<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
(RULE 13d-102)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13D-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO 13d-2
(AMENDMENT NO.__)(1)
SYNAPTIC PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
-----------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK
------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
87156R 10 9
--------------
(CUSIP Number)
MARCH 25, 1999
--------------
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
/ / Rule 13d-1(b)
/X/ Rule 13d-1(c)
/ / Rule 13d-1(d)
- -------------------
(1) The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not
be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section
of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however,
SEE the NOTES).
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
CUSIP NO. 87156R 10 9 13G Page 2 of 7 Pages
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON:
BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) /X/ (b) / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER 0
OF --------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 677,867
OWNED BY EACH --------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON 0
WITH --------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
677,867
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
677,867
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES* / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
6.3%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
PN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
CUSIP NO. 87156R 10 9 13G Page 3 of 7 Pages
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON:
BVF PARTNERS L.P.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) /X/ (b) / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER 0
OF --------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 1,317,317
OWNED BY EACH --------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON 0
WITH --------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,317,317
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,317,317
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES* / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
12.3%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
PN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
CUSIP NO. 87156R 10 9 13G Page 4 of 7 Pages
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
BVF INC.
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) /X/ (b) / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER 0
OF --------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 1,317,317
OWNED BY EACH --------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON 0
WITH --------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,317,317
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,317,317
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES* / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
12.3%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IA, CO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
CUSIP NO. 87156R 10 9 13G Page 5 of 7 Pages
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
ITEM 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER:
Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corp.
ITEM 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
215 College Road
Paramus, NJ 07652
ITEM 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING:
This schedule is being filed on behalf of the following persons*:
(i) Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. ("BVF")
(ii) BVF Partners, L.P. ("Partners")
(iii) BVF Inc. ("BVF Inc.")
* Attached as Exhibit A is a copy of an agreement between
the Persons filing (as specified hereinabove) that this
Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of each of them.
ITEM 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:
The principal business office of the persons comprising the group
filing this Schedule 13G is located at 227 West Monroe Street, Suite 4800,
Chicago, Illinois 60606.
ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP:
BVF: a Delaware limited partnership
Partners: a Delaware limited partnership
BVF Inc.: a Delaware corporation
ITEM 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
The class of securities beneficially owned by the persons filing
this statement is common stock.
ITEM 2(e). CUSIP NUMBER:
87156R 10 9
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
CUSIP NO. 87156R 10 9 13G Page 6 of 7 Pages
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(c),
CHECK THIS BOX: /X/
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP:
The information in items 1 and 5 through 11 on the cover pages (pp.2 -
4) on Schedule 13G is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS:
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the
date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more
than five percent of the class of securities check the following. / /
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON:
BVF shares voting and dispositive power over the shares of the Stock
it beneficially owns with Partners. Partners and BVF Inc. share voting and
dispositive power over the shares of the Stock they beneficially own with, in
addition to BVF, certain managed accounts on whose behalf Partners, as
investment manager, purchased such shares. Other than BVF and Biotechnology
Value Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation, none of the managed accounts
individually own more than 5% of the Stock of the Issuer.
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 A GROUP:
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:
Not applicable.
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
CUSIP NO. 87156R 10 9 13G Page 7 of 7 Pages
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for
the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Dated: March 30, 1999
BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.
By: BVF Partners L.P., its general partner
By: BVF Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ MARK N. LAMPERT
----------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
BVF PARTNERS L.P.
By: BVF Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ MARK N. LAMPERT
----------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
BVF INC.
By: /s/ MARK N. LAMPERT
----------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
AGREEMENT REGARDING JOINT FILING
The undersigned, Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, and BVF Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and BVF
Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby agree and acknowledge that the information
required by Schedule 13G, to which this Agreement is attached as an exhibit, is
filed on behalf of each of them. The undersigned further agree that any
amendments or supplements thereto shall also be filed on behalf of each of them.
Dated: March 30, 1999
BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.
By: BVF Partners L.P., its general partner
By: BVF Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ MARK N. LAMPERT
----------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
BVF PARTNERS L.P.
By: BVF Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ MARK N. LAMPERT
----------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
BVF INC.
By: /s/ MARK N. LAMPERT
-----------------------------------
Mark N. Lampert
President
