SUPERGEN INC
DEF 14A, 1998-04-08
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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<PAGE>
                            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 (Amendment No.    )
 
    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
 
                              SUPERGEN, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
                              SUPERGEN, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (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 transaction 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>
                                 SUPERGEN, INC.
 
                                ----------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                           TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 1998
 
                             ---------------------
 
To the Stockholders:
 
    Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual
Meeting") of SuperGen, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be
held on Thursday, May 7, 1998 at 2:00 p.m., local time, at the San Ramon
Marriott, 2600 Bishop Drive, San Ramon, California 94583 for the following
purposes:
 
     1. To elect seven (7) directors to serve for the ensuing year and until
        their successors are duly elected and qualified.
 
     2. To ratify and approve an amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated
        1993 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") increasing the number of shares of
        Common Stock authorized for issuance by 750,000 shares for a total of
        3,250,000 shares reserved under the Plan.
 
     3. To ratify and approve the 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the
        reservation of 100,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance thereunder.
 
     4. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors
        for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998.
 
     5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
        Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
    The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy
Statement accompanying this Notice.
 
    Only holders of record of the Company's Common Stock at the close of
business on March 31, 1998, the record date, are entitled to notice of and to
vote at the Annual Meeting.
 
    All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in
person. However, to ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, you are
urged to sign and return the enclosed proxy as promptly as possible in the
postage-prepaid envelope enclosed for that purpose. Any stockholder attending
the Annual Meeting may vote in person even if he or she has returned a proxy.
 
                                          JOSEPH RUBINFELD
                                          PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                          AND DIRECTOR
 
San Ramon, California
April 8, 1998
 
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE
        ENCLOSED PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
<PAGE>
                                 SUPERGEN, INC.
 
                                ----------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
                                      FOR
 
                      1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               PROCEDURAL MATTERS
 
GENERAL
 
    This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors of SuperGen, Inc. (the "Company") for use
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held on
Thursday, May 7, 1998 at 2:00 p.m., local time, and at any adjournments thereof,
for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the San Ramon
Marriott, 2600 Bishop Drive, San Ramon, California 94583. The Company's
headquarters is located at Two Annabel Lane, Suite 220, San Ramon, California
94583, and the telephone number at that location is (925) 327-0200.
 
    These proxy solicitation materials were mailed on or about April 8, 1998,
together with the Company's 1998 Annual Report to Stockholders, to all
stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
 
RECORD DATE
 
    Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 1998 (the
"Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. As of the
Record Date, 20,348,717 shares of the Company's Common Stock were issued and
outstanding. No shares of Preferred Stock were outstanding.
 
REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
 
    Any Proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person
giving it at any time before its use by delivering to the Company a written
notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by
attending the meeting and voting in person.
 
VOTING PROCEDURES
 
    Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held
on all matters to be voted on by the stockholders. Votes cast in person or by
proxy will be tabulated by ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., the
Company's transfer agent.
 
    Upon the execution and return of the enclosed form of proxy, the shares
represented thereby will be voted in accordance with the terms of the proxy,
unless the proxy is revoked. If no directions are indicated in such proxy, the
shares represented thereby will be voted (i) "FOR" the election of each of the
Company's nominees as a director, (ii) "FOR" ratification and approval of an
amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan
increasing the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance by
750,000 to 3,250,000 shares, (iii) "FOR" ratification and approval of the 1998
Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the reservation of 100,000 shares of Common
Stock for issuance thereunder, and (iv) "FOR" ratification of the appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for the Company for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 1998 ("Fiscal 1998").
 
QUORUM; ABSTENTIONS; BROKER NON-VOTES
 
    A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on the
Record Date, whether present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting or any
adjournments thereof. Shares that are voted "FOR" or "AGAINST" a matter are
<PAGE>
treated as being present at the meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum
and are also treated as votes eligible to be cast by the Common Stock present in
person or represented by proxy at the meeting and "entitled to vote on the
subject matter" (the "Votes Cast") with respect to such matter.
 
    While there is no definitive statutory or case law authority in Delaware as
to the proper treatment of abstentions in the counting of votes, the Company
believes that abstentions should be counted for purposes of determining both the
presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business and the total
number of Votes Cast with respect to a particular matter. Accordingly,
abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against proposals set forth in
this Proxy Statement. In the absence of controlling precedent to the contrary,
the Company intends to treat abstentions in this manner. In a 1988 Delaware
case, BERLIN V. EMERALD PARTNERS, the Delaware Supreme Court held that, while
broker non-votes may be counted for purposes of determining the presence or
absence of a quorum for the transaction of business, broker non-votes should not
be counted for the purposes of determining the number of Votes Cast with respect
to the particular proposal on which the broker has expressly not voted. Broker
non-votes with respect to proposals set forth in this Proxy Statement will
therefore not be considered Votes Cast and, accordingly, will not affect the
determination as to whether the requisite majority of Votes Cast has been
obtained with respect to a particular matter.
 
COSTS OF SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
 
    The costs of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. The Company
may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners
of shares for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to such
beneficial owners. Proxies may also be solicited by certain of the Company's
directors, officers and employees, without additional compensation, personally
or by telephone, letter or facsimile.
 
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
    Proposals of the Company's stockholders intended to be presented at the
regularly scheduled 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the
Company no later than December 9, 1998, and must satisfy the conditions
established by the Securities and Exchange Commission for stockholder proposals
to be included in the Company's proxy statement for that meeting.
 
                                  PROPOSAL ONE
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
GENERAL
 
    The Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") is currently composed of
seven members. The directors are elected to serve one-year terms and until their
respective successors are elected and qualified. The Board has nominated the
persons set forth below, all of whom are currently directors of the Company, for
election as directors. Unless otherwise instructed, the holders of proxies
solicited by this Proxy Statement will vote the proxies received by them for
such nominees. In the event that any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a
director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will vote for a
nominee designated by the present Board to fill the vacancy. The Company is not
aware of any reason that any nominee will be unable or will decline to serve as
a director.
 
VOTE REQUIRED
 
    The seven (7) nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of
the shares entitled to be voted shall be elected as directors of the Company.
Votes withheld from any director are counted for purposes of determining the
presence or absence of a quorum but have no other legal effect under Delaware
law.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF
ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR NAMED BELOW.
 
INFORMATION REGARDING NOMINEES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                                     AGE                       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
- ---------------------------------------------------      ---      ------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>          <C>
Joseph Rubinfeld...................................          65   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the
                                                                   Company
 
Denis Burger (1)(2)................................          54   President and Chief Executive Officer, AntiVirals,
                                                                   Inc.
 
Lawrence J. Ellison................................          53   Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of
                                                                   Oracle Corporation
 
David M. Fineman...................................          55   Director of the Company
 
J. Gregory Swendsen................................          45   Director of the Company
 
Julius A. Vida (2).................................          69   President, Vida International Pharmaceutical
                                                                   Consultants
 
Daniel Zurr (1)(2).................................          52   President and Chief Executive Officer, Quark Biotech,
                                                                   Inc.
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Member of the Compensation Committee.
 
(2) Member of the Audit Committee.
 
    JOSEPH RUBINFELD, PH.D. co-founded the Company in 1991. He has served as
Chief Executive Officer, President and a director of the Company since its
inception and was Chief Scientific Officer from inception until September 1997.
Dr. Rubinfeld was one of the four initial founders of Amgen, Inc. in 1980 and
served as Vice President and Chief of Operations until 1983. From 1987 to 1990,
he was a Senior Director at Cetus Corporation. From 1968 to 1980, Dr. Rubinfeld
was employed at Bristol-Myers Company International Division ("Bristol-Myers")
in a variety of positions, most recently as Vice President and Director of
Research and Development. While at Bristol-Myers, Dr. Rubinfeld was instrumental
in licensing the original anticancer line of products for Bristol-Myers,
including mitomycin and bleomycin. Prior to that time, Dr. Rubinfeld was a
research scientist with several pharmaceutical and consumer product companies
including Schering-Plough Corporation and Colgate-Palmolive Co. Dr. Rubinfeld is
a member of the Board of Directors of AntiVirals, Inc. He received his B.S. in
chemistry from C.C.N.Y., and his M.A. and Ph.D. in chemistry from Columbia
University. Dr. Rubinfeld has numerous patents and/or publications on a wide
range of inventions and developments including the 10-second developer for
Polaroid film, manufacture of cephalosporins and the first commercial synthetic
biodegradable detergent. In 1984 Dr. Rubinfeld received the Common Wealth Award
for Invention.
 
    DENIS BURGER, PH.D. has served as a director of the Company since January
1996. Dr. Burger has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of
AntiVirals, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in gene-targeted
therapeutic and diagnostic products since February 1992 and as Chief Executive
Officer since February 1996. Dr. Burger was a co-founder of Epitope, Inc., a
biotechnology company, and served as its Chairman from 1981 until 1990. He has
also been the general partner of Sovereign Ventures, LLC, a biotechnology
consulting and merchant banking venture since 1991. Dr. Burger is a member of
the Board of Directors of Cellegy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AntiVirals, Inc. and
Trinity Biotech, PLC. He received his B.A. in Bacteriology and Immunology from
the University of California, Berkeley, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Microbiology
and Immunology from the University of Arizona, Tucson.
 
    LAWRENCE J. ELLISON has been a director of the Company since June 1997. Mr.
Ellison is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Oracle Corporation, a company he founded
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
in May 1977. Mr. Ellison is co-chairman of California's Council on Information
Technology and is a member of the Board of Directors of Apple Computer, Inc., a
computer hardware company, and CRT Group PLC, a U.K. training and recruiting
company.
 
    DAVID M. FINEMAN, a co-founder of the Company, has served as a director of
the Company since its inception and served as Acting Chief Financial Officer
from December 1995 to March 1996. Mr. Fineman served as Secretary from the
Company's inception until December 1996. He served as a General Partner of
Strategic Pharmaceutical Partners I & II, the California limited partnerships
which provided the initial funding for the Company. He received his B.A. from
the University of Maryland and an M.A. from the Graduate Faculty of the New
School for Social Research in New York, where he also completed his Ph.D. course
work.
 
    J. GREGORY SWENDSEN, a co-founder of the Company, has served as a director
of the Company since its inception. Mr. Swendsen was the Treasurer of the
Company from its inception until December 1995. He is President of Swendsen &
Company, a management company founded in 1984 that specializes in venture
capital in applied technology industries. Mr. Swendsen was a General Partner of
Strategic Pharmaceutical Partners I & II, which provided the initial funding for
the Company.
 
    JULIUS A. VIDA, PH.D. has served as a director of the Company since January
1996. Since June 1993, Dr. Vida has served as President of Vida International
Pharmaceutical Consultants. From 1976 to May 1993, Dr. Vida worked at
Bristol-Myers, where he served as Vice President of Business Development,
Licensing and Strategic Planning from 1991 to 1993, as Vice President of
Licensing from 1985 to 1991 and as Director of Licensing from 1982 to 1985. Dr.
Vida is a member of the Board of Directors of Biomatrix, Inc. and Medarex, Inc.,
both biotechnology companies. Dr. Vida received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from
Carnegie Mellon University and his M.B.A. from Columbia University.
 
    DANIEL ZURR, PH.D. has been a director of the Company since January 1994.
Dr. Zurr currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Quark
Biotech, Inc. (formerly Expression Systems, Inc.). Dr. Zurr served as Scientific
Director and Business Development Director of the Pharmaceutical Division of
Israel Chemicals, Ltd., an Israeli limited liability company, from 1984 to 1985.
He also served as Director of Licensing at G.D. Searle & Company, Limited, from
1980 to 1983. He was Chief Executive Officer of Plantex-Ikapharm, an Israeli
pharmaceutical company, from 1975 to 1980. Dr. Zurr received his M.Sc. at the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem and his Ph.D. from the Imperial College
University of London in 1972.
 
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
 
    During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 ("Fiscal 1997"), the Board
held three meetings (including regularly scheduled and special meetings), and,
with the exception of Lawrence J. Ellison and Julius A. Vida, all of the
incumbent directors attended 75% or more of the meetings of the Board and
committees, if any, upon which such directors served. Certain matters were
approved by the Board by unanimous written consent.
 
    The Board currently has two standing committees: an Audit Committee and a
Compensation Committee. The Audit Committee is composed of Drs. Burger, Vida and
Zurr and the Compensation Committee is composed of Drs. Burger and Zurr. The
Company has no nominating committee or committee performing similar functions.
 
    AUDIT COMMITTEE.  The Audit Committee makes such examinations as are
necessary to monitor the corporate financial reporting and the internal and
external audits of the Company, provides to the Board the results of its
examinations and recommendations derived therefrom, outlines to the Board
improvements made, or to be made, in internal accounting controls, nominates
independent auditors, and provides to the Board such additional information and
materials as it may deem necessary to make the Board aware
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
of significant financial matters that require Board attention. The Audit
Committee held one meeting during Fiscal 1997.
 
    COMPENSATION COMMITTEE.  The Compensation Committee reviews the Company's
executive compensation policy, including equity compensation for senior
executives of the Company, and makes recommendations to the Board regarding such
matters. The Compensation Committee took action by unanimous written consent,
and held one meeting during Fiscal 1997.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
    All non-employee directors (the "Outside Directors") of the Company other
than David M. Fineman and J. Gregory Swendsen will receive $1,000 in
compensation for attendance at each meeting of the Board, and Board Committee
members shall each receive $1,000 for each Board Committee meeting held on a day
on which no Board meeting is held. Directors and Board Committee members are
also reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred by them in attending Board
and Committee meetings. The Company has adopted the 1996 Directors' Stock Option
Plan providing for stock options to be granted to certain non-employee
directors.
 
                                  PROPOSAL TWO
 
                       AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
GENERAL
 
    The Company's Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan (the "1993 Plan")
provides for the granting to employees of incentive stock options within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), and for the granting to employees and consultants of nonstatutory stock
options and stock purchase rights. The 1993 Plan was originally adopted by the
Board in December 1993 and approved by the Company's stockholders in January
1994. Unless terminated sooner, the 1993 Plan will terminate automatically in
December 2003.
 
    In October 1997 and March 1998, the Board voted to increase the number of
shares authorized for issuance under the 1993 Plan by an aggregate of 750,000
shares, bringing the total shares currently authorized for issuance under the
1993 Plan to 3,250,000 shares. As of the Record Date and after giving effect to
the proposed 750,000 share increase, there were 818,478 shares available for
future grant under the 1993 Plan. Proposal Two seeks stockholder approval of the
increase in shares reserved under the 1993 Plan. Approval of the amendment to
the 1993 Plan also perfects the stockholder approval requirement of Section 422
of the Code.
 
    The Company believes that stock options play a key role in the Company's
ability to recruit, reward and retain executives and key employees. Companies
like SuperGen have historically used stock options as an important part of
recruitment and retention packages. The Company competes directly with other
companies for experienced executives and sales personnel and believes that it
must be able to offer comparable packages to attract the caliber of individual
necessary to the Company's business. The Company's growth is partly responsible
for the need to increase shares issuable under the 1993 Plan. The total number
of employees has increased from 30 full-time employees as of December 31, 1996
to 49 full-time employees, two part-time employees and approximately five
consultants as of March 31, 1998.
 
VOTE REQUIRED
 
    The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
represented, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on this proposal will
be required to ratify and approve the amendment to the 1993 Plan. Abstentions
will have the same effect as votes against this proposal. Broker non-votes will
not be counted as having been represented.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE AMENDMENT TO
THE 1993 PLAN.
 
    The essential provisions of the 1993 Plan are outlined below.
 
ADMINISTRATION
 
    The 1993 Plan may be administered by the Board, the Compensation Committee
or a committee appointed by the Board. The 1993 Plan is currently administered
by the Compensation Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Administrator"),
composed of Denis Burger and Daniel Zurr.
 
ELIGIBILITY; LIMITS ON GRANTS
 
    The 1993 Plan provides that options and stock purchase rights may be granted
to employees, officers, directors and consultants to the Company, its parent or
subsidiaries. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees,
including employee directors and officers. The Administrator approves the
participants, the time or times at which options and stock purchase rights are
granted and the number of shares subject to each. The 1993 Plan is administered
so as to satisfy certain requirements under the federal securities laws,
including under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), and the Code.
 
    The 1993 Plan limits the discretion allowed to the Administrator in granting
options. This limitation is intended to preserve the Company's ability to deduct
for federal income tax purposes the compensation expense relating to options
exercised by certain executive officers under the 1993 Plan. The limitation
provides that under the 1993 Plan no employee may be granted in any one fiscal
year options and stock purchase rights to receive more than 500,000 shares of
Common Stock (except in connection with the commencement of employment, in which
case options and stock purchase rights to purchase no more than an additional
200,000 shares may be granted). See discussion below under "Tax Information" for
a summary of the more general rules governing the availability to the Company of
tax deductions in connection with stock options exercised under the 1993 Plan.
 
    As of March 31, 1998, there were approximately 51 employees and five
consultants currently eligible to participate in the 1993 Plan, and 64
optionees, including consultants, held outstanding options under the 1993 Plan.
 
TERMS OF OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
 
    The terms of options and stock purchase rights granted under the 1993 Plan
are determined by the Administrator but may not be longer than ten years, except
in the case of incentive stock options granted to an optionee who at the time of
grant owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company
(a "10% Stockholder"), for whom the term of each option may not be longer than
five years. Each option or stock purchase right is evidenced by a written
agreement between the Company and the optionee to whom such option or stock
purchase right is granted and is subject to the following additional terms and
conditions:
 
        (a)  EXERCISE OF THE OPTION:  The Administrator determines when options
    may be exercisable. Shares subject to an option generally vest and are
    exercisable over four (4) years at the rate of one-quarter ( 1/4) of the
    shares on the first anniversary of the option grant and the balance of the
    shares subject to the option vesting at the rate of 1/36th per month
    thereafter. The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of any outstanding
    option. The purchase price of the shares to be purchased upon exercise of
    any option may be paid, at the discretion of the Administrator, in cash,
    check, or other shares of Common Stock (with some restrictions), or, if
    specified in the optionee's option agreement, promissory note, cashless
    exercise, a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the
    optionee, any combination thereof, or other legally permitted consideration.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
        (b)  EXERCISE PRICE:  The exercise price under the 1993 Plan is
    determined by the Administrator, provided that, in the case of an incentive
    stock option, the exercise price may not be less than 100% of the fair
    market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted, and,
    provided further, that, in the case of an incentive stock option granted to
    a 10% Stockholder, the exercise price may be no less than 110% of the fair
    market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. In the
    case of a non-statutory stock option, the exercise price is determined by
    the Administrator; however, in the case of a non-statutory option intended
    to qualify as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section
    162(m) of the Code, the exercise price may not be less than 100% of the fair
    market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted.
 
        (c)  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP:  If an
    optionee's status as an employee or consultant terminates for any reason
    other than death or disability, an option under the 1993 Plan may be
    exercised not later than thirty (30) days (or such other period of time, not
    exceeding three months in the case of incentive options, as is determined by
    the Administrator and specified in the optionee's option agreement) after
    such termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the
    term of the option) and may be exercised only to the extent such option was
    exercisable and vested on the date of termination.
 
        (d)  DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE:  If an optionee's continuous status as an
    employee, director or consultant terminates as a result of the optionee's
    disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), an option may be
    exercised within twelve (12) months after termination of employment due to
    such disability (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the
    term of the option), but only to the extent such option was exercisable and
    vested on the date of termination.
 
        (e)  DEATH OF OPTIONEE:  If an optionee should die while employed by the
    Company, an option may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months
    after the date of death (but in no event later than the date of expiration
    of the term of the option), but only to the extent such options were
    exercisable and vested on the date of death.
 
        (f)  TERMINATION OF OPTIONS:  Stock options granted under the 1993 Plan
    expire as determined by the Administrator, but in no event later than ten
    (10) years from the date of grant. However, in the case of an incentive
    stock option granted to a 10% Stockholder, the term of the option may not be
    greater than five (5) years. Under the form of option agreement currently
    used by the Company, options generally expire ten (10) years from the date
    of grant.
 
        (g)  NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS:  Unless
    otherwise specified by the Administrator, options and stock purchase rights
    are non-transferable by the optionee other than by will or by the laws of
    descent or distribution and are exercisable during the optionee's lifetime
    only by the optionee.
 
        (h)  OTHER PROVISIONS:  The option agreement may contain such other
    terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the 1993 Plan as may
    be determined by the Administrator.
 
    The 1993 Plan permits the Company to grant stock purchase rights to purchase
Common Stock of the Company either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with
other awards under the 1993 Plan and/or cash awards made outside the Plan. Upon
the granting of a stock purchase right under the 1993 Plan, the offeree is
advised in writing of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to the
offer, including the number of shares of Common Stock that the offeree is
entitled to purchase, the price to be paid and the time within which the offeree
must accept such offer (which shall in no event exceed six (6) months from the
date of grant). The offer is accepted by execution of a restricted stock
purchase agreement between the Company and the offeree.
 
    Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the restricted stock purchase
agreement grants the Company a repurchase option exercisable upon the voluntary
or involuntary termination of the purchaser's employment or consulting
relationship with the Company for any reason (including death or disability as
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code). The purchase price for shares
repurchased pursuant to this repurchase option is the original price paid by the
purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser
to the Company. The repurchase option lapses at such rate as the Administrator
may determine.
 
    Upon exercise of a stock purchase right, the purchaser has all rights of a
stockholder of the Company. As of the Record Date, the Company has not granted
any stock purchase rights under the 1993 Plan.
 
CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION
 
    In the event a change, such as a stock split or stock dividend payable in
Common Stock, is made in the Company's capitalization which results in an
exchange of Common Stock for a greater or lesser number of shares without
receipt of consideration by the Company, appropriate adjustment will be made in
the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 1993 Plan and in the number
of shares subject to outstanding options and stock purchase rights under the
1993 Plan, as well as in the price per share of Common Stock covered by such
options and stock purchase rights. Such adjustment will be made by the Board,
whose determination will be final, binding and conclusive.
 
    In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company,
options and stock purchase rights outstanding under the 1993 Plan will terminate
immediately prior to such action. In the event of a proposed sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company
into another corporation, outstanding options and stock purchase rights may be
assumed or an equivalent option or stock purchase right may be substituted by
the successor entity. If such outstanding options and stock purchase rights are
not assumed or substituted, however, the Administrator must provide for all or
some part of the options and stock purchase rights to become fully vested and
immediately exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days.
 
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
 
    The Board may amend the 1993 Plan at any time, or may terminate the 1993
Plan, without stockholder approval; provided, however, that stockholder approval
is required for any amendment to the 1993 Plan for which stockholder approval
would be required under the Code or other applicable rules, and no action by the
Board or stockholders may unilaterally impair any option or stock purchase right
previously granted under the 1993 Plan. In any event, the 1993 Plan will
terminate in December 2003. Any options outstanding under the 1993 Plan at the
time of its termination will remain outstanding until they expire by their
terms.
 
TAX INFORMATION
 
    THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION WITH
RESPECT TO THE GRANT AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS UNDER THE
1993 PLAN. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF THE OPTIONEE'S DEATH OR THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY,
STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH A PARTICIPANT MAY RESIDE.
 
    INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
 
    An optionee who is granted an incentive stock option will not recognize
taxable income either at the time the option is granted or upon its exercise,
although the exercise may subject the optionee to the alternative minimum tax.
Upon the sale or exchange of the shares more than two years after grant of the
option and one year after exercising the option, any gain or loss will be
treated as long-term capital gain or loss. If these holding periods are not
satisfied, the optionee will recognize ordinary income at the time of sale or
exchange equal to the difference between the exercise price and the lower of (i)
the fair market value of the shares at the date of the option exercise or (ii)
the sale price of the shares. A different rule for measuring ordinary income
upon such a premature disposition may apply if the optionee is also an officer,
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
director, or 10% Stockholder of the Company. The Company will be entitled to a
deduction in the same amount as the ordinary income recognized by the optionee.
Any gain or loss recognized on such a premature disposition of the shares in
excess of the amount treated as ordinary income will be characterized as
long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the holding period.
 
    NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTIONS
 
    All other options which do not qualify as incentive stock options are
referred to as non-statutory stock options. An optionee will not recognize any
taxable income at the time he or she is granted a non-statutory stock option.
However, upon the option's exercise, the optionee will recognize taxable income,
generally measured as the excess of the then fair market value of the shares
purchased over the exercise price. Any taxable income recognized in connection
with an option exercise by an optionee who is also an employee of the Company
will be subject to tax withholding by the Company. The Company will be entitled
to a tax deduction in the same amount as the ordinary income recognized by the
optionee. Upon resale of such shares by the optionee, any difference between the
sales price and the exercise price, to the extent not recognized as taxable
income as described above, will be treated as long-term or short-term capital
gain or loss, depending on the holding period.
 
    STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
 
    Stock purchase rights will generally be taxed in the same manner as
non-statutory stock options. However, the stock issued upon exercise of a stock
purchase right is usually subject to the Company's right to repurchase such
stock upon the purchaser's termination of employment with the Company, which
right lapses progressively over time. As a result, at the time of purchase, this
restricted stock is subject to a "substantial risk of forfeiture" within the
meaning of Section 83 of the Code. As a result, the purchaser will not recognize
ordinary income at the time of purchase. Instead, the purchaser will recognize
ordinary income on the date or dates when the stock ceases to be subject to
substantial risk of forfeiture. The stock will generally cease to be subject to
a substantial risk of forfeiture when it is no longer subject to the Company's
right to repurchase the stock (i.e., as it "vests"). At such times, the
purchaser will recognize the ordinary income measured as the difference between
the purchase price and the fair market value of the stock on the date the stock
is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. The ordinary income
recognized by a purchaser who is an employee will be treated as wages and will
be subject to tax withholding by the Company. Generally, the Company will be
entitled to a tax deduction in the amount and at the time the purchaser
recognizes ordinary income.
 
    Notwithstanding the foregoing, a purchaser may accelerate the date of his or
her recognition of ordinary income, and the beginning of any capital gain
holding period, by timely filing an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the
Code. In such event, the ordinary income recognized, if any, would be equal to
the difference between the purchase price and the fair market value of the stock
on the date of purchase, and the capital gain holding period would commence on
the purchase date.
 
    Different rules may apply in the case of purchasers who are subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
 
PARTICIPATION IN THE 1993 PLAN
 
    The grant of options and stock purchase rights under the 1993 Plan to
eligible employees and consultants is subject to the discretion of the
Administrator. The table on page 17 sets forth information with respect to
options granted under the 1993 Plan during Fiscal 1997 to each of the officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table. The term of options under the 1993 Plan
(other than those granted to 10% Stockholders, as to which the term is five
years from the date of grant) is generally ten years from the date of grant.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
                                 PROPOSAL THREE
 
               APPROVAL OF THE 1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 
    In March 1998, the Board adopted the 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Purchase Plan") and reserved 100,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance
thereunder subject to stockholder approval. As of the Record Date, no options
had been granted pursuant to the Purchase Plan.
 
    At the annual meeting, the stockholders are being asked to approve the
Purchase Plan and the reservation of shares thereunder.
 
VOTE REQUIRED
 
    The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
represented, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on this proposal will
be required to ratify and approve the Purchase Plan. Abstentions will have the
same effect as votes against this proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted
as having been represented.
 
    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE
1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.
 
    The essential provisions of the Purchase Plan are outlined below.
 
SUMMARY OF THE PURCHASE PLAN
 
    GENERAL.  The purpose of the Purchase Plan is to provide employees with an
opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company through payroll deductions.
 
    ADMINISTRATION.  The Purchase Plan may be administered by the Board or a
committee appointed by the Board. All questions of interpretation or application
of the Purchase Plan are determined by the Board or its appointed committee, and
its decisions are final, conclusive and binding upon all participants.
 
    ELIGIBILITY.  Each employee of the Company (including officers) is eligible
to participate in the Purchase Plan; provided, however, that no employee shall
be granted an option under the Purchase Plan (i) to the extent that, immediately
after the grant, such employee would own 5% of either the voting power or value
of the stock of the Company, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to
purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company accrues at
a rate which exceeds $25,000 worth of stock (determined at the fair market value
of the shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year.
 
    OFFERING PERIOD.  The Purchase Plan is implemented by offering periods
lasting approximately six months in duration with a new offering period
commencing every six months. The first offering period is scheduled to begin on
the first trading day on or after May 15, 1998. To participate in the Purchase
Plan, each eligible employee must authorize payroll deductions pursuant to the
Purchase Plan. Such payroll deductions may not exceed 15% of a participant's
compensation. Once an employee becomes a participant in the Purchase Plan,
Common Stock will automatically be purchased under the Purchase Plan at the end
of each offering period, unless the participant withdraws or terminates
employment earlier and the employee will automatically participate in each
successive offering period until such time as the employee withdraws from the
Purchase Plan or the employee's employment with the Company terminates.
 
    PURCHASE PRICE.  The purchase price per share at which shares will be sold
in an offering under the Purchase Plan is the lower of (i) 85% of the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock on the first day of an offering period
or (ii) 85% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the last day
of that offering period. The fair market value of the Common Stock on a given
date is generally the closing sale price of the Common Stock as reported on the
Nasdaq Stock Market for such date.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE; PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS.  The purchase price of the
shares is accumulated by payroll deductions throughout the offering period. The
number of shares of Common Stock a participant may purchase in each offering
period is determined by dividing the total amount of payroll deductions withheld
from the participant's compensation during that offering period by the purchase
price; provided, however, that a participant may not purchase more than 1,500
shares for each offering period. During the offering period, a participant may
discontinue his or her participation in the Purchase Plan, and may decrease or
increase the rate of payroll deductions in an offering period within limits set
by the Administrator.
 
    All payroll deductions made for a participant are credited to the
participant's account under the Purchase Plan, are withheld in whole percentages
only and are included with the general funds of the Company. Funds received by
the Company pursuant to exercises under the Purchase Plan are also used for
general corporate purposes. A participant may not make any additional payments
into his or her account.
 
    WITHDRAWAL.  A participant may terminate his or her participation in the
Purchase Plan at any time by giving the Company a written notice of withdrawal.
In such event, the payroll deductions credited to the participant's account will
be returned, without interest, to such participant. Payroll deductions will not
resume unless a new subscription agreement is delivered in connection with a
subsequent offering period.
 
    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  Termination of a participant's employment for
any reason, including death, cancels his or her participation in the Purchase
Plan immediately. In such event the payroll deductions credited to the
participant's account will be returned without interest to such participant, his
or her designated beneficiaries or the executors or administrators of his or her
estate.
 
    ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.  In the event of any changes in
the capitalization of the Company effected without receipt of consideration by
the Company, such as a stock split, stock dividend, combination or
reclassification of the Common Stock, resulting in an increase or decrease in
the number of shares of Common Stock, proportionate adjustments will be made by
the Board in the shares subject to purchase and in the price per share under the
Purchase Plan. In the event of liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the
offering periods then in progress will terminate immediately prior to the
consummation of such event unless otherwise provided by the Board. In the event
of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the
merger of the Company with or into another corporation, each option under the
Purchase Plan shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by
such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor
corporation. If the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for
the outstanding options, the offering period then in progress will be shortened
and a new exercise date will be set.
 
    AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.  The Board may at any time and for any reason
amend or terminate the Purchase Plan, except that no such termination shall
affect options previously granted and no amendment shall make any change in an
option granted prior thereto which adversely affects the rights of any
participant. Stockholder approval for amendments to the Purchase Plan shall be
obtained in such a manner and to such a degree as required to comply with all
applicable laws or regulations. The Purchase Plan will terminate in March 2008,
unless terminated earlier by the Board in accordance with the Purchase Plan.
 
    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION.  The following brief summary of the
effect of federal income taxation upon the participant and the Company with
respect to the shares purchased under the Purchase Plan does not purport to be
complete, and does not discuss the tax consequences of a participant's death or
the income tax laws of any state or foreign country in which the participant may
reside.
 
    The Purchase Plan, and the right of participants to make purchases
thereunder, is intended to qualify under the provisions of Sections 421 and 423
of the Code. Under these provisions, no income will be taxable to a participant
until the shares purchased under the Purchase Plan are sold or otherwise
disposed of. Upon sale or other disposition of the shares, the participant will
generally be subject to tax in an amount that depends upon the holding period.
If the shares are sold or otherwise disposed of more than
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
two years from the first day of the applicable offering period and one year from
the applicable date of purchase, the participant will recognize ordinary income
measured as the lesser of (a) the excess of the fair market value of the shares
at the time of such sale or disposition over the purchase price, or (b) an
amount equal to 15% of the fair market value of the shares as of the first day
of the applicable offering period. Any additional gain will be treated as
long-term capital gain. If the shares are sold or otherwise disposed of before
the expiration of these holding periods, the participant will recognize ordinary
income generally measured as the excess of the fair market value of the shares
on the date the shares are purchased over the purchase price. Any additional
gain or loss on such sale or disposition will be long-term or short-term capital
gain or loss, depending on the holding period. The Company generally is not
entitled to a deduction for amounts taxed as ordinary income or capital gain to
a participant except to the extent of ordinary income recognized by participants
upon a sale or disposition of shares prior to the expiration of the holding
periods described above.
 
                                 PROPOSAL FOUR
 
              RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
    The Board has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the
Company to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 1998, and recommends that the stockholders vote
for ratification of such appointment.
 
    Ernst & Young LLP has audited the Company's financial statements since March
1994. A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement and is expected to
be available to respond to appropriate questions.
 
VOTE REQUIRED
 
    Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's
independent auditors will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock represented, in person or by proxy, and
entitled to vote on this proposal. Abstentions will have the same effect as a
vote against this proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted as having been
represented.
 
    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF APPOINTING
ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
 
            SHARE OWNERSHIP BY PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
    The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Common Stock of
the Company as of March 31, 1998 for the following: (i) each person or entity
who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock; (ii) each of the Company's directors;
(iii) each of the officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; and (iv) all
current directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        SHARES      PERCENTAGE
                                                                      BENEFICIALLY BENEFICIALLY
NAME                                                                   OWNED(1)      OWNED(%)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                                                                   <C>          <C>
Tako Ventures, LLC(2)...............................................   3,825,000          17.7
Lawrence J. Ellison
  c/o Oracle Corporation
  500 Oracle Parkway
  Redwood Shores, CA 94065
Joseph Rubinfeld(3) ................................................   2,259,584          10.8
  c/o SuperGen, Inc.
  Two Annabel Lane, Suite 220
  San Ramon, CA 94538
</TABLE>
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        SHARES      PERCENTAGE
                                                                      BENEFICIALLY BENEFICIALLY
NAME                                                                   OWNED(1)      OWNED(%)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                                                                   <C>          <C>
J. Gregory Swendsen(4) .............................................   1,526,250           7.5
  703 Market Street
  San Francisco, CA 94103
David M. Fineman(5) ................................................   1,375,850           6.8
  c/o SuperGen, Inc.
  Two Annabel Lane, Suite 220
  San Ramon, CA 94538
Elliott L. Fineman(6) ..............................................   1,326,936           6.5
  68 Stratford Road
  Kensington, CA 94707
Frank Brenner(7)....................................................     105,923         *
Francis H. Lee(8)...................................................      72,083         *
Rajesh Shrotriya(9).................................................      54,592         *
Simon M. Wrenn(10)..................................................      30,828         *
Julius A. Vida(11)..................................................      30,000         *
Denis Burger(12)....................................................      30,000         *
Daniel Zurr(12).....................................................      30,000         *
All current directors and executive officers
  as a group (16 persons)(13).......................................   9,508,826          42.1
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
  * Less than 1%.
 
 (1) The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned is determined in
     accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, and the information is not
     necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under
     such rule, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the
     individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any
     shares which the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days of
     March 31, 1998 through the exercise of any stock option or other right.
     Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, each person has sole voting
     and investment power (or shares such powers with his or her spouse) with
     respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned.
 
 (2) Includes 1,275,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase
     shares of Common Stock and exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 1998.
     Tako Ventures, LLC is an investment entity controlled by Lawrence J.
     Ellison, a director of the Company.
 
 (3) Includes 1,677,500 shares held jointly by Joseph and Loretta Rubinfeld,
     husband and wife, 20,000 shares held individually by Joseph Rubinfeld,
     35,000 shares held by Joseph and Loretta Rubinfeld as custodians under the
     California Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, and 527,084 shares issuable
     upon exercise of options to purchase shares of Common Stock exercisable
     within 60 days of March 31, 1998. Not included are an additional 114,583
     option shares which become issuable upon a change of control of the Company
     or upon exercise (or redemption) of all warrants issued in the Company's
     initial public offering.
 
 (4) Represents 1,526,250 shares held jointly by J. Gregory Swendsen and Susan
     H. Bell, Co-Trustees of The J. Gregory Swendsen and Susan H. Bell Revocable
     Inter Vivos Trust.
 
 (5) Includes 1,357,600 shares held jointly by David M. and Ellen Gunn Fineman,
     husband and wife, 15,750 shares held in the name of the Gunn-Fineman
     Incorporated Profit Sharing Money Purchase Pension Trust and 2,500 shares
     are held by in a custodial account for minor children of David M. and Ellen
     Gunn Fineman as to which Mr. Fineman disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
 (6) Includes 1,301,936 shares held jointly by Elliott L. and Shelley W.
     Fineman, husband and wife, and 25,000 shares held individually by Elliott
     L. Fineman. In 1997, Elliott L. and Shelley W. Fineman
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
     gifted 45,000 shares to a charitable institution, of which shares Mr.
     Fineman disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
 (7) Includes warrants to purchase 3,300 shares of Common Stock exercisable
     within 60 days of March 31, 1998, held by Frank Brenner and Christine
     Carey, his wife, as joint tenants. Also includes 53,781 shares issuable
     upon the exercise of stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock
     exercisable by Frank Brenner within 60 days of March 31, 1998, and options
     to purchase 28,542 shares of Common Stock exercisable by Christine Carey,
     his wife, within 60 days of March 31, 1998. Dr. Carey is also a Vice
     President of the Company.
 
 (8) Includes 31,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of a stock option to
     purchase shares of Common Stock exercisable within 60 days of March 31,
     1998. Dr. Lee resigned as Vice President of Clinical Research effective
     February 1, 1998.
 
 (9) Represents 54,592 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options to
     purchase shares of Common Stock exercisable within 60 days of March 31,
     1998.
 
(10) Represents shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options to purchase
     shares of Common Stock exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 1998.
 
(11) Represents 30,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of a stock option to
     purchase shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of March 31, 1998.
     Does not include an additional 25,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of
     a performance-based option to purchase Common Stock of the Company.
 
(12) Represents 30,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of a stock option to
     purchase shares of Common Stock issuable within 60 days of March 31, 1998.
 
(13) See footnotes (2) through (12). Includes 1,290,633 shares issuable upon
     exercise of warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock and 959,577 shares
     issuable upon the exercise of stock options to purchase shares of Common
     Stock held by executive officers and directors which are exercisable within
     60 days of March 31, 1998.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
            SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
    Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's executive officers
and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class
of the Company's equity securities ("10% of Class Stockholders") to file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. reports of ownership on Form 3 and reports on
changes in ownership on Form 4 or Form 5. Such executive officers, directors and
10% of Class Stockholders are also required by SEC rules to furnish the Company
with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file.
 
    Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by the
Company, or written representations from certain reporting persons that no Forms
5 were required for such persons, the Company believes that, through the Record
Date, its executive officers, directors and 10% of Class Stockholders complied
with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements, except that the Form 4
required to be filed by David Lauper in March 1996, the Form 4 required to be
filed by Frank Brenner in November 1996 and the Forms 4 required to be filed by
Francis Lee in June 1997 and January 1998 were filed late. Each of such late
filings reported the acquisition of securities.
 
          COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
    The Company's Compensation Committee was formed in January of 1993 and is
currently composed of Drs. Burger and Zurr. Denis Burger is also a director of
the Company and the President and Chief Executive Officer of AntiVirals, Inc.
Daniel Zurr is also a director of the Company and the President and Chief
Executive Officer of Quark Biotech, Inc. Dr. Joseph Rubinfeld, President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is a member of the Boards of Directors
of Quark Biotech, Inc. and AntiVirals, Inc. No member of the Compensation
Committee is or was formerly an officer, employee or consultant of the Company.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
                         EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
 
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
    The following table sets forth certain information concerning total
compensation received by the Chief Executive Officer and each of the four other
most highly compensated executive officers (collectively, the "Named Officers")
for services rendered to the Company in all capacities during Fiscal 1997, the
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1996 ("Fiscal 1996") and the nine months ended
December 31, 1995 ("Fiscal 1995").
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              LONG-TERM
                                                                                            COMPENSATION
                                                              ANNUAL COMPENSATION              AWARDS
                                                     -------------------------------------  -------------
                                                                 OTHER ANNUAL                SECURITIES      ALL OTHER
                                                      SALARY     COMPENSATION                UNDERLYING    COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION             FISCAL YEAR     ($)         ($)(2)       BONUS ($)   OPTIONS (#)        ($)
- --------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  ---------------  ---------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                     <C>          <C>        <C>              <C>        <C>            <C>
Joseph Rubinfeld, Ph.D.(1) ...........        1997     286,250         7,312       159,000      400,000          4,800(3)
  President and Chief Executive               1996     250,000        --           312,500      500,000         41,430
  Officer                                     1995     112,500        --            --           --             --
 
Rajesh Shrotriya, M.D.(4) ............        1997     171,667           727         4,700      135,000        122,397(5)
  Executive Vice President and Chief          1996         N/A           N/A           N/A          N/A            N/A
  Scientific Officer                          1995         N/A           N/A           N/A          N/A            N/A
 
Francis H. Lee, Ph.D.(6) .............        1997     156,250        --             4,000       --              4,800(3)
  Vice President of Clinical Research         1996     115,000        --             6,000       --              5,861
                                              1995      86,250        --            --           25,000         --
 
Frank Brenner ........................        1997     110,500        --            32,900       --              3,566(3)
  Vice President of Sales                     1996     112,000        --             5,400       --              3,750
                                              1995      63,750        --            --           10,000         --
 
Simeon M. Wrenn, Ph.D. ...............        1997     104,028        --             2,700       --             85,905(7)
  Vice President of Biotechnology             1996     100,561        --             4,175       75,000         21,879
                                              1995         N/A           N/A           N/A          N/A            N/A
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Dr. Rubinfeld's amended Employment Agreement provides for an annual base
    salary of $350,000 (increased from $250,000 effective October 1, 1997) and a
    minimum annual performance bonus (a "Minimum Bonus") which the Board or its
    Compensation Committee has set at $150,000 and which may be drawn in advance
    from the ensuing year. In Fiscal 1996, Dr. Rubinfeld was paid a bonus of
    $300,000, representing his Minimum Bonus for Fiscal 1996 and a draw upon his
    entire Minimum Bonus for Fiscal 1997. In Fiscal 1997, he was paid a bonus of
    $150,000, representing a draw upon his Minimum Bonus for Fiscal 1998.
 
(2) Includes use of Company leased vehicles.
 
(3) Represents 401(k) contribution.
 
(4) Dr. Shrotriya joined the Company in January 1997.
 
(5) Includes 401(k) contribution of $4,800, relocation reimbursement of $69,447
    and signing bonus of $48,150.
 
(6) Dr. Lee resigned as Vice President of Clinical Research effective February
    1, 1998.
 
(7) Includes 401(k) contribution of $3,591, reimbursement of $8,752 for the tax
    implication from 1996 relocation reimbursement, and stock option buyback
    based upon the difference between fair market value and exercise price at
    date of transaction.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1997
 
    The following table shows, as to the Named Officers, information concerning
stock options granted during Fiscal 1997.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                                             ------------------------------------------------------   POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                           PERCENT OF                                   VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                              NUMBER OF   TOTAL OPTIONS                              ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
                                             SECURITIES    GRANTED TO                                PRICE APPRECIATION FOR
                                             UNDERLYING   EMPLOYEES IN     EXERCISE                    OPTION TERM($)(2)
                                               OPTIONS       FISCAL          PRICE      EXPIRATION   ----------------------
NAME                                         GRANTED(1)      YEAR(1)     PER SHARE ($)     DATE          5%         10%
- -------------------------------------------  -----------  -------------  -------------  -----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                          <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>          <C>         <C>
Joseph Rubinfeld, Ph.D.....................     400,000         46.5%         15.375      11/13/07    3,867,702   9,801,516
 
Rajesh Shrotriya, M.D......................     100,000         11.6%         12.250      12/31/06      770,396   1,952,335
                                                 35,000          4.1%         14.750      06/30/07      324,667     822,770
 
Francis H. Lee, Ph.D.......................      --            --             --            --           --          --
 
Frank Brenner..............................      --            --             --            --           --          --
 
Simeon M. Wrenn, Ph.D......................      --            --             --            --           --          --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) The Company granted options to acquire 859,500 shares to employees in Fiscal
    1997.
 
(2) The Potential Realizable Value is calculated based on the fair market value
    on the date of grant, which, for Drs. Rubinfeld and Shrotriya, is equal to
    the exercise price of options granted in Fiscal 1997, assuming that the
    stock appreciates in value from the date of grant until the end of the
    option term at the annual rates specified (5% and 10%). Potential Realizable
    Value is net of the option exercise price. The assumed rates of appreciation
    are specified in rules of the SEC and do not represent the Company's
    estimate or projection of future stock price. Actual gains, if any,
    resulting from stock option exercises and Common Stock holdings are
    dependent on the future performance of the Common Stock and overall stock
    market conditions, as well as the option holders' continued employment
    through the exercise/vesting period. There can be no assurance that the
    amounts reflected in this table will be achieved.
 
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
 
    The following table sets forth, as to the Named Officers, certain
information concerning stock options exercised during Fiscal 1997 and the number
of shares subject to both exercisable and unexercisable stock options as of
December 31, 1997. Also reported are values for unexercised "in-the-money"
options, which values represent the positive spread between the respective
exercise prices of outstanding stock options and the fair market value of the
Company's Common Stock as of December 31, 1997.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        NUMBER OF SECURITIES UNDERLYING     VALUE OF UNEXERCISED IN-THE-
                                                         UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT FISCAL    MONEY OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END
                                  SHARES                            YEAR END                            (2)
                                ACQUIRED ON    VALUE    --------------------------------  --------------------------------
                                 EXERCISE    REALIZED    EXERCISABLE     UNEXERCISABLE     EXERCISABLE     UNEXERCISABLE
NAME                                (#)       ($)(1)         (#)              (#)              ($)              ($)
- ------------------------------  -----------  ---------  --------------  ----------------  --------------  ----------------
<S>                             <C>          <C>        <C>             <C>               <C>             <C>
Joseph Rubinfeld, Ph.D........      --          --           452,083          447,917         3,093,750        1,406,250
 
Rajesh Shrotriya, M.D.........      --          --            44,875           90,125           112,469          171,281
 
Francis H. Lee, Ph.D..........      19,250     272,041        65,333           20,417           968,789          273,654
 
Frank Brenner.................      --          --            53,156            4,844           765,080           48,440
 
Simeon M. Wrenn, Ph.D.........      --          --            26,141           43,359           261,410          433,590
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) The value realized is the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the
    respective date of exercise, less the exercise price, multiplied by the
    number of option shares exercised.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
(2) The value of underlying securities is based on the $15.00 per share closing
    price of the Company's Common on December 31, 1997 (the last market trading
    day in 1997), minus the aggregate exercise price.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
    The Company entered into an employment agreement with Joseph Rubinfeld (the
"Employment Agreement"). The Employment Agreement, as restated January 1, 1998,
provides for his employment by the Company as President and Chief Executive
Officer at an annual base salary of at least $350,000 commencing October 1, 1997
and an annual minimum performance bonus ("Minimum Bonus"), which Minimum Bonus
was set by the Board or its Compensation Committee at $150,000 for Fiscal 1996,
Fiscal 1997, Fiscal 1998 and the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999 ("Fiscal
1999"), with the added condition that in each of such years Dr. Rubinfeld be
allowed to draw against the Minimum Bonus for the ensuing year. As an additional
incentive, under the terms of the Employment Agreement, the Company issued to
him a five year option to purchase up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock at a per
share exercise price of $6.00. Of the shares subject to such option, twenty-five
percent (25%) were vested and exercisable March 12, 1996 and an additional
1/36th of the remaining shares vest and are exercisable at the end of each month
thereafter. In addition, upon a change of control of the Company or upon
exercise (or redemption) of all warrants issued in the Company's initial public
offering, Dr. Rubinfeld's option shall immediately become fully vested and
exercisable. The Employment Agreement provides for an employment term through
December 31, 1999.
 
    The Employment Agreement provides for annual adjustments to compensate for
changes in the cost of living, and such additional salary or incentive
compensation as the Compensation Committee of the Board may determine from time
to time. The Employment Agreement provides for employee participation in the
Company's employee benefit plans and such other plans as may be instituted by
the Company for the benefit of its executive employees.
 
    The Company entered into an employment agreement with Frank Brenner dated as
of February 1, 1994, which provided for his employment by the Company as Vice
President, Marketing and Sales, at an annual salary of at least $85,000 and an
employment term through December 31, 1997, which was the date of termination of
Mr. Brenner's employment agreement. Mr. Brenner continues to serve the Company
in the capacity of Vice President of Sales.
 
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
    INVESTMENT BY TAKO VENTURES, LLC. On June 17, 1997, the Company entered into
an agreement with Tako Ventures, LLC, an investment entity controlled by
Lawrence J. Ellison, a director of the Company, for a private placement in the
Company's Common Stock. Under this agreement, the investment entity paid the
Company $15.3 million for 1,700,000 shares of Common Stock. The investment
entity was also issued an option to purchase up to 850,000 shares of common
stock at $9.00 per share and warrants to acquire up to 1,275,000 shares of
common stock at $13.50 per share until June 2007. On November 18, 1997, the
entity exercised its option and purchased 850,000 shares of common stock for a
total purchase price of $7,650,000.
 
    AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL CHEMICALS, LTD.  Pursuant to a Common Stock
Sale/Purchase Agreement between the Company and Israel Chemicals, Ltd. ("ICL")
dated August 6, 1997, as amended November 12, 1997 (the "Sale/Purchase
Agreement"), the Company repurchased 740,000 shares of its Common Stock from ICL
for an aggregate purchase price of $7,866,200. Immediately prior to such
repurchase, ICL held 2,571,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. Under the
terms of Sale/Purchase Agreement, ICL relinquished all of its marketing rights
to the Company's products and released the Company from all residual obligations
remaining from ICL's strategic investment in the Company.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
    CONSULTING AGREEMENTS.  The Company has entered into consulting agreements
for consulting services in the area of corporate development and administration
with two directors, David M. Fineman and Julius A. Vida. During Fiscal 1997,
payments under these agreements were $423,000 for Mr. Fineman, of which $200,000
is a prepayment for services through August 1999, and $33,000 for Dr. Vida.
 
    AMUR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. INVESTMENT.  The Company owns 520,000 shares of
Common Stock of AMUR Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Amur"), as
well as approximately 100,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock purchased in
February 1998 for approximately $200,000. The Company holds approximately 9.3%
of the outstanding voting stock of Amur and has rights to purchase an additional
300,000 shares of Amur Common Stock, which rights expire July 31, 2001. Dr.
Joseph Rubinfeld, David M. Fineman and J. Gregory Swendsen, directors and
securityholders of the Company, have rights to purchase an aggregate of 580,582
shares of Amur Common Stock and David M. Fineman holds 10,667 shares of Amur
Series A Preferred Stock. Messrs. Rubinfeld, Fineman and Swendsen are also
directors of Amur.
 
    QUARK BIOTECH, INC. INVESTMENT.  In May 1997, the Company made an equity
investment of $500,000 in Series C Preferred Stock of Quark Biotech, Inc.
("QBI"), a biotechnology company, representing less than 1% of the outstanding
stock of QBI, and in September 1997 was issued a warrant to purchase 31,250
shares of Series D Preferred Stock. Dr. Joseph Rubinfeld, Lawrence J. Ellison
(through Tako Ventures, LLC), David M. Fineman, J. Gregory Swendsen and Daniel
Zurr, directors and stockholders of the Company, and Elliott L. Fineman, who
beneficially owns more than 5% of the Company, beneficially own an aggregate of
11,624,413 shares, or approximately 61.5%, of QBI as of the Record Date. Dr.
Joseph Rubinfeld, Lawrence J. Ellison, David M. Fineman, J. Gregory Swendsen and
Daniel Zurr are also directors of QBI. Daniel Zurr is the President and Chief
Executive Officer of QBI.
 
    PROPERTY LEASE WITH QBI.  Effective November 1997, the Company leased
approximately one-third of the laboratory square footage at the SuperGen
Pharmaceutical Research Institute to QBI for $3,000 per month for three years,
plus its pro rata share of specified common expenses. The Company also completed
certain building and laboratory improvements and purchased furniture on behalf
of QBI for a total of approximately $750,000, of which $300,000 was reimbursed
by QBI in Fiscal 1997 and of which the balance is to be reimbursed by QBI.
 
    SEVERANCE AGREEMENT.  In August of 1995, the Company entered into an
agreement (the "Severance Agreement") with Elliott L. Fineman in connection with
his resignation as Vice President, Director of Licensing and as a member of the
Board. In 1997, Mr. Fineman was paid $25,000 pursuant to the Severance
Agreement, which Severance Agreement terminated in March 1997. In addition, in
1977 Mr. Fineman provided consulting services to the Company, for which he was
paid approximately $42,000 to cover services rendered and reimbursement of
expenses. Mr. Fineman beneficially owns an aggregate of 1,326,936 shares of
Common Stock or approximately 6.5% of the Company.
 
    OPTION GRANTS TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.  In Fiscal 1997 and Fiscal 1998, stock
options under the 1993 Plan were granted to the following executive officers as
of the grant dates and for the number of shares of Common Stock and at the
exercise prices set forth below opposite their names:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  PER SHARE
                                                                     NO. OF       EXERCISE
OFFICER                                            DATE OF GRANT     SHARES         PRICE
- -------------------------------------------------  -------------  ------------  -------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>           <C>
Christine Carey..................................      09/10/97        20,000     $   14.75
Luigi Lenaz......................................      10/01/97        50,000         17.50
Luigi Lenaz......................................      10/01/97        25,000         17.50
Luigi Lenaz......................................      01/27/98        25,000        13.375
Joseph Rubinfeld.................................      11/13/97       400,000        15.375
Henry C. Settle, Jr..............................      09/10/97        15,000         14.75
Rajesh Shrotriya.................................      01/01/97       100,000         12.25
Rajesh Shrotriya.................................      09/10/97        35,000         14.75
</TABLE>
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
    The per share exercise price of each of the above options is equal to the
closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant. The option
granted to Dr. Carey vests as to 25% of the shares on July 1, 1997, with the
balance of the shares vesting ratably over three years. The 50,000 share option
granted to Dr. Lenaz vests ratably over four years following the date of grant.
The 25,000 share option granted to Dr. Lenaz on October 1, 1997 vests ratably
over four years following October 1, 1998. The 25,000 share option granted to
Dr. Lenaz on January 27, 1998 vests as to 25% of the shares on January 27, 1999,
with the balance of the shares vesting ratably over three years. Dr. Rubinfeld's
option vests as to 25% of the shares on the date of grant, with the balance of
the shares vesting ratably over three years. Mr. Settle's option vests ratably
over four years following July 1, 1997. The 100,000 share option granted to Dr.
Shrotriya vests as to 18,400 shares on November 11, 1996, with the balance of
the shares vesting ratably over four years. The 35,000 share option granted to
Dr. Shrotriya vests ratably over four years following July 1, 1997.
 
    EMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS.  Four employees of the Company, who
are immediate family members of certain officers and directors of the Company,
were paid annual aggregate salary and bonus amounts ranging from $71,000 to
$105,000 in Fiscal 1997.
 
         REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
    The Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Committee") consists of
directors Denis Burger and Daniel Zurr, neither of whom is an employee or
officer of the Company. The Committee was established in January 1996 and is
responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding all
forms of compensation to be provided to the executive officers and directors of
the Company, including stock compensation and loans, and all bonus and stock
compensation to all employees. The goal of the Committee is to ensure the
compensation practices of the Company are sufficient to attract the necessary
talent to enable the growth from a development stage company into one with
commercialized products.
 
    COMPENSATION COMMITTEE PURPOSES
 
    The Compensation Committee of the Board serves as an administrative arm of
the Board to make decisions on behalf of the Board with respect to all forms of
compensation to executive officers of the Company and all bonus and stock
compensation to employees.
 
    Compensation for officers and key employees includes both cash and equity
elements. Cash compensation consists of base salary, which is determined on the
basis of the level of responsibility, expertise and experience of the employee,
taking into account competitive conditions in the industry. In addition, cash
bonuses may be awarded to officers and other key employees. Such bonuses are
based on accomplishment of designated Company goals.
 
    Ownership of the Company's Common Stock is a key element of executive
compensation. Officers and other employees of the Company are eligible to
participate in the 1993 Plan, which was adopted prior to the Company's initial
public offering in March 1996. The 1993 Plan permits the Board or a committee
designated by the Board to grant stock options to employees on such terms as the
Board or such committee may determine. Employee option grants typically vest
over a four-year period and thus require the employee's continuing efforts on
behalf of the Company. The Committee believes that it is in the stockholders'
interests to link employee compensation as closely as possible to equity
appreciation and thus to share with the employees the benefits of their efforts
on behalf of the Company's success. See "Certain Transactions--Option Grants to
Executive Officers."
 
    DESCRIPTION OF 401(k) PLAN
 
    The Company also maintains a 401(k) Plan to provide retirement benefits
through tax deferred salary deductions for all its employees. The Company may
make discretionary contributions, which will be
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
allocated based upon the relative compensation of each participant with 1,000
hours of service during the plan year and who are employed by the Company on the
last day of the plan year. Company contributions vest ratably over five years.
For Fiscal 1997, the Company intends to make a discretionary contribution at the
rate of 3% of each eligible participant's salary as defined.
 
    FISCAL 1997 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    Executive compensation for Fiscal 1997 included base salary, cash bonuses,
incentive stock option grants and other compensation. Cash bonuses were issued
in recognition of the employee's prior service and contributions towards the
achievement of Company goals.
 
    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL 1997
 
    The compensation for Joseph Rubinfeld for Fiscal 1997 was intended to reward
Dr. Rubinfeld for increasing stockholder value. It included a base salary of
$250,000 per annum commencing January 1, 1996, which base amount was increased
to $350,000 effective October 1, 1997, and an option to purchase 400,000 shares
of Company stock at an exercise price $15.375 per share granted on November 14,
1997, vesting as to 25% of the shares on the date of grant, with the balance of
the shares vesting ratably over three years. In addition, Dr. Rubinfeld receives
a Minimum Bonus which was set by the Board or its Compensation Committee at
$150,000 for each of Fiscal 1996, Fiscal 1997, Fiscal 1998 and Fiscal 1999, with
the added condition that in each of such years Dr. Rubinfeld be allowed to draw
against the Minimum Bonus for the ensuing year. In Fiscal 1997, Dr. Rubinfeld
was paid a bonus of $150,000, representing a draw upon his Minimum Bonus for
Fiscal 1998. See "Executive Officer Compensation--Employment Agreements."
 
    SUMMARY
 
    The Compensation Committee advises the Board regarding the Company's cash
and equity incentive programs for the purpose of attracting and retaining highly
skilled executives who will promote the Company's business goals and providing
incentive for these persons to achieve goals which are intended to build
long-term stockholder value.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
Denis Burger, Chairman
Daniel Zurr
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                     COMPANY STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
    The following graph compares the Company's cumulative total stockholder
return with those of the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Pharmaceutical
Index. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on March 13, 1996 (the effective
date of the Company's initial public offering) in the Company's Common Stock and
on February 29, 1996 in the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Pharmaceutical
Index, including reinvestment of dividends. Note that historic stock price
performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
 
                 COMPARISON OF 22 MONTH CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
           AMONG SUPERGEN, INC., THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.) INDEX
                      AND THE NASDAQ PHARMACEUTICAL INDEX
 
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             SUPERGEN, INC.       NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (U.S.)         NASDAQ PHARMACEUTICAL
<S>        <C>                 <C>                               <C>
3/13/96                  $100                              $100                           $100
12/96                    $288                              $119                            $94
12/97                    $353                              $146                            $97
</TABLE>
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
    The Company knows of no other matters to be submitted to the meeting. If any
other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the
persons named in the enclosed proxy card to vote the shares they represent as
the Board may recommend.
 
    It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting, regardless
of the number of shares which you hold. You are therefore urged to execute and
return, at your earliest convenience, the accompanying proxy card in the
envelope which has been enclosed.
 
                                          THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
San Ramon, California
April 8, 1998
 
                                       23
<PAGE>

                                    SUPERGEN, INC.
                                1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                          (AS AMENDED THROUGH MARCH 9, 1998)



     1.   PURPOSES OF THE PLAN.  The purposes of this Stock Plan are:

          -    to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions
               of substantial responsibility, 

          -    to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and
               Consultants, and 

          -    to promote the success of the Company's business.  

     Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or
Nonstatutory Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of
grant.  Stock Purchase Rights may also be granted under the Plan.

     2.   DEFINITIONS.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

          (a)  "ADMINISTRATOR" means the Board or any of its Committees as shall
be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

          (b)  "APPLICABLE LAWS" means the requirements relating to the
administration of stock option plans under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S.
federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation
system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of
any foreign country or jurisdiction where Options or Stock Purchase Rights are,
or will be, granted under the Plan.

          (c)  "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

          (d)  "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          (e)  "COMMITTEE"  means a Committee appointed by the Board in
accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

          (f)  "COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock of the Company.

          (g)  "COMPANY" means SuperGen, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

          (h)  "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by
the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render services and who is compensated
for such services.

<PAGE>

          (i)  "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS A DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT" means that the 
employment relationship, directorship or consulting relationship with the 
Company, any Parent, or Subsidiary, is not interrupted or terminated. 
Continuous Status as a Director or Consultant shall not be considered 
interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company 
or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, 
its Parent, any Subsidiary, or any successor.  A leave of absence approved by 
the Company shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other personal 
leave approved by an authorized representative of the Company.  For purposes 
of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety days, unless 
reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or 
contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by 
the Company is not so guaranteed, on the 181st day of such leave any 
Incentive Stock Option held by the Optionee shall cease to be treated as an 
Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a 
Nonstatutory Stock Option.

          (j)  "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board.

          (k)  "DISABILITY" means total and permanent disability as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

          (l)  "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including Officers and Directors,
employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.  Neither
service as a Director nor payment of a director's fee by the Company shall be
sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.

          (m)  "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

          (n)  "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of Common
Stock determined as follows:

               (i)    If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq
National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its
Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the
closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for
the last market trading day prior to the time of determination, as reported in
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as the Administrator deems
reliable;

               (ii)   If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of
a Share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked
prices for the Common Stock on the last market trading day prior to the day of
determination, as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as
the Administrator deems reliable;

               (iii)  In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the
Administrator.

<PAGE>

          (o)  "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.

          (p)  "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

          (q)  "NOTICE OF GRANT" means a written notice evidencing certain terms
and conditions of an individual Option or Stock Purchase Right grant.  The
Notice of Grant is part of the Option Agreement.

          (r)  "OFFICER" means a person who is an officer of the Company within
the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

          (s)  "OPTION" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

          (t)  "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company
and an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant.  The Option Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

          (u)  "OPTION EXCHANGE PROGRAM" means a program whereby outstanding
options are surrendered in exchange for options with a lower exercise price.

          (v)  "OPTIONED STOCK" means the Common Stock subject to an Option or
Stock Purchase Right.

          (w)  "OPTIONEE" means an Employee, Director or Consultant who holds an
outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right.

          (x)  "PARENT" means a "parent corporation", whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

          (y)  "PLAN" means this SuperGen, Inc. 1993 Stock Plan.

          (z)  "RESTRICTED STOCK" means shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant
to a grant of Stock Purchase Rights under Section 11 below.

          (aa) "RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means a written agreement
between the Company and the Optionee evidencing the terms and restrictions
applying to stock purchased under a Stock Purchase Right.  The Restricted Stock
Purchase Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the
Notice of Grant.

          (bb)   "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any 
successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with 
respect to the Plan.

<PAGE>

          (cc) "SECTION 16(b)" means Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.

          (dd) "SHARE" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

          (ee) "STOCK PURCHASE RIGHT" means the right to purchase Common Stock
pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan, as evidenced by a Notice of Grant.

          (ff) "SUBSIDIARY" means a "subsidiary corporation", whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

     3.   STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.  Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of
the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and sold
under the Plan is 3,250,000 Shares.  The Shares may be authorized, but unissued,
or reacquired Common Stock.  

          If an Option or Stock Purchase Right expires or becomes unexercisable
without having been exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an Option
Exchange Program, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall become
available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has
terminated); PROVIDED, however, that Shares that have actually been issued under
the Plan, whether upon exercise of an Option or Right, shall not be returned to
the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution under the Plan,
except that if Shares of Restricted Stock are repurchased by the Company at
their original purchase price, such Shares shall become available for future
grant under the Plan.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, voting rights
shall not be considered a benefit of Share ownership.

     4.   ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

          (a)  PROCEDURE.

               (i)    MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES.  The Plan may be
administered by different Committees with respect to different groups of Service
Providers.

               (ii)   SECTION 162(m). To the extent that the Administrator
determines it to be desirable to qualify Options granted hereunder as
"performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
Code, the Plan shall be administered by a Committee of two or more "outside
directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

               (iii)  RULE 16b-3.  To the extent desirable to qualify
transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated
hereunder shall be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under
Rule 16b-3.

<PAGE>

               (iv)   OTHER ADMINISTRATION.  Other than as provided above, the
Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee
shall be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws. 

          (b)  POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.  Subject to the provisions of the
Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated
by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in
its discretion:

               (i)    to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock,
in accordance with Section 2(n) of the Plan;

               (ii)   to select the Employees, Directors and Consultants to
whom Options and Stock Purchase Rights may be granted hereunder;

               (iii)  to determine whether and to what extent Options and Stock
Purchase Rights or any combination thereof, are granted hereunder;

               (iv)   to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by each Option and Stock Purchase Right granted hereunder;

               (v)    to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

               (vi)   to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder.  Such terms and
conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or
times when Options or Stock Purchase Rights may be exercised (which may be based
on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture
restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Option or Stock
Purchase Right or the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based in each
case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall
determine;

               (vii)  to reduce the exercise price of any Option or Stock
Purchase Right to the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of
the Common Stock covered by such Option or Stock Purchase Right shall have
declined since the date the Option or Stock Purchase Right was granted;

               (viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and
awards granted pursuant to the Plan;

               (ix)   to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans
established for the purpose of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under
foreign tax laws;

<PAGE>

               (x)    to modify or amend each Option or Stock Purchase Right
(subject to Section 15(c) of the Plan), including the discretionary authority to
extend the post-termination exercisability period of Options longer than is
otherwise provided for in the Plan;

               (xi)   to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the
Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Option or Stock
Purchase Right previously granted by the Administrator;

               (xii)  to institute an Option Exchange Program;

               (xiii) to allow Optionees to satisfy withholding tax obligations
by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon
exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right that number of Shares having a
Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld.  The Fair Market
Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the
amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined.  All elections by an Optionee
to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made in such form and under
such conditions as the Administrator may deem necessary or advisable;

               (xiv)  to make all other determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for administering the Plan.

          (c)  EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATOR'S DECISION.  The Administrator's
decisions, determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all
Optionees and any other holders of Options or Stock Purchase Rights.

     5.   ELIGIBILITY.  Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock Purchase Rights may
be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants.  Incentive Stock Options may
be granted only to Employees.  

     6.   LIMITATIONS.

          (a)  Each Option shall be designated in the written option agreement
as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.  However,
notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market
Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under
all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such
Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.  For purposes of this
Section 6(a), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order
in which they were granted.  The Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be
determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.

          (b)  Neither the Plan nor any Option or Stock Purchase Right shall
confer upon an Optionee any right with respect to continuing the Optionee's
employment relationship, directorship or consulting relationship with the
Company, nor shall they interfere in any way with the Optionee's right or the
Company's right to terminate such employment relationship, directorship or
consulting relationship at any time, with or without cause.

<PAGE>

          (c)  The following limitations shall apply to grants of Options and
Stock Purchase Rights to Employees, Directors and Consultants:

               (i)    No Employee, Director or Consultant shall be granted, in
any fiscal year of the Company, Options and Stock Purchase Rights to purchase
more than 500,000 Shares.

               (ii)   In connection with his or her initial service with the
Company, an Employee, Director or Consultant may be granted Options and Stock
Purchase Rights to purchase up to an additional 200,000 Shares which shall not
count against the limit set forth in subsection (i) above.

               (iii)  The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted
proportionately in connection with any change in the Company's capitalization as
described in Section 13. 

               (iv)   If an Option or Stock Purchase Right is cancelled in the
same fiscal year of the Company in which it was granted (other than in
connection with a transaction described in Section 13), the cancelled Option or
Stock Purchase Right will be counted against the limits set forth in subsections
(i) and (ii) above.  For this purpose, if the exercise price of an Option or
Stock Purchase Right is reduced, the transaction will be treated as a
cancellation of the Option or Stock Purchase Right and the grant of a new Option
or Stock Purchase Right.

     7.   TERM OF PLAN.  Subject to Section 19 of the Plan, the Plan shall
become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its
approval by the shareholders of the Company as described in Section 19 of the
Plan.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless
terminated earlier under Section 15 of the Plan.

     8.   TERM OF OPTION.  The term of each Option shall be stated in the Notice
of Grant; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the
term shall be ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may
be provided in the Notice of Grant.  Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is
granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of
the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant or
such shorter term as may be provided in the Notice of Grant.

     9.   OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.

          (a)  EXERCISE PRICE.  The per share exercise price for the Shares to
be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be determined by the
Administrator, subject to the following:

               (i)    In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

                      (A)     granted to an Employee who, at the time the
Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent
(10%) of the voting power of all classes of 

<PAGE>

stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise 
price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the 
date of grant.

                      (B)     granted to any Employee other than an Employee
described in paragraph (A) immediately above, the per Share exercise price shall
be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

               (ii)   In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share
exercise price shall be determined by the Administrator.  In the case of a
Nonstatutory Stock Option intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the per Share
exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on
the date of grant.

               (iii)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted
with a per Share exercise price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per
Share on the date of grant pursuant to a merger or other corporate transaction.

          (b)  WAITING PERIOD AND EXERCISE DATES.  At the time an Option is
granted, the Administrator shall fix the period within which the Option may be
exercised and shall determine any conditions which must be satisfied before the
Option may be exercised.  In so doing, the Administrator may specify that an
Option may not be exercised until the completion of a service period.

          (c)  FORM OF CONSIDERATION.  The Administrator shall determine the
acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method
of payment.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator shall
determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant.  Such
consideration may consist entirely of:

               (i)    cash;

               (ii)   check;

               (iii)  promissory note;

               (iv)   other Shares which (A) in the case of Shares acquired
upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six
months on the date of surrender, and (B) have a Fair Market Value on the date of
surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said
Option shall be exercised;

               (v)    delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together
with such other documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if
applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to
the Company of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price;

<PAGE>

               (vi)   a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the
Optionee, including any liability attributable to the Optionee's participation
in any Company-sponsored deferred compensation program or arrangement;

               (vii)  any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or

               (viii) such other consideration and method of payment for the
issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

     10.  EXERCISE OF OPTION.

          (a)  PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE; RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Any Option
granted hereunder shall be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at
such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set
forth in the Option Agreement.

               An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

               An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives:
(i) written notice of exercise (in accordance with the Option Agreement) from
the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares
with respect to which the Option is exercised.  Full payment may consist of any
consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and
permitted by the Option Agreement and the Plan.  Shares issued upon exercise of
an Option shall be issued in the name of the Optionee or, if requested by the
Optionee, in the name of the Optionee and his or her spouse.  Until the stock
certificate evidencing such Shares is issued (as evidenced by the appropriate
entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the
Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a
shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the
exercise of the Option.  The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such
stock certificate promptly after the Option is exercised.  No adjustment will be
made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the
date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 13 of the
Plan.

               Exercising an Option in any manner shall decrease the number of
Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under
the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

          (b)  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP OR
DIRECTORSHIP.  Upon termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director or Consultant, other than upon the Optionee's death or
Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option, but only within such
period of time as is specified in the Notice of Grant, and only to the extent
that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of termination (but in
no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in
the Notice of Grant).  In the absence of a specified time in the Notice of
Grant, the Option shall remain exercisable for three (3) months following the
Optionee's termination.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such period
of time for exercise shall not exceed three (3) months from the date of
termination.  If, on the date of termination, the Optionee is 


<PAGE>

not entitled to exercise the Optionee's entire Option, the Shares covered by 
the unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.  If, after 
termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the time 
specified by the Administrator, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares 
covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.

          Notwithstanding the above, in the event of an Optionee's change in
status from Consultant or Director to Employee or Employee or Director to
Consultant, an Optionee's Continuous Status as a Director or Consultant shall
not automatically terminate solely as a result of such change in status. 
However, in such event, an Incentive Stock Option held by the Optionee shall
cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax
purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option three months and one day following such
change of status from an Employee to a Consultant.  

          (c)  DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE.  In the event that an Optionee's
Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates as a result
of the Optionee's Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option at any
time within twelve (12) months from the date of such termination, but only to
the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of such
termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Notice of Grant).  If, at the date of termination,
the Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the Shares
covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. 
If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within
the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by
such Option shall revert to the Plan.

          (d)  DEATH OF OPTIONEE.  In the event of the death of an Optionee, the
Option may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months following the date
of death (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option
as set forth in the Notice of Grant), by the Optionee's estate or by a person
who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but
only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the
date of death.  If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unexercisable
portion of the Option shall immediately revert to the Plan.  If, after death,
the Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance does not exercise the Option within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall
revert to the Plan.

          (e)  BUYOUT PROVISIONS.  The Administrator may at any time offer to
buy out for a payment in cash or Shares, an Option previously granted based on
such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate
to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made.

     11.  STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS.

          (a)  RIGHTS TO PURCHASE.  Stock Purchase Rights may be issued either
alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other awards granted under the Plan
and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan.  After the Administrator determines
that it will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall advise the
offeree in writing, by means of a Notice of Grant, of the terms, conditions and

<PAGE>

restrictions related to the offer, including the number of Shares that the
offeree shall be entitled to purchase, the price to be paid, and the time within
which the offeree must accept such offer, which shall in no event exceed six (6)
months from the date upon which the Administrator made the determination to
grant the Stock Purchase Right.  The offer shall be accepted by execution of a
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement in the form determined by the Administrator.

          (b)  REPURCHASE OPTION.  Unless the Administrator determines
otherwise, the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall grant the Company a
repurchase option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of
the purchaser's employment with the Company for any reason (including death or
Disability).  The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the
Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall be the original price paid by the
purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser
to the Company.  The repurchase option shall lapse at a rate determined by the
Administrator.

          (c)  OTHER PROVISIONS.  The Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall
contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the
Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.  In
addition, the provisions of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements need not be the
same with respect to each purchaser.

          (d)  RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.  Once the Stock Purchase Right is
exercised, the purchaser shall have the rights equivalent to those of a
shareholder, and shall be a shareholder when his or her purchase is entered upon
the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company.  No adjustment
will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to
the date the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except as provided in Section 13
of the Plan.

     12.  NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS.  Unless
determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Option or Stock Purchase Right may
not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any
manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be
exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.  If the
Administrator makes an Option or Stock Purchase Right transferable, such Option
or Stock Purchase Right shall contain such additional terms and conditions as
the Administrator deems appropriate.

     13.  ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, DISSOLUTION, MERGER OR
          ASSET SALE. 

          (a)  CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.  Subject to any required action by 
the shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered 
by each outstanding Option and Stock Purchase Right, and the number of shares 
of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as 
to which no Options or Stock Purchase Rights have yet been granted or which 
have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option 
or Stock Purchase Right, as well as the price per share of Common Stock 
covered by each such outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, shall be 
proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued 
shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, 
stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any 
other increase or decrease in 

<PAGE>

the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of 
consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any 
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been 
"effected without receipt of consideration."  Such adjustment shall be made 
by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and 
conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company 
of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of 
stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall 
be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock 
subject to an Option or Stock Purchase Right.

          (b)  DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION.  In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each
Optionee as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed
transaction.  The Administrator in its discretion may provide for an Optionee to
have the right to exercise his or her Option until ten (10) days prior to such
transaction as to all of the Optioned Stock covered thereby, including Shares as
to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable.  In addition, the
Administrator may provide that any Company repurchase option applicable to any
Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option shall lapse as to all such Shares,
provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and in
the manner contemplated.  To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an
Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed
action.

          (c)  MERGER OR ASSET SALE.  In the event of a merger of the Company
with or into another corporation, or the sale of substantially all of the assets
of the Company, each outstanding Option and Stock Purchase Right shall be
assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor
corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation.  In the
event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the
Option or Stock Purchase Right, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise
the Option or Stock Purchase Right as to all of the Optioned Stock, including
Shares as to which it would not otherwise be exercisable.  If an Option or Stock
Purchase Right is exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event
of a merger or sale of assets, the Administrator shall notify the Optionee that
the Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be fully exercisable for a period of
fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option or Stock Purchase
Right shall terminate upon the expiration of such period.  For the purposes of
this paragraph, the Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be considered assumed
if, following the merger or sale of assets, the option or right confers the
right to purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the
Option or Stock Purchase Right immediately prior to the merger or sale of
assets, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property)
received in the merger or sale of assets by holders of Common Stock for each
Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered
a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such
consideration received in the merger or sale of assets was not solely common
stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with
the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be
received upon the exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right, for each Share
of Optioned Stock subject to the Option or Stock Purchase Right, to be solely
common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market
value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the
merger or sale of assets.

<PAGE>

     14.  DATE OF GRANT.  The date of grant of an Option or Stock Purchase Right
shall be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the
determination granting such Option or Stock Purchase Right, or such other later
date as is determined by the Administrator.  Notice of the determination shall
be provided to each Optionee within a reasonable time after the date of such
grant.

     15.  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

          (a)  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.  The Board may at any time amend,
alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.  

          (b)  SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.  The Company shall obtain shareholder
approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply
with Sections 162(m) or 422 of the Code (or any successor rule or statute or
other applicable law, rule or regulation, including the requirements of any
exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted). 
Such shareholder approval, if required, shall be obtained in such a manner and
to such a degree as is required by the applicable law, rule or regulation.

          (c)  EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.  No amendment, alteration,
suspension or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Optionee,
unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Administrator,
which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

     16.  CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  

          (a)  LEGAL COMPLIANCE.  Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the
exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right unless the exercise of such Option
or Stock Purchase Right and the issuance and delivery of such Shares shall
comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, Applicable Laws, and the requirements of any stock
exchange or quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted,
and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with
respect to such compliance.

          (b)  INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS.  As a condition to the exercise of an
Option or Stock Purchase Right, the Company may require the person exercising
such Option or Stock Purchase Right to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.

     17.  LIABILITY OF COMPANY.

          (a)  INABILITY TO OBTAIN AUTHORITY.  The inability of the Company to
obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority
is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and
sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of 


<PAGE>

any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to 
which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

          (b)  GRANTS EXCEEDING ALLOTTED SHARES.  If the Optioned Stock covered
by an Option or Stock Purchase Right exceeds, as of the date of grant, the
number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan without additional
shareholder approval, such Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be void with
respect to such excess Optioned Stock, unless shareholder approval of an
amendment sufficiently increasing the number of Shares subject to the Plan is
timely obtained in accordance with Section 15(b) of the Plan.

     18.  RESERVATION OF SHARES.  The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

     19.  SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.  Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or
after the date the Plan is adopted.  Such shareholder approval shall be obtained
in the manner and to the degree required under applicable federal and state law.




<PAGE>

                                    SUPERGEN, INC.

                          1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN



     1.   PURPOSE.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the 
Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase 
Common Stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions.  It is 
the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an "Employee Stock 
Purchase Plan" under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended.  The provisions of the Plan, accordingly, shall be construed so as 
to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the 
requirements of that section of the Code.

     2.   DEFINITIONS.

          (a)  "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

          (b)  "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended.

          (c)  "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the common stock of the Company.

          (d)  "COMPANY" shall mean SuperGen, Inc., a Delaware corporation, 
and any Designated Subsidiary of the Company.

          (e)  "COMPENSATION" shall mean all base straight time gross 
earnings, bonuses and commissions, exclusive of payments for overtime, shift 
premium and other compensation.

          (f)  "DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any Subsidiary which has 
been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as 
eligible to participate in the Plan.

          (g)  "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any individual who is an Employee of the 
Company for tax purposes whose customary employment with the Company is at 
least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any 
calendar year. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be 
treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other 
leave of absence approved by the Company.  Where the period of leave exceeds 
90 days and the individual's right to reemployment is not guaranteed either 
by statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to 
have terminated on the 91st day of such leave.

          (h)   "ENROLLMENT DATE" shall mean the first day of each Offering 
Period.

          (i)   "EXERCISE DATE" shall mean the last Trading Day of each 
Offering Period.

          (j)   "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean, as of any date, the value of 
Common Stock determined as follows:

          (1)  If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock 
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq 
National Market or The Nasdaq 


<PAGE>

SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be 
the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were 
reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for the last market trading 
day on the date of such determination, as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 
or such other source as the Board deems reliable, or;

               (2)  If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized 
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value 
shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on 
the date of such determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or 
such other source as the Board deems reliable, or;

               (3)  In the absence of an established market for the Common 
Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the 
Board.
     
          (k)  "OFFERING PERIOD" shall mean a period of approximately six (6) 
months during which an option granted pursuant to the Plan may be exercised, 
commencing on the first Trading Day on or after May 15 and terminating on the 
last Trading Day in the period ending the following November 14, or 
commencing on the first Trading Day on or after November 15 and terminating 
on the last Trading Day in the period ending the following May 14. The 
duration of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 4 of this 
Plan.

          (l)  "PLAN" shall mean this 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

          (m)  "PURCHASE PRICE" shall mean an amount equal to 85% of the Fair 
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Enrollment Date or on the 
Exercise Date, whichever is lower.


          (n)  "RESERVES" shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock 
covered by each option under the Plan which have not yet been exercised and 
the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance 
under the Plan but not yet placed under option.
 
          (o)  "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean a corporation, domestic or foreign, of 
which not less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company or a 
Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter 
organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.

          (p)  "TRADING DAY" shall mean a day on which national stock 
exchanges and the Nasdaq System are open for trading.

     3.   ELIGIBILITY.

          (a)  Any Employee who shall be employed by the Company on a given 
Enrollment Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

          (b)  Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no
Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) to the extent that,
immediately after the grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock
would be attributed to such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code)
would own capital stock of the Company and/or hold outstanding options to
purchase 


                                       -2-

<PAGE>

such stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting 
power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the Company or of any 
Subsidiary, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase stock 
under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its subsidiaries 
accrues at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) worth 
of stock (determined at the fair market value of the shares at the time such 
option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding 
at any time.

     4.   OFFERING PERIODS.  The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive 
Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing on the first Trading 
Day on or after May 15 and November 15 of each year, or on such other date as 
the Board shall determine, and continuing thereafter until terminated in 
accordance with Section 20 hereof.  The Board shall have the power to change 
the duration of Offering Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) 
with respect to future offerings without stockholder approval if such change 
is announced at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled beginning of the 
first Offering Period to be affected thereafter. 

     5.   PARTICIPATION.

          (a)  An eligible Employee may become a participant in the Plan by 
completing a subscription agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the 
form of Exhibit A to this Plan and filing it with the Company's payroll 
office prior to the applicable Enrollment Date.

          (b)  Payroll deductions for a participant shall commence on the 
first payroll following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last payroll 
in the Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless 
sooner terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

     6.   PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS.

          (a)  At the time a participant files his or her subscription 
agreement, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay 
day during the Offering Period in an amount not exceeding fifteen percent 
(15%) of the Compensation which he or she receives on each pay day during the 
Offering Period.

          (b)  All payroll deductions made for a participant shall be 
credited to his or her account under the Plan and shall be withheld in whole 
percentages only.  A participant may not make any additional payments into 
such account.

          (c)  A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the 
Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof, or may increase or decrease the rate 
of his or her payroll deductions during the Offering Period by completing or 
filing with the Company a new subscription agreement authorizing a change in 
payroll deduction rate.  The Board may, in its discretion, limit the number 
of participation rate changes during any Offering Period.  The change in rate 
shall be effective with the first full payroll period following five (5) 
business days after the Company's receipt of the new subscription agreement 
unless the Company elects to process a given change in participation more 
quickly.  


                                       -3-

<PAGE>

A participant's subscription agreement shall remain in effect for successive 
Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.

          (d)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to 
comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b) hereof, a 
participant's payroll deductions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any 
time during an Offering Period.  Payroll deductions shall recommence at the 
rate provided in such participant's subscription agreement at the beginning 
of the first Offering Period which is scheduled to end in the following 
calendar year, unless terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 
hereof.

          (e)  At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or 
at the time some or all of the Company's Common Stock issued under the Plan 
is disposed of, the participant must make adequate provision for the 
Company's federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which 
arise upon the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock. 
 At any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from 
the participant's compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet 
applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to 
make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to 
sale or early disposition of Common Stock by the Employee.

     7.   GRANT OF OPTION.  On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, 
each eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted 
an option to purchase on the Exercise Date of such Offering Period (at the 
applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of shares of the Company's Common 
Stock determined by dividing such Employee's payroll deductions accumulated 
prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Participant's account as of 
the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event 
shall an Employee be permitted to purchase during each Offering Period more 
than 1,500 shares (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 19), and 
provided further that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set 
forth in Sections 3(b) and 12 hereof.  Exercise of the option shall occur as 
provided in Section 8 hereof, unless the participant has withdrawn pursuant 
to Section 10 hereof.  The Option shall expire on the last day of the 
Offering Period.

     8.   EXERCISE OF OPTION.  Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan 
as provided in Section 10 hereof, his or her option for the purchase of 
shares shall be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date, and the maximum 
number of full shares subject to option shall be purchased for such 
participant at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll 
deductions in his or her account.  No fractional shares shall be purchased; 
any payroll deductions accumulated in a participant's account which are not 
sufficient to purchase a full share shall be retained in the participant's 
account for the subsequent Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by 
the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.  Any other monies left over 
in a participant's account after the Exercise Date shall be returned to the 
participant. During a participant's lifetime, a participant's option to 
purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

     9.   DELIVERY.  As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date on 
which a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall arrange the delivery to 
each participant, as appropriate, of a certificate representing the shares 
purchased upon exercise of his or her option.

                                       -4-

<PAGE>

     10.  WITHDRAWAL.

          (a)  A participant may withdraw all but not less than all the 
payroll deductions credited to his or her account and not yet used to 
exercise his or her option under the Plan at any time by giving written 
notice to the Company in the form of Exhibit B to this Plan.  All of the 
participant's payroll deductions credited to his or her account shall be paid 
to such participant promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such 
participant's option for the Offering Period shall be automatically 
terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares 
shall be made for such Offering Period.  If a participant withdraws from an 
Offering Period, payroll deductions shall not resume at the beginning of the 
succeeding Offering Period unless the participant delivers to the Company a 
new subscription agreement.

          (b)  A participant's withdrawal from an Offering Period shall not 
have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar 
plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering 
Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from 
which the participant withdraws.

     11.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  Upon a participant's ceasing to be an 
Employee for any reason, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to 
withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions credited to such 
participant's account during the Offering Period but not yet used to exercise 
the option shall be returned to such participant or, in the case of his or 
her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 15 hereof, 
and such participant's option shall be automatically terminated.  The 
preceding sentence notwithstanding, a participant who receives payment in 
lieu of notice of termination of employment shall be treated as continuing to 
be an Employee for the participant's customary number of hours per week of 
employment during the period in which the participant is subject to such 
payment in lieu of notice.

     12.  INTEREST.  No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions of a 
participant in the Plan.

     13.  STOCK.

          (a)  The maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock 
which shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be one hundred 
thousand (100,000) shares, subject to adjustment upon changes in 
capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 19 hereof.  If, on a 
given Exercise Date, the number of shares with respect to which options are 
to be exercised exceeds the number of shares then available under the Plan, 
the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares remaining 
available for purchase in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as 
it shall determine to be equitable.

          (b)  The participant shall have no interest or voting right in 
shares covered by his option until such option has been exercised.

          (c)  Shares to be delivered to a participant under the Plan shall 
be registered in the name of the participant or in the name of the 
participant and his or her spouse.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>

     14.  ADMINISTRATION.  The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a 
committee of members of the Board appointed by the Board.  The Board or its 
committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, 
interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility and to 
adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan.  Every finding, decision 
and determination made by the Board or its committee shall, to the full 
extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties.  

     15.  DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.

          (a)  A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary 
who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account 
under the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to an 
Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such 
participant of such shares and cash.  In addition, a participant may file a 
written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the 
participant's account under the Plan in the event of such participant's death 
prior to exercise of the option.  If a participant is married and the 
designated beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent shall be required 
for such designation to be effective.

          (b)  Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the 
participant at any time by written notice.  In the event of the death of a 
participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the 
Plan who is living at the time of such participant's death, the Company shall 
deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the 
estate of the participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been 
appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, 
may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more 
dependents or relatives of the participant, or if no spouse, dependent or 
relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company 
may designate.

     16.  TRANSFERABILITY.  Neither payroll deductions credited to a 
participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option 
or to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or 
otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and 
distribution or as provided in Section 15 hereof) by the participant.  Any 
such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be 
without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to 
withdraw funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

     17.  USE OF FUNDS.  All payroll deductions received or held by the 
Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, 
and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

     18.  REPORTS.  Individual accounts shall be maintained for each 
participant in the Plan.  Statements of account shall be given to 
participating Employees at least annually, which statements shall set forth 
the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares 
purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

     19.  ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION,  DISSOLUTION, 
          LIQUIDATION, MERGER OR ASSET SALE.


                                       -6-

<PAGE>

          (a)  CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.  Subject to any required action by 
the stockholders of the Company, the Reserves, the maximum number of shares 
each participant may purchase per Offering Period (pursuant to Section 7), as 
well as the price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock covered 
by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be 
proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued 
shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, 
stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any 
other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected 
without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that 
conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed 
to have been "effected without receipt of consideration".  Such adjustment 
shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be 
final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no 
issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities 
convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no 
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or 
price of shares of Common Stock subject to an option.

          (b)  DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION.  In the event of the proposed 
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period then in 
progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the "New Exercise 
Date"), and shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such 
proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Board.  
 The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company's proposed 
dissolution or liquidation.  The Board shall notify each participant in 
writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that 
the Exercise Date for the participant's option has been changed to the New 
Exercise Date and that the participant's option shall be exercised 
automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the 
participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 
hereof.  

          (c)  MERGER OR ASSET SALE.  In the event of a proposed sale of all 
or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the 
Company with or into another corporation, each outstanding option shall be 
assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a 
Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation.  In the event that the 
successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the option, the 
Offering Period then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise 
Date (the "New Exercise Date").   The New Exercise Date shall be before the 
date of the Company's proposed sale or merger.  The Board shall notify each 
participant in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New 
Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the participant's option has been 
changed to the New Exercise Date and that the participant's option shall be 
exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date 
the participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 
10 hereof.

     20.  AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.

          (a)  The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time and for 
any reason terminate or amend the Plan.  Except as provided in Section 19 
hereof, no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided 
that an Offering Period may be terminated by the Board of Directors on any 
Exercise Date if the Board determines that the termination of the Plan is in 
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.  Except as provided 
in Section 19 hereof, no 


                                       -7-

<PAGE>

amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which 
adversely affects the rights of any participant.  To the extent necessary to 
comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any other applicable law, regulation 
or stock exchange rule), the Company shall obtain stockholder approval in 
such a manner and to such a degree as required.  

          (b)  Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any 
participant rights may be considered to have been "adversely affected," the 
Board (or its committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, 
limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an 
Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld 
in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess 
of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or 
mistakes in the Company's processing of properly completed withholding 
elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or 
accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the 
purchase of Common Stock for each participant properly correspond with 
amounts withheld from the participant's Compensation, and establish such 
other limitations or procedures as the Board (or its committee) determines in 
its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.

     21.  NOTICES.  All notices or other communications by a participant to 
the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been 
duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the 
location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

     22.  CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  Shares shall not be issued 
with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance 
and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable 
provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the 
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the 
requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, 
and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with 
respect to such compliance.

     As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the 
person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any 
such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and 
without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the 
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any 
of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

     23.  TERM OF PLAN.  The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to 
occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the 
stockholders of the Company.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten 
(10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 20 hereof.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                                    ---------

                                  SUPERGEN, INC.

                          1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                              SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT



_____ Original Application  (Complete Line 2)      Enrollment Date: __________ 
_____ Change in Payroll Deduction Rate  
      (Complete Line 3)
_____ Change of Beneficiary(ies)


1.   _____________________________________ hereby elects to participate in the
     SuperGen, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Employee Stock
     Purchase Plan") and subscribes to purchase shares of the Company's Common
     Stock in accordance with this Subscription Agreement and the Employee Stock
     Purchase Plan.

2.   I hereby authorize payroll deductions from each paycheck in the amount of
     ____% of my Compensation on each payday (from 1% to 15%) during the
     Offering Period in accordance with the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 
     (Please note that no fractional percentages are permitted.)

3.   I hereby authorize a change in payroll deductions from each paycheck to the
     amount of ____% of my Compensation on each payday (from 0% to 15%) during
     the Offering Period in accordance with the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 
     (Please note that no fractional percentages are permitted.)

4.   I understand that said payroll deductions shall be accumulated for the
     purchase of shares of Common Stock at the applicable Purchase Price
     determined in accordance with the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  I
     understand that if I do not withdraw from an Offering Period, any
     accumulated payroll deductions will be used to automatically exercise my
     option.

5.   I have received a copy of the complete Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  I
     understand that my participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is in
     all respects subject to the terms of the Plan.  I understand that my
     ability to exercise the option under this Subscription Agreement is subject
     to stockholder approval of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

6.   Shares purchased for me under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan should be 
     issued in the name(s) of (Employee or Employee and Spouse only): 
     ___________.


                                       -1-

<PAGE>

7.   I understand that if I dispose of any shares received by me pursuant to the
     Plan within 2 years after the Enrollment Date (the first day of the
     Offering Period during which I purchased such shares), I will be treated
     for federal income tax purposes as having received ordinary income at the
     time of such disposition in an amount equal to the excess of the fair
     market value of the shares at the time such shares were purchased by me
     over the price which I paid for the shares.  I HEREBY AGREE TO NOTIFY THE
     COMPANY IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF ANY DISPOSITION OF
     SHARES AND I WILL MAKE ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR FEDERAL, STATE OR OTHER TAX
     WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS, IF ANY, WHICH ARISE UPON THE DISPOSITION OF THE
     COMMON STOCK.  The Company may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from
     my compensation the amount necessary to meet any applicable withholding
     obligation including any withholding necessary to make available to the
     Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early
     disposition of Common Stock by me. If I dispose of such shares at any time
     after the expiration of the 2-year holding period, I understand that I will
     be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received income only
     at the time of such disposition, and that such income will be taxed as
     ordinary income only to the extent of an amount equal to the lesser of
     (1) the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of such
     disposition over the purchase price which I paid for the shares, or (2) 15%
     of the fair market value of the shares on the first day of the Offering
     Period.  The remainder of the gain, if any, recognized on such disposition
     will be taxed as capital gain.

8.   I hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Employee Stock Purchase
     Plan.  The effectiveness of this Subscription Agreement is dependent upon
     my eligibility to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

9.   In the event of my death, I hereby designate the following as my
     beneficiary(ies) to receive all payments and shares due me under the
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan:



NAME:  (Please print) _______________________________________________________
                      (First)         (Middle)          (Last)


_________________________     _______________________________________________
Relationship
                              _______________________________________________
                              (Address)


Employee's Social
Security Number:              _______________________________________________


                                       -2-

<PAGE>

Employee's Address:     _____________________________________________________

                        _____________________________________________________

                        _____________________________________________________


I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT
SUCCESSIVE OFFERING PERIODS UNLESS TERMINATED BY ME.



Dated: _______________  _____________________________________________________
                        Signature of Employee


                        _____________________________________________________
                        Spouse's Signature (If beneficiary other than spouse)






                                       -3-

<PAGE>


                                      EXHIBIT B
                                      ---------

                                    SUPERGEN, INC.

                          1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                                 NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL


     The undersigned participant in the Offering Period of the SuperGen, Inc. 
1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan which began on ___________ 19____ (the  
"Enrollment Date") hereby notifies the Company that he or she hereby 
withdraws from the Offering Period.  He or she hereby directs the Company to 
pay to the undersigned as promptly as practicable all the payroll deductions 
credited to his or her account with respect to such Offering Period.  The 
undersigned understands and agrees that his or her option for such Offering 
Period will be automatically terminated.  The undersigned understands further 
that no further payroll deductions will be made for the purchase of shares in 
the current Offering Period and the undersigned shall be eligible to 
participate in succeeding Offering Periods only by delivering to the Company 
a new Subscription Agreement.

                                   Name and Address of Participant:

                                   ____________________________________

                                   ____________________________________

                                   ____________________________________



                                   Signature:

                                   ____________________________________


                                   Date: ______________________________



                                       -4-




<PAGE>

PROXY


                             SUPERGEN, INC.
                    1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
        THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


   The undersigned stockholder of SuperGen, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby
acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy
Statement, each dated April 7, 1998 and hereby appoints Joseph Rubinfeld, its
proxy and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, on behalf and in
the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the 1998 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of SuperGen, Inc. to be held on Thursday, May 7, 1998,
at 2:00 p.m. local time, at the San Ramon Marriott, 2600 Bishop Drive, San
Ramon, CA 94583 and at any adjournment(s) thereof, and to vote all shares of
Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there
personally present, on the matters set forth on the reverse side, and, in their
discretion, upon such other matter or matters which may properly come before the
meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof.

   THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR, IF NO CONTRARY DIRECTION IS 
INDICATED, WILL BE "VOTED" FOR THE ELECTION OF THE SPECIFIED NOMINEES AS 
DIRECTORS, "FOR" EACH PROPOSAL LISTED, AND AS SAID PROXY DEEMS ADVISABLE ON 
SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. 

                    CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON THE OTHER SIDE.
<PAGE>

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:
   Nominees: Joseph Rubinfeld, Denis Burger, Lawrence J. Ellison, David M. 
   Fineman, J. Gregory Swendsen, Julius A. Vida, Daniel Zurr

   FOR                 WITHHELD
   /  /                /  /

   /  /
         --------------------------------------------
         For all nominees except as note above

2. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY AND APPROVE AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
   1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE
   BY 750,000 SHARES TO 3,250,000 SHARES:

   /  /   FOR         /  /   AGAINST      /  /   ABSTAIN

3. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY AND APPROVE THE 1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN AND THE
   RESERVATION OF 100,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER:

   /  /   FOR         /  /   AGAINST      /  /   ABSTAIN

4. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT
   AUDITORS OF THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1998:

   /  /   FOR         /  /   AGAINST      /  /   ABSTAIN


   In their discretion, upon such other matter or matters which may properly 
   come before the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof.


THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR, IF NO CONTRARY DIRECTION IS 
INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE SPECIFIED NOMINEES AS 
DIRECTORS, "FOR" EACH PROPOSAL LISTED, AND AS SAID PROXY DEEMS ADVISABLE ON 
SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THIS MEETING.





Signature(s)                                                    Dated
            -----------------------------------------------          ----------
This Proxy should be marked, dated, signed by the stockholder(s) exactly as his
or her name appears hereon, and returned promptly in the enclosed envelope.
Persons signing in a fiduciary capacity should so indicate. If shares are held
by joint tenants or as community property, both should sign.



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