SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________________
SCHEDULE 13G
Information Statement pursuant to Rules 13d-1 and 13d-2
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Aurora Biosciences Corporation
__________________________________________________________________
(Name_of_Issuer)
Common Stock, $.001 par value
__________________________________________________________________
(Title_of_Class_of_Securities)
0000519201
_________________________________________________________________
(CUSIP Number)
________________________
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 2 of 6 Pages
_________________________________________________________________
1) Name of Reporting Person Biotechnology
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Investments
No. of Above Person Limited
_________________________________________________________________
2) Check the Appropriate Box (a) [ ]
if a Member of a Group (b) [ ]
_________________________________________________________________
3) SEC Use Only
_________________________________________________________________
4) Citizenship or Place Guernsey,
of Organization Channel Islands
_________________________________________________________________
Number of 5) Sole Voting 1,142,856 shares of Shares
Beneficially Power Common Stock, $.001
Owned by Each par value ("Common
Reporting Person Stock")
________________________________________
6) Shared Voting
Power -0-
________________________________________
7) Sole Disposi- 1,142,856 shares of tive
Power
Common
Stock
________________________________________
8) Shared Dis-
positive Power -0-
________________________________________
9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially 1,142,856 shares of
Owned by Each Reporting Person Common Stock
_________________________________________________________________
10) Check if the Aggregate
Amount in Row (9)
Excludes Certain Shares
_________________________________________________________________
11) Percent of Class
Represented by 6.7%
Amount in Row (9)
_________________________________________________________________
12) Type of Reporting
Person CO
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 3 of 6 Pages
Schedule_13G
____________
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:
This statement is being filed on behalf of Biotechnology
Investments Limited ("BIL" or the "Reporting Person"). BIL
is a Guernsey, Channel Islands corporation.
Item 2(b) - Address of Principal Business Office:
P.O. Box 58
St. Julian's Court
St. Peter Port
Guernsey, Channel Islands GYI 3BP
Item 2(c) - Place of Organization:
Guernsey, Channel Islands
Item 2(d) - Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock, $.001 par value ("Common Stock")
Item 2(e) - CUSIP Number: 0000519201
Item 3 - Statements Filed Pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b):
Not applicable.
Item 4 - Ownership.
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
1,142,856 shares of Common Stock
(b) Percent of Class:
6.7%
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 4 of 6 Pages
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
1,142,856 shares
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote: -0-
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition
of: 1,142,856 shares
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of: -0-
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
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.
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 5 of 6 Pages
Signature:
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
BIOTECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS LIMITED
By: Old Court Limited
By /s/ Kathleen K. Schoemaker
Attorney-in-Fact
Date: February 2, 1998
<PAGE>
CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 6 of 6 Pages
OLD COURT LIMITED22
P.O. Box 58, St. Julian's Court, St. Peter Port,
Guernsey, Channel Islands GYI 3BP
Our Ref: PF/domain/POA223
_28__January_1998_
Domain Associates
One Palmer Square
Princeton, New Jersey 08542
USA
Dear Sirs
BIOTECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS LIMITED
We, Old Court Limited hereby authorise you to execute on behalf of Old
Court Limited a Schedule 13G to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission regarding Biotechnology Investments Limited's holdings of Aurora
Biosciences Corporation.
Yours very truly
per pro Old Court Limited
/s/ J.J. Nicolle /s/ S.E. Shaw
J.J. Nicolle, Director S.E. Shaw, Director
We confirm that we have authorised Old Court Limited to grant the above
Power of Attorney.
Yours very truly
per pro Biotechnology Investments Limited
/s/ P.A.S. Firth
P.A.S. Firth, Authorised Signatory
