UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
TREGA BIOSCIENCES INC.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value
(Title of Class of Securities)
894699107
(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
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)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 894699107
(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 -----------------------------------------------------
Owned by (6) Shared Voting Power 1,866,667
Each ---------------------------------
Reporting -----------------------------------------------------
Person (7) Sole Dispositive Power 0
With ------------------------------
- --------- -----------------------------------------------------
(8) Shared Dispositive Power 1,866,667
-----------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
(9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
1,866,667
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
(See Instructions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
13%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO
---------------------------
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 894699107
(1) Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
Novartis Pharma 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 -----------------------------------------------------
Owned by (6) Shared Voting Power 1,866,667
Each ----------------------------------
Reporting -----------------------------------------------------
Person (7) Sole Dispositive Power 0
With ------------------------------
- --------- -----------------------------------------------------
(8) Shared Dispositive Power 1,866,667
-----------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
(9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
1,866,667
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares
(See Instructions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
13%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO
---------------------------
<PAGE>
Item 1. Issuer
(a) Trega Biosciences Inc.
(b) 3550 General Atomics Court
San Diego, California 92121
Item 2. Person Filing
(a) Name of Person Filing: Novartis AG ("Novartis") and
Novartis Pharma AG.
(b) Address of Principal Office: The principal offices of
Novartis are located at Schwarzwaldallee 215,
CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland. The principal offices of
Novartis Pharma AG are located at Lichtstrasse 35,
CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland.
(c) Citizenship: Novartis and Novartis Pharma AG are
Swiss corporations.
(d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, $.001 par
value.
(e) CUSIP Number: 894699107
Item 3. This statement is filed pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(c).
Item 4. Ownership
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 1,866,667
(b) Percent of Class: 13%
(c) Number of shares as to which each person has:
(i) Sole Voting Power: -0-
(ii) Shared Voting Power: 1,866,667
(iii) Sole Dispositive Power: -0-
(iv) Shared Dispositive Power: 1,866,667
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.
<PAGE>
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group
Not Applicable.
Item 10. Certification if Statement Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c)
(a) Not applicable.
(b) 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.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
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.
Date: November 17, 1998
NOVARTIS AG
By: /s/ Martin Henrich
--------------------------------
Name: Martin Henrich
Title: Senior Corporate Counsel
By: /s/ Christoph Mader
--------------------------------
Name: Christoph Mader
Title: Senior Corporate Counsel
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
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.
Date: November 17, 1998
NOVARTIS PHARMA AG
By: /s/ Martin Henrich
--------------------------------
Name: Martin Henrich
Title: Senior Corporate Counsel
By: /s/ Christoph Mader
--------------------------------
Name: Christoph Mader
Title: Senior Corporate Counsel
