This statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c).
Item 4. Ownership
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 695,715
(b) Percent of Class: 6.52%
(c) Number of shares as to which each person has:
(i) Sole Voting Power: 0
(ii) Shared Voting Power: 695,715
(iii) Sole Dispositive Power: 0
(iv) Shared Dispositive Power: 695,715
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
Not applicable.
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person
Not applicable.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company
Not applicable.
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
Not Applicable.
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group
<PAGE>
Not Applicable.
Item 10. Certification if Statement Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)
Not Applicable.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: March 2, 1998
NOVARTIS AG
By: /s/ Dr. Urs Barlocher
--------------------------------
Name: Dr. Urs Barlocher
Title: General Counsel
By: /s/ Christoph Mader
--------------------------------
Name: Christoph Mader
Title: Senior Corporate Counsel
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: March 2, 1998
NOVARTIS PRODUKTE AG
By: /s/ Kurt Brechbuhl
--------------------------------
Name: Kurt Brechbuhl
Title: Authorized Signatory
By: /s/ Anita Buchli
--------------------------------
Name: Anita Buchli
Title: Authorized Signatory
