<PAGE> 1
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0145
Expires: December 31, 1999
Estimated average burden
hours per response . . .14.90
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. 1)*
Aurora Biosciences Corporation
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $.001 Par Value
(Title of Class of Securities)
051920-10-6
(CUSIP Number)
December 31, 1998
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
/ / Rule 13d-1(b)
/ / Rule 13d-1(c)
/x/ Rule 13d-1(d)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of
the Act (however, see the Notes).
Page 1 of 5 pages
<PAGE> 2
CUSIP NO. 051920-10-6 13G PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Abingworth Bioventures SICAV
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) / /
(b) / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Luxembourg
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
1,405,262
NUMBER OF
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY -0-
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON 1,405,262
WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,405,262
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* / /
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
8.3%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON *
CO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
Page 2 of 5 pages
<PAGE> 3
ITEM 1(a). Name of Issuer: Aurora Biosciences Corporation
ITEM 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
11010 Torreyana Road, San Diego, CA 92121
ITEM 2(a). Name of Person Filing: Abingworth Bioventures SICAV ("ABS")
ITEM 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:
The address of the principal business office of ABS
is 231 Val des Bons Malades, L-2121 Luxembourg-Kirchberg.
ITEM 2(c). Citizenship: ABS is a corporation organized under the laws
of Luxembourg.
ITEM 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, $.001 par value.
ITEM 2(e). CUSIP Number: 051920-10-6.
ITEM 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or
13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:
(a) / / Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act");
(b) / / Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act;
(c) / / Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of
the Act;
(d) / / Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940;
(e) / / An investment adviser in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f) / / An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in
accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) / / A parent holding company or control person in
accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h) / / A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
(i) / / A church plan that is excluded from the definition of
an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act;
(j) / / Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);
If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check
this box. / /
Not applicable. This statement on Schedule 13G is not filed
pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-2(b).
Page 3 of 5 pages
<PAGE> 4
ITEM 4. Ownership.
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned: ABS was the record and
beneficial owner of 1,405,262 shares of Common Stock
as of December 31, 1998.
(b) Percent of Class: 8.3%. The foregoing percentage is
calculated based on the 16,972,427 shares of Common
Stock reported to be outstanding as of October 31,
1998 in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Aurora
Biosciences Corporation for the quarter ended
September 30, 1998.
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
1,405,262 shares.
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
0 shares.
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of: 1,405,262 shares.
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of: 0 shares.
ITEM 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
Person.
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent
Holding Company.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Not applicable
ITEM 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. Certification.
Not applicable. This statement on Schedule 13G is not filed
pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b).
Page 4 of 5 pages
<PAGE> 5
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief,
the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete and correct.
Date: February 9, 1999
ABINGWORTH BIOVENTURES SICAV
By: /s/M. Rose DOCK
Name: M. Rose DOCK
Title: Director
By: /s/Fernand HEIM
Name: Fernand HEIM
Title: Mandatory
Page 5 of 5 pages