SHAMAN PHARMACEUTICALS INC
DEF 14A, 1998-04-15
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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                                 SCHEDULE 14A
                                (Rule 14a-101)
                   INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                           SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
         Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                             Exchange Act of 1934

             Filed by the registrant   [ X ]
             Filed by a party other than the registrant   [   ]
             
             Check the appropriate box:

      [   ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement     
      [   ]  Confidential, for Use of the
             Commission Only(as permitted
             by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
      [ X ]  Definitive Proxy Statement
      [   ]  Definitive Additional Materials
      [   ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                         Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
      [ X ]  No fee required.
      [   ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 
             0-11.
      (1)    Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (2)    Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies:

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (3) Per unit  price  or other  underlying  value of  transaction  computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was determined):

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (4)    Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (5)    Total fee paid:

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

      [   ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:

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

      [   ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
Act Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting  fee was
paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

      (1)    Amount Previously Paid:

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (2)    Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (3)    Filing Party:

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (4)    Date Filed:

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


<PAGE>


                         SHAMAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            213 East Grand Avenue
                    South San Francisco, California 94080

                                April 15, 1998

Dear Stockholder:

      You are  cordially  invited to attend the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders
("Annual Meeting") of Shaman Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. (the "Company"),  which will
be held at 9:00 A.M.  Pacific  Time on  Friday,  May 15,  1998,  at The  Embassy
Suites, 250 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080.

      At the Annual  Meeting,  you will be asked to  consider  and vote upon the
following proposals:

         (i)   to elect two Class I directors to serve on the Board of Directors
               for  two  years  or until their  successors are  duly elected and
               qualified;

         (ii)  to approve an amendment to the  Company's  1992 Stock Option Plan
               (the  "Plan") to  increase  the  maximum  number of shares of the
               Company's  Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan by
               an additional 500,000 shares;

         (iii) to ratify the  appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the  Company's
               independent auditors for  the  year ending December 31, 1998; and
               
         (iv)  to transact  such other  business as may properly come before the
               Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

      The  enclosed  Proxy  Statement  more fully  describes  the details of the
business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting.

      After  careful  consideration,   the  Company's  Board  of  Directors  has
unanimously approved the proposals and recommends that you vote IN FAVOR OF each
such proposal.

      After reading the Proxy Statement,  please mark, date, sign and return the
enclosed  proxy card in the  accompanying  reply  envelope  no later than May 1,
1998.  If you attend the Annual  Meeting and vote by ballot,  your proxy will be
automatically  revoked and only your vote at the Annual Meeting will be counted.
YOUR SHARES CANNOT BE VOTED UNLESS YOU MARK,  DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED
PROXY OR ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTE IN PERSON.

      A copy  of the  Company's  1997  Annual  Report  to  Stockholders  is also
enclosed.

      We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

                                   Sincerely,
                                        
                                       /s/ Lisa A. Conte                        
                                       Lisa A. Conte
                                       President, Chief Executive Officer and
                                       Chief Financial Officer

===============================================================================
                                  IMPORTANT

       Please mark,  date,  sign and return the enclosed proxy promptly in the
accompanying  postage-paid  return envelope so that, if you are unable to attend
the Annual Meeting, your shares may be voted.
===============================================================================


<PAGE>


                         SHAMAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
            -----------------------------------------------------

                   NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                           TO BE HELD MAY 15, 1998
            -----------------------------------------------------


TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF SHAMAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.:



      NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  ("Annual
Meeting")  of  Shaman   Pharmaceuticals,   Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  will be held at 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time on Friday,  May 15, 1998, at
The Embassy Suites, 250 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080
for the following purposes:

      1.    to elect two Class I directors to serve on the Board   of  Directors
            for  two  years  or until their  successors are  duly elected and
            qualified;

      2.    to approve an amendment to the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan (the
            "Plan") to increase  the maximum  number of shares of the  Company's
            Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan by an additional
            500,000 shares;

      3.    to ratify  the  appointment  of Ernst & Young  LLP as  the Company's
            independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 1998; and

      4.    to  transact such other  business as  may properly come  before  the
            Annual Meeting and any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

      The  foregoing  items of business  are more fully  described  in the Proxy
Statement accompanying this Notice.

      The record date for determining those stockholders  entitled to notice of,
and to vote at,  the Annual  Meeting  and any  adjournment  thereof is March 20,
1998.  The stock  transfer  books will not be closed between the record date and
the date of the Annual Meeting.  A list of the stockholders  entitled to vote at
the Annual  Meeting will be available for  inspection at the Company's  offices,
213 East Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080, for a period of 10
days prior to the Annual Meeting.

      All  stockholders  are cordially  invited to attend the Annual  Meeting in
person.   Whether  or  not  you  plan  to  attend,  please  carefully  read  the
accompanying  Proxy  Statement,  which describes the matters to be voted upon at
the Annual Meeting,  and mark,  date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card in
the reply envelope provided. Should you receive more than one proxy because your
shares are  registered in different  names and  addresses,  each proxy should be
returned to ensure that all your shares will be voted.



<PAGE>


      You may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting.  If you
attend the Annual  Meeting  and vote by ballot,  your proxy vote will be revoked
automatically  and only your vote at the Annual  Meeting  will be  counted.  The
prompt  return of your proxy  card will  assist us in  preparing  for the Annual
Meeting.

                                          Sincerely,

                                          /s/ Lisa A.  Conte
                                          Lisa A. Conte
                                          President, Chief Executive Officer
                                          and Chief Financial Officer

South San Francisco, California
April 15, 1998



YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT,  REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU OWN. PLEASE
READ THE ATTACHED PROXY STATEMENT  CAREFULLY.  IF YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND IN
PERSON,  PLEASE  COMPLETE,  SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE
ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.



<PAGE>



                         SHAMAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                            213 East Grand Avenue
                    South San Francisco, California 94080

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

                               PROXY STATEMENT
 
                 --------------------------------------------

                    For the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
                          To Be Held on May 15, 1998



                     GENERAL INFORMATION FOR STOCKHOLDERS



      The  enclosed  proxy  ("Proxy")  is  solicited  on  behalf of the Board of
Directors (the "Board") of Shaman Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), for use at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual
Meeting") to be held at 9:00 A.M.  Pacific Time on Friday,  May 15, 1998, at The
Embassy Suites,  250 Gateway Boulevard,  South San Francisco,  California 94080,
and at any adjournment thereof.

      This Proxy  Statement and the  accompanying  form of Proxy are to be first
mailed to the  stockholders  entitled to vote at the Annual  Meeting on or about
April 15, 1998.

Record Date And Voting

      The  specific  proposals  to be  considered  and acted  upon at the Annual
Meeting are  summarized  in the  accompanying  Notice and are  described in more
detail in this Proxy Statement.  Stockholders of record at the close of business
on March 20, 1998 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.
As of the close of business on such date,  there were  17,856,477  shares of the
Company's  Common  Stock,  par value  $0.001  per share  (the  "Common  Stock"),
outstanding  and entitled to vote,  held by 764  stockholders  of record.  Also,
400,000*  shares of the  Company's  Series A  Preferred  Stock  (the  "Preferred
Stock") were  outstanding  and entitled to vote, and held by one  stockholder of
record.  Each  holder of Common  Stock as of the record  date is entitled to one
vote for each share of Common  Stock held by such  stockholder  as of the record
date.  Each  stockholder  holding  Preferred Stock as of the record date is also
entitled  to one vote for each share of Common  Stock into which such  Preferred
Stock is  convertible as of the record date. As of the record date, one share of
Preferred Stock was convertible into one share of Common Stock. Stockholders may
not cumulate  votes in the election of directors.  Directors are determined by a
plurality  vote. The other matters  submitted for  stockholder  approval at this
Annual Meeting will be decided by the  affirmative  vote of a majority of shares
present in person or  represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matters.
If a  choice  as to the  matters  coming  before  the  Annual  Meeting  has been
specified by a stockholder on the Proxy,  the shares will be voted  accordingly.
If no choice is specified,  the shares will be voted IN FAVOR OF the election of
the two  directors  nominated by the Board unless the  authority to vote for the
election of directors  (or for any one or more  nominees) is withheld and, if no
contrary  instructions  are  given,  the  shares  will be  voted IN FAVOR OF the
approval of the other proposals  described in the accompanying  Notice of Annual
Meeting  and in  this  Proxy  Statement.  All  votes  will be  tabulated  by the
inspector of election  appointed for the meeting,  who will separately  tabulate
affirmative and negative  votes,  abstentions and broker  non-votes  (i.e.,  the
submission of a Proxy by a broker or nominee specifically indicating the lack of
discretionary authority to vote on the matter). Abstentions and broker non-votes
are counted as present for purposes of determining  the presence or absence of a
quorum for the transaction of business.  Abstentions will be counted towards the
tabulation  of votes cast on proposals  presented to 

- --------------------
*  Currently convertible into an aggregate of 400,000 shares of Common Stock.
<PAGE>

the stockholders  and will have the same effect as negative votes,  whereas
broker  non-votes  will not be counted  for  purposes of  determining  whether a
proposal has been approved.

      Any  stockholder  or  stockholder's   representative  who,  because  of  a
disability,  may need special assistance or accommodation to allow him or her to
participate  at  the  Annual  Meeting  may  request  reasonable   assistance  or
accommodation  from the Company by contacting  Investor  Relations in writing at
213 East Grand Avenue, South San Francisco,  California 94080 or by telephone at
(650) 952-7070. To provide the Company sufficient time to arrange for reasonable
assistance, please submit such requests by May 1, 1998.

Revocability of Proxies

      Any stockholder giving a Proxy pursuant to this solicitation may revoke it
at any time prior to its exercise by filing with the Secretary of the Company at
its principal  executive offices at 213 East Grand Avenue,  South San Francisco,
California  94080, a written notice of such  revocation or a duly executed Proxy
bearing a later date, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

Solicitation

      The  Company  will bear the entire  cost of  solicitation,  including  the
preparation,  assembly,  printing  and mailing of the Notice of Annual  Meeting,
this  Proxy  Statement,  the Proxy  and any  additional  solicitation  materials
furnished to stockholders. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to
brokerage houses,  fiduciaries and custodians holding shares in their names that
are  beneficially  owned by others so that they may  forward  this  solicitation
material to such beneficial  owners.  The Company has engaged Corporate Investor
Communications,  Inc.  ("CIC") to provide  routine advice and services for Proxy
solicitation.  CIC will receive  approximately  $5,000 from the Company for such
advice and services,  plus  reimbursement  of costs  incurred in forwarding  the
solicitation  materials to the beneficial owners of Common Stock. To assure that
a quorum will be present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting,  it may be
necessary for CIC, certain officers, directors, employees or other agents of the
Company to solicit proxies by telephone,  facsimile or other means or in person.
Except with respect to CIC, the Company will not compensate such individuals for
any such  services.  Except as described  above,  the Company does not presently
intend to solicit proxies other than by mail.

                                  IMPORTANT

      Please mark,  date, sign and return the enclosed Proxy in the accompanying
postage-prepaid,  return  envelope no later than May 1, 1998 so that, if you are
unable to attend the Annual Meeting, your shares may be voted.

      The Company's  Annual Report to  Stockholders  for the year ended December
31, 1997 (the "Annual Report") has been mailed  concurrently with the mailing of
the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement to all stockholders entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The Annual Report is not considered
proxy soliciting material nor is it incorporated into this Proxy Statement.



                                       2
<PAGE>



                MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

                     PROPOSAL ONE - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS



      The Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides for a classified Board
of Directors  consisting  of two classes of  directors,  designated  Class I and
Class II, each  serving a term of two years,  with such terms  staggered so that
only one class of directors is elected at each annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company.  At the Annual  Meeting,  two Class I directors  will be elected to
serve for two years or until their  successors  shall have been duly elected and
qualified or until their death,  resignation or removal.  The Board has selected
two  nominees,  each of whom is a current  director of the Company.  Each person
nominated  for election has agreed to serve if elected,  and  management  has no
reason  to  believe  that any  nominee  will be  unavailable  to  serve.  Unless
otherwise  instructed,  the Proxy holders will vote the Proxies received by them
IN FAVOR OF the nominees named below.  The two candidates  receiving the highest
number of affirmative votes of the shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
will be elected. If any nominee is unable to or declines to serve as a director,
the  Proxies may be voted for a  substitute  nominee  designated  by the current
Board.  As of the date of this  Proxy  Statement,  the Board is not aware of any
nominee who is unable or will decline to serve as a director.

Information with Respect to Directors

     Set forth below is information regarding the nominees, as of March 20,1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     Name of Nominees     Position(s) with the Company     Age    Director Since
     ----------------     ----------------------------     ---    --------------
<S>                       <C>                             <C>     <C>           
     Lisa A. Conte          Director, President, Chief     38         1989
                            Executive Officer and
                            Chief Financial Officer
       
     Adrian D.P. Bellamy    Director                       56         1997
</TABLE>


     Set forth below is information regarding the continuing  directors,  as of
     March 20, 1998:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     Name of Directors     Position(s) with the Company    Age    Director Since
     -----------------     ----------------------------    ---    --------------
<S>                        <C>                            <C>     <C>    
                                         
     G. Kirk Raab           Chairman of the Board          62         1992
       
     Herbert H. McDade, Jr. Director                       70         1991
       
     M. David Titus         Director                       40         1990
</TABLE>

Business  Experience of Director Nominees for Term Ending Upon the 2000 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders

      Lisa A. Conte founded the Company in May 1989 and currently  serves as the
Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and as
Director. From 1987 to 1989, Ms. Conte was Vice President at Technology Funding,
Inc., a venture  capital firm,  where she was  responsible  for the analysis and
management of healthcare industry investments.  From 1985 to 1987, she conducted
risk and strategy  audits for venture capital  portfolio  companies at Strategic
Decisions  Group,  a management  consulting  firm. Ms. Conte received an A.B. in
Biochemistry from Dartmouth College, an M.S. in Physiology/Pharmacology from the
University  of  California,  San Diego and an M.B.A.  from The Amos Tuck School,
Dartmouth College.

      Adrian D.P.  Bellamy  became a director of the Company in October  1997.
Since April 1995,  Mr.  Bellamy has served as Chairman  and a director of each
of  Airport  Group  International  Holdings  LLC and  Gucci  Group  N.V.  From
September  1983 to April 1995,  Mr. Bellamy served as Chairman of the Board of
Directors  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of DFS Group  Limited,  a  specialty
retailer.  He  received  a B.A.  in  Communications  and an  


                                       3
<PAGE>

M.B.A.  from the  University of South Africa.  Mr. Bellamy is a director of
The Body Shop,  Inc., The Body Shop  International  PLC, The Gap, Inc.,  Paragon
Trade Brands, Inc. and Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

Business  Experience  of  Continuing  Directors  for Term Ending Upon the 1999
Annual Meeting of Stockholders

     G. Kirk Raab became a director of the Company in January  1992 and Chairman
of the Board in September 1995. Mr. Raab was President,  Chief Executive Officer
and director of Genentech,  Inc.  ("Genentech")  from February 1990 to July 1995
and  President,  Chief  Operating  Officer and director  from  February  1985 to
January 1990.  Before joining  Genentech,  Mr. Raab was  associated  with Abbott
Laboratories,  serving as President,  Chief Operating Officer and director.  Mr.
Raab  holds a B.A.  in  Political  Science  from  Colgate  University,  where he
currently  serves  as a  trustee.  Mr.  Raab is also  Chairman  of the  Board of
Connectics,  Inc.  and Oxford  GlycoSciences  (UK) Ltd.,  and a director  of LXR
Biotechnology,  Inc.,  Bridge  Medical,  Inc.,  Accumetrics,  Inc.,  and Applied
Imaging Corporation.

      Herbert  H.  McDade,  Jr.  became a director  of the  Company in October
1991.  He has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief  Executive  Officer of
Chemex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.  ("Chemex")  since  February 1989  and as Chief
Executive  Officer from February 1989 through January 1996, when Chemex merged
with Access  Pharmaceutical  Corporation  ("Access")  and the combined  entity
changed its name to Access.  From October  1986 to January  1988,  Mr.  McDade
was   Chairman,    President   and   Chief   Executive   Officer   of   Armour
Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., after previously  serving as President,  International
Health Care  Division of the Revlon  Health Care  Group.  Mr.  McDade  holds a
B.S. in Biology  from the  University  of Notre Dame and a B.P.H.  in Theology
and Philosophy  from Laval  University.  He is Chairman of the Board of Access
and a director of Cytrx,  Inc.,  Discovery  Ltd.  and several  privately  held
companies.

      M. David  Titus  became a director  of the  Company in April  1990.  Mr.
Titus is currently a General Partner of Windward Ventures Management,  L.P., a
venture  capital firm,  which he founded in November  1997.  Prior to founding
Windward  Ventures  Management,  L.P.,  Mr.  Titus was  Managing  Director  of
Windward Ventures,  a venture capital consulting and investment firm, which he
founded  in  1993.  From May 1986 to  December  1992,  he  served  in  various
capacities  at Technology  Funding,  Inc., a venture  capital firm,  including
Group  Vice  President,  Technology  Funding,  Inc.,  and  General  Partner of
Technology Funding Limited.  Prior to joining Technology Funding,  Inc. in May
1986,  Mr.  Titus was a founder and Senior Vice  President  of the  Technology
Division of Silicon  Valley Bank.  Mr.  Titus earned a B.A. in Economics  from
the  University  of  California,  Santa  Barbara.  He is a director of several
privately held companies.

Number of Directors; Relationships

      The  Company's  Bylaws  authorize the Board to fix the number of directors
serving on the Board,  provided that such number shall not be less than five nor
more than nine.  In October  1997,  the Company  increased the size of the Board
from five to six. The number of directors had been fixed at five since May 1996.
All  directors  hold  office  until the second  annual  meeting of  stockholders
following the annual meeting of stockholders at which such director was elected,
or until their  successors  have been duly elected and  qualified.  Officers are
appointed to serve at the discretion of the Board.

      There are no family relationships among executive officers or directors of
the Company.

Board Meetings and Committees

     The Board held eight  meetings  during  the 1997  fiscal  year and acted by
written  consent  on two  occasions.  The  Board  has an Audit  Committee  and a
Compensation Committee,  but not a standing Nominating Committee.  All directors
who  served  on  the  Board  of  Directors   throughout  the  1997  fiscal  year
participated  in or  attended  at least  75% of the  aggregate  of (i) the total
number of  meetings  of the  Board of  Directors  and (ii) the  total  number of
meetings held by all  committees of the Board on which he served during the past
fiscal year. Mr. Bellamy had not been elected a director at the time of any such
actions.



                                       4
<PAGE>


      The Audit  Committee is primarily  responsible  for annually  recommending
independent  auditors for  appointment by the Board,  for reviewing the services
performed by the Company's  independent auditors and reviewing reports submitted
by the independent auditors. The Audit Committee includes two directors, Messrs.
Titus and Raab.  The Audit  Committee  held one  meeting  during the 1997 fiscal
year, at which Messrs. Titus and Raab were both in attendance.

      The  Compensation  Committee,  which is  comprised  of Messrs.  McDade and
Young,  reviews and approves the  Company's  general  compensation  policies and
practices,  sets compensation  levels for the Company's  executive  officers and
administers the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and other employee
benefits programs.  During the 1997 fiscal year, the Compensation  Committee met
six times and acted by unanimous written consent on one occasion. Messrs. McDade
and  Young  attended  all  six  such  meetings.  Mr.  Titus,  a  member  of  the
Compensation  Committee  through  April 1997,  attended each of the two meetings
held prior to his resignation from the Compensation Committee.  Mr. Young, whose
term as a director expires at the Annual Meeting,  did not stand for re-election
in 1998.

Director Compensation

      Each non-employee  Board member receives an annual retainer fee of $10,000
provided  the  non-employee  Board  member  attends  at least  75% of the  Board
meetings. In addition,  non-employee Board members are reimbursed for reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at such meetings.

      Under the Automatic  Option Grant  Program in effect under the Plan,  each
individual  who first  becomes a  non-employee  Board  member,  whether  through
appointment   by  the  Board  or  upon  election  by  the   stockholders,   will
automatically  receive, at the time of such initial appointment or election,  an
option grant for 20,000 shares of Common Stock, provided such individual has not
previously been in the Company's employ. In addition, on the date of each Annual
Meeting  of  Stockholders,  each  individual  who is to  continue  to serve as a
non-employee Board member will receive an automatic option grant for that number
of shares of Common Stock  determined by dividing $50,000 by the average closing
selling  price per share of Common  Stock for the 30  trading  days  immediately
preceding the date of such Annual  Meeting,  but in no event shall such grant be
more than  7,500  shares nor fewer than  5,000  shares  per  non-employee  Board
member,  provided  such  individual  has been a Board  member  for at least  six
months.  Each granted  option will have an exercise price per share equal to the
fair  market  value per share of Common  Stock on the grant date and will have a
maximum term of 10 years  measured from such grant date.  The option will become
exercisable  for the option  shares in a series of 24  successive  equal monthly
installments upon the optionee's  completion of each month of Board service over
the 24-month  period  measured  from the grant date.  The option will,  however,
become immediately exercisable for all the option shares upon certain changes in
control or ownership  of the Company.  For further  information  concerning  the
Automatic  Option Grant  Program,  see  "Proposal Two - Approval of Amendment to
1992 Stock Option Plan."

      Mr. Bellamy received on October 28, 1997 an option grant for 20,000 shares
of Common Stock under the Automatic Option Grant Program upon his appointment to
the Board. The option has an exercise price of $6.813 per share, the fair market
value per share of the Common Stock on the date of his appointment.

      Messrs.  McDade, Raab, Titus and Young each received, on May 22, 1997, the
date of the 1997  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders,  an option  grant for 7,500
shares of Common Stock under the Automatic Option Grant Program with an exercise
price per share of $5.375,  the fair market  value per share of Common  Stock on
that date.

      On May 1, 1997,  the Company  approved a consulting  arrangement  with Mr.
Titus, pursuant to which he would serve as a consultant on financing matters and
financial operations to the Company. Under this arrangement, Mr. Titus is paid a
monthly  consulting fee of $6,000 starting in June 1997 and granted an option to
purchase  up to 14,000  shares of Common  Stock under the  Discretionary  Option
Grant Program.  Such option has an exercise price of $5.375 per share,  the fair
market value of the Company's  Common Stock on May 22, 1997,  the effective date
of the option  grant,  and is  exercisable  in full at any time prior to May 22,
2007.

      Mr. Raab received, on January 30, 1997  an option grant for 100,000 shares
of Common Stock under the Discretionary  Option Grant Program. The option has an
exercise  price of $5.016  per  share,  the fair  market  value per share of the
Common Stock on that date.




                                       5
<PAGE>



      In August 1995,  the Company  entered into a consulting  arrangement  (the
"Consulting Arrangement") with Mr. Raab, Chairman of the Board. As consideration
for the special  consulting  services  Mr. Raab  performs  under the  Consulting
Arrangement, Mr. Raab is paid an annual consulting fee of $100,000. In addition,
he was granted an option for 200,000  shares of Common  Stock on August 21, 1995
with an exercise  price per share of $5.50,  the fair market  value per share of
Common Stock on that date. The option was granted under the Discretionary Option
Grant Program in effect under the Plan,  and the option will become  exercisable
in a series of 48 successive equal monthly installments following the August 21,
1995 grant date as Mr. Raab continues to render services to the Company pursuant
to his Consulting  Arrangement.  The option will,  however,  become  immediately
exercisable  for all the  option  shares  upon  certain  changes  in  control or
ownership of the  Company.  In addition,  in  connection  with his services as a
director and as Chairman of the Board,  Mr. Raab receives an annual retainer fee
of $60,000,  payable after each Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  so long as Mr.
Raab continues to render services to the Company as Chairman of the Board.

      No other  compensation was paid or accrued for directors of the Company in
respect of their 1997 services as directors of or consultants to the Company.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

      The Board recommends that the  stockholders  vote IN FAVOR OF the election
of each of the above  nominees to serve as  directors  of the Company  until the
2000 annual meeting of  stockholders  or until their  successors  have been duly
elected and qualified or until their death, resignation or removal.





                                       6
<PAGE>




                          PROPOSAL TWO - APPROVAL OF
                     AMENDMENT TO 1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN



Introduction

      The  stockholders  are being  asked to vote on a  proposal  to  approve an
amendment  to the  Company's  1992 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") that the Board
adopted on January  29,  1998,  subject to  stockholder  approval  at the Annual
Meeting.  The  amendment  will  increase  the  maximum  number  of shares of the
Company's  Common Stock  authorized for issuance under the Plan by an additional
500,000 shares.

      The  proposed  share  increase  will assure that a  sufficient  reserve of
Common Stock is  available  under the Plan to attract and retain the services of
employees, which is essential to the Company's long-term growth and success.

      The  affirmative  vote of the holders of a majority  of the Common  Stock,
including  all  shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock on an as  converted  basis,
present in person or  represented by Proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to
vote on this Proposal is required for approval of the proposed  amendment to the
Plan.

      The Plan was originally  adopted by the Board of Directors on December 30,
1992 and became effective on January 26, 1993 as the successor to the 1990 Stock
Option  Plan  (the  "Predecessor  Plan").  All  outstanding  options  under  the
Predecessor  Plan were  incorporated  into the Plan at that time, and no further
option  grants  are  to be  made  under  the  Predecessor  Plan.  The  Plan  has
subsequently  been amended on several  occasions;  all such amendments have been
approved by the stockholders.

      The  principal  terms and  provisions  of the Plan as modified by the most
recent amendment are summarized below. The summary is not, however,  intended to
be a complete  description of all the terms of the Plan. A copy of the Plan will
be furnished  without  charge to any  stockholder  upon  written  request to the
attention  of the  Company's  Investor  Relations  Department  at 213 East Grand
Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080.

Description of the Plan

      Structure.  The  Plan  is  divided  into  two  separate  equity  incentive
programs:  (i) a  Discretionary  Option Grant Program under which key employees,
non-employee  Board members and  consultants  may be granted options to purchase
shares of Common Stock and (ii) an Automatic  Option Grant  Program  under which
eligible  non-employee Board members will automatically receive option grants at
designated intervals over their period of Board service.

      Options granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program may be either
incentive stock options  designed to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the
Internal  Revenue  Code or  non-statutory  options not  intended to satisfy such
requirements.  All grants  under the  Automatic  Option  Grant  Program  will be
non-statutory options.

      Administration.  The Discretionary Option Grant Program is administered by
the  Compensation  Committee of the Board (the  "Compensation  Committee" or the
"Plan Administrator"). Compensation Committee members are appointed by the Board
and may be removed by the Board at any time.

      The  Compensation  Committee  as Plan  Administrator  has full  authority,
subject to the provisions of the Plan, to determine the eligible individuals who
are to receive  option grants and/or stock  appreciation  rights under the Plan,
the type of option  (incentive  stock option or  non-qualified  stock option) or
stock appreciation right (tandem or limited) to be granted, the number of shares
to be covered by each  granted  option or right,  the date or dates on which the
option  or right is to become  exercisable  and the  maximum  term for which the
option or right is to remain outstanding.




                                       7
<PAGE>



      All grants under the Automatic Option Grant Program will be made in strict
compliance with the express  provisions of that program,  and no  administrative
discretion will be exercised by the Plan Administrator.

      Eligibility.  Key  employees  (including  officers),   non-employee  Board
members,  and  consultants in the service of the Company are eligible to receive
option grants under the Discretionary  Option Grant Program.  Non-employee Board
members are also eligible to participate in the Automatic Option Grant Program.

      As of  March  20,  1998,  approximately  111  employees  (including  eight
executive  officers)  and five  non-employee  Board  members  were  eligible  to
participate in the Discretionary Option Grant Program, and the five non-employee
Board members were also eligible to  participate  in the Automatic  Option Grant
Program. At the Annual Meeting,  all continuing  non-employee Board members will
receive an option grant under the Automatic Option Grant Program.

      Securities  Subject to the Plan.  The  maximum  number of shares of Common
Stock  issuable  over  the term of the Plan  may not  exceed  4,216,660  shares,
including the 500,000-share  increase for which  stockholder  approval is sought
under this Proposal.  The issuable shares may be made available  either from the
authorized  but  unissued  shares of Common Stock or from shares of Common Stock
repurchased by the Company, including shares purchased on the open market.

      As of March 20,  1998,  approximately  535,581  shares of Common Stock had
been issued  under the Plan,  2,747,937  shares of Common  Stock were subject to
outstanding options and 933,142 shares of Common Stock were available for future
option  grants,  including  the  500,000-share  increase  for which  stockholder
approval is sought under this Proposal.

      In no event may any one  individual  participating  in the Plan be granted
stock options or separately  exercisable stock appreciation rights for more than
750,000 shares of Common Stock over the term of the Plan,  subject to adjustment
from time to time in the  event of  certain  changes  to the  Company's  capital
structure.  For  purposes  of  this  limitation,  any  stock  options  or  stock
appreciation  rights  granted  prior to December 31, 1993 will not be taken into
account.  Stockholder  approval of this Proposal will constitute  re-approval of
the foregoing share limitation.

      Should an option  expire or terminate  for any reason prior to exercise in
full (including  options  cancelled in accordance with the  cancellation-regrant
provisions  described in the "Discretionary  Option Grant  Program--Cancellation
and Regrant of Options" section below), the shares subject to the portion of the
option not so exercised will be available for  subsequent  grant under the Plan.
In addition,  unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently repurchased
by the Company at the option exercise price paid per share will be added back to
the share  reserve and will  accordingly  be available for  subsequent  issuance
under the Plan.  However,  shares subject to any option surrendered or cancelled
in accordance with the stock  appreciation right provisions of the Plan will not
be available for subsequent grants.

Discretionary Option Grant Program

      Price  and  Exercisability.  The  option  exercise  price  per  share  for
incentive  stock option grants may not be less than the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the grant date. The exercise  price per share for  non-statutory
option grants may be less than, equal to or greater than such fair market value.
Options granted under the  Discretionary  Option Grant Program may either become
exercisable in periodic  installments  over the optionee's  period of service or
may be immediately  exercisable  for all of the option shares,  with such shares
subject to repurchase by the Company,  at the exercise price paid per share,  in
the event the optionee  leaves the  Company's  service prior to vesting in those
shares. No granted option will have a term in excess of 10 years.

      The  exercise  price may be paid in cash or in  shares  of  Common  Stock.
Options may also be exercised through a same-day sale program, pursuant to which
a designated  brokerage firm effects the immediate sale of the shares  purchased
under  the  option  and  pays  over to the  Company,  out of the  sale  proceeds
available on the settlement  date,  sufficient funds to cover the exercise price
for the  purchased  shares  plus  all  applicable  withholding  taxes.  The Plan
Administrator  may also  assist  any  optionee  (including  an  officer)  in the
exercise of his or her 




                                       8
<PAGE>



outstanding  options  by  (a)  authorizing   a  Company  loan to the optionee or
(b)  permitting the optionee to pay the exercise  price in  installments  over a
period  of  years.  The terms  and  conditions  of any such loan or  installment
payment will be established by the Plan  Administrator  in its sole  discretion,
but in no event may the  maximum  credit  extended  to the  optionee  exceed the
aggregate  exercise price payable for the purchased shares,  plus any federal or
state income or employment taxes incurred in connection with the purchase.

      Valuation.  For purposes of  establishing  the exercise  price and for all
other  valuation  purposes  under the Plan,  the fair market  value per share of
Common  Stock on any relevant  date will be deemed equal to the closing  selling
price per share on that date,  as such price is reported on the Nasdaq  National
Market.  The closing  price of the Common  Stock on March 20, 1998 was $4.50 per
share.

      Termination  of Service.  Any option  held by the  optionee at the time of
cessation of service will not remain exercisable beyond the limited post-service
period  designated  by the Plan  Administrator  at the time of the option grant.
Under no circumstances, however, may any option be exercised after the specified
expiration date of the option term. Each such option will normally,  during such
limited  period,  be  exercisable  only to the extent of the number of shares of
Common Stock for which the option is  exercisable  at the time of the optionee's
cessation of service.  The optionee will be deemed to continue in service for so
long as such  individual  performs  services  for the  Company (or any parent or
subsidiary  corporation),  whether as an employee,  a non-employee member of the
Board or an independent consultant or advisor.

      The Plan  Administrator  has  complete  discretion  to extend  the  period
following  the  optionee's   cessation  of  service  during  which  his  or  her
outstanding  options may be exercised and/or to accelerate the exercisability or
vesting of such options in whole or in part. Such discretion may be exercised at
any time  while the  options  remain  outstanding,  whether  before or after the
optionee's actual cessation of service.

      Stockholder  Rights.  No optionee is to have any  stockholder  rights with
respect to the option  shares until the optionee  has  exercised  the option and
paid the exercise  price for the  purchased  shares.  Options are  generally not
assignable or  transferable  other than by will or the laws of inheritance  and,
during  the  optionee's  lifetime,  the  option  may be  exercised  only by such
optionee.  However, the Plan Administrator may allow non-statutory options to be
transferred or assigned during the optionee's lifetime to one or more members of
the optionee's immediate family or to a trust established exclusively for one or
more such family  members,  to the extent  such  transfer  or  assignment  is in
furtherance of the optionee's estate plan.

      Repurchase  Rights.  The shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise
of one or more  options  may be subject to  repurchase  by the  Company,  at the
original exercise price paid per share, upon the optionee's cessation of service
prior to vesting in those shares. The Plan Administrator has complete discretion
in  establishing  the  vesting  schedule  to be in effect for any such  unvested
shares and may cancel the Company's  outstanding  repurchase rights with respect
to those  shares at any time,  thereby  accelerating  the  vesting of the shares
subject to the cancelled rights.

      Acceleration  of  Options.   In  the  event  of  any  of  the  following
stockholder-approved   transactions  to  which  the  Company  is  a  party  (a
"Corporate Transaction"):

                  (i)         a merger or  consolidation  in which the Company
      is not the  surviving  entity,  except for a  transaction  the principal
      purpose of which is to change the state of the Company's incorporation;

                  (ii)        the sale,  transfer or other  disposition of all
      or  substantially   all  of  the  assets  of  the  Company  in  complete
      liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

                  (iii) a reverse  merger in which the Company is the  surviving
      entity  but in which  securities  possessing  more  than 50% of the  total
      combined  voting  power  of  the  Company's  outstanding   securities  are
      transferred  to a person or  persons  different  from  those who held such
      securities immediately prior to such merger;




                                       9
<PAGE>



each outstanding option will automatically  accelerate so that each option will,
immediately prior to the specified  effective date for a Corporate  Transaction,
become  fully  exercisable  with respect to the total number of shares of Common
Stock at that time  subject to such option and may be  exercised  for all or any
portion of such shares as fully-vested  shares.  However,  an outstanding option
will not so accelerate if and to the extent:  (1) the option is to be assumed by
the  successor  corporation  (or  its  parent  corporation)  in  such  Corporate
Transaction  or (2)  the  acceleration  of  such  option  is  subject  to  other
limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time of grant.

      Immediately  following the  consummation of a Corporate  Transaction,  all
outstanding  options under the Plan will terminate and cease to be  exercisable,
except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation.

      The  Company's  outstanding  repurchase  rights  under  the Plan will also
terminate,  and the shares subject to such  repurchase  rights will become fully
vested,  upon a Corporate  Transaction,  except to the extent (i) one or more of
such repurchase  rights are to be assigned to the successor  corporation (or its
parent  company)  or  (ii)  such  accelerated  vesting  is  precluded  by  other
limitations  imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time the repurchase rights
are issued.

      The Compensation Committee will have full power and authority, exercisable
either at the time the option is granted or at any time while the option remains
outstanding,   to  provide  for  the  automatic  acceleration  of  one  or  more
outstanding options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program in the event of
a Change  in  Control  (as  described  below) so that  each  such  option  will,
immediately  prior to such Change in  Control,  become  exercisable  for all the
shares of Common  Stock at that time subject to that option and may be exercised
for all or any  portion  of  those  shares  as  fully-vested  shares.  The  Plan
Administrator  will also have complete  discretion in establishing  the specific
terms  and  conditions  upon  which  one or  more of the  Company's  outstanding
repurchase rights under the Plan are to terminate in connection with a Change in
Control.

      For all purposes  under the Plan, a "Change in Control"  will be deemed to
occur if:

            (i) any person or related  group of persons  (other than the Company
      or a person that directly or indirectly controls,  is controlled by, or is
      under common  control with, the Company)  directly or indirectly  acquires
      beneficial  ownership  (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of securities  possessing  more than 50%
      of the total combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities
      pursuant to a tender or  exchange  offer made  directly  to the  Company's
      stockholders; or

            (ii) the  composition  of the  Board  changes  over a  period  of 24
      consecutive  months  or less  such that a  majority  of the Board  members
      cease, by reason of one or more contested  elections for Board membership,
      to be  comprised  of  individuals  who either (a) have been Board  members
      continuously  since the  beginning of such period or (b) have been elected
      or nominated for election as Board members  during such period by at least
      a majority of the Board members  described in clause (a) who were still in
      office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board.

      Upon a Change in Control,  all outstanding options will remain exercisable
until the  expiration or sooner  termination of the option term specified in the
instrument evidencing the option.

      The  acceleration  of options in the event of a Corporate  Transaction  or
Change in Control  may be seen as an  anti-takeover  provision  and may have the
effect of discouraging a merger proposal, a takeover attempt or other efforts to
gain control of the Company.

      Cancellation  and  Regrant  of  Options.  The Plan  Administrator  has the
authority to effect the cancellation of any or all options outstanding under the
Plan and to grant in  substitution  therefor  new options  covering  the same or
different numbers of shares of Common Stock but with an exercise price per share
based upon the fair market value of the Common Stock on the new grant date.

      Stock  Appreciation  Rights. The Plan Administrator is authorized to issue
two types of stock  appreciation  rights in  connection  with option grants made
under the Discretionary Option Grant Program:




                                       10
<PAGE>



            Tandem stock appreciation  rights provide the holders with the right
      to  surrender  their  options for an  appreciation  distribution  from the
      Company  equal in amount to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the
      vested shares of Common Stock subject to the  surrendered  option over (b)
      the aggregate  exercise price payable for such shares.  Such  appreciation
      distribution may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator,  be made in
      cash or in shares of Common Stock.

            Limited  stock  appreciation  rights may be  provided to one or more
      officers of the Company as part of their  option  grants.  Any option with
      such a limited stock  appreciation  right will  automatically be cancelled
      upon the successful completion of a hostile tender offer for more than 50%
      of  the  Company's  outstanding  voting  securities.  In  return  for  the
      cancelled option, the officer will be entitled to a cash distribution from
      the Company in an amount per cancelled option share equal to the excess of
      (a) the highest  price per share of Common Stock paid in  connection  with
      the tender offer over (b) the exercise price payable for such share.

      Outstanding stock  appreciation  rights granted before January 26, 1993 to
certain  officers and  directors of the Company under the  Predecessor  Plan and
incorporated  into the Plan allow such  individuals  to surrender the underlying
options  to  the  Company  for a cash  distribution,  calculated  in the  manner
indicated  above,  in the  event a hostile  tender  offer for 25% or more of the
Company's outstanding voting securities is successfully completed or a change in
the  majority of the Board of  Directors  is effected  through one or more proxy
contests.

Automatic Option Grant Program

      Under the Automatic Option Grant Program,  each non-employee  Board member
will  automatically be granted,  upon his or her initial election or appointment
to the Board, a stock option to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock, provided
such individual has not previously been in the Company's employ. In addition, on
the  date  of each  Annual  Stockholders'  Meeting,  each  individual  who is to
continue to serve as a non-employee Board member will automatically be granted a
stock  option to purchase  that number of shares of Common Stock  determined  by
dividing  $50,000 by the average  closing  selling price of the Common Stock for
the 30 trading days immediately  preceding the date of such Annual Meeting,  but
in no event  shall  such  grant be more than  7,500  shares nor fewer than 5,000
shares.  However,  no non-employee Board member will be eligible to receive such
annual automatic grant unless he or she has served on the Board for at least six
months.  Stockholder approval of this Proposal will also constitute pre-approval
of each option  granted on or after the date of the Annual  Meeting  pursuant to
the provisions of the Automatic  Option Grant Program  summarized  below and the
subsequent exercise of that option in accordance with those provisions.

      The option exercise price per share for each automatic grant will be equal
to the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the grant date and will be
payable in cash or shares of Common  Stock.  The options  may also be  exercised
through a same-day sale program,  pursuant to which a designated  brokerage firm
effects the  immediate  sale of the shares  purchased  under the option and pays
over to the Company,  out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date,
sufficient funds to cover the exercise price for the purchased shares.

      Each automatic  option grant will have a maximum term of 10 years and will
become  exercisable  for the option  shares in a series of 24  successive  equal
monthly  installments  over the  optionee's  period of continued  Board service,
measured  from the grant  date.  However,  the option  will  become  immediately
exercisable for all of the option shares upon a Corporate  Transaction or Change
in Control. Each automatic option grant will be automatically cancelled upon the
successful  completion  of a  hostile  tender  offer  for  more  than 50% of the
Company's  outstanding  voting  securities.  In  return,  the  optionee  will be
entitled  to a cash  distribution  from the  Company in an amount per  cancelled
option  share equal to the excess of (a) the  highest  price per share of Common
Stock paid in  connection  with the tender  offer  over (b) the  exercise  price
payable for such share.  Stockholder  approval of this Proposal will  constitute
approval of each option  granted with such an automatic  cancellation  provision
right on or after the date of the Annual Meeting and the subsequent cancellation
of that option in accordance with such provision.  No additional approval of the
Plan  Administrator  or the Board  will be  required  at the time of the  actual
option cancellation and cash distribution.

      All automatic option grants held by the  non-employee  Board member at the
time of his or her  cessation  of Board  service will remain  exercisable  for a
period  of six  months  for  any or all  shares  for  which  those  options  are




                                       11
<PAGE>



exercisable at the time of such cessation of Board service.  However, should the
optionee die while holding one or more  options,  then those options will remain
exercisable for a 12-month period following the date of the optionee's death and
may be exercised,  for any or all shares for which those options are exercisable
at the time of the  optionee's  cessation  of  Board  service,  by the  personal
representative  of the  optionee's  estate or by the persons to whom the options
are  transferred by the  optionee's  will or by the laws of  inheritance.  In no
event may any such option be exercised  after the expiration date of the 10-year
option term.

General Provisions

      Amendment and Termination of the Plan. The Board of Directors may amend or
modify the Plan in any or all respects  whatsoever.  However,  no such amendment
may adversely  affect the rights of  outstanding  option  holders  without their
consent.  In  addition,  certain  amendments  may require  stockholder  approval
pursuant to applicable law or regulation.

      The Board of Directors may  terminate  the Plan at any time,  and the Plan
will in all events  terminate  not later than  December  31,  2002.  Any options
outstanding  at the  time of such  plan  termination  will  continue  to  remain
outstanding  and  exercisable in accordance with the terms and provisions of the
instruments  evidencing  those  grants.  The Plan will,  however,  automatically
terminate  on the date all shares  available  for  issuance are issued as vested
shares  or  cancelled  pursuant  to  the  exercise,  surrender  or  cash-out  of
outstanding options under the Plan.

      Tax  Withholding.  The  Compensation  Committee may, in its discretion and
upon such terms and conditions as it may deem  appropriate,  provide one or more
option holders under the Discretionary Option Grant Program with the election to
have the Company  withhold,  from the shares of Common Stock otherwise  issuable
upon the exercise of their options,  a portion of those shares with an aggregate
fair market value equal to the designated percentage (up to 100% as specified by
the option  holder) of the  federal,  state and local income tax  liability  and
federal  employment  tax liability  incurred by such option holder in connection
with the  exercise of such  option.  Any election so made will be subject to the
approval of the Compensation Committee,  and no shares will actually be withheld
in satisfaction of such taxes except to the extent approved by the  Compensation
Committee. One or more option holders may also be granted the alternative right,
subject to Committee  approval,  to deliver  previously-issued  shares of Common
Stock in satisfaction of such tax liability.

      Changes in  Capitalization.  In the event any change is made to the Common
Stock  issuable  under the Plan by reason of any stock  split,  stock  dividend,
recapitalization,  combination of shares, exchange of shares, or other change in
corporate  structure  effected without the Company's  receipt of  consideration,
appropriate  adjustments  will be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of
securities  issuable under the Plan,  (ii) the number and/or class of securities
and price per share in effect  under  each  outstanding  option  (including  all
option grants  incorporated from the Predecessor Plan), (iii) the maximum number
and/or class of  securities  for which any one  individual  may be granted stock
options and  separately  exercisable  stock  appreciation  rights under the Plan
after December 31, 1993 and (iv) the number and/or class of securities for which
automatic  option grants are  subsequently to be made to each  newly-elected  or
continuing non-employee Board member.

      Each  outstanding  option  which is assumed or is otherwise to continue in
effect after a Corporate Transaction will be appropriately adjusted to apply and
pertain to the number and class of securities  which would have been issued,  in
connection with such Corporate Transaction, to the holder of such option had the
option  been  exercised   immediately  prior  to  such  Corporate   Transaction.
Appropriate  adjustments  will also be made to the  exercise  price  payable per
share and to the  number  and class of  securities  subsequently  available  for
issuance under the Plan on both an aggregate and per participant basis.

      Option  grants  under the Plan will not affect the right of the Company to
adjust,  reclassify,  reorganize  or  otherwise  change its  capital or business
structure or to merge, consolidate,  dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all
or any part of its business or assets.

      Excess Grants. The Plan permits the grant of options to purchase shares of
Common Stock in excess of the number of shares then available for issuance under
the Plan.  Any  options  so granted  cannot be  exercised  prior to  stockholder
approval of an amendment sufficiently  increasing the number of shares available
for issuance under the Plan.




                                       12
<PAGE>



Option Grants

      The table below shows,  as to each of the executive  officers named in the
Summary  Compensation  Table below and the various other  indicated  persons and
groups,  the following  information with respect to stock option grants effected
during the period from January 1, 1997 through March 20, 1998: (i) the number of
shares of Common  Stock  subject to options  granted  under the Plan during that
period;  and (ii) the weighted  average  exercise  price payable per share under
such options.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Options Granted        
                                       (Number of       Weighted Average
        Name and Position                Shares)      Exercise Price ($)       
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
        Lisa A. Conte                     
        President, Chief Executive
        Officer and Chief Financial
        Officer                          295,000            $5.0156
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
        Gerald M. Reaven, M.D.                 
        Senior Vice President, Research        --                 --
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
        Atul S. Khandwala, Ph.D.               
        Senior Vice President,
        Development and Chief
        Regulatory Officer                     --                 --
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
        Steven R. King, Ph.D.                  
        Senior Vice President,
        Ethnobotany and Conservation           --                 --
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
        Gina D. Morhun                         
        Vice President, Human
        Resources and Senior
        Director, Business Development         --                 --
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
        All executive officers as a        
        group (8 persons)                 520,000            $5.3959
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
        All directors who are not          
        executive officers as a
        group (5 persons)                 164,000            $5.3312
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
        All employees (103 persons)            
        and consultants as a group,
        excluding executive officers      435,700            $5.4163
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Federal Tax Consequences

      Options granted under the Plan may be either incentive stock options which
satisfy  the  requirements  of  Section  422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code  or
non-statutory  options  which are not  intended to meet such  requirements.  The
federal  income tax treatment for the two types of options  differs as described
below.

      Incentive Options.  No taxable income is recognized by the optionee at the
time of the option grant,  and no taxable income is generally  recognized at the
time the option is exercised.  However,  the difference  between the fair market
value of the purchased  shares and the exercise  price is generally  included as
alternative  minimum taxable income for purposes of the alternative minimum tax.
The optionee will  recognize  taxable  income in the year in which the purchased
shares are sold or otherwise  made the subject of  disposition.  For federal tax
purposes,  dispositions are divided into two categories: (i) qualifying and (ii)
disqualifying.  The optionee will make a qualifying disposition of the purchased
shares  if the  sale or other  disposition  of such  shares  is made  after  the
optionee has held the shares for more than two years after the grant date of the
option and more than one year after the exercise  date. If the optionee fails to
satisfy either of these two minimum  holding  periods prior to the sale or other
disposition  of the purchased  shares,  then a  disqualifying  disposition  will
result.

      Upon a qualifying  disposition of the shares,  the optionee will recognize
long-term  capital  gain in an  amount  equal to the  excess  of (i) the  amount
realized upon the sale or other  disposition  of the purchased  shares over (ii)
the exercise price paid for such shares. If there is a disqualifying disposition
of the shares,  then the excess of (a) the fair market  value of those shares on
the  exercise  date over (b) the  exercise  price  paid for the  shares  will be
taxable as ordinary income.  Any additional gain recognized upon the disposition
will be a capital gain.


                                       13
<PAGE>



      If the optionee makes a disqualifying disposition of the purchased shares,
then the Company  will be entitled to an income tax  deduction,  for the taxable
year in which  such  disposition  occurs,  equal to the  excess  of (i) the fair
market  value of such shares on the exercise  date over (ii) the exercise  price
paid for the  shares.  In no  other  instance  will the  Company  be  allowed  a
deduction with respect to the optionee's disposition of the purchased shares.

      Non-Statutory Options. No taxable income is recognized by an optionee upon
the grant of a  non-statutory  option.  The optionee  will in general  recognize
ordinary  income,  in the year in which the  option is  exercised,  equal to the
excess of the fair market value of the  purchased  shares on the  exercise  date
over the exercise  price paid for the shares,  and the optionee will be required
to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income.

      Special  provisions of the Internal  Revenue Code apply to the acquisition
of unvested shares of Common Stock under a non-statutory option.
These special provisions may be summarized as follows:

            (i) If the shares acquired upon exercise of the non-statutory option
      are subject to repurchase by the Company at the original exercise price in
      the event of the  optionee's  termination  of service  prior to vesting in
      such shares,  then the optionee will not  recognize any taxable  income at
      the time of exercise  but will have to report as ordinary  income,  as and
      when the Company's  repurchase right lapses, an amount equal to the excess
      of (a) the fair  market  value  of the  shares  on the date the  Company's
      repurchase right lapses with respect to those shares over (b) the exercise
      price paid for the shares.

            (ii) The optionee  may,  however,  elect under  Section 83(b) of the
      Internal  Revenue  Code to  include  as  ordinary  income  in the  year of
      exercise of the non-statutory  option an amount equal to the excess of (a)
      the fair  market  value  of the  purchased  shares  on the  exercise  date
      (determined as if the shares were not subject to the Company's  repurchase
      right) over (b) the exercise  price paid for such  shares.  If the Section
      83(b)  election is made,  the optionee will not  recognize any  additional
      income as and when the Company's repurchase right lapses.

      The Company will be entitled to a business expense  deduction equal to the
amount of  ordinary  income  recognized  by the  optionee  with  respect  to the
exercised non-statutory option. The deduction will in general be allowed for the
taxable year of the Company in which such  ordinary  income is recognized by the
optionee.

      Deductibility of Executive Compensation.  The Company anticipates that any
compensation deemed paid by it in connection with disqualifying  dispositions of
incentive stock option shares or exercises of non-statutory options granted with
an  exercise  price  equal to the fair  market  value of the option  shares will
qualify as  performance-based  compensation  for purposes of Code Section 162(m)
and will not  have to be taken  into  account  for  purposes  of the $1  million
limitation per covered  individual on the deductibility of the compensation paid
to certain executive officers of the Company.

      Stock Appreciation Rights. An optionee who is granted a stock appreciation
right will recognize ordinary income in the year of exercise equal to the amount
of the  appreciation  distribution.  The Company  will be entitled to a business
expense deduction equal to the appreciation distribution for the taxable year of
the Company in which the ordinary income is recognized by the optionee.

      Parachute   Payments.   If  the  exercisability  of  an  option  or  stock
appreciation  right is accelerated as a result of a change of control,  all or a
portion of the value of the option or stock  appreciation right at that time may
be a parachute  payment for purposes of the excess  parachute  provisions of the
Internal  Revenue Code.  Those  provisions  generally  provide that if parachute
payments equal or exceed three times an employee's average  compensation for the
five tax years preceding the change of control,  the Company loses its deduction
and the recipient is subject to a 20% excise tax for the amount of the parachute
payments in excess of one times such average compensation.

      Note  Forgiveness.  If any promissory  note delivered in payment of shares
acquired  under the Plan is  forgiven  in whole or in part,  the  amount of such
forgiveness  will be  reportable  by the  participant  as ordinary  compensation
income.  The Company will be entitled to a business  expense  deduction equal to
the amount of ordinary  income  recognized by the participant in connection with
the  acquisition of the shares and any note  




                                       14
<PAGE>



forgiveness.  The deduction will be allowed for the taxable year of the Company
in which the ordinary income is recognized by the participant.

Accounting Treatment

      Option grants or stock  issuances to employees and members of the Board of
Directors  with  exercise or issue prices less than the fair market value of the
shares on the grant or issue  date will  result in  compensation  expense to the
Company's  earnings equal to the difference  between the exercise or issue price
and the fair market value of the shares on the grant or issue date.  Such charge
will be expensed by the Company over the period  benefited  (usually the vesting
period of the option).  Option grants or stock  issuances with exercise or issue
prices not less than the fair  market  value of the shares on the grant or issue
date will not result in any direct  charge to the Company's  earnings.  However,
the fair value of those  options is required to be disclosed in the notes to the
Company's financial statements, and the Company must also disclose, in pro-forma
disclosures  in the  Company's  financial  statements,  the impact those options
would have upon the Company's  reported earnings were the value of those options
at the time of grant treated as compensation expense.  Whether or not granted at
a discount, the number of outstanding options may be a factor in determining the
Company's earnings per share on a fully-diluted basis.

      Option grants or stock issuances to  non-employees  result in compensation
expense to the  Company's  earnings  equal to the fair  value of the  options or
shares granted as of the grant or issue date.  Such charge is also expensed over
the period benefited (usually the vesting period for options).

      Should one or more  optionees be granted stock  appreciation  rights which
have no  conditions  upon  exercisability  other  than a service  or  employment
requirement,  then such rights will result in compensation expense to be charged
against the Company's earnings.  Accordingly, at the end of each fiscal quarter,
the amount (if any) by which the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock
subject to such outstanding stock  appreciation  rights has increased from prior
quarter-end  will be accrued as  compensation  expense,  to the extent such fair
market  value is in excess of the  aggregate  exercise  price in effect for such
rights.

New Plan Benefits

      No stock option  grants have been made to date under the Plan on the basis
of the  500,000-share  increase for which  stockholder  approval is sought under
this  Proposal  Two.  However,  on the date of the Annual  Meeting,  each of the
non-employee  Board  members  will  receive the  automatic  option grant for the
number of shares of Common Stock  determined  as described  above (not to exceed
7,500  shares) at an exercise  price equal to the fair market value per share of
Common Stock on that date.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

      The  Board of  Directors  recommends  that the  stockholders  vote FOR the
approval of the amendment to the Plan as described in this Proposal Two. If such
stockholder  approval is not obtained,  then any options granted on the basis of
the  500,000-share  increase  which forms part of this Proposal  will  terminate
without  becoming  exercisable  for any of the shares of Common Stock subject to
those  options  and no further  option  grants  will be made on the basis of the
500,000-share increase which forms part of this Proposal. However, the Plan will
continue to remain in effect, and option grants may continue to be made pursuant
to the  provisions  of the Plan in effect prior to the  amendment  summarized in
this Proposal,  until the available  reserve of Common Stock as last approved by
the stockholders has been issued.

      The Board  believes  that the  amendment  to the Plan is  essential to the
Company's  efforts in attracting and retaining the services of highly  qualified
individuals who can contribute significantly to the Company's financial success.
Accordingly,  the Board  recommends that the  stockholders  vote IN FAVOR OF the
approval of the amendment to the Plan.





                                       15
<PAGE>




                  PROPOSAL THREE - RATIFICATION OF SELECTION
                           OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



      Upon the  recommendation  of the Audit Committee,  the Board has appointed
the firm of Ernst & Young  LLP,  independent  auditors,  to audit the  financial
statements of the Company for the year ending  December 31, 1998,  and is asking
the stockholders to ratify this appointment.

      In the event the stockholders  fail to ratify the  appointment,  the Board
will reconsider its selection.  Even if the selection is ratified,  the Board in
its discretion may direct the  appointment of a different  independent  auditing
firm at any time during the year if the Board feels that such a change  would be
in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.  The affirmative vote
of the  holders  of a  majority  of the Common  Stock,  including  all shares of
Preferred Stock on an as converted basis, present or represented by Proxy at the
Annual Meeting and entitled to vote is required to ratify the selection of Ernst
& Young LLP.

      Ernst & Young LLP has audited the Company's financial  statements annually
since  November  1992. A  representative  of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be
present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate  questions,  and will be
given the opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

      The  Board  recommends  that  the  stockholders   vote  IN  FAVOR  OF  the
ratification  of the  selection  of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the  Company's
independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 1998.





                                       16
<PAGE>




                 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION


      Certain information about the Company's  executive  officers,  as of March
20, 1998, is set forth below  (information  concerning  the Class I and Class II
directors,  including Lisa A. Conte,  the Company's  President,  Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is contained in Proposal One above):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

               Name                     Age                 Position
- ------------------------------------  --------  --------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>     <C>                     
Atul S. Khandwala, Ph.D. ........        55      Senior Vice President,
                                                 Development and Chief
                                                 Regulatory Officer

Steven R. King, Ph.D. ...........        40      Senior Vice President,
                                                 Ethnobotany and Conservation

James E. Pennington, M.D. .......        54      Senior Vice President,
                                                 Clinical Research and Chief
                                                 Medical Officer

Gerald M. Reaven, M.D. ..........        69      Senior Vice President, Research

J.D. Haldeman ...................        33      Vice President, Commercial
                                                 Development

Gina D. Morhun ..................        32      Vice President, Human Resources
                                                 and  Senior Director, Business
                                                 Development

Laurie Peltier ..................        46      Vice President, Project
                                                 Coordination
</TABLE>

      Atul S.  Khandwala,  Ph.D.  joined  Shaman in March  1996 and  currently
serves as Senior Vice  President,  Development and Chief  Regulatory  Officer.
From August 1995 to February 1996, Dr.  Khandwala served as Vice President for
Ethical  Product  Development  at Block Drug  Company.  Prior to joining Block
Drug Company,  from 1986 to August 1995, Dr. Khandwala held various positions,
most recently  Executive Vice  President,  with Chemex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.
From 1976 to 1986,  Dr.  Khandwala  held various  positions with Revlon Health
Care Group Research and Development  Division.  Dr. Khandwala received a B.Sc.
in Chemistry  from Gujarat  University in India and a Ph.D. in  Pharmaceutical
Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin.

      Steven R. King,  Ph.D.  joined Shaman in March 1990. He currently serves
as Senior Vice President,  Ethnobotany and Conservation and is responsible for
coordinating  the Company's  Scientific  Strategy Team. From 1989 to 1990, Dr.
King was the chief botanist for Latin America at Arlington,  Virginia's Nature
Conservancy.  He worked in 1988 as Research  Associate  for the  Committee  on
Managing  Global Genetic  Resources at the National  Academy of Sciences,  and
was a Doctoral  Fellow  from 1983 to 1988 at The New York  Botanical  Garden's
Institute of Economic  Botany.  Dr. King received a B.A. in Human Ecology from
the College of the Atlantic  and M.S.  and Ph.D.  degrees in Biology from City
University of New York.

     James E.  Pennington,  M.D.  joined Shaman in September 1997 as Senior Vice
President,  Clinical  Research and Chief Medical  Officer.  Prior to joining the
Company,  from September 1986 to September 1997, Dr.  Pennington worked at Bayer
Corp.,  where he served as Vice President,  Clinical Research from February 1994
to September  1997 and as Director,  Clinical  Research from  September  1986 to
February 1994.  Prior to joining Bayer Corp., Dr.  Pennington  worked at Harvard
Medical School,  where he served on the Medical faculty from July 1975 to August
1986, with the academic title of Associate Professor of Medicine. Dr. Pennington
has published  over 100 articles and was the editor of a textbook on respiratory
infections.  Dr.  Pennington  received his B.A. and M.D. from the  University of
Oregon.

     Gerald M. Reaven,  M.D.  joined Shaman as a consultant in February 1995 and
became an employee in July 1995. He currently  serves as Senior Vice  President,
Research.  Dr.  Reaven came to Shaman  from the  Stanford  University  School of
Medicine  where he served as a faculty  member  since  1960 and a  Professor  of
Medicine  since 1970.  Over the last 20 years,  Dr. Reaven served as head of the
Division of Endocrinology  and Metabolic  Diseases,  Division of Gerontology and
director of the General Clinical Research Center. Dr. Reaven also served as head
of the  Division  of  Endocrinology,  Gerontology  and  Metabolism  at  Stanford
University School of Medicine, and




                                       17
<PAGE>



Director of the Geriatric Research,  Education and Clinical Center, at  the Palo
Alto Veterans  Affairs  Medical  Center.  Dr. Reaven received his A.B., B.S. and
M.D. from the University of Chicago.

      J.D.  Haldeman joined Shaman in July 1997 as Vice President,  Commercial
Development.  Prior to joining the Company,  from April 1988 to June 1997, Ms.
Haldeman   served   in   various   positions   at   Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis
Pharmaceuticals   ("Warner-Lambert"),   most  recently  as  Senior   Director,
Cardiovascular  Marketing  from October 1995 to June 1997.  Prior to that, she
served as Director,  Customer  Marketing--West Business Unit; Product Manager,
Epilepsy  Team;  Associate  Product  Manager,  Global  Cardiovascular  Product
Planning;  and Sales Specialist for Warner-Lambert.  Ms. Haldeman received her
B.A. from Brigham  Young  University  and her Masters of  Management  from the
J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.

     Gina D. Morhun joined  Shaman in October 1994 and currently  serves as Vice
President, Human Resources and Senior Director, Business Development. Ms. Morhun
is responsible  for Shaman's human resource  functions and business  development
functions. Prior to joining the Company, she served as Human Resource Manager at
Abaxis,  Inc., a medical  products  company,  from April to October 1994, and as
Manager of Compensation and Benefits at ASK Computers, Inc., a software company,
from November 1992 to April 1994.  From June 1987 to November  1992,  Ms. Morhun
served as Senior  Technical  Analyst,  Actuarial  Consultant and  Underwriter of
three large  international  firms:  Alexander & Alexander  Consulting Group, The
Wyatt Company,  and Metropolitan Life Insurance  Company.  Ms. Morhun received a
B.A. in Statistics from the University of California at Davis.

     Laurie  Peltier  joined  Shaman  in June  1997 as Vice  President,  Project
Coordination.  Prior to joining  the  Company,  from June 1992 to May 1997,  Ms.
Peltier served as Senior Director, Project Management at Amylin Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.   Prior to that, she served as Director,  Development at Quintiles  Inc., a
contract research organization, from May 1990 to May 1992. Ms. Peltier served in
various  positions in biostatics and clinical  operations at Syntex  Corporation
from May 1979 through April 1990. Ms. Peltier received a B.S. in Psychology from
the  University  of  Michigan,  Flint,  an M.A.  in  Psychology  and an M.S.  in
Statistics  from Northern  Illinois  University  and an M.B.A.  from Golden Gate
University.

Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

      As members of the  Compensation  Committee of the Board, it is our duty to
exercise the power and  authority of the Board of Directors  with respect to the
compensation  levels to be in effect for the Company's  executive  officers.  As
such,  it is our  responsibility  to set the base  salary of  certain  executive
officers  and to  administer  the  Company's  1992 Stock Option Plan under which
grants may be made to such  officers and other key  employees.  In addition,  we
approved special bonus awards for executive officers for the 1997 fiscal year.

      For 1997,  we  established  the  compensation  payable  to Lisa A.  Conte,
President,  Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial  Officer,  the Company's
highest-paid  executive  officer,  and the Company's four other most highly-paid
executive officers. Ms. Conte reported to us the performance evaluations of each
executive  officer,  including  herself,  and the  factors to be  considered  in
setting their compensation. We endorse those factors and include them as part of
our report.

     General  Compensation  Policy.  Under  our  supervision,  the  Company  has
developed a compensation policy that is designed to attract and retain qualified
key executives  critical to the Company's success and to provide such executives
with  performance-based  incentives  tied  to  corporate  milestones.  It is our
objective to have a portion of each officer's  compensation  contingent upon the
Company's  performance  as well as upon  the  individual's  contribution  to the
success of the Company as measured by personal  performance.  Accordingly,  each
executive  officer's   compensation  package  is  normally  comprised  of  three
elements:  (i)  base  salary,  which  reflects  individual  performance  and  is
commensurate  with  salaries for  comparable  positions  in other  biotechnology
companies  given the level of seniority  and skills  possessed by such  officer,
(ii) long-term,  stock-based incentive awards, which strengthen the mutuality of
interests  between the  executive  officers and the Company's  stockholders  and
which may be tied to the Company's achievement of certain pre-established goals,
and (iii) bonus incentive plan, which tie to individual and Company performance.




                                       18
<PAGE>



      Guidelines.  Because the Company is in the  pre-product  commercialization
stage, the use of traditional  performance  standards (such as profitability and
return on  equity) is not  appropriate  in  evaluating  the  performance  of its
executive  officers.  In  particular,  the  unique  nature of the  biotechnology
industry,  the relatively  short period of time during which the Company's stock
has been publicly traded,  the performance of the stock during this period,  and
the  absence of product  revenues  have made it  impossible  to tie  performance
objectives to standard financial considerations. The primary guidelines which we
did  consider  in  establishing  the  components  of  each  executive  officer's
compensation  package  for 1997 are  summarized  below.  However,  we may in our
discretion apply entirely different guidelines,  particularly different measures
of performance, in setting executive compensation for future fiscal years.

      Base  Salary.   Base   compensation  is  initially   established   through
negotiation  between the Company and the  executive at the time the executive is
hired,  and it is subject to periodic review or  reconsideration,  usually on an
annual basis.  When establishing or reviewing the level of base compensation for
each  executive   officer,   we  consider   numerous   factors,   including  the
qualifications  of the  executive  and his or her level of relevant  experience,
strategic   goals  for  which  the   executive  has   responsibility,   specific
accomplishments   of  the  executive   during  the  last  fiscal  year  and  the
compensation  levels in effect at  companies  in the  Company's  industry  which
compete with the Company for business and executive talent.

      For comparative  compensation  purposes,  we have selected a peer group of
companies  within the industry  and  estimated  the salary  levels in effect for
similar  positions at those companies.  We also relied on specific  compensation
surveys,  making our decisions as to the appropriate market level of base salary
for each  executive  officer  on the basis of our  understanding  of the  salary
levels in effect for  similar  positions  at various  peer group  companies.  In
selecting  the peer group  companies,  we  focused  primarily  on whether  those
companies  were  actually  competitive  with the  Company in  seeking  executive
talent,  whether those  companies had a management  style and corporate  culture
similar to the  Company's and whether  similar  positions  existed  within their
corporate  structure.  For this  reason,  only nine of the peer group  companies
surveyed  for  comparative  compensation  purposes  were  also  included  in the
Hambrecht  & Quist  Biotechnology  Index  which the  Company  has  chosen as the
industry index for purposes of the Company's Stock Price Performance graph which
follows this report.

      Base salaries are reviewed  annually,  and  adjustments  to each executive
officer's  base  salary are made to reflect  individual  performance  and salary
increases effected by the peer group companies. A major objective,  accordingly,
is to have base salary levels  commensurate  with those of comparable  positions
with the peer group companies, given the level of seniority and skills possessed
by the  executive  officer in question and our  assessment  of such  executive's
performance over the year.

      We estimate (on the basis of 1997 surveys of executive  compensation) that
the base salary  levels in effect for the Company's  executive  officers for the
1997 fiscal year ranged from the 25th  percentile to the 90th  percentile of the
base salary levels in effect for executive officers in comparable positions with
peer group companies.

      Incentive  Compensation.  The Committee  awarded cash bonuses for the 1997
fiscal year in recognition of each individual's unique contribution with respect
to attainment of certain individual and Company milestones.

      Stock-Based  Incentive  Compensation.  In  addition  to  establishing  and
reviewing the base salary levels in effect for the executive  officers,  we also
have  discretionary  authority to award equity  incentives  in the form of stock
option  grants to the  executive  officers  as a way to more  closely  align the
interests of management with those of the Company's  stockholders  and to reward
officers  for  achieving  certain  defined  personal and  corporate  performance
targets.  Factors which we consider in determining  whether to grant options and
the number of shares underlying each such grant include the executive's position
in the Company, his or her performance and responsibilities, the extent to which
he or she  already  holds an  equity  interest  in the  Company  and the  equity
incentives  granted  to  employees  with  similar   responsibilities   at  other
biotechnology  companies.  We  have  also  established  general  guidelines  for
maintaining the unvested option holdings of each executive officer at a targeted
level based upon his or her  position  with the Company,  and option  grants are
periodically made to maintain the targeted levels.  These factors,  however, are
used only as  guidelines,  and the relative  weight given to each factor  varies
from individual to individual as we deem appropriate under the circumstances.




                                       19
<PAGE>



      For 1997, we approved total stock option grants under the Plan for 951,400
shares.  Four of the executive officers of the Company received option grants in
calendar 1997. Each grant allows the executive  officer to acquire shares of the
Company's Common Stock at a fixed price per share (the market price on the grant
date) over a  specified  period of time (up to 10 years).  The  options  vest in
periodic  installments  over  four or five  year  periods,  contingent  upon the
executive  officer's  continued  employment with the Company.  In all cases, the
options will provide a return to the executive officer only if he or she remains
with the  Company  and then only if the market  price of the  underlying  shares
appreciates over the option term.

     CEO  Compensation.  The annual base salary of Lisa A. Conte,  the Company's
President,  Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial  Officer,  was increased
from $286,190 to $312,901  during the 1997 fiscal year based on our  performance
review  of Ms.  Conte  for  1997.  This  amount  includes  $61,214  and  $27,287
attributable to child care costs and family travel, respectively. In setting Ms.
Conte's  compensation,   we  considered  the  level  of  experience  and  unique
qualifications Ms. Conte has brought to Shaman as Chief Executive  Officer,  the
Company's goals for which Ms. Conte had  responsibility  and the degree to which
she helped the Company attain those goals.  Among the Company's  accomplishments
during  1997  which  we felt Ms.  Conte  helped  the  Company  achieve  were the
continued  clinical  development of the Company's  products in human trials,  as
well as the expansion of the Company's focus in the field of metabolic diseases,
namely  diabetes.  Accordingly,  Ms. Conte's base salary was raised by an amount
which we felt fairly  represents her additional  contributions  to the Company's
continued growth and success.  The salary adjustment  brought the base salary of
Ms. Conte for the 1997 fiscal year to a salary level at the 60th  percentile  of
the  salary  levels in effect  for chief  executive  officers  at the peer group
companies.  Bonuses  totaling $91,689 were granted to Ms. Conte for 1997 because
of her  contribution to achievement of the product  development  with Provir for
diarrhea in patients with AIDS and financing activities.

      Deduction Limit for Executive Compensation.  As a result of Section 162(m)
of the Internal  Revenue Code,  which was enacted into law in 1993,  the Company
will not be allowed a federal  income tax  deduction  for  compensation  paid to
certain executive officers,  to the extent that compensation  exceeds $1 million
per officer in any one year.  This  limitation will be in effect for each fiscal
year of the  Company  beginning  after  December  31, 1993 and will apply to all
compensation paid to the covered  executive  officers which is not considered to
be  performance  based.   Compensation  which  qualifies  as   performance-based
compensation  will  not have to be  taken  into  account  for  purposes  of this
limitation.  At the 1994 Annual Meeting of  Stockholders,  the Company  obtained
stockholder  approval for certain amendments to the 1992 Stock Option Plan which
were intended to assure that any compensation deemed paid in connection with the
exercise of stock options granted under the Plan with an exercise price equal to
the fair  market  value of the option  shares on the grant date will  qualify as
performance-based compensation.

      We do not  expect  that  the  compensation  to be  paid  to the  Company's
executive officers for the 1998 fiscal year will exceed the $1 million limit per
officer.  Accordingly, we have decided at this time not to take any other action
to limit  or  restructure  the  elements  of cash  compensation  payable  to the
Company's  executive  officers.  We will  reconsider  this  decision  should the
individual  compensation  of any executive  officer ever approach the $1 million
level.

                                       Compensation Committee

                                       Herbert H. McDade, Jr.
                                       John A. Young

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

      During the 1997 fiscal year, Herbert H. McDade and John A. Young served as
members of the  Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors.  No member of
the  Compensation  Committee  was, at any time during the 1997 fiscal year or at
any earlier time, an officer or employee of the Company.

      No  executive  officer of the  Company  serves as a member of the board of
directors  or  compensation  committee  of any  entity  which  has  one or  more
executive  officers  serving as a member of the Company's  Board of Directors or
Compensation Committee.




                                       20
<PAGE>



Stock Performance Graph

      The graph below  depicts the  Company's  stock price as an index  assuming
$100  invested  on January 26, 1993 (the date of the  Company's  initial  public
offering),  along with the composite prices of companies listed in the Hambrecht
& Quist  Biotechnology  Index and Nasdaq  Total U.S.  Stock Market  Index.  This
information  has  been  provided  to the  Company  by  Hambrecht  &  Quist.  The
comparisons  in the graph are  required by  regulations  of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission and are not intended to forecast or to be indicative of the
possible future performance of the Common Stock.

        COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN SINCE JANUARY 26, 1993**
                     Among Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
                the Hambrecht & Quist Biotechnology Index and
                     The Nasdaq Stock Market - U.S. Index
           
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   NASDAQ STOCK
 MEASUREMENT PERIOD           SHAMAN         H&Q BIOTECHNOLOGY      MARKET-U.S.
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED)     PHARMACEUTICALS          INDEX              INDEX
<S>                      <C>                <C>                    <C>    

     1/26/93                    100                  100                100            
     MAR-93                   71.67                72.27              97.54            
     JUN-93                   86.67                81.17              99.41            
     SEP-93                   90.00                81.86             107.79            
     DEC-93                   78.33                94.40             109.91            
     MAR-94                   65.00                76.98             105.29                     
     JUN-94                   51.67                77.57             100.37                
     SEP-94                   47.50                93.26             108.68                     
     DEC-94                   26.67                89.67             107.44            
     MAR-95                   25.83                93.13             117.13            
     JUN-95                   33.33               104.75             133.98            
     SEP-95                   40.83               126.59             150.11            
     DEC-95                   44.17               152.54             151.94            
     MAR-96                   45.83               145.79             159.03            
     JUN-96                   57.50               136.24             172.01               
     SEP-96                   45.83               144.73             178.13            
     DEC-96                   39.17               140.75             186.88            
     MAR-97                   34.17               135.11             176.75            
     JUN-97                   39.58               142.19             209.15            
     SEP-97                   45.00               153.52             244.53            
     DEC-97                   32.91               142.47             229.33            
                                              
</TABLE>

- -------------------
**  $100 invested on January 26, 1993 in stock or index, including reinvestment 
    of devidends.

      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's
previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securites
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which might incorporate future filings made by
the Company under those statutes, the preceding Compensation Committee Report on
Executive  Compensation  and the  Comapany's Stock Performance Graph will not be
incorporated by reference into any of those prior filings,  nor will such report
or  graph  be  incorporated  by  reference  into  any future filings made by the
Company under those Acts.



                                       21
<PAGE>

Compensation of Executive Officers

     The  following  table  sets forth the  compensation  earned,  for  services
rendered in all  capacities  to the  Company,  for each of the last three fiscal
years by (i) the  Company's  Chief  Executive  Officer  and (ii) the four  other
highest paid executive  officers serving as such at the end of 1997 whose salary
and bonus for that fiscal year was in excess of $100,000.  The individuals named
in the table will be hereinafter  referred to as the "Named  Officers." No other
executive  officer who would  otherwise  have been included in such table on the
basis of 1997 salary and bonus  resigned  or  terminated  employment  during the
year.

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Long-Term
                              Annual Compensation          Compensation
                         --------------------------------- ------------
                                                               Awards
                                                              ---------
                         ----------------------------------------------                                   
                                                 Other     Securities
Name and                                         Annual    Underlying  All Other
Principal                  Salary                Compen-    Options/    Compen-
Position(*)       Year     ($)(1)    Bonus ($)   sation($)   SARS (#)  sation($)                   
- ----------------- ----   ----------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ---------
<S>               <C>    <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>        <C>             
Lisa A. Conte     1997   312,901(2)  91,689(3)       --     295,000       --
  President,      1996   286,190(4)  53,000(5)       --     105,000       --
  Chief           1995   247,644(6)  24,000          --          --       --
  Executive
  Officer and 
  Chief Financial
  Officer

Gerald M.         
Reaven, M.D.      1997   239,114     25,000(7)       --          --       --
  Senior Vice     1996   227,878      3,000          --       5,000       --
  President,      1995   100,088         --      68,000(8)       --       --
  Research        

Atul S.           
Khandwala, Ph.D.  1997   226,031     20,000(7)       --          --   82,217(9)
  Senior Vice     1996   187,563      3,000      51,200(8)  125,000  106,399(10)
  President,      1995        --         --      30,000(8)       --       --
  Development     
  and Chief
  Medical Officer

Steven R. King,   
Ph.D.             1997   176,202     40,000(7)       --          --       --
  Senior Vice     1996   171,822      3,000          --      55,000       --
  President,      1995   149,711         --          --          --   20,000(11)
  Ethnobotany     
  and Conservation
 
Gina D. Morhun    1997   109,128      40,000(7)      --          --       --
  Vice            1996    96,150      15,000(12      --      55,000       --
  President,      1995    77,983          --         --      15,000       --
  Human Resources
  and Senior Director,
  Business Development 
</TABLE>

- --------------------
(*)  Does not include  James E.  Pennington,  M.D.,  who joined  the  Company in
     September  1997 as Senior  Vice  President,  Clinical  Research  and  Chief
     Medical  Officer.  Dr. Pennington's  annualized  base  salary  for 1997 was
     $255,000.
(1)  Includes amounts deferred under the Company's Internal Revenue Code Section
     401(k) Plan.
(2)  Includes  $61,214 and $27,287  attributable  to child care costs and family
     travel, respectively.
(3)  Includes $75,000 to be paid in 1998 for achievement of milestones in 1997.
(4)  Includes  $49,646 and $16,858  attributable  to child care costs and family
     travel, respectively.
(5)  Includes $50,000 paid in 1997 for achievement of milestones in 1996.
(6)  Includes $27,597 attributable to child care costs.
(7)  Represents bonus paid in 1998 for achievement of milestones in 1997.
(8)  Represents fees received for consulting services.
(9)  Includes $16,500 received as a housing subsidy,  $1,164 for travel expenses
     and $64,553 in indebtedness for which repayment was forgiven.
(10) Includes  $13,445  received  as a housing  subsidy,  $23,746 for moving and
     relocation expenses, $1,562 for travel expenses and $67,646 in indebtedness
     for which repayment was forgiven.
(11) Represents indebtedness for which repayment was forgiven.
(12) Represents bonus paid in 1997 for achievement of milestones in 1996.

                                       22
<PAGE>

Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

     The following  table  contains  information  concerning  the grant of stock
options under the Plan to the Named Officers during the 1997 fiscal year. Except
for the limited stock  appreciation  right described in footnote (2) below which
formed  part  of  the  option  grant  made  to  each  Named  Officer,  no  stock
appreciation  rights were granted to such Named Officers  during the 1997 fiscal
year.

                         OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                            Potential Realizable
                                                               Value at Assumed                                                    
                                                               Annual Rates of  
                                                                  Stock Price       
                                                                  Appreciation
                                                                   for Option
                          Individual Grants                         Term (1)
             ----------------------------------------------  -------------------                                        
                           % of Total         
              Number         Options         
              of             Granted      
              Securities       to            
              Underlying    Employees  Exercise       
              Options/SARs  in Fiscal   Price     Expiration                            
 Name(*)      Granted(#)(2)   Year    ($/Share)(3)   Date       5%       10%
- ------------ -------------  ---------  ----------- ---------  ------  ----------
<S>            <C>           <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>      <C>

Lisa A. Conte    295,000     37.47%     $5.0156    01/30/07 $930,514  $2,358,105

Gerald M.             --        --           --          --       --          --
Reaven, M.D.

Atul S.               --        --           --          --       --          --
Khandwala, Ph.D.

Steven R.             --        --           --          --       --          --
King, Ph.D.

Gina D. Morhun        --        --           --          --       --          --
</TABLE> 

- -----------------
(*)  Does not include an option to purchase 125,000 shares of Common Stock at an
     exercise price of $6.0625 per share granted to Dr.  Pennington on September
     16, 1997. The option will become exercisable for 12.5% of the option shares
     upon the optionee's completion of six months of service,  measured from the
     grant  date,  and will  become  exercisable  for the  balance of the option
     shares in 42 successive equal  installments upon the optionee's  completion
     of each of the next 42 months of service thereafter.

(1)  Potential  realizable value is based on assumption that the market price of
     the Common Stock appreciates at the annual rate shown (compounded annually)
     from the date of grant until the end of the 10-year option term.  There can
     be no assurance that the actual stock price  appreciation  over the 10-year
     option  term  will be at the  assumed  5% and 10%  levels  or at any  other
     defined level.

(2)  Each option has a maximum term of 10 years,  subject to earlier termination
     in the event of the  optionee's  cessation  of  service  with the  Company.
     However,  each option will become  immediately  exercisable in full upon an
     acquisition  of the Company by merger or asset  sale,  unless the option is
     assumed by the  successor  entity.  Each  option  includes a limited  stock
     appreciation right which will result in the cancellation of that option, to
     the extent exercisable for vested shares, upon the successful completion of
     a hostile  tender for securities  possessing  more than 50% of the combined
     voting power of the Company's outstanding voting securities.  In return for
     the cancelled  option,  the optionee will receive a cash  distribution  per
     cancelled  option  share equal to the excess of (i) the highest  price paid
     per share of the Company's  Common Stock in such hostile  tender offer over
     (ii) the exercise price payable per share under the cancelled option.

(3)  The exercise price may be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock (valued
     at fair market value on the exercise  date) or through a cashless  exercise
     procedure  involving a same-day sale of the purchased  shares.  The Company
     may also  finance the option  exercise by loaning the  optionee  sufficient
     funds to pay the exercise  price for the  purchased  shares and the federal
     and state income tax liability  incurred by the optionee in connection with
     such  exercise.  The optionee may be permitted,  subject to the approval of
     the Plan  Administrator,  to apply a portion of the shares  purchased under
     the option (or to deliver  existing shares of Common Stock) in satisfaction
     of such tax liability.




                                       23
<PAGE>




Option Exercises and Holdings

     The following table provides information with respect to the Named Officers
concerning the exercise of options  during the last fiscal year and  unexercised
options  held as of the end of the fiscal year (as of  December  31,  1997).  No
stock appreciation rights were exercised during such fiscal year, and except for
the limited stock appreciation right described in Footnote (2) to the Option/SAR
Grants  Table  which  forms  part of each  outstanding  stock  option,  no stock
appreciation rights were outstanding at the end of that fiscal year.

                 AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                            AND FY-END OPTION VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                            
                     Value                               
                    Realized                             Value of Unexcercised     
                    (Market                               In-the-Money Options 
                    price at                               at FY-End (Market    
           Shares   exercise     No. of Securities         price of shares at               
          Acquired  date less  Underlying Unexcersied    FY-End less excercise            
             on     exercise     Options FY-End (#)          price) ($)(1)      
Name      Exercise  price)  ------------------------- --------------------------   
             (#)     ($)(2) Exercisable Unexercisable  Exercisable Unexercisable 
- ------------ ------- -----  ------------------------  --------------------------
<S>          <C>     <C>      <C>            <C>         <C>           <C>     
Lisa A.        --       --     118,333        501,667     $359,980      $194,863
Conte

Gerald M.      --       --     203,889         11,111     $262,292       $14,583
Reaven, M.D.

Atul S.        --       --      60,200         64,800            0             0
Khandwala,
Ph.D.

Steven R.      --       --      93,868         60,589      $83,403       $21,750
King, Ph.D.

Gina D.        --       --      40,625         39,375      $19,466        $2,096
Morhun

</TABLE>
- --------------
(1)  Based on the fair market  value of the  Company's  Common Stock on December
     31, 1997 of $4.9375 per share,  the Nasdaq National Market trading price at
     the close of business that same day.

(2)  Equal to the closing  selling price of the  purchased  shares on the option
     exercise date less the exercise price paid for such shares.


Employment Contracts and Change of Control Agreements

     On August 21, 1997,  the Company  entered into a letter  agreement with Dr.
James  Pennington  pursuant to which he would  serve as Senior  Vice  President,
Clinical Research and Chief Medical Officer commencing  September 1997. Pursuant
to the letter  agreement,  the Company  agreed to pay Dr.  Pennington  an annual
salary of $255,000,  payable  semi-monthly,  and a sign-on bonus of $60,000.  In
addition,  Dr.  Pennington  was  granted,  on September  16, 1997,  an option to
purchase  125,000  shares of Common  Stock at a purchase  price of  $6.0625  per
share.  The option has a term of 10 years and  becomes  exercisable  as follows:
12.5% of the option  shares upon Dr.  Pennington's  completion  of six months of
service,  measured from the hire  date,  and the balance of the option shares in
42 successive equal monthly  installments  upon Dr.  Pennington's  completion of
each of the next 42 months of service thereafter.  In the event that the Company
terminates  Dr.  Pennington's  employment  other than for cause,  the Company is
obligated to pay Dr.  Pennington  salary and  benefits  for nine months,  or, if
sooner,  until Dr. Pennington obtains near full time employment or consulting of
at least 80% of his time.

     On February 9, 1996, the Company  entered into a letter  agreement with Dr.
Atul  Khandwala  pursuant  to which he would  serve as  Senior  Vice  President,
Development commencing March 1996. Pursuant to the letter agreement, the Company
agreed to pay Dr. Khandwala an annual salary of $225,000,  payable semi-monthly.
In addition,  Dr.  Khandwala was granted an option to purchase 120,000 shares of
Common Stock at a purchase  price of $6.875 per share.  The option has a term of
ten years and  becomes  exercisable  over a  four-year  period in a series of 48
successive equal monthly  installments upon Dr.  Khandwala's  completion of each
month of service with the Company over the four-year  period measured from March
1, 1996. In the event that the Company terminates Dr. Khandwala's employment for
any reason, the Company is obligated to pay Dr.
Khandwala salary and benefits for six months.


                                       24
<PAGE>



     None of the Company's other executive  officers have employment  agreements
with the Company,  and their  employment  may be  terminated  at any time at the
discretion  of the  Board  of  Directors.  As  administrator  of the  Plan,  the
Compensation  Committee has the authority to provide for accelerated  vesting of
the shares of Common Stock subject to any outstanding  options held by the Chief
Executive  Officer and the Company's  other  executive  officers or any unvested
shares  actually  held by those  individuals  under  the Plan  upon a change  in
control of the Company effected through a successful  tender offer for more than
50% of the Company's  outstanding  voting  securities or through a change in the
majority of the Board as a result of one or more  contested  elections for Board
membership.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     See  "Proposal  One -  Director  Compensation"  for  a  discussion  of  the
Company's  consulting  agreements  with Mr. Raab, the Company's  Chairman of the
Board and Mr. Titus, a Director of the Company.

     The Company's Restated  Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for
indemnification of directors,  officers and other agents of the Company. Each of
the current  directors  and  certain  officers  and agents of the  Company  have
entered into separate indemnification agreements with the Company.





                                       25
<PAGE>




                        COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  requires
the Company's  officers,  directors and persons who are the beneficial owners of
more than 10% of the  Common  Stock to file  initial  reports of  ownership  and
reports of  changes in  ownership  of the  Common  Stock with the United  States
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Officers, directors and greater than
10%  stockholders  are required by SEC  regulations  to furnish the Company with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

     Based  solely on its review of the copies of such  forms  furnished  to the
Company and the written representations that no other reports were required, the
Company  believes  that,  during the period from January 1, 1997 to December 31,
1997,  all  officers,  directors and  beneficial  owners of more than 10% of the
Common Stock complied with all Section 16(a)  requirements,  except as described
herein. Each of Dr. Pennington, Ms. Haldeman and Ms. Peltier did not timely file
his or her Form 3, each of which untimely  filings was  subsequently  corrected.
Mr.  Titus did not timely file a Form 5 for the option  granted on May 22, 1997,
which untimely filing was subsequently corrected.


                      SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND
                            CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS



     The  following  table sets forth certain  information  known to the Company
with respect to the beneficial  ownership of the Common Stock as of February 28,
1998 by (i) all persons who are beneficial owners of five percent or more of the
Common  Stock,  (ii) each  director  and nominee for  director,  (iii) the Named
Officers in the Summary  Compensation Table above and (iv) all current directors
and executive  officers as a group. The number of shares  beneficially  owned by
each director or executive  officer is determined under rules of the SEC and the
information is not necessarily  indicative of beneficial ownership for any other
purpose.  Shares of Common  Stock  subject  to  options  or  warrants  currently
exercisable or exercisable  within 60 days of February 28, 1998 are deemed to be
beneficially  owned by the person  holding such option or warrant for  computing
the percentage  ownership of such person, but are not treated as outstanding for
computing the percentage of any other person. Except as otherwise indicated, the
Company  believes that the  beneficial  owners of the Common Stock listed below,
based upon such information furnished by such owners, have sole investment power
with  respect  to  such  shares,   subject  to  community  property  laws  where
applicable.




                                       26
<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


          Name and Address               Number of       Percent of Total Shares
                                           Shares          Outstanding (1)(2)
- -------------------------------------  ---------------  ------------------------
<S>                                     <C>              <C>   
                                                 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (3)        1,500,000              8.40%
  100 East Pratt Street
  Baltimore, MD  21202

State of Wisconsin Investment Board       1,290,000              7.22%
  Post Office Box 7842
  Madison, WI  53707

Travelers Group Inc. (4)...........       1,215,562              6.80%
  388 Greenwich Street
  New York, NY  10013

Delphi Ventures (5)................         993,571              5.56%
  3000 Sand Hill Road
  Building One, Suite 135
  Menlo Park, CA  94025

Fletcher Asset Management, Inc. (6)         950,000              5.05%
  c/o Midland Bank Trust
  Corporation (Cayman) Limited
  Post Office Box 1109, Mary Street
  Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
  British West Indies

Lisa A. Conte (7)..................         595,633              3.31%
G. Kirk Raab (8)...................         185,769              1.03%
M. David Titus (9).................          51,437                  *
John A. Young (10).................          42,437                  *
Herbert H. McDade, Jr. (11)........          32,437                  *
Adrian D.P. Bellamy (12)...........           5,000                  *
Gerald R. Reaven, M.D. (13)........         215,500              1.19%
Steven R. King, Ph.D. (14) ........         119,449                  *
Atul S. Khandwala, Ph.D. (15)......          68,400                  *
Gina D. Morhun (16)................          44,517                  *
Current Officers and Directors as a  
group (17)(13 persons).............       1,394,641              7.44%

</TABLE>
- -----------------------------------------
* Less than 1.0%

(1)  Percentage of beneficial ownership is calculated assuming 17,856,477 shares
     of Common  Stock were  outstanding  as of  February  28,  1998.  Beneficial
     ownership is determined in accordance  with the rules of the Securities and
     Exchange  Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with
     respect  to  securities.  Shares of Common  Stock  subject  to  options  or
     warrants   currently   exercisable  or   convertible,   or  exercisable  or
     convertible within 60 days of February 28, 1998, are deemed outstanding for
     computing the  percentage of the person  holding such option or warrant but
     are not  deemed  outstanding  for  computing  the  percentage  of any other
     person.  Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table and pursuant to
     applicable  community  property  laws,  the persons named in the table have
     sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock
     beneficially owned.

(2)  This table is based upon  information  supplied to the Company by executive
     officers,  directors and stockholders  owning greater than five percent, as
     set forth in filings required by the Securities and Exchange  Commission or
     as otherwise provided.  The address of each officer and director identified
     in this table is that of the Company's  executive  offices,  213 East Grand
     Avenue,  South San Francisco,  CA 94080.  Unless otherwise indicated in the
     footnotes to this table and subject to applicable  community property laws,
     each of the stockholders named in this table has sole voting and investment
     power with respect to the shares shown as beneficially  owned by it, him or
     her.



                                       27
<PAGE>



(3)  These  securities  are  owned  by  various   individual  and  institutional
     investors,  including T. Rowe Price New  Horizons  Fund,  Inc.,  which owns
     1,000,000  shares,  or 5.6% of the  shares  outstanding,  for which T. Rowe
     Price Associates,  Inc. ("Price  Associates")  serves as investment advisor
     with power to direct  investments  and/or  sole  power to vote the  shares.
     Although,  for purposes of the  reporting  requirements  of the  Securities
     Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  Price  Associates  is  deemed to be a
     beneficial owner of such securities,  Price Associates  expressly disclaims
     that it is, in fact, a beneficial owner of such shares.

(4)  Includes shares held by The Travelers Indemnity Company, Travelers Property
     Casualty Corp., The Travelers Insurance Group Inc., PFS Services, Inc., and
     Associated   Madison  Companies,  Inc.,  each  an  entity  affiliated  with
     Travelers Group Inc.

(5)  Represents 931,934 shares, 3,304 shares,  58,006 shares and 327 shares held
     by  Delphi  BioVentures,   L.P.,   Delphi   BioInvestments,   L.P.,  Delphi
     BioVentures II, L.P. and Delphi  BioInvestments II, L.P. Delphi  Management
     Partners, L.P.  and Delphi  Management  Partners  II, L.P.  are the General
     Partners of Delphi BioVentures, L.P., Delphi  BioInvestments,  L.P., Delphi
     BioVentures II, L.P. and Delphi BioInvestments II, L.P., and as such may be
     deemed to be the beneficial holder of the shares held by such funds.

(6)  Includes  400,000  shares  issuable  upon  conversion  of  preferred  stock
     convertible within 60 days of February 28, 1998 and 550,000 shares issuable
     upon exercise of warrants exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 1998.

(7)  Includes  123,333 shares subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 1998.

(8)  Represents  shares  subject  to  options  exercisable  within  60  days  of
     February 28, 1998.

(9)  Includes  46,437 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 1998.

(10) Represents  shares  subject  to  options  exercisable  within  60  days  of
     February 28, 1998.

(11) Represents  shares  subject  to  options  exercisable  within  60  days  of
     February 28, 1998.

(12) Represents  shares  subject  to  options  exercisable  within  60  days  of
     February 28, 1998.

(13) Includes  215,000 shares subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 1998.

(14) Includes  104,191 shares subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 1998.

(15) Includes  67,400 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 1998.

(16) Includes  44,167 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     February 28, 1998.

(17) Includes  shares  held by family  members  associated  with  directors  and
     officers  listed above.  Also includes  900,233  shares which are currently
     issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options.

     To the Company's  knowledge,  each beneficial owner of more than 10% of the
capital stock filed all reports and reported all  transactions on a timely basis
with the SEC, National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and the Company.


                  DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS



     Proposals of  stockholders of the Company that are intended to be presented
by such  stockholders  at the Company's  1999 Annual Meeting must be received by
the Company no later than  December  17, 1998 in order that they may be included
in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting.


                                  ANNUAL REPORT



     A copy of the Company's  Annual Report to  Stockholders  for the year ended
December 31, 1997 has been mailed  concurrently with this Proxy Statement to all
stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual 


                                       28
<PAGE>

Meeting. The Annual Report is  not incorporated into this Proxy Statement and is
not considered proxy soliciting material.


                                    FORM 10-K



     The Company  filed an Annual  Report on Form 10-K with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission.  A copy of this report may be obtained,  without charge, by
writing to Investor Relations, Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 213 East Grand
Avenue, South San Francisco, California 94080.


                                  OTHER MATTERS



     The  Company  knows  of  no  other  matters  that  will  be  presented  for
consideration  at the Annual Meeting.  If any other matters properly come before
the Annual  Meeting,  it is the  intention of the persons  named in the enclosed
form of Proxy to vote the  shares  they  represent  as the Board may  recommend.
Discretionary  authority  with  respect to such other  matters is granted by the
execution of the enclosed Proxy.




                             THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dated:  April 15, 1998








                                       29
<PAGE>



                                                                      APPENDIX A
   
                          SHAMAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                                      PROXY


                  Annual Meeting of Stockholders, May 15, 1998


         This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of
                          Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc.


     The undersigned revokes all previous proxies,  acknowledges  receipt of the
Notice of the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  to be held May 15,  1998 and the
Proxy  Statement and appoints Lisa A. Conte and G. Kirk Raab,  and each of them,
the Proxy of the  undersigned,  with  full  power of  substitution,  to vote all
shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of Shaman  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. (the
"Company")  which the undersigned is entitled to vote,  either on his or her own
behalf  or on behalf  of any  entity  or  entities,  at the  Annual  Meeting  of
Stockholders  of the  Company  to be held at The  Embassy  Suites,  250  Gateway
Boulevard,  South San Francisco,  California,  94080 on Friday,  May 15, 1998 at
9:00 A.M.  Pacific  Time  (the  "Annual  Meeting"),  and at any  adjournment  or
postponement thereof, with the same force and effect as the undersigned might or
could do if personally  present  thereat.  The shares  represented by this Proxy
shall be voted in the manner set forth on the reverse side.

     1.    To elect two Class I directors to serve on the Board of Directors for
           two years or until their  respective successors are duly elected and 
           qualified:

                                                          WITHHOLD
                                                         AUTHORITY
                                         FOR              TO VOTE               
           Lisa A. Conte                ------           ---------
           Adrian D.P. Bellamy          ------           ---------


     2.    FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN       To approve an amendment to the Company's 
                                     1992 Stock  Option  Plan to  increase  the
                                     maximum number of shares of the  Company's
                                     Common Stock authorized for issuance under 
                                     the Plan by an additional 500,000 shares;

     3.   FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN        To ratify the Board of Director's selection
                                     of  Ernst &  Young  LLP  to  serve  as  the
                                     Company's independent auditors for the year
                                     ending December 31, 1998; and

     4.                              In accordance with the  discretion  of  the
                                     proxy  holders,  to act  upon  all  matters
                                     incident  to the conduct of the meeting and
                                     upon other  matters  as may  properly  come
                                     before the meeting.

     The Board of Directors  recommends a vote IN FAVOR OF each of the directors
listed  above  and a vote IN FAVOR OF the  other  proposals.  This  Proxy,  when
properly  executed,  will be voted as specified  above. If no  specification  is
made, this Proxy will be voted IN FAVOR OF the election of the directors  listed
above and IN FAVOR OF the other proposals.

     Please print the name(s) appearing on each share  certificate(s) over which
     you have voting authority:  _______________________________________________
                                   (Print name(s) on certificate)

     Please sign your name:  _________________________     Date: _______________
                             (Authorized Signature(s))


<PAGE>

                                                                      APPENDIX B


                         SHAMAN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                             1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN

              (As Restated and Amended through January 29, 1998)


                                   ARTICLE ONE
                                     GENERAL


    I.      PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

            A. This 1992 Stock  Option Plan  ("Plan") is intended to promote the
interests  of  Shaman   Pharmaceuticals,   Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  by providing a method whereby  eligible  individuals may be offered
the opportunity to acquire a proprietary  interest,  or otherwise increase their
proprietary  interest,  in the Company as an incentive for them to remain in the
service of the Company (or its parent or subsidiary corporations).

            B. The Plan  became  effective  on the date on which  shares  of the
Company's  common  stock  were  first  registered  under  Section  12(g)  of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended  (the "1934  Act").  Such date is
hereby designated as the Effective Date of the Plan.

            C. This Plan shall  serve as the  successor  to the  Company's  1990
Stock Option Plan (the "1990 Plan"),  and no further option grants shall be made
under the 1990 Plan from and after the Effective  Date of this Plan. All options
outstanding  under the 1990 Plan on such Effective Date are hereby  incorporated
into this Plan and shall  accordingly  be treated as  outstanding  options under
this Plan. However, each outstanding option so incorporated shall continue to be
governed solely by the express terms and conditions of the instrument evidencing
such grant, and no provision of this Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise
modify the rights or  obligations  of the holders of such  incorporated  options
with  respect  to their  acquisition  of shares of the  Company's  common  stock
thereunder  or their  exercise  of any  outstanding  stock  appreciation  rights
thereunder.

            D. For  purposes  of the Plan, the  following  provisions  shall  be
applicable  in  determining  the parent  and  subsidiary  corporations  of the
Company:

            Any  corporation  (other than the  Company) in an unbroken  chain of
      corporations ending with the Company shall be considered to be a parent of
      the Company,  provided each such  corporation in the unbroken chain (other
      than the Company) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing
      fifty  percent  (50%) or more of the total  combined  voting  power of all
      classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

            Each  corporation  (other than the Company) in an unbroken  chain of
      corporations  beginning  with  the  Company  shall be  considered  to be a
      subsidiary of 



                                       1
<PAGE>



     the  Company,   provided  each  such  corporation   (other  than  the  last
     corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the  determination,
     stock  possessing  fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting
     power of all  classes  of stock in one of the  other  corporations  in such
     chain.

   II.      STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

            A.  Stock  Programs.  The Plan shall be  divided  into two  separate
components:  the Discretionary Option Grant Program specified in Article Two and
the  Automatic  Option  Grant  Program  specified  in Article  Three.  Under the
Discretionary Option Grant Program,  eligible individuals may, at the discretion
of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock
in accordance  with the  provisions of Article Two.  Under the Automatic  Option
Grant Program,  certain non-employee members of the Company's Board of Directors
(the "Board") will at periodic  intervals  automatically  receive special option
grants to purchase  shares of Common Stock in accordance  with the provisions of
Article Three.

            B.  General  Provisions.   Unless  the  context  clearly   indicates
otherwise,  the provisions of Articles One and Four of the Plan  shall apply  to
both the  Discretionary  Option Grant  Program  and the  Automatic  Option Grant
Program  and shall  accordingly  govern  the interests of all individuals  under
the Plan.

  III.      ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

            A. The Discretionary Option Grant Program shall be administered by a
committee  ("Committee") of two (2) or more non-employee Board members appointed
by the Board.  Members of the  Committee  shall serve for such period of time as
the Board may  determine  and shall be  subject  to  removal by the Board at any
time.

            B. The  Committee  as Plan  Administrator  shall have full power and
authority  (subject to the express  provisions  of the Plan) to  establish  such
rules and regulations as it may deem  appropriate for the proper  administration
of the Discretionary Option Grant Program and to make such determinations under,
and issue  such  interpretations  of, the  provisions  of such  program  and any
outstanding  option grants as it may deem  necessary or advisable.  Decisions of
the Plan  Administrator  shall be final and  binding on all  parties who have an
interest in the  Discretionary  Option Grant Program or any  outstanding  option
thereunder.

            C.  Administration  of the  Automatic  Option Grant Program shall be
self-executing  in accordance  with the express terms and  conditions of Article
Three, and the Committee as Plan  Administrator  shall exercise no discretionary
functions with respect to option grants made pursuant to that program.




                                       2
<PAGE>



   IV.      OPTION GRANTS

            A.  The persons eligible to participate in the Discretionary  Option
Grant  Program under  Article Two of the Plan shall be limited to the following:
following:

               (i)  officers  and other key  employees  of the  Company  (or its
      parent or subsidiary corporations) who render services which contribute to
      the management, growth and financial success of the Company (or its parent
      or subsidiary corporations);

              (ii)  non-employee members of the Board;

             (iii)  non-employee members of the board of directors of any parent
      or subsidiary corporation; and

              (iv)  those consultants or other independent  advisors who provide
      valuable   services   to  the   Company  ( or  its  parent  or  subsidiary
      corporations).

            B.  The  Plan  Administrator shall have full authority  to determine
the  eligible  individuals  who  are   to  receive  option  grants   under   the
Discretionary  Option Grant Program, the number  of shares to be covered by each
such grant, the status of the granted option as either an incentive stock option
("Incentive  Option") which  satisfies  the  requirements  of Section 422 of the
Internal  Revenue  Code  or  a non-statutory  option  not  intended to meet such
requirements, the  time  or  times  at  which  each  granted option is to become
exercisable  and the maximum term for  which the  option may remain outstanding.

    V.      STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

            A.  Shares of the Company's common stock (the "Common  Stock") shall
be  available  for  issuance  under the Plan and shall be drawn from  either the
Company's  authorized  but unissued  shares of Common  Stock or from  reacquired
shares of Common Stock,  including shares repurchased by the Company on the open
market.  The maximum  number of shares of Common  Stock which may be issued over
the term of the Plan shall not exceed 4,216,6601*  shares, subject to adjustment
from time to time in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this  Section V. Such
authorized share reserve includes the number of shares which remained  available
for issuance under the 1990 Plan as of the Effective Date,  including the shares
subject to the  outstanding  options  incorporated  into this Plan and any other
shares  available  for  future  option  grant  under  the  1990  Plan as of such
Effective  Date.  Such share  reserve also  includes (i) the increase of 107,166
shares  authorized  by the Board in May 1992 and  subsequently  approved  by the
stockholders  in August 1992,  (ii) the increases of 250,000  shares and 176,166
shares authorized by the Board in November 1992 and December 1992, respectively,
and subsequently approved in the aggregate by the stockholders in 

- -------------------
* Such share  reserve  gives effect to the 1-for-3  reverse  stock split of the
Common Stock effected in connection with the  reincorporation  of the Company in
Delaware  and the  associated  exchange  of three (3)  shares of the  California
corporation's  common  stock  for one (1)  share of the  Delaware  corporation's
common stock on January 25, 1993.



                                       3
<PAGE>



December  1992,  (iii)  the increase  of  1,000,000   shares  authorized  by the
Board in May 1993 and  subsequently  approved  by the  stockholders  at the 1994
Annual  Stockholders  Meeting,(iv) the increase of 545,000 shares  authorized by
the Board in February 1995 and approved by the  stockholders  at the 1995 Annual
Stockholders Meeting, (v) the increase of 450,000 shares authorized by the Board
in January 1996 and subsequently approved by the stockholders at the 1996 Annual
Stockholders  Meeting,  (vi) the increase of 700,000  shares  authorized  by the
Board in February 1997 and subsequently approved by the stockholders at the 1997
Annual Stockholders Meeting, and (vii) the increase of 500,000 shares authorized
by the Board on January 29, 1998,  subject to  stockholder  approval at the 1998
Annual Stockholders Meeting.

             B.  To the extent one or more outstanding options  under  the  1990
Plan which have been  incorporated  into this Plan are  subsequently  exercised,
the number of shares  issued with  respect to each such option shall reduce,  on
a share-for-share  basis, the number of shares available for issuance under this
Plan. In no event may any one  individual  participating  in the Plan be granted
stock options and separately exercisable stock appreciation rights for more than
750,000  shares of Common  Stock  under the Plan  (including  the  250,000-share
increase  authorized by the Board in January 1996 and  subsequently  approved by
the  stockholders  at the 1996 Annual  Stockholders  Meeting and the  additional
250,000-share increase authorized by the Board in February 1997 and subsequently
approved by the  stockholders  at the 1997  Annual  Stockholders  Meeting).  For
purposes of this  limitation,  any stock  options or stock  appreciation  rights
granted prior to December 31, 1993 shall not be taken into account.

             C.  Should  one  or  more  outstanding  options  under  this   Plan
(including outstanding options under the 1990 Plan  incorporated into this Plan)
expire or terminate  for any  reason  prior to exercise  in full (including  any
option  cancelled  in  accordance  with the cancellation-regrant  provisions  of
Section IV of Article  Two of the Plan), then the shares subject to the  portion
of each option not so exercised shall be available for  subsequent  option grant
under the Plan.  In addition,  any  unvested  shares  issued  under the Plan and
subsequently repurchased by the Company at the original exercise price per share
pursuant to the Company's  repurchase rights  under the Plan shall be added back
to the number of shares of Common Stock  reserved  for  issuance  under the Plan
and shall accordingly be available for reissuance through one or more subsequent
option grants under the Plan. However,  shares subject  to any option or portion
thereof surrendered or cancelled in accordance  with Section V of Article Two or
Section III of Article Three  shall reduce on a share-for-share basis the number
of shares of Common Stock available for subsequent option grants under the Plan.
In addition,  should the exercise price of an outstanding  option under the Plan
(including  any option  incorporated  from the 1990 Plan) be paid with shares of
Common Stock or should shares of Common Stock otherwise  issuable under the Plan
be withheld by the Company in satisfaction of the withholding  taxes incurred in
connection  with the exercise of an outstanding  option under the Plan, then the
number of shares of Common Stock  available for issuance under the Plan shall be
reduced by the gross number of shares for which the option is exercised, and not
by the net  number  of  shares of Common  Stock  actually  issued to the  option
holder.

            D. In the event  any  change is made to the  Common  Stock  issuable
under the Plan by reason of any stock split,  stock dividend,  recapitalization,
combination  of  shares,  exchange  


                                       4
<PAGE>

of shares  or  other change  affecting  the  outstanding Common Stock as a class
without the Company's  receipt of  consideration,  then appropriate  adjustments
shall be made to (i) the maximum  number  and/or  class of  securities  issuable
under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any
one  individual  participating  in the Plan may be  granted  stock  options  and
separately  exercisable stock appreciation rights after December 31, 1993, (iii)
the number and/or class of securities for which  automatic  option grants are to
be subsequently made to each  newly-elected or continuing Board member under the
Automatic  Option Grant Program,  (iv) the number and/or class of securities and
price per  share in effect  under  each  option  outstanding  under  either  the
Discretionary  Option Grant or Automatic Option Grant Program under the Plan and
(v) the number  and/or class of  securities  and price per share in effect under
each  outstanding  option  incorporated  into this Plan from the 1990 Plan. Such
adjustments  to the  outstanding  options are to be  effected in a manner  which
shall  preclude the  enlargement  or dilution of rights and benefits  under such
options.  The adjustments  determined by the Plan Administrator  shall be final,
binding and conclusive.





                                       5
<PAGE>




                                   ARTICLE TWO
                       DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM


    I.      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

            Options granted pursuant to the  Discretionary  Option Grant Program
shall be  authorized  by action of the Plan  Administrator  and may, at the Plan
Administrator's   discretion,  be  either  Incentive  Options  or  non-statutory
options.  Individuals  who are not  Employees  of the  Company  or its parent or
subsidiary  corporations may only be granted non-statutory options. Each granted
option shall be evidenced by one or more instruments in the form approved by the
Plan Administrator;  provided,  however,  that each such instrument shall comply
with the terms and conditions  specified  below.  Each instrument  evidencing an
Incentive Option shall, in addition,  be subject to the applicable provisions of
Section II of this Article Two.

            A.    Option Price.

                  (1) The  option  price  per  share  shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator in accordance with the following provisions:

                  (i) The option price per share of the Common Stock  
      subject to an Incentive  Option shall in no event be less than 
      one hundred  percent (100%) of the fair  market value of  such 
      Common Stock on the grant date.

                  (ii) The option price per share of the Common Stock  
      subject to a non-statutory stock option  shall be determined by  
      the  Plan  Administrator in its sole discretion and may be less
      than,  equal to or  greater than  the fair market value of such 
      Common Stock on the grant date.

                  (2)  The  option  price  shall  become  immediately  due  upon
exercise  of the option  and,  subject to the  provisions  of Section VI of this
Article Two and the instrument  evidencing the grant, shall be payable in one of
the following alternative forms specified below:

                       -  full  payment  in cash or  check  drawn to
      the Company's order;

                       -  full  payment  in shares  of Common  Stock  
      held by the optionee  for the  requisite  period  necessary to 
      avoid  a  charge  to  the  Company's  earnings  for  financial    
      reporting  purposes and valued  at fair  market value  on  the 
      Exercise Date (as such term is defined below);

                       -  full  payment  in a  combination of shares 
      of Common Stock of the Company held  by the  optionee  for the  
      requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the  Company's  
      earnings for  financial reporting  purposes and 


                                       6
<PAGE>

      valued at fair market  value on the Exercise  Date and cash or 
      check drawn to the Company's order; or

                       -  full payment through a broker-dealer  sale 
      and  remittance  procedure  pursuant  to  which  the  optionee  
      (I)  shall   provide  irrevocable  instructions  to a Company-
      designated  brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the 
      purchased  shares and  remit to  the Company,  out of the sale 
      proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to
      cover  the  aggregate  option  price payable for the purchased 
      shares  plus all   applicable  Federal and  State  income  and 
      employment  taxes  required  to be  withheld by the Company in 
      connection  with   such   purchase  and   (II)  shall  provide 
      directives to the Company to deliver the certificates  for the 
      purchased shares  directly to such brokerage firm in  order to
      complete the sale transaction.

            For purposes of this  subparagraph  (2), the Exercise  Date shall be
the date on which  written  notice of the option  exercise is  delivered  to the
Company.  Except to the extent the sale and remittance  procedure is utilized in
connection with the exercise of the option,  payment of the option price for the
purchased shares must accompany such notice.

                  (3) The fair market  value per share of Common  Stock shall be
determined in accordance with the following provisions:

                  - If the Common Stock is not at the time listed or admitted to
      trading  on any  national  stock  exchange  but is  traded  on the  Nasdaq
      National Market,  the fair market value shall be the closing selling price
      per  share on the date in  question,  as such  price  is  reported  by the
      National  Association of Securities  Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market
      or any successor system. If there is no reported closing selling price for
      the Common Stock on the date in question,  then the closing  selling price
      on the last  preceding  date for  which  such  quotation  exists  shall be
      determinative of fair market value.

                  - If the Common  Stock is at the time  listed or  admitted  to
      trading on any national stock  exchange,  then the fair market value shall
      be the  closing  selling  price per share on the date in  question  on the
      exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for
      the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape
      of transactions  on such exchange.  If there is no reported sale of Common
      Stock on such exchange on the date in question, then the fair market value
      shall be the closing  selling price on the exchange on the last  preceding
      date for which such quotation exists.

            B. Term and  Exercise of Options.  Each  option  granted  under this
Discretionary  Option Grant Program shall be  exercisable  at such time or times
and during such period as is determined by the Plan  Administrator and set forth
in the instrument  evidencing the grant. No such option,  however,  shall have a
maximum term in excess of ten (10) years from the grant date.




                                       7
<PAGE>



            C. Limited  Transferability  of Options.  During the lifetime of the
optionee,  Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the optionee and shall
not be assignable or  transferable  other than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution following the optionee's death. However,  non-statutory options
may, in connection  with the optionee's  estate plan, be assigned in whole or in
part during the  optionee's  lifetime to one or more  members of the  optionee's
immediate  family  or to a trust  established  exclusively  for one or more such
family  members.  The  assigned  portion may only be  exercised by the person or
persons  who  acquire a  proprietary  interest  in the  option  pursuant  to the
assignment.  The terms  applicable to the assigned  portion shall be the same as
those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be
set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may
deem appropriate.

             D. Termination of Service.

                  (1) The following  provisions shall govern the exercise period
applicable  to any  outstanding  options  held by the  optionee  at the  time of
cessation of Service or death.

                  - Should an optionee  cease Service for any reason  
      (including death or permanent disability as defined in Section  
      22(e)(3) of  the  Internal Revenue  Code) while holding one or 
      more outstanding options under this Article Two,  then none of 
      those  options shall (except to the extent otherwise  provided  
      pursuant  to   subparagraph   D.(3)  below) remain exercisable 
      for more than a thirty-six  (36)-month period (or such shorter
      period determined by the  Plan  Administrator  and  set  forth  
      in the instrument evidencing the grant) measured from the date 
      of such cessation of Service.

                  - Any  option  held  by  the  optionee  under this
      Article Two and exercisable  in  whole  or in part on the date 
      of his/her death may be subsequently exercised by the personal  
      representative  of the optionee's estate  or by the  person or  
      persons  to  whom the  option  is  transferred pursuant to the 
      optionee's  will or in accordance with the laws of descent and 
      distribution.  Any exercise,  however, must occur prior to the 
      earlier of  (i) the  third  anniversary  of  the  date  of the 
      optionee's death or (ii) the specified expiration  date of the 
      option term.  Upon the occurrence  of  the earlier  event, the 
      option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding.

                  - Under no circumstances, however,  shall any such 
      option be exercisable  after  the specified expiration date of 
      the option term.

                  - During  the  applicable  post-Service   exercise  
      period, the option may not be exercised in the  aggregate  for 
      more than the number of shares (if any) in which the  optionee 
      is vested at the time of  his/her cessation  of Service.  Upon 
      the expiration of the limited  post-Service exercise period or 
      (if earlier) upon the specified  expiration date of the option
      term,  each  such  option  shall  terminate  and  cease  to be 
      outstanding  with respect  to any vested  shares for which the 
      option  has   



                                       8
<PAGE>



      not otherwise been exercised. However, each outstanding option
      shall  immediately  terminate  and cease to be outstanding, at
      the time of the optionee's  cessation of Service, with respect
      to any shares for which  the  option is  not otherwise at that
      time  exercisable  or  in  which the optionee is not otherwise
      vested.

                  -  Should (i) the optionee's Service be terminated  
      for misconduct  (including,  but not  limited to, any  act  of 
      dishonesty, willful misconduct,   fraud  or  embezzlement)  or  
      (ii) the  optionee  make  any unauthorized  use or  disclosure 
      of confidential  information  or  trade secrets of the Company
      or its  parent or subsidiary  corporations,  then in  any such
      event all outstanding options held by the optionee  under this
      Article  Two  shall  terminate  immediately  and  cease to  be 
      outstanding.

                  (2) The Plan Administrator  shall  have  complete  discretion,
exercisable  either at the time the  option is  granted or at any time while the
option remains  outstanding,  to permit one or more options held by the optionee
under this Article Two to be exercised, during the limited post-Service exercise
period  applicable  under  subparagraph  (1) above, not only with respect to the
number  of  vested  shares  of  Common  Stock  for  which  each  such  option is
exercisable  at the time of the  optionee's  cessation  of Service but also with
respect  to one or more  subsequent  installments  in which the  optionee  would
otherwise have vested had he/she continued in Service.

                  (3) The  Plan  Administrator  shall  also  have full power and
authority to  extend  the  period  of time for  which  the  option is  to remain
exercisable following  the  optionee's  cessation of  Service  or death from the
limited period in effect under  subparagraph  (1) above to such  greater  period
of time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.  In no event, however,
shall such  option  be exercisable  after the  specified  expiration date of the
option term.

                  (4) For purposes of the foregoing  provisions  of this Section
I.D (and for all other  purposes  under the Discretionary Option Grant Program):

                   -  The  optionee  shall  (except  to  the  extent   otherwise
      specifically  provided in the  applicable  stock option or stock  purchase
      agreement)  be deemed to remain in the  Service of the Company for so long
      as such individual renders services on a periodic basis to the Company (or
      any parent or subsidiary  corporation)  in the capacity of an Employee,  a
      non-employee member of the Board or an independent consultant or advisor.

                   - The optionee shall be  considered  to be an Employee for so
      long as he or she  remains  in the  employ of the  Company  or one or more
      parent or subsidiary corporations, subject to the control and direction of
      the employer entity not only as to the work to be performed but also as to
      the manner and method of performance.





                                       9
<PAGE>



            E.    Stockholder Rights.

                  An optionee shall have no  stockholder  rights with respect to
any shares covered by the option until such individual  shall have exercised the
option and paid the option price for the purchased shares.

            F.    Repurchase Rights.

            The shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of any Article
Two option grant may be subject to repurchase by the Company in accordance  with
the following provisions:

                  (a) The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion
      to authorize  the  issuance of  unvested  shares of Common Stock
      under this Article Two.  Should the optionee cease Service while 
      holding such unvested shares,  the Company  shall have the right
      to repurchase any or all of those unvested shares  at the option  
      price  paid per  share.  The  terms  and conditions  upon  which  
      such   repurchase  right  shall  be  exercisable (including  the 
      period and procedure for  exercise  and the  appropriate vesting
      schedule for the purchased  shares) shall be established  by the
      Plan Administrator and  set forth  in the  instrument evidencing  
      such repurchase right.

                  (b) All  of  the  Company's  outstanding  repurchase 
      rights under this Article Two shall automatically terminate, and 
      all  shares subject to  such terminated rights shall immediately 
      vest in full, upon the occurrence of  any Corporate  Transaction 
      under  Section  III  of  this Article Two, except to the extent:
      (i)  any  such  repurchase  right  is  expressly assigned to the
      successor corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with the 
      Corporate  Transaction  or  (ii)  such  accelerated  vesting  is 
      precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator 
      at the time the repurchase right is issued.

                  (c) The   Plan    Administrator   shall   have   the  
      discretionary authority,  exercisable either before or after the 
      optionee's  cessation  of  Service,  to  cancel  the   Company's  
      outstanding repurchase rights with respect to one or more shares  
      purchased   or   purchasable   by   the  optionee   under   this  
      Discretionary  Option  Grant Program  and thereby accelerate the
      vesting of such shares in whole or in part at any time.

   II.      INCENTIVE OPTIONS

            The terms and conditions  specified below shall be applicable to all
Incentive Options granted under this Article Two.  Incentive Options may only be
granted to  individuals  who are  Employees  of the Company.  Options  which are
specifically  designated as  "non-statutory"  options when issued under the Plan
shall not be subject to such terms and conditions.




                                       10
<PAGE>



            A. Dollar Limitation. The aggregate fair market value (determined as
of the  respective  date or dates of grant) of the Common Stock for which one or
more options granted to any Employee after December 31, 1986 under this Plan (or
any other option plan of the Company or its parent or  subsidiary  corporations)
may for the first time become  exercisable as incentive  stock options under the
Federal  tax laws during any one  calendar  year shall not exceed the sum of One
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). To the extent the Employee holds two (2) or
more such  options  which  become  exercisable  for the  first  time in the same
calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the exercisability of such options as
incentive stock options under the Federal tax laws shall be applied on the basis
of the order in which such options are  granted.  Should the number of shares of
Common Stock for which any  Incentive  Option first becomes  exercisable  in any
calendar  year exceed the  applicable  One Hundred  Thousand  Dollar  ($100,000)
limitation, then that option may nevertheless be exercised in that calendar year
for the excess number of shares as a non-statutory  option under the Federal tax
laws.

            B. 10% Stockholder. If any individual to whom an Incentive Option is
granted  is the  owner of stock  (as  determined  under  Section  424(d)  of the
Internal  Revenue  Code)  possessing  ten  percent  (10%)  or more of the  total
combined  voting  power of all classes of stock of the Company or any one of its
parent or subsidiary corporations,  then the option price per share shall not be
less than one hundred and ten percent  (110%) of the fair market value per share
of Common Stock on the grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five (5)
years, measured from the grant date.

            Except as modified by the  preceding  provisions of this Section II,
the  provisions  of  Articles  One,  Two and Four of the Plan shall apply to all
Incentive Options granted hereunder.

  III.      CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS/CHANGES IN CONTROL

            A.    In the  event of any of the  following  stockholder-approved
transactions (a "Corporate Transaction") to which the Company is a party:

                     (i)      a merger  or  consolidation  in which  the
      Company is not the surviving entity,  except for a transaction the
      principal  purpose  of  which  is  to  change  the  State  of  the
      Company's incorporation,

                    (ii)      the sale,  transfer  or other  disposition
      of  all or  substantially  all of the  assets  of the  Company  in
      complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or

                   (iii)      any  reverse merger in  which the  Company  
      is  the surviving entity but in which  securities possessing  more  
      than  fifty percent  (50%)  of the  total  combined  voting  power  
      of  the Company's outstanding securities are transferred to person
      or   persons  different  from  those  who  held   such  securities 
      immediately prior to such merger,




                                       11
<PAGE>



            then each option which is at the time outstanding under this Article
Two shall automatically  accelerate so that each such option shall,  immediately
prior to the  specified  effective  date for the Corporate  Transaction,  become
fully  exercisable with respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at
the time subject to such option and may be  exercised  for all or any portion of
such shares.  However, an outstanding option under this Article Two shall not so
accelerate  if and to the  extent:  (i) such option is, in  connection  with the
Corporate  Transaction,  either to be assumed by the  successor  corporation  or
parent thereof or to be replaced with a comparable  option to purchase shares of
the capital  stock of the successor  corporation  or parent  thereof,  (ii) such
option  is to be  replaced  with  a cash  incentive  program  of  the  successor
corporation  which  preserves  the  option  spread  existing  at the time of the
Corporate  Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the
same vesting  schedule  applicable to such option,  or (iii) the acceleration of
such option is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at
the time of the option grant. The  determination of option  comparability  under
clause (i) above shall be made by the Plan Administrator,  and its determination
shall be final, binding and conclusive.

            B.   Immediately   following  the   consummation  of  the  Corporate
Transaction,  all outstanding options under this Article Two shall terminate and
cease  to be  outstanding,  except  to  the  extent  assumed  by  the  successor
corporation or its parent company.

            C. Each  outstanding  option under this Article Two which is assumed
in  connection  with the  Corporate  Transaction  or is otherwise to continue in
effect  shall  be  appropriately  adjusted,  immediately  after  such  Corporate
Transaction,  to apply and pertain to the number and class of  securities  which
would have been issued to the option holder,  in  consummation of such Corporate
Transaction,  had such person  exercised  the option  immediately  prior to such
Corporate Transaction.  Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the option
price payable per share,  provided the  aggregate  option price payable for such
securities  shall  remain  the  same.  In  addition,  the  class  and  number of
securities  available  for issuance  under the Plan on both an aggregate and per
participant basis following the consummation of the Corporate  Transaction shall
be appropriately adjusted.

            D. The  grant of  options  under  this  Article  Two shall in no way
affect the right of the Company to adjust,  reclassify,  reorganize or otherwise
change its capital or business  structure  or to merge,  consolidate,  dissolve,
liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

            E. The Plan  Administrator  shall have the discretionary  authority,
exercisable  either at the time the  option is  granted or at any time while the
option is outstanding,  to provide for the automatic acceleration of one or more
outstanding  options under this Article Two (and the  termination of one or more
of the Company's outstanding  repurchase rights under this Article Two) upon the
occurrence of the Change in Control. The Plan Administrator shall also have full
power  and  authority  to  condition  any  such  option  acceleration  (and  the
termination  of  any   outstanding   



                                       12
<PAGE>



repurchase  rights)  upon  the  subsequent termination of the optionee's Service
within a specified  period  following the Change in Control.

            F. For  purposes of this Section III,  a Change in Control  shall be
deemed to occur in the event:

                     (i) any  person or  related group of persons (other 
      than the Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls,  
      is controlled by,  or is under  common control with,  the Company)  
      directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership  (within  the 
      meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the  1934 Act) of  securities  possessing 
      more than fifty percent (50%) of the total  combined voting  power  
      of the  Company's  outstanding  securities pursuant to a tender or  
      exchange  offer made  directly  to the  Company's stockholders; or

                    (ii) there  is  a change  in the  composition of the 
      Board over a period  of  twenty-four  (24)  consecutive  months or 
      less  such that  a  majority  of  the  Board  members  ceases,  by  
      reason  of one or more  proxy  contests  for the election of Board 
      members, to be comprised of individuals  who either (A) have  been 
      Board  members continuously since the beginning of such period  or 
      (B) have been elected or  nominated  for election as Board members
      during  such  period by at least a majority  of the Board  members
      described in clause (A)  who were still in office at the time such 
      election or nomination was approved by the Board.

            G. Any options  accelerated in connection with the Change in Control
shall remain fully exercisable until the expiration or sooner termination of the
option term.

            H. The  exercisability  as incentive stock options under the Federal
tax laws of any options  accelerated under this Section III in connection with a
Corporate  Transaction  or Change in Control shall remain  subject to the dollar
limitation of Section II of this Article Two.


   IV.      CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS

            The Plan  Administrator  shall have the authority to effect,  at any
time and from time to time,  with the  consent of the  affected  optionees,  the
cancellation of any or all outstanding options under this Article Two (including
outstanding  options  under the 1990 Plan  incorporated  into this  Plan) and to
grant in substitution  new options under the Plan covering the same or different
numbers of shares of Common  Stock but with an option  price per share  based on
the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the new grant.

    V.      STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

            A.  Provided and only if the Plan  Administrator  determines  in its
discretion to implement the stock  appreciation right provisions of this Section
V, one or more optionees may be 



                                       13
<PAGE>



granted  the right,  exercisable   upon  such  terms  and conditions as the Plan
Administrator may establish,  to surrender all or part of an unexercised  option
under this  Article Two in exchange  for a  distribution  from the Company in an
amount equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value (on the option surrender
date) of the number of shares in which the  optionee is at the time vested under
the surrendered option (or surrendered  portion thereof) over (ii) the aggregate
option price payable for such vested shares.

            B. No surrender of an option shall be effective  hereunder unless it
is approved by the Plan Administrator. If the surrender is so approved, then the
distribution to which the optionee shall accordingly  become entitled under this
Section V may be made in shares of Common  Stock  valued at fair market value on
the option  surrender  date, in cash, or partly in shares and partly in cash, as
the Plan Administrator shall in its sole discretion deem appropriate.

            C.  If  the   surrender  of  an  option  is  rejected  by  the  Plan
Administrator,  then the optionee shall retain  whatever rights the optionee had
under the  surrendered  option (or  surrendered  portion  thereof) on the option
surrender  date and may  exercise  such rights at any time prior to the later of
(i) five (5) business days after the receipt of the rejection notice or (ii) the
last day on which the option is otherwise  exercisable  in  accordance  with the
terms of the instrument  evidencing such option, but in no event may such rights
be exercised more than ten (10) years after the date of the option grant.

            D. One or more  officers of the Company  subject to the  short-swing
profit   restrictions   of  the  Federal   securities  laws  may,  in  the  Plan
Administrator's sole discretion, be granted limited stock appreciation rights in
tandem with their  outstanding  options under the Plan. Upon the occurrence of a
Hostile  Take-Over  effected at any time when the Company's  outstanding  Common
Stock is registered under Section 12(g) of the 1934 Act, each outstanding option
with such a limited stock appreciation  right shall  automatically be cancelled,
to the extent such option is at the time exercisable for fully-vested  shares of
Common Stock.  The optionee  shall in return be entitled to a cash  distribution
from the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over  Price of
the vested  shares of Common Stock at the time subject to the  cancelled  option
(or  cancelled  portion of such option) over (ii) the aggregate  exercise  price
payable for such  shares.  The cash  distribution  shall be made within five (5)
days following the consummation of the Hostile Take-Over. The Plan Administrator
shall  pre-approve,  at the time the limited  right is granted,  the  subsequent
exercise  of that  right in  accordance  with the  terms  of the  grant  and the
provisions of this Section V.D. No additional approval of the Plan Administrator
or the Board shall be required at the time of the actual option cancellation and
cash  distribution.  The balance of the option (if any) shall continue to remain
outstanding  and  become  exercisable  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the
instrument evidencing such grant.

            E.    For  purposes  of Section  V.D,  the  following  definitions
shall be in effect:

                  A Hostile  Take-Over shall be deemed to occur in the 
      event any person or related  group  of persons  (other  than the  
      Company  or  a  person  that directly or indirectly controls, is
      controlled by,  or  is under  common control with,  the Company)  
      acquires  directly or  indirectly  beneficial ownership  (within 
      the meaning 



                                       14
<PAGE>



      of  Rule 13d-3  of the 1934 Act) of securities  possessing  more
      than  fifty  percent  (50%) of the total  combined  voting power
      of the  Company's  outstanding  securities  pursuant to a tender 
      or exchange offer  made  directly  to the Company's stockholders 
      which the Board  does not recommend such stockholders to accept.

                  The  Take-Over Price per share shall be deemed to be 
      equal to  the greater of (a) the fair market  value per share of 
      Common Stock on the option   cancellation  date,  as  determined  
      pursuant  to  the  valuation  provisions  of Section  I.A.(3) of 
      this  Article  Two, or (b) the highest reported  price per share 
      of  Common  Stock  paid  in  effecting  such  Hostile  Take-Over. 
      However,  if  the cancelled option is  an Incentive Option,  the
      Take-Over Price  shall not exceed the clause (a) price per share.

            F. The shares of Common Stock subject to any option  surrendered  or
cancelled for an appreciation  distribution pursuant to this Section V shall not
be available for subsequent option grant under the Plan.

   VI.      LOANS OR INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS

            The Plan Administrator  may, in its discretion,  assist any optionee
(including  an optionee  who is an officer or  director  of the  Company) in the
exercise of one or more options granted to such optionee under this Article Two,
including the  satisfaction  of any Federal and State income and  employment tax
obligations  arising therefrom,  by (i) authorizing the extension of a loan from
the Company to such optionee or (ii)  permitting  the optionee to pay the option
price for the purchased Common Stock in installments over a period of years. The
terms of any loan or installment  method of payment (including the interest rate
and  terms of  repayment)  will be upon  such  terms  as the Plan  Administrator
specifies in the  applicable  option  agreement or otherwise  deems  appropriate
under the circumstances.  Loans and installment  payments may be granted with or
without  security or collateral.  However,  the maximum credit  available to the
optionee  shall not  exceed  the sum of (i) the  aggregate  option  price of the
purchased  shares  plus (ii) any  Federal and State  income and  employment  tax
liability  incurred  by the  optionee  in  connection  with the  exercise of the
option.




                                       15
<PAGE>




                                  ARTICLE THREE
                         AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

    I.      ELIGIBILITY

            The individuals eligible to receive automatic option grants pursuant
to the  provisions  of this Article  Three program shall be limited to (i) those
individuals who are first elected or appointed as non-employee  Board members on
or after the Effective  Date of this Plan,  whether  through  appointment by the
Board  or  election  by the  Company's  stockholders,  provided  they  have  not
otherwise  been in the prior employ of the Company (or any parent or  subsidiary
corporation),  and (ii) those  individuals  who are  re-elected as  non-employee
Board  members  at one or  more  Annual  Stockholder  Meetings  held  after  the
Effective  Date,  whether  or not such  individuals  are  otherwise  serving  as
non-employee Board members on the Effective Date.

   II.      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANTS

            A. Grant Dates. Option grants shall be made under this Article Three
on the dates  specified  below.  Stockholder  approval of this February 14, 1997
restatement at the 1997 Annual  Meeting shall  constitute  pre-approval  of each
option  granted  under this  Article  Three on or after the date of that  Annual
Meeting and the subsequent  exercise of each such option in accordance  with the
provisions of this Article Three.

                     (i) Each individual who first becomes a non-employee
      Board member on or after the Effective Date of this  Plan,  whether 
      through  election by the Company's  stockholders  or appointment by 
      the Board shall automatically  be  granted,  at the  time  of  such 
      initial  election or appointment, a  non-statutory  stock option to 
      purchase  20,000  shares  of  Common  Stock  upon   the  terms  and 
      conditions of this Article Three, provided such  individual has not 
      otherwise been in the prior employ of the Company  or any parent or 
      subsidiary corporation.

                    (ii) On the date of each Annual  Stockholders Meeting 
      held after February 24, 1995, each individual who is to continue to 
      serve as  a   non-employee  Board   member  and  who  has served in 
      such capacity  for at  least  six (6)  months  shall  automatically  
      be granted,  whether  or  not  such  individual  is  standing   for  
      re-election   as  a   Board  member  at   that  Annual  Meeting,  a 
      non-statutory  stock  option  to  purchase,  upon  the  terms   and 
      conditions  of this Article  Three, that number of shares of Common 
      Stock  determined  by  dividing  $50,000 by  the  average   closing  
      selling price  per share of  the  Common  Stock for the thirty (30)  
      trading days immediately preceding the date of such Annual Meeting. 
      In no event, however,  shall the  number of shares  subject to such 
      option be greater than 7,500 or less than 5,000.  There shall be no
      limit on the  number of such annual automatic option grants any one 
      non-employee Board member may receive over his/her continued period 
      of Board service.




                                       16
<PAGE>



            The number of shares  subject to the  automatic  option grants to be
made to each  newly-elected  or  continuing  non-employee  Board member shall be
subject to periodic adjustment pursuant to the applicable  provisions of Section
V.D of Article One.

            B.    Exercise  Price.  The  exercise  price  per  share  of  each
automatic  option  grant made under this  Article  Three shall be equal to one
hundred  percent  (100%) of the fair market value per share of Common Stock on
the automatic grant date.

            C.    Payment.

                  The exercise price shall be payable in one of the  alternative
forms specified below:

                     (i)    full payment in cash or  check made payable
      to the Company's order; or

                     (ii)   full  payment  in  shares  of Common  Stock  
      held for the requisite  period necessary to avoid a charge to the  
      Company's  reported earnings  and valued at fair market  value on
      the  Exercise  Date (as such term is defined below); or

                     (iii)  full  payment in a combination of shares of 
      Common Stock  held for  the requisite period necessary to avoid a 
      charge to the Company's  reported  earnings  and  valued  at fair 
      market value o n the Exercise D ate and  cash or check payable to 
      the Company's order; or

                     (iv) full  payment  through a sale and  remittance  
      procedure  pursuant to which  the  non-employee Board  member (I)
      shall provide irrevocable instructions  to  a  Company-designated  
      brokerage firm  to  effect  the immediate  sale  of the purchased  
      shares  and   remit  to  the  Company,   out of the sale proceeds 
      available on   the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the
      aggregate  exercise  price payable for  the purchased  shares and
      shall  (II) concurrently  provide  directives  to  the Company to 
      deliver the  certificates  for the purchased  shares directly  to
      such  brokerage firm  in  order to complete the sale transaction.

            For purposes of this  subparagraph C, the Exercise Date shall be the
date on which written notice of the option exercise is delivered to the Company,
and the fair market value per share of Common  Stock on any relevant  date shall
be determined in accordance  with the  provisions of Section  I.A.(3) of Article
Two. Except to the extent the sale and remittance  procedure  specified above is
utilized  for the  exercise of the option,  payment of the option  price for the
purchased shares must accompany the exercise notice.

            D.    Option Term.  Each automatic  grant  under  this Article Three
shall have a maximum term of ten (10)  years measured  from the automatic  grant
date.




                                       17
<PAGE>



             E.    Exercisability. Each automatic grant shall become exercisable
for the  option shares  in  a  series  of twenty-four  (24) equal and successive
monthly installments  over the optionee's period  of service on the Board,  with
the  first such  installment  to  become  exercisable  one (1) month  after  the
automatic grant date. The option shall not become exercisable for any additional
option  shares  following  the  optionee's  cessation  of Board  service for any
reason.

             F.    Limited Transferability of Options. Options granted under the
Automatic  Option Grant Program may, in connection  with the  optionee's  estate
plan, be assigned in whole or in part during the  optionee's  lifetime to one or
more  members  of the  optionee's  immediate  family  or to a trust  established
exclusively for one or more such family members.  The assigned  portion may only
be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary  interest in the
option pursuant to the assignment.  The terms applicable to the assigned portion
shall be the same as those in effect  for the option  immediately  prior to such
assignment  and shall be set forth in such  documents  issued to the assignee as
the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

             G.    Effect of Termination of Board Membership.

                   1. Should the optionee  cease to serve as a Board  member for
any reason (other than death) while holding one or more automatic  option grants
under this Article Three,  then such optionee shall have a six (6)-month  period
following  the date of such  cessation of Board  membership in which to exercise
each such  option  for any or all of the  shares  of Common  Stock for which the
option is exercisable at the time of such cessation of Board service.  Each such
option shall immediately  terminate and cease to be outstanding,  at the time of
such cessation of Board service, with respect to any shares for which the option
is not otherwise at that time exercisable.

                   2. Should the optionee  die while  serving as a member of the
Board or within six (6)  months  after  cessation  of Board  service,  then each
outstanding automatic option grant held by the optionee at the time of death may
subsequently  be  exercised,  for any or all of the  shares of Common  Stock for
which the option is exercisable at the time of the optionee's cessation of Board
service (less any option shares subsequently  purchased by the optionee prior to
death), by the personal representative of the optionee's estate or by the person
or persons to whom the option is transferred  pursuant to the optionee's will or
in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution.  Any such exercise must
occur within twelve (12) months after the date of the optionee's death. However,
each such  automatic  option grant shall  immediately  terminate and cease to be
outstanding,  at the time of the  optionee's  cessation of Board  service,  with
respect to any option shares for which it was not otherwise  exercisable at that
time.

                   3. In no event shall any  automatic  option  grant under this
Article Three remain exercisable after the specified  expiration date of the ten
(10)-year  option  term.  Upon the  expiration  of the  applicable  post-service
exercise under  subparagraph 1 or 2 above or (if earlier) upon the expiration of
the ten (10)-year  option term, the automatic  option grant shall  terminate and
cease to be  outstanding  for any  unexercised  shares  for which the option was
exercisable at the time of the optionee's cessation of Board service.



                                       18
<PAGE>

             H.    Stockholder Rights.  The holder of an  automatic option grant
under this  Article  Three shall have none of the rights of a  stockholder  with
respect to any  shares  subject to such option until such individual  shall have
exercised the option and paid the exercise price for the purchased shares.

             I.    Remaining  Terms.   The  remaining  terms and  conditions  of
each  automatic   option  grant  shall  be  as  set  forth  in   the   prototype
Non-statutory Stock Option Agreement attached as Exhibit A to the Plan.

  III.      CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

            A.    In  the  event of any  of the  following  stockholder-approved
transactions to which the Company is a party (a "Corporate Transaction"):

                     (i)      a merger  or  consolidation  in which  the
      Company is not the surviving entity,  except for a transaction the
      principal  purpose  of  which  is  to  change  the  State  of  the
      Company's incorporation,

                     (ii)     the sale,  transfer or  disposition of all
      or  substantially  all of the assets of the Company in liquidation
      or dissolution of the Company, or

                     (iii)    any reverse merger in  which  the  Company  
      is the surviving entity  but in which  securities  possessing  more 
      than fifty percent (50%)  of the  total  combined  voting  power of  
      the  Company's  outstanding securities are transferred to person or 
      persons different from  those who held such  securities immediately 
      prior to such merger,

                  the  exercisability of each automatic option grant at the time
outstanding under this Article Three shall automatically accelerate so that each
such option shall,  immediately  prior to the specified  effective  date for the
Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable with respect to the total number
of  shares  of  Common  Stock  at the time  subject  to such  option  and may be
exercised  for all or any  portion of such  shares.  Immediately  following  the
consummation  of the Corporate  Transaction,  all automatic  option grants under
this Article Three shall  terminate and cease to be  outstanding,  except to the
extent assumed by the successor corporation or its parent company.

             B.   In connection with any Change in Control of the  Company,  the
exercisability of each automatic option grant at the time outstanding under this
Article  Three shall  automatically  accelerate  so that each such option shall,
immediately  prior to the  specified  effective  date for the Change in Control,
become  fully  exercisable  with respect to the total number of shares of Common
Stock at the time  subject to such  option and may be  exercised  for all or any
portion of 



                                       19
<PAGE>



such  shares  at  any time  prior to the expiration or sooner termination of the
option  term.   For purposes of this  Article  Three,  a Change in Control shall
be deemed to occur in the event:

                     (i)       any  person or  related  group of persons 
      (other than the  Company  or a person that  directly or indirectly  
      controls,  is controlled by, or is under common control with,  the 
      Company)  directly or  indirectly  acquires  beneficial  ownership  
      (within  the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the  Securities Exchange Act 
      of 1934, as amended) of  securities  possessing  more  than  fifty 
      percent (50%) of the total combined voting  power of the Company's  
      outstanding   securities  pursuant  to  a tender or exchange offer
      made directly to the Company's stockholders; or

                     (ii)      there is a change in the   composition of
      the Board over a period  of  twenty-four  (24) consecutive  months  
      or less  such that a  majority  of the Board  members  ceases,  by 
      reason of  one or more  proxy contests for the  election of  Board
      members, to be  comprised of individuals  who either (A) have been 
      Board   members continuously since the beginning of such period or
      (B) have been elected or  nominated  for election as Board members
      during  such  period by at least a majority  of the Board  members
      described in clause (A) who were still in  office at the time such 
      election or nomination was approved by the Board.


             C.   Upon  the  occurrence  of  a  Hostile  Take-Over,  each option
granted  under this Article  Three shall  automatically  be  cancelled,  and the
optionee  shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from the Company in
an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common
Stock at  the time subject to the cancelled option (whether or not the option is
otherwise  at  the  time  exercisable for such shares  over  (ii)  the aggregate
exercise price  payable for such shares.  Such cash  distribution  shall be paid
within  five  (5) days  following  the consummation of  the  Hostile  Take-Over.
Stockholder approval of the  February  14, 1997  restatement  of the Plan at the
1997 Annual  Meeting shall  constitute  pre-approval  of each option  granted on
or after the date of that  Annual Meeting  with such an  automatic  cancellation
provision  and  the subsequent  cancellation  of that option in accordance  with
such  provision.  No additional  approval of the Plan Administrator or the Board
shall  be  required at  the  time of the actual  option  cancellation  and  cash
distribution.

            D.    For purposes of this Section III, the following  definitions
shall be in effect:

                  A Hostile  Take-Over shall be deemed to occur in the event any
person or related  group of persons  (other  than the  Company or a person  that
directly or indirectly  controls,  is controlled  by, or is under common control
with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial  ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of
securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting
power of the Company's  outstanding  securities pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer  made  directly  to the  Company's  stockholders  which the Board does not
recommend such stockholders to accept.




                                       20
<PAGE>



                  The  Take-Over  Price per share shall be deemed to be equal to
the greater of (a) the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the option
cancellation date, as determined pursuant to the valuation provisions of Section
I.A.(3) of Article Two, or (b) the highest  reported price per share paid by the
tender offeror in effecting such Hostile Take-Over.

            E.    The shares of Common Stock subject to each option cancelled in
connection  with the Hostile  Take-Over  shall not be available  for  subsequent
option grant under this Plan.

            F.    The  automatic  option  grants  outstanding under this Article
Three shall in no way affect the  right of the Company  to  adjust,  reclassify,
reorganize  or otherwise  change its capital or business  structure or to merge,
consolidate,  dissolve,  liquidate  or sell or  transfer  all or any part of its
business or assets.






                                       21
<PAGE>




                                  ARTICLE FOUR
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

    I.      AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND AWARDS

            The Board has complete and exclusive power and authority to amend or
modify the Plan (or any  component  thereof) in any or all respects  whatsoever.
However,  no such amendment or  modification  shall,  without the consent of the
Company's stockholders,  adversely affect rights and obligations with respect to
options at the time outstanding under the Plan. In addition,  certain amendments
may require stockholder approval pursuant to applicable laws or regulations.

   II.      TAX WITHHOLDING

            The Company's obligation to deliver shares or cash upon the exercise
of stock options or stock  appreciation  rights  granted under the Plan shall be
subject to the  satisfaction of all applicable  Federal,  State and local income
tax and employment tax withholding requirements.

            The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion and in accordance with
the provisions of this Section II of Article Four and such supplemental rules as
the Plan  Administrator  may from time to time adopt  (including  the applicable
safe-harbor  provisions  of SEC  Rule  16b-3),  provide  any or all  holders  of
non-statutory  options  under the Plan  (other  than the  automatic  grants made
pursuant  to  Article  Three of the Plan)  with the  right to use  shares of the
Company's Common Stock in satisfaction of all or part of the Federal,  State and
local  income tax and  employment  tax  liabilities  incurred by such holders in
connection  with the exercise of their options (the "Taxes").  Such right may be
provided to any such option holder in either or both of the following formats:

            1.     Stock Withholding:  The holder of the non-statutory 
      option may be  provided  with  the  election to have the Company 
      withhold,  from  the  shares of Common  Stock otherwise issuable 
      upon  the  exercise of such  non-statutory option, a  portion of 
      such shares with  an aggregate  fair  market  value equal to the 
      percentage of the applicable  Taxes (not to exceed  one  hundred
      percent (100%)) designated by the option holder.

            2.     Stock Delivery:  The Plan Administrator may, in its 
      discretion, provide the holder of the  non-statutory option with 
      the  election  to deliver,  at the time the non-statutory option 
      is exercised, one or more shares of Common Stock already held by 
      such individual with an aggregate fair market value equal to the  
      percentage of the Taxes incurred in connection  with such option  
      exercise (not to exceed one hundred  percent  (100%)) designated 
      by the option holder.




                                       22
<PAGE>



  III.      EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN

            A.     The  Plan  first became  effective on the Effective  Date and
serves as the  successor to the  Company's  1990 Stock  Option Plan.  No further
option  grants shall  be made under the 1990 Plan from and  after  the Effective
Date.

            B.     On May 26, 1993,  the Board  amended the Plan to increase the
number of shares issuable  thereunder by 1,000,000 shares.  The  1,000,000-share
increase  was  approved  by  the  Company's  stockholders  at  the  1994  Annual
Stockholders  Meeting.  On March 28, 1994, the Board further amended the Plan to
impose a limitation on the maximum number of shares for which any one individual
participating   in  the  Plan  may  be  granted  stock  options  and  separately
exercisable stock appreciation rights.

            C.     On February 24, 1995,  the Board amended the Plan to increase
the number of  shares of Common Stock  issuable  thereunder  by 545,000  shares.
The 545,000-share  increase was approved by the Company's  stockholders  at the 
1995 Annual Stockholders Meeting.

            D.     On  February 24, 1995,  the Board further amended the Plan to
increase the number of shares of Common Stock for which automatic  option grants
are to be made to  continuing  non-employee  Board  members  on the date of each
Annual  Stockholders  Meeting held after  February 24, 1995.  The  amendment was
approved by the Company's stockholders at the 1995 Annual Stockholders Meeting.

            E.     On August 21, 1995,  the Board amended the Plan to extend the
eligibility  provisions  of  the  Discretionary  Option  Grant  Program  to  all
non-employee Board members other than those at the time serving on the Committee
acting as the Plan  Administrator.  The  amendment was approved by the Company's
stockholders at the 1996 Annual Stockholders Meeting.

            F.     In January 1996,  the Board adopted  an amendment to the Plan
which (i) increased the number of shares of Common Stock  available for issuance
under  the Plan by an additional  450,000  shares and (ii) increased the maximum
number of  shares  for  which any one  individual  may be  granted stock options
and separately  exercisable stock appreciation rights over the remaining term of
the Plan by an additional 250,000 shares  of  Common  Stock.  The  amendment was
approved by the Company's stockholders at the 1996 Annual Stockholders Meeting.

            G.     In February 1997, the Board adopted a series of amendments to
the  Plan  (the "1997  Amendments")  which (i) increased the number of shares of
Common  Stock  available  for issuance  under the Plan by an additional  700,000
shares,(ii) increased the limit on the maximum number of shares of the Company's
common  stock  for which any one  individual  may be  granted stock  options and
separately exercisable  stock  appreciation  rights under the Plan from  500,000
shares to  750,000 shares,  (iii)  rendered  the  non-employee Board members who
serve  as  Plan Administrator  eligible  to  receive  option  grants  under  the
Discretionary  Option  Grant  Program,   (iv)  allowed  unvested  shares  issued
under  the  Plan  and subsequently  repurchased   by  the Company  at 



                                       23
<PAGE>



the  option  exercise  price  paid  per  share  to  be  reissued under the Plan,
(v)removed certain restrictions on the eligibility of non-employee Board members
to serve as Plan  Administrator,  and  (vi)  effected  a  series  of  additional
changes  to  the  provisions of the  Plan  (including  the stockholder  approval
requirements,   the   transferability  of non-statutory  stock  options  and the
elimination  of the six  (6)-month  holding period requirement  as  a  condition
to the exercise of stock appreciation  rights) in  order  to  take  advantage of
the  recent  amendments to Rule  16b-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission
which exempts certain  officer and director transactions under the Plan from the
short-swing  liability  provisions  of  the  federal  securities  laws. The 1997
Amendments  were  approved by the stockholders at the 1997  Annual  Stockholders
Meeting.

             H.    On January 29, 1998,  the Board  adopted an amendment to  the
Plan which  increased  the number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  available  for
issuance under  the Plan by an  additional  500,000  shares.   The  amendment is
subject to stockholder  approval  at  the  1998  Annual  Stockholders   Meeting.
If  such stockholder  approval is not obtained,  then any options granted on the
basis of the 500,000-share  increase will terminate without becoming exercisable
for any of the shares of Common Stock subject to those  options,  and no further
option grants   or  stock  issuances  will  be  made on the basis of such  share
increase.   However,  the Plan will  continue  to remain in effect,  and  option
grants  may  continue  to be made  pursuant to the  provisions  of the  Plan  in
effect prior to  this amendment,  until the available reserve of Common Stock as
last approved by the stockholders has been issued.

              I.    Each  option issued and  outstanding  under  the  1990  Plan
immediately prior to the Effective Date shall be incorporated into this Plan and
treated as an  outstanding  option  under this Plan,  but each such option shall
continue to be governed  solely by the terms and  conditions  of the  instrument
evidencing  such  grant,  and  nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to affect or
otherwise  modify the rights or  obligations of the holders of such options with
respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock thereunder.

              J.    The   sale  and  remittance  procedure  authorized  for  the
exercise  of outstanding  options  under  this  Plan  shall be available for all
options  granted  under  this  Plan on or after the Effective  Date and  for all
non-statutory options  outstanding  under  the 1990 Plan and  incorporated  into
this Plan.  The Plan Administrator may also allow such  procedure to be utilized
in connection  with one or more disqualifying dispositions  of Incentive  Option
shares effected after the Effective Date,  whether such  Incentive  Options were
granted under this Plan or the 1990 Plan.

              K.    The option acceleration provisions of Section III of Article
Two relating  to  Corporate  Transactions  and  Changes in Control  may,  in the
Plan Administrator's discretion, be extended  to one or more stock options which
are outstanding under the 1990 Plan on the Effective Date of this Plan but which
do not otherwise provide for such acceleration.

              L.    The Plan shall  terminate  upon the earlier of (i)  December
31, 2002 or  (ii) the date on which all shares  available for issuance under the
Plan shall have been issued or  cancelled pursuant  to the  exercise,  surrender
or cash-out of the options  granted under the Plan.  If the date of  termination
is determined under clause (i) above, then all option grants outstanding on such
date 



                                       24
<PAGE>



shall  thereafter  continue to have force and effect in accordance with the
provisions of the instruments evidencing such grants.

               M.    Options to purchase  shares of Common  Stock may be granted
under the  Plan  which  are in excess of the number of shares then available for
issuance  under  the  Plan,  provided each  option  granted  is  not  to  become
exercisable,  in whole or in part,  at any time prior  to  stockholder  approval
of an  amendment authorizing  a  sufficient  increase  in  the  number of shares
available for issuance under the Plan.

   IV.      USE OF PROCEEDS

            Any cash  proceeds  received by the Company  from the sale of shares
pursuant to options  granted under the Plan shall be used for general  corporate
purposes.

    V.      REGULATORY APPROVALS

            The   implementation  of  the  Plan,  the  granting  of  any  option
thereunder  and the  issuance  of stock upon the  exercise or  surrender  of the
option grants made  hereunder  shall be subject to the Company's  procurement of
all approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction
over the Plan,  the options  granted under it, and the stock issued  pursuant to
it.

   VI.      NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

            Neither the action of the Company in establishing  the Plan, nor any
action taken by the Plan Administrator  hereunder, nor any provision of the Plan
shall be  construed  so as to grant  any  individual  the right to remain in the
employ or service of the Company (or any parent or subsidiary  corporation)  for
any period of specific  duration,  and the Company (or any parent or  subsidiary
corporation  retaining  the  services of such  individual)  may  terminate  such
individual's  employment  or  service  at any time and for any  reason,  with or
without cause.

 VIII.      MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

            A.    The right to acquire  Common Stock or other assets under the
Plan may not be assigned, encumbered or otherwise transferred by any optionee.

            B.    The provisions  of  the  Plan  relating  to  the  vesting  and
termination of outstanding options shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California,  as such laws are applied to contracts entered into and performed in
such State.

            C.    The  provisions of the Plan shall inure to the benefit of, and
be binding upon, the Company and its successors or assigns, whether by Corporate
Transaction or otherwise,  and the optionees, the legal representatives of their
respective  estates,  their  respective  heirs or legatees  and their  permitted
assignees.



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