<PAGE>
FILED PURSUANT TO
RULE 424 (B) (3) AND (C)
FILE NO. 333-38528
CV THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$196,250,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
4 3/4% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE MARCH 7, 2007
AND
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THE NOTES
------------------------
This Prospectus Supplement relates to resales by selling security holders of
our 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due March 7, 2007 and shares of our
common stock into which the notes are convertible.
This Prospectus Supplement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus
dated June 29, 2000, (the "Prospectus") which is to be delivered with this
Prospectus Supplement.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 7 OF THE PROSPECTUS TO READ ABOUT
FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING THE NOTES OR OUR COMMON STOCK.
------------------------
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body
has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or
accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
------------------------
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is July 28, 2000.
<PAGE>
The information in the table appearing in the Prospectus under the heading
"Selling Security Holders" is superseded by the information appearing in the
following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL COMMON
AMOUNT OF STOCK COMMON
NOTES ISSUABLE NOTES STOCK
BENEFICIALLY UPON COMMON OWNED AFTER OWNED AFTER
OWNED AND CONVERSION STOCK COMPLETION COMPLETION
NAME OFFERED(1) OF THE NOTES OFFERED OF OFFERING OF OFFERING
---- ------------ ------------ -------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
AAM/Zazove Institutional Income
Fund, L.P........................... $ 650,000 10,181 10,181 0 0
Aftra Health Fund..................... 750,000 11,748 11,748 0 0
AL-Bank AL-Saudi AL-Alami Saudi
International Bank.................. 750,000 11,748 11,748 0 0
AIG SoundShore Holdings Ltd........... 2,520,000 39,473 39,473 0 0
AIG SoundShore Opportunity Holding
Fund Ltd............................ 3,410,000 53,414 53,414 0 0
AIG SoundShore Strategic Holding
Fund Ltd............................ 977,000 15,303 15,303 0 0
Argent Classic Convertible Arbitrage
Fund L.P............................ 2,500,000 39,160 39,160 0 0
Argent Classic Convertible Arbitrage
Fund (Bermuda) L.P.................. 3,000,000 46,992 46,992 0 0
Arthur D. Little Employee Investment
Fund................................ 700,000 10,964 10,964 0 0
Aventis Pension Master Trust.......... 149,000 2,333 2,333 0 0
Bancroft Convertible Fund, Inc........ 250,000 3,916 3,916 0 0
The Bank of New York, as Trustee...... 1,100,000 17,230 17,230 0 0
The Bank of New York, Trustee for
Mark T. Ewing....................... 50,000 783 783 0 0
Bankers Trust Co. Trustee for
DaimlerChrysler Corp. Emp.#1 Pension
Plan dtd 4/1/89..................... 4,470,000 70,018 70,018 0 0
Bear Stearns & Co., Inc............... 1,000,000 15,664 15,664 0 0
Boilermaker-Blacksmith Pension
Trust............................... 870,000 13,627 13,627 0 0
Boulder II Limited.................... 1,500,000 23,496 23,496 0 0
Brown & Williamson Tobacco Master
Retirement Trust.................... 250,000 3,916 3,916 0 0
CALAMOS Convertible Fund--
CALAMOS Investment Trust............ 1,100,000 17,230 17,230 0 0
CALAMOS Convertible Portfolio--
CALAMOS Advisors Trust.............. 25,000 391 391 0 0
CALAMOS Global Growth and Income
Fund--CALAMOS Investment Trust...... 160,000 2,506 2,506 0 0
CALAMOS Growth and Income Fund--
CALAMOS Investment Trust............ 620,000 9,711 9,711 0 0
Champion International Corporation
Master Retirement Trust............. 400,000 6,265 6,265 0 0
City of Albany Pension Plan........... 85,000 1,331 1,331 0 0
City of Knoxville Pension System...... 200,000 3,132 3,132 0 0
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL COMMON
AMOUNT OF STOCK COMMON
NOTES ISSUABLE NOTES STOCK
BENEFICIALLY UPON COMMON OWNED AFTER OWNED AFTER
OWNED AND CONVERSION STOCK COMPLETION COMPLETION
NAME OFFERED(1) OF THE NOTES OFFERED OF OFFERING OF OFFERING
---- ------------ ------------ -------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
The Common Fund FAO Absolute Return
Fund................................ 400,000 62,65 62,65 0 0
Credit Suisse First Boston
Corporation......................... 7,200,000 112,781 112,781 0 0
DeepRock & Co......................... 715,000 11,199 11,199 0 0
Delta Airlines Master Trust........... 1,600,000 25,062 25,062 0 0
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc......... 18,440,000 288,847 288,847 0 0
Diane D. Goodrich..................... 50,000 783 783 0 0
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corp..................... 3,450,000 54,041 54,041 0 0
Douglas D. Duke....................... 25,000 391 391 0 0
The Dow Chemical Company Employees'
Retirement Plan..................... 1,700,000 26,629 26,629 0 0
Duckbill & Co......................... 1,285,000 20,128 20,128 0 0
Ellsworth Convertible Growth and
Income Fund, Inc.................... 250,000 3,916 3,916 0 0
The Fondren Foundation................ 55,000 861 861 0 0
Franklin and Marshall College......... 330,000 5,169 5,169 0 0
Greek Catholic Union II............... 10,000 156 156 0 0
Hare and Company (nominee for the Bank
of New York as investment
advisor)............................ 235,000 3,681 3,681 0 0
Hare and Company (nominee for the Bank
of New York as trustee)............. 1,100,000 17,230 17,230 0 0
Helix Convertible Opportunities
Fund Ltd............................ 1,230,000 19,226 19,266 0 0
Helix Convertible
Opportunities L.P................... 2,370,000 37,124 37,124 0 0
JP Morgan Securities, Inc............. 5,625,000 88,110 88,110 0 0
James H. Hamersley Rev. Trust UA
6/23/99............................. 30,000 469 469 0 0
Julius Baer Securities................ 650,000 10,181 10,181 0 0
KBC Financial Products................ 3,000,000 46,992 46,992 0 0
Kettering Medical Center Funded
Depreciation Account................ 55,000 861 861 0 0
Knoxville Utilities Board Retirement
System.............................. 140,000 2,192 2,192 0 0
Lipper Convertibles, L.P.............. 11,000,000 172,306 172,306 0 0
Lord Abbott Bond Debenture Fund....... 2,000,000 31,328 31,328 0 0
Mainstay Convertible Fund............. 2,000,000 31,328 31,328 0 0
Mainstay Strategic Value Fund......... 200,000 3,132 3,132 0 0
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith,
Incorporated........................ 9,915,000 155,310 155,310 0 0
Michael FT Maude Discretionary
Trust............................... 10,000 156 156 0 0
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Convertible
Securities Trust.................... 1,500,000 23,496 23,496 0 0
New York Life Separate Account #7..... 1,500,000 23,496 23,496 0 0
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL COMMON
AMOUNT OF STOCK COMMON
NOTES ISSUABLE NOTES STOCK
BENEFICIALLY UPON COMMON OWNED AFTER OWNED AFTER
OWNED AND CONVERSION STOCK COMPLETION COMPLETION
NAME OFFERED(1) OF THE NOTES OFFERED OF OFFERING OF OFFERING
---- ------------ ------------ -------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Norwalk Employees Pension Plan........ 800,000 12,531 12,531 0 0
Onex Industrial Partners Limited...... 2,500,000 39,160 39,160 0 0
Pebble Capital Inc.................... 1,000,000 15,664 15,664 0 0
Pell Rudman Trust Company............. 1,720,000 26,942 26,942 0 0
Penn Treaty Network America Insurance
Company............................. 440,000 6,892 6,892 0 0
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Retirement and Disability Allowance
Plan for the Employee Represented by
Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit
Union............................... 835,000 13,079 13,079 0 0
President and Fellows of Harvard
College............................. 4,000,000 62,656 62,656 0 0
Robertson Stephens.................... 2,500,000 39,160 39,160 0 0
RS Midcap Opportunities Fund.......... 1,000,000 15,664 15,664 0 0
San Diego County Employees Retirement
Association......................... 1,253,750 19,638 19,638 0 0
Silvercreek Limited Partnership....... 1,000,000 15,664 15,664 0 0
SPT................................... 650,000 10,181 10,181 0 0
State Street Bank Custodian for GE
Pension Trust....................... 2,365,000 37,045 37,045 0 0
The Sylvan C. Coleman Foundation...... 70,000 1,096 1,096 0 0
Tribeca Investments LLC............... 38,495,000 602,991 602,991 0 0
Unifi, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan and
Trust............................... 90,000 1,409 1,409 0 0
United Capital Management, Inc........ 250,000 3,916 3,916 0 0
United Food and Commercial Workers
Local 1262 and Employers Pension
Fund................................ 225,000 3,524 3,524 0 0
Van Waters & Rogers, Inc. Retirement
Plan (f.k.a. Univar Corporation).... 260,000 4,072 4,072 0 0
White River Securities, LLC........... 1,000,000 15,664 15,664 0 0
Zurich HFR Master Hedge Fund
Index Ltd........................... 200,000 3,132 3,132 0 0
</TABLE>
------------------------
(1) Amounts indicated may be in excess of the total amount registered due to
sales or transfers exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act since the date upon which the selling holders provided to us
the information regarding their notes.