SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________________
SCHEDULE 13G/A
Information Statement Pursuant to Rules 13d-1 and 13d-2
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Aurora Biosciences Corporation
________________________________________________________________
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $.001 par value
_________________________________________________________________
(Title of Class of Securities)
0000519201
_________________________________________________________________
(CUSIP Number)
________________________
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CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 2 of 8 Pages
_________________________________________________________________
1) Name of Reporting Person Domain Partners
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification III, L.P.
No. of Above Person
_________________________________________________________________
2) Check the Appropriate Box (a) [ X ]
if a Member of a Group (b) [ ]
_________________________________________________________________
3) SEC Use Only
_________________________________________________________________
4) Citizenship or Place Delaware
of Organization
_________________________________________________________________
Number of 5) Sole Voting 1,656,961 shares of
Shares Beneficially Power Common Stock, $.001
Owned by Each par value ("Common
Reporting Person Stock")
________________________________________
6) Shared Voting
Power -0-
________________________________________
7) Sole Disposi- 1,656,961 shares of
tive Power Common Stock
________________________________________
8) Shared Dis-
positive Power -0-
________________________________________
9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially 1,656,961 shares of
Owned by Each Reporting person Common Stock
_________________________________________________________________
10) Check if the Aggregate
Amount in Row (9)
Excludes Certain Shares
_________________________________________________________________
11) Percent of Class
Represented by 9.7%
Amount in Row (9)
_________________________________________________________________
12) Type of Reporting
Person PN
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CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 3 of 8 Pages
_________________________________________________________________
1) Name of Reporting Person DP III Associates,
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification L.P.
No. of Above Person
_________________________________________________________________
2) Check the Appropriate Box (a) [ X ]
if a Member of a Group (b) [ ]
_________________________________________________________________
3) SEC Use Only
_________________________________________________________________
4) Citizenship or Place Delaware
of Organization
_________________________________________________________________
Number of 5) Sole Voting 57,324 shares of
Shares Beneficially Power Common Stock
Owned by Each
Reporting Person
________________________________________
6) Shared Voting
Power -0-
________________________________________
7) Sole Disposi- 57,324 shares of
tive Power Common Stock
________________________________________
8) Shared Dis-
positive Power -0-
________________________________________
9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially 57,324 shares of
Owned by Each Reporting person Common Stock
_________________________________________________________________
10) Check if the Aggregate
Amount in Row (9)
Excludes Certain Shares
_________________________________________________________________
11) Percent of Class
Represented by 0.3%
Amount in Row (9)
_________________________________________________________________
12) Type of Reporting
Person PN
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CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 4 of 8 Pages
Schedule 13G
____________
Item 1(a) - Name of Issuer: Aurora Biosciences Corporation
Item 1(b) - Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
11010 Torreyana Road
San Diego, CA 92121
Item 2(a) - Name of Person Filing:
This statement is being filed by Domain Partners III, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership ("Domain III") and DP III
Associates, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("DP III
A") (together, the "Reporting Persons").
Item 2(b) - Address of Principal Business Office:
One Palmer Square
Princeton, NJ 08542
Item 2(c) - Place of Organization:
Domain III: Delaware
DP III A: Delaware
Item 2(d) - Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock, $.001 par value ("Common Stock")
Item 2(e) - CUSIP Number: 0000519201
Item 3 - Statements Filed Pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or
13d-2(b):
Not applicable.
Item 4 - Ownership.
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
Domain III: 1,656,961 shares of Common Stock
DP III A: 57,324 shares of Common Stock
(b) Percent of Class:
Domain III: 9.7%
DP III A: 0.3%
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CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 5 of 8 Pages
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
Domain III: 1,656,961 shares of Common Stock
DP III A: 57,324 shares of Common Stock
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote: -0-
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
Domain III: 1,656,961 shares of Common Stock
DP III A: 57,324 shares of Common Stock
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
of: -0-
Item 5 - Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
Not applicable.
Item 6 - Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of
Another Person:
Not applicable.
Item 7 - Identification and Classification of the
Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being
Reported on by the Parent Company:
Not applicable.
Item 8 - Identification and Classification of Members of
the Group:
See Exhibit 2.
Item 9 - Notice of Dissolution of Group: Not applicable.
Item 10 - Certification: Not applicable.
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CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 6 of 8 Pages
Signature:
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
DOMAIN PARTNERS III, L.P.
By: One Palmer Square Associates
III L.P., General Partner
By /s/ Kathleen K. Schoemaker
________________________________
General Partner
DP III ASSOCIATES, L.P.
By: One Palmer Square Associates
III L.P., General Partner
By /s/ Kathleen K. Schoemaker
________________________________
General Partner
Date: February 2, 1998
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CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 7 of 8 Pages
EXHIBIT 1
AGREEMENT OF
DOMAIN PARTNERS III, L.P.
AND
DP III ASSOCIATES, L.P.
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(f)
_________________________
The undersigned hereby agree that the Information Statement on
Schedule 13G to which this Agreement is annexed as Exhibit 1 is filed on
behalf of each of them in accordance with the provisions of 13d-1(f) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
DOMAIN PARTNERS III, L.P.
By: One Palmer Square Associates
III L.P., General Partner
By /s/ Kathleen K. Schoemaker
________________________________
General Partner
DP III ASSOCIATES, L.P.
By: One Palmer Square Associates
III L.P., General Partner
By /s/ Kathleen K. Schoemaker
________________________________
General Partner
Date: February 2, 1998
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CUSIP No. 0000519201 Page 8 of 8 Pages
EXHIBIT 2
Identification and Classification
of Members of the Group
_________________________________
Domain Partners III, L.P. and DP III Associates, L.P. are filing
this statement on Schedule 13G as a group.
Domain Partners III, L.P. is a Delaware limited partnership. Its
sole general partner is One Palmer Square Associates III, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership.
DP III Associates, L.P. is a Delaware limited partnership. Its
sole general partner is One Palmer Square Associates III, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership.
