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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. ___________)*
ALGOS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
015869 10 0
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(CUSIP Number)
NOVEMBER 9, 1998
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing This Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:
[ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[X] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
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CUSIP No. 015869 10 0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).
BB BIOTECH AG
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a)
(b)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
Switzerland
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of 5. Sole Voting Power
Shares Bene-
ficially -0-
Owned by Each -----------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting 6. Shared Voting Power
Person With:
1,000,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------
7. Sole Dispositive Power
-0-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
8. Shared Dispositive Power
1,000,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
1,000,000
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain shares
11. Percent of Class Represented by amount in Row (11)
5.9%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) HC, CO
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Page 2 of 9 pages
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CUSIP No. 015869 10 0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).
BIOTECH TARGET S.A.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
(a)
(b)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Citizenship or Place of Organization
PANAMA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of 5. Sole Voting Power
Shares Bene-
ficially -0-
Owned by Each -----------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting 6. Shared Voting Power
Person With:
1,000,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------
7. Sole Dispositive Power
-0-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
8. Shared Dispositive Power
1,000,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
1,000,000
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain shares
11. Percent of Class Represented by amount in Row (11)
5.9%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Type of Reporting Person
CO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3 of 9 pages
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ITEM 1.
(a) Name of Issuer
Algos Pharmaceutical Corporation
(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices
1333 Campus Parkway
Neptune, NJ 07753-6815
ITEM 2.
(a) Name of Person Filing
BB Biotech AG ("BB Biotech")
Biotech Target S.A. ("Biotech Target")
(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence
BB Biotech Biotech Target
Vordergasse 3 Swiss Bank Tower
8200 Schaffhausen Panama 1
CH/Switzerland Republic of Panama
(c) Citizenship
See Item No. 4 of cover pages.
(d) Title of Class of Securities
Common Stock, Par Value $. 01 Per Share
(e) CUSIP Number
015869 10 0
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 240.13d-1(b) OR
240.13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:
(a) [] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78o).
(b) [] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
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(c) [] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78c).
(d) [] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
(e) [] An investment adviser in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)
(E);
(f) [] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) [] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h) [] A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i) [] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment
company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
(15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j) [] Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
(a) Amount beneficially owned:
1,000,000
(b) Percent of class:
5.9%
(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
-0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote
1,000,000
Page 5 of 9 pages
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(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
-0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
1,000,000
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON.
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED
THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY
This statement is filed jointly by BB Biotech and Biotech Target. Biotech
Target is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BB Biotech.
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the
securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose
of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a
participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
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SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
BB BIOTECH AG
Date: November 19, 1998 By: /s/ HANS-JOERG GRAF
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Name: Hans-Joerg Graf
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Signatory Authority
Date: November 19, 1998 By: /s/ DR. VICTOR BISCHOFF
-------------------------------
Name: Dr. Victor Bischoff
-------------------------------
Vice Chairman and Director
BIOTECH TARGET S.A.
Date: November 19, 1998 By: /s/ DR. ANDREAS BREMER
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Name: Dr. Andreas Bremer
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Signatory Authority
Date: November 19, 1998 By: /s/ DR. ANDERS HOVE
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Name: Dr. Anders Hove
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Signatory Authority
Page 7 of 9 pages
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 1: Translation of minutes of the October 18, 1995, Board of
Directors Meeting of Biotech Target (evidencing a power of
attorney in favor of Dr. Andreas Bremer).*
Exhibit 2: Translation of minutes of the January 3, 1997 Board of Directors
Meeting of Biotech Target (evidencing a power of attorney in
favor of Dr. Anders Hove).*
Exhibit 3: Translation of evidence of a power of attorney in favor of Victor
Bischoff and Hans-Joerg Graf on behalf of BB Biotech.**
Exhibit 4: Agreement by and between BB Biotech and Biotech Target with
respect to the filing of this disclosure statement.
- ---------------------
* See Powers of Attorney, previously filed as Exhibits 1 and 2 to the Schedule
13D related to Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on September 18, 1997, which Exhibits are incorporated by
reference herein.
** See Power of Attorney, previously filed as an Exhibit 99.E to the Schedule
13D relating to Biogen, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on June 2, 1994, which Exhibit is incorporated by reference herein.
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EXHIBIT 4
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
We, the undersigned, hereby express our agreement that the attached Schedule
13G (including all amendments thereto) is filed on behalf of each of the
undersigned.
BB BIOTECH AG
Date: November 19, 1998 By: /s/ HANS-JOERG GRAF
-------------------------------
Name: Hans-Joerg Graf
-------------------------------
Signatory Authority
Date: November 19, 1998 By: /s/ DR. VICTOR BISCHOFF
-------------------------------
Name: Dr. Victor Bischoff
-------------------------------
Vice Chairman and Director
BIOTECH TARGET S.A.
Date: November 19, 1998 By: /s/ DR. ANDREAS BREMER
-------------------------------
Name: Dr. Andreas Bremer
-------------------------------
Signatory Authority
Date: November 19, 1998 By: /s/ DR. ANDERS HOVE
-------------------------------
Name: Dr. Anders Hove
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Signatory Authority
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