As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 29, 2001.

                                                    Registration No. 333-_______
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              INCYTE GENOMICS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                     Delaware                              94-3136539
- --------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
          (State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
          incorporation or organization)              Identification No.)

                 3160 Porter Drive
               Palo Alto, California                         94304
- --------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
     (Address of Principal Executive Offices)              (Zip Code)

      OPTIONS ASSUMED BY INCYTE GENOMICS, INC. ORIGINALLY GRANTED UNDER THE
     PROTEOME, INC. 1998 EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR AND CONSULTANT STOCK OPTION PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                                           Copy to:
                 ROY A. WHITFIELD
              Chief Executive Officer                    STANTON D. WONG
               Incyte Genomics, Inc.                  Pillsbury Winthrop LLP
                 3160 Porter Drive                        P.O. Box 7880
            Palo Alto, California 94304              San Francisco, CA 94120
                  (650) 855-0555                         (415) 983-1000
- --------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------
       (Name, address and telephone number,
    including area code, of agent for service)


                                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Title of Securities Amount To Offering Price Aggregate Offering Amount of To Be Registered Be Registered per Share(1) Price(1) Registration Fee - ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- -------------------- -------------------- Common Stock, $.001 par value(2) 216,953 $0.01-$8.19 $1,649,160 $413 - ------------------------------------ ------------------- ------------------- -------------------- --------------------
(1) Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The offering prices are based upon the exercise prices for options previously granted by Proteome, Inc. (2) Associated with the Common Stock are Series A Participating Preferred Stock Purchase Rights that will not be exercisable or evidenced separately from the Common Stock prior to the occurrence of certain events. -------------------- The Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing in accordance with Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incyte Genomics, Inc. (the "Registrant") acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Proteome, Inc. ("Proteome") pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 21, 2000, among the Registrant, Proteome and Donner Acquisition Corporation. The shares to be registered hereunder are issuable pursuant to options assumed by the Registrant that were originally granted under the Proteome, Inc. 1998 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Option Plan, as amended. PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION.* ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.* * Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from the Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Note to Part I of Form S-8. PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. The following documents filed by Registrant (File No. 0-27488) with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement: (1) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999; (2) The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2000; (3) The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 17, February 22, February 24, March 24, July 25, August 25, and December 21, 2000, and January 10, 2001; (4) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 5, 1996; and (5) The description of the Registrant's Series A Participating Preferred Stock Purchase Rights contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 1998. In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. Not applicable. ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL. Not applicable. -2- ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides for the indemnification of officers, directors, and other corporate agents in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify such persons under certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). Article VII of the Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article V of the Registrant's Bylaws provide for indemnification of the Registrant's directors, officers, employees and other agents to the extent and under the circumstances permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Registrant has also entered into agreements with its directors and officers that will require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by law. ITEM 7. EXEMPTIONS FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED. Not applicable. ITEM 8. EXHIBITS. 5.1 Opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop LLP. 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors. 23.2 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants. 23.3 Consent of Pillsbury Winthrop LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). 24.1 Power of Attorney (see page 5). 99.1 Proteome, Inc. 1998 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Option Plan. ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS. (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; -3- Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. -4- SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Palo Alto, State of California, on January 26, 2001. INCYTE GENOMICS, INC. By /S/ ROY A. WHITFIELD ------------------------------------- Roy A. Whitfield Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Roy A. Whitfield and John M. Vuko, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
NAME TITLE DATE /S/ ROY A. WHITFIELD Chief Executive Officer (Principal January 26, 2001 - ---------------------------------------------- Executive Officer) and Director Roy A. Whitfield /S/ JOHN M. VUKO Chief Financial Officer (Principal January 26, 2001 - ---------------------------------------------- Financial Officer) John M. Vuko /S/TIMOTHY HENN Controller (Principal Accounting January 26, 2001 - ---------------------------------------------- Officer) Timothy Henn /S/ JEFFREY J. COLLINSON Director January 26, 2001 - ---------------------------------------------- Jeffrey J. Collinson Chairman of the Board - ---------------------------------------------- Randal W. Scott, Ph.D. -5- NAME TITLE DATE /S/ BARRY M. BLOOM, PH.D. Director January 25, 2001 - ---------------------------------------------- Barry M. Bloom, Ph.D. Director - ---------------------------------------------- Frederick B. Craves, Ph.D. /S/ JON S. SAXE Director January 26, 2001 - ---------------------------------------------- Jon S. Saxe
-6- INDEX TO EXHIBITS 5.1 Opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop LLP. 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors. 23.2 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants. 23.3 Consent of Pillsbury Winthrop LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). 24.1 Power of Attorney (see page 5). 99.1 Proteome, Inc. 1998 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Option Plan. -7-
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                             PILLSBURY WINTHROP LLP
                                50 Fremont Street
                             San Francisco, CA 94105
                               Tel: (415) 983-1000


                                January 26, 2001



Incyte Genomics, Inc.
3160 Porter Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94304

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") to be filed by Incyte Genomics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, relating to 216,953 shares of Common Stock, par value
$.001, of the Company (the "Shares") issuable upon the exercise of options
originally granted by Proteome, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
("Proteome"), under the Proteome, Inc. 1998 Employee, Director and Consultant
Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Plan"), which options were assumed by the Company.
We advise you that, in our opinion, the Shares have been duly authorized and,
when issued and sold in accordance with the Stock Plan, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     /s/  PILLSBURY WINTHROP LLP


                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                 PROTEOME, INC.

            1998 EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR AND CONSULTANT STOCK OPTION PLAN
                       [AS AMENDED THROUGH AUGUST 6, 1999]

         1. DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise specified or unless the context
otherwise requires, the following terms, as used in this Proteome, Inc. 1998
Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Option Plan, have the following
meanings:

         ADMINISTRATOR means the Board of Directors, unless it has delegated
power to act on its behalf to the Committee, in which case the Administrator
means the Committee.

         AFFILIATE means a corporation which, for purposes of Section 424 of the
Code, is a parent or subsidiary of the Company, direct or indirect.

         BOARD OF DIRECTORS means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         CODE means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         COMMITTEE means the committee of the Board of Directors to which the
Board of Directors has delegated power to act under or pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan.

         COMMON STOCK means shares of the Company's common stock, par value
$.001 per share.

         COMPANY means Proteome, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

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

         FAIR MARKET VALUE of a Share of Common Stock means:

         (1) If the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or
traded in the over-the-counter market and sales prices are regularly reported
for the Common Stock, the closing or last price of the Common Stock on the
Composite Tape or other comparable reporting system for the trading day
immediately preceding the applicable date;

         (2) If the Common Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange
but is traded on the over-the-counter market, if sales prices are not regularly
reported for the Common Stock for the trading day referred to in clause (1), and
if bid and asked prices for the Common Stock are regularly reported, the mean
between the bid and the asked price for the Common Stock at the close of trading
in the over-the-counter market for the trading day on which Common Stock was
traded immediately preceding the applicable date; and

         (3) If the Common Stock is neither listed on a national securities
exchange nor traded in the over-the-counter market, such value as the
Administrator, in good faith, shall determine.

         ISO means an option meant to qualify as an incentive stock option under
Section 422 of the Code.

         KEY EMPLOYEE means an employee of the Company or of an Affiliate
(including, without limitation, an employee who is also serving as an officer or
director of the Company or of an Affiliate), designated by the Administrator to
be eligible to be granted one or more Options under the Plan.

         NON-QUALIFIED OPTION means an option which is not intended to qualify
as an ISO.

         OPTION means an ISO or Non-Qualified Option granted under the Plan.

                                       1



         OPTION AGREEMENT means an agreement between the Company and a
Participant delivered pursuant to the Plan, in such form as the Administrator
shall approve.

         PARTICIPANT means a Key Employee, director or consultant to whom one or
more Options are granted under the Plan. As used herein, "Participant" shall
include "Participant's Survivors" where the context requires.

         PLAN means this Proteome, Inc. 1998 Employee, Director and Consultant
Stock Option Plan.

         SHARES means shares of the Common Stock as to which Options have been
or may be granted under the Plan or any shares of capital stock into which the
Shares are changed or for which they are exchanged within the provisions of
Paragraph 3 of the Plan. The Shares issued upon exercise of Options granted
under the Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or shares held by the
Company in its treasury, or both.

         SURVIVORS means a deceased Participant's legal representatives and/or
any person or persons who acquired the Participant's rights to an Option by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution.

         2. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The Plan is intended to encourage ownership of
Shares by Key Employees and directors of and certain consultants to the Company
in order to attract such people, to induce them to work for the benefit of the
Company or of an Affiliate and to provide additional incentive for them to
promote the success of the Company or of an Affiliate. The Plan provides for the
granting of ISOs and Non-Qualified Options.

         3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. The number of Shares which may be issued
from time to time pursuant to this Plan shall be 2,000,000, or the equivalent of
such number of Shares after the Administrator, in its sole discretion, has
interpreted the effect of any stock split, stock dividend, combination,
recapitalization or similar transaction in accordance with Paragraph 16 of the
Plan. If an Option ceases to be "outstanding", in whole or in part, the Shares
which were subject to such Option shall be available for the granting of other
Options under the Plan. Any Option shall be treated as "outstanding" until such
Option is exercised in full, or terminates or expires under the provisions of
the Plan, or by agreement of the parties to the pertinent Option Agreement.

         4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Administrator of the Plan will be
the Board of Directors, except to the extent the Board of Directors delegates
its authority to the Committee, in which case the Committee shall be the
Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator is
authorized to:

         a. Interpret the provisions of the Plan or of any Option or Option
Agreement and to make all rules and determinations which it deems necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan;

         b. Determine which employees of the Company or of an Affiliate shall be
designated as Key Employees and which of the Key Employees, directors and
consultants shall be granted Options;

         c. Determine the number of Shares for which an Option or Options shall
be granted; and

         d. Specify the terms and conditions upon which an Option or Options may
be granted;

provided, however, that all such interpretations, rules, determinations, terms
and conditions shall be made and prescribed in the context of preserving the tax
status under Section 422 of the Code of those Options which are designated as
ISOs. Subject to the foregoing, the interpretation and construction by the
Administrator of any provisions of the Plan or of any Option granted under it
shall be final, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, if the
Administrator is the Committee.

         5. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION. The Administrator will, in its sole
discretion, name the Participants in the Plan, provided, however, that each
Participant must be a Key Employee, director or consultant of the Company or of
an Affiliate at the time an Option is granted. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing provisions, the Administrator may authorize the grant of an Option to
a person not then an employee, director or consultant of the Company or of an
Affiliate. The actual grant of such Option, however, shall be conditioned upon
such person becoming eligible to become a Participant at or prior to the time of
the delivery of the Option Agreement evidencing

                                       2



such Option. ISOs may be granted only to Key Employees. Non-Qualified Options
may be granted to any Key Employee, director or consultant of the Company or an
Affiliate. The granting of any Option to any individual shall neither entitle
that individual to, nor disqualify him or her from, participation in any other
grant of Options.

         6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS. Each Option shall be set forth in
writing in an Option Agreement, duly executed by the Company and, to the extent
required by law or requested by the Company, by the Participant. The
Administrator may provide that Options be granted subject to such conditions as
the Administrator may deem appropriate including, without limitation, subsequent
approval by the shareholders of the Company of this Plan or any amendments
thereto. The Option Agreements shall be subject to at least the following terms
and conditions:

         A. NON-QUALIFIED OPTIONS: Each Option intended to be a Non-Qualified
Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions which the Administrator
determines to be appropriate and in the best interest of the Company, subject to
the following minimum standards for any such Non-Qualified Option:

         a. Option Price: Each Option Agreement shall state the option price
(per share) of the Shares covered by each Option, which option price shall be
determined by the Administrator but shall not be less than the par value per
share of Common Stock;

         b. Each Option Agreement shall state the number of Shares to which it
pertains;

         c. Each Option Agreement shall state the date or dates on which it
first is exercisable and the date after which it may no longer be exercised, and
may provide that the Option rights accrue or become exercisable in installments
over a period of months or years, or upon the occurrence of certain conditions
or the attainment of stated goals or events; and

         d. Exercise of any Option may be conditioned upon the Participant's
execution of a Share purchase agreement in form satisfactory to the
Administrator providing for certain protections for the Company and its other
shareholders, including requirements that:

               (i) The Participant's or the Participant's Survivors' right to
          sell or transfer the Shares may be restricted; and

               (ii) The Participant or the Participant's Survivors may be
          required to execute letters of investment intent and must also
          acknowledge that the Shares will bear legends noting any applicable
          restrictions.

         B. ISOS: Each Option intended to be an ISO shall be issued only to a
Key Employee and be subject to at least the following terms and conditions, with
such additional restrictions or changes as the Administrator determines are
appropriate but not in conflict with Section 422 of the Code and relevant
regulations and rulings of the Internal Revenue Service:

         a. Minimum standards: The ISO shall meet the minimum standards required
of Non-Qualified Options, as described in Paragraph 6(A) above, except clause
(a) thereunder.

         b. Option Price: Immediately before the Option is granted, if the
Participant owns, directly or by reason of the applicable attribution rules in
Section 424(d) of the Code:

                  (i) Ten percent (10%) or less of the total combined voting
         power of all classes of share capital of the Company or an Affiliate,
         the Option price per share of the Shares covered by each Option shall
         not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value
         per share of the Shares on the date of the grant of the Option.

                                       3



                  (ii) More than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting
         power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, the
         Option price per share of the Shares covered by each Option shall not
         be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the said Fair Market
         Value on the date of grant.

         c. Term of Option: For Participants who own:

                  (i) Ten percent (10%) or less of the total combined voting
         power of all classes of share capital of the Company or an Affiliate,
         each Option shall terminate not more than ten (10) years from the date
         of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may
         provide;

                  (ii) More than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting
         power of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, each
         Option shall terminate not more than five (5) years from the date of
         the grant or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may provide.

         d. Limitation on Yearly Exercise: The Option Agreements shall restrict
the amount of Options which may be exercisable in any calendar year (under this
or any other ISO plan of the Company or an Affiliate) so that the aggregate Fair
Market Value (determined at the time each ISO is granted) of the stock with
respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by the Participant in
any calendar year does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000),
provided that this subparagraph (d) shall have no force or effect if its
inclusion in the Plan is not necessary for Options issued as ISOs to qualify as
ISOs pursuant to Section 422(d) of the Code.

         7. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND ISSUE OF SHARES. An Option (or any part or
installment thereof) shall be exercised by giving written notice to the Company
at its principal executive office address, together with provision for payment
of the full purchase price in accordance with this Paragraph for the Shares as
to which the Option is being exercised, and upon compliance with any other
condition(s) set forth in the Option Agreement. Such written notice shall be
signed by the person exercising the Option, shall state the number of Shares
with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall contain any
representation required by the Plan or the Option Agreement. Payment of the
purchase price for the Shares as to which such Option is being exercised shall
be made (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check, or (b) at the
discretion of the Administrator, through delivery of shares of Common Stock
having a fair market value equal as of the date of the exercise to the cash
exercise price of the Option, determined in good faith by the Administrator, or
(c) at the discretion of the Administrator, by delivery of the grantee's
personal recourse note bearing interest payable not less than annually at no
less than 100% of the applicable Federal rate, as defined in Section 1274(d) of
the Code, or (d) at the discretion of the Administrator, in accordance with a
cashless exercise program established with a securities brokerage firm, and
approved by the Administrator, or (e) at the discretion of the Administrator, by
any combination of (a), (b), (c) and (d) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Administrator shall accept only such payment on exercise of an ISO as is
permitted by Section 422 of the Code.

         The Company shall then reasonably promptly deliver the Shares as to
which such Option was exercised to the Participant (or to the Participant's
Survivors, as the case may be). In determining what constitutes "reasonably
promptly," it is expressly understood that the delivery of the Shares may be
delayed by the Company in order to comply with any law or regulation (including,
without limitation, state securities or "blue sky" laws) which requires the
Company to take any action with respect to the Shares prior to their issuance.
The Shares shall, upon delivery, be evidenced by an appropriate certificate or
certificates for fully paid, non-assessable Shares.

         The Administrator shall have the right to accelerate the date of
exercise of any installment of any Option; provided that the Administrator shall
not accelerate the exercise date of any installment of any Option granted to any
Key Employee as an ISO (and not previously converted into a Non-Qualified Option
pursuant to Paragraph 19) if such acceleration would violate the annual vesting
limitation contained in Section 422(d) of the Code, as described in Paragraph
6.B.d.

         The Administrator may, in its discretion, amend any term or condition
of an outstanding Option provided (i) such term or condition as amended is
permitted by the Plan, (ii) any such amendment shall be made only with the
consent of the Participant to whom the Option was granted, or in the event of
the death of the Participant, the Participant's Survivors, if the amendment is
adverse to the Participant, and (iii) any such amendment of any ISO shall be
made only after the Administrator, after consulting the counsel for the Company,
determines whether such

                                       4



amendment would constitute a "modification" of any Option which is an ISO (as
that term is defined in Section 424(h) of the Code) or would cause any adverse
tax consequences for the holder of such ISO.

         8. RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. No Participant to whom an Option has been
granted shall have rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by
such Option, except after due exercise of the Option and tender of the full
purchase price for the Shares being purchased pursuant to such exercise and
registration of the Shares in the Company's share register in the name of the
Participant.

         9. ASSIGNABILITY AND TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. By its terms, an
Option granted to a Participant shall not be transferable by the Participant
other than (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) as
otherwise determined by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Option
Agreement. The designation of a beneficiary of an Option by a Participant shall
not be deemed a transfer prohibited by this Paragraph. Except as provided above,
an Option shall be exercisable, during the Participant's lifetime, only by such
Participant (or by his or her legal representative) and shall not be assigned,
pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise)
and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any
attempted transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of
any Option or of any rights granted thereunder contrary to the provisions of
this Plan, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon an Option,
shall be null and void.

         10. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE OTHER THAN "FOR CAUSE" OR DEATH OR
DISABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in the pertinent Option Agreement, in
the event of a termination of service (whether as an employee, director or
consultant) with the Company or an Affiliate before the Participant has
exercised all Options, the following rules apply:

         a. A Participant who ceases to be an employee, director or consultant
of the Company or of an Affiliate (for any reason other than termination "for
cause", Disability, or death for which events there are special rules in
Paragraphs 11, 12, and 13, respectively), may exercise any Option granted to him
or her to the extent that the Option is exercisable on the date of such
termination of service, but only within such term as the Administrator has
designated in the pertinent Option Agreement.

         b. In no event may an Option Agreement provide, if the Option is
intended to be an ISO, that the time for exercise be later than three (3) months
after the Participant's termination of employment.

         c. The provisions of this Paragraph, and not the provisions of
Paragraph 12 or 13, shall apply to a Participant who subsequently becomes
Disabled or dies after the termination of employment, director status or
consultancy, provided, however, in the case of a Participant's Disability or
death within three (3) months after the termination of employment, director
status or consultancy, the Participant or the Participant's Survivors may
exercise the Option within one (1) year after the date of the Participant's
termination of employment, but in no event after the date of expiration of the
term of the Option.

         d. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if subsequent to a
Participant's termination of employment, termination of director status or
termination of consultancy, but prior to the exercise of an Option, the Board of
Directors determines that, either prior or subsequent to the Participant's
termination, the Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute "cause",
then such Participant shall forthwith cease to have any right to exercise any
Option.

         e. A Participant to whom an Option has been granted under the Plan who
is absent from work with the Company or with an Affiliate because of temporary
disability (any disability other than a permanent and total Disability as
defined in Paragraph 1 hereof), or who is on leave of absence for any purpose,
shall not, during the period of any such absence, be deemed, by virtue of such
absence alone, to have terminated such Participant's employment, director status
or consultancy with the Company or with an Affiliate, except as the
Administrator may otherwise expressly provide.

         f. Except as required by law or as set forth in the pertinent Option
Agreement, Options granted under the Plan shall not be affected by any change of
a Participant's status within or among the Company and any

                                       5



Affiliates, so long as the Participant continues to be an employee, director or
consultant of the Company or any Affiliate.

         11. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE "FOR CAUSE". Except as otherwise
provided in the pertinent Option Agreement, the following rules apply if the
Participant's service (whether as an employee, director or consultant) with the
Company or an Affiliate is terminated "for cause" prior to the time that all his
or her outstanding Options have been exercised:

         a. All outstanding and unexercised Options as of the time the
Participant is notified his or her service is terminated "for cause" will
immediately be forfeited.

         b. For purposes of this Plan, "cause" shall include (and is not limited
to) dishonesty with respect to the Company or any Affiliate, insubordination,
substantial malfeasance or non-feasance of duty, unauthorized disclosure of
confidential information, and conduct substantially prejudicial to the business
of the Company or any Affiliate. The determination of the Administrator as to
the existence of "cause" will be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.

         c. "Cause" is not limited to events which have occurred prior to a
Participant's termination of service, nor is it necessary that the
Administrator's finding of "cause" occur prior to termination. If the
Administrator determines, subsequent to a Participant's termination of service
but prior to the exercise of an Option, that either prior or subsequent to the
Participant's termination the Participant engaged in conduct which would
constitute "cause," then the right to exercise any Option is forfeited.

         d. Any definition in an agreement between the Participant and the
Company or an Affiliate, which contains a conflicting definition of "cause" for
termination and which is in effect at the time of such termination, shall
supersede the definition in this Plan with respect to such Participant.

         12. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR DISABILITY. Except as
otherwise provided in the pertinent Option Agreement, a Participant who ceases
to be an employee, director or consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate by
reason of Disability may exercise any Option granted to such Participant:

         a. To the extent exercisable but not exercised on the date of
Disability; and

         b. In the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to
the extent of a pro rata portion of any additional rights as would have accrued
had the Participant not become Disabled prior to the end of the accrual period
which next ends following the date of Disability. The proration shall be based
upon the number of days of such accrual period prior to the date of Disability.

         A Disabled Participant may exercise such rights only within a period of
not more than one (1) year after the date that the Participant became Disabled,
notwithstanding that the Participant might have been able to exercise the Option
as to some or all of the Shares on a later date if the Participant had not
become disabled and had continued to be an employee, director or consultant or,
if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option.

         The Administrator shall make the determination both of whether
Disability has occurred and the date of its occurrence (unless a procedure for
such determination is set forth in another agreement between the Company and
such Participant, in which case such procedure shall be used for such
determination). If requested, the Participant shall be examined by a physician
selected or approved by the Administrator, the cost of which examination shall
be paid for by the Company.

         13. EFFECT OF DEATH WHILE AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT. Except
as otherwise provided in the pertinent Option Agreement, in the event of the
death of a Participant while the Participant is an employee, director or
consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate, such Option may be exercised by
the Participant's Survivors:

         a. To the extent exercisable but not exercised on the date of death;
and

                                       6



         b. In the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to
the extent of a pro rata portion of any additional rights which would have
accrued had the Participant not died prior to the end of the accrual period
which next ends following the date of death. The proration shall be based upon
the number of days of such accrual period prior to the Participant's death.

         If the Participant's Survivors wish to exercise the Option, they must
take all necessary steps to exercise the Option within one (1) year after the
date of death of such Participant, notwithstanding that the decedent might have
been able to exercise the Option as to some or all of the Shares on a later date
if he or she had not died and had continued to be an employee, director or
consultant or, if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option.

         14. PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT. Unless the offering and sale of the Shares
to be issued upon the particular exercise of an Option shall have been
effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as now in force or
hereafter amended (the "1933 Act"), the Company shall be under no obligation to
issue the Shares covered by such exercise unless and until the following
conditions have been fulfilled:

         a. The person(s) who exercise(s) such Option shall warrant to the
Company, prior to the receipt of such Shares, that such person(s) are acquiring
such Shares for their own respective accounts, for investment, and not with a
view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any such Shares, in
which event the person(s) acquiring such Shares shall be bound by the provisions
of the following legend which shall be endorsed upon the certificate(s)
evidencing their Shares issued pursuant to such exercise or such grant:

         "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR
         INVESTMENT AND THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED BY ANY
         PERSON, INCLUDING A PLEDGEE, UNLESS (1) EITHER (A) A REGISTRATION
         STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SHARES SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UNDER THE
         SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) THE COMPANY SHALL HAVE
         RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT AN EXEMPTION
         FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT IS THEN AVAILABLE, AND (2) THERE SHALL
         HAVE BEEN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS."

         b. At the discretion of the Administrator, the Company shall have
received an opinion of its counsel that the Shares may be issued upon such
particular exercise in compliance with the 1933 Act without registration
thereunder.

         15. DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY. Upon the dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, all Options granted under this Plan which as of such
date shall not have been exercised will terminate and become null and void;
provided, however, that if the rights of a Participant or a Participant's
Survivors have not otherwise terminated and expired, the Participant or the
Participant's Survivors will have the right immediately prior to such
dissolution or liquidation to exercise any Option to the extent that the Option
is exercisable as of the date immediately prior to such dissolution or
liquidation.

         16. ADJUSTMENTS. Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, a
Participant's rights with respect to any Option granted to him or her hereunder
which has not previously been exercised in full shall be adjusted as hereinafter
provided, unless otherwise specifically provided in the pertinent Option
Agreement:

         A. STOCK DIVIDENDS AND STOCK SPLITS. If the shares of Common Stock
shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if
the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend on its
outstanding Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon
the exercise of such Option shall be appropriately increased or decreased
proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the purchase price
per share to reflect such subdivision, combination or stock dividend

         B. CONSOLIDATIONS OR MERGERS. If the Company is to be consolidated with
or acquired by another entity in a merger, sale of all or substantially all of
the Company's assets or otherwise (an "Acquisition"), the Administrator or the
board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company
hereunder (the "Successor Board"), shall, as to outstanding Options, either (i)
make appropriate provision for the continuation of

                                       7



such Options by substituting on an equitable basis for the Shares then subject
to such Options either the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding
shares of Common Stock in connection with the Acquisition or securities of any
successor or acquiring entity; or (ii) upon written notice to the Participants,
provide that all Options must be exercised (either to the extent then
exercisable or, at the discretion of the Administrator, all Options being made
fully exercisable for purposes of this Subparagraph), within a specified number
of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period the Options shall
terminate; or (iii) terminate all Options in exchange for a cash payment equal
to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to such Options
(either to the extent then exercisable or, at the discretion of the
Administrator, all Options being made fully exercisable for purposes of this
Subparagraph) over the exercise price thereof.

         C. RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION. In the event of a
recapitalization or reorganization of the Company (other than a transaction
described in Subparagraph B above) pursuant to which securities of the Company
or of another corporation are issued with respect to the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, a Participant upon exercising an Option shall be entitled to
receive for the purchase price paid upon such exercise the securities which
would have been received if such Option had been exercised prior to such
recapitalization or reorganization.

         D. MODIFICATION OF ISOS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments
made pursuant to Subparagraph A, B or C with respect to ISOs shall be made only
after the Administrator, after consulting with counsel for the Company,
determines whether such adjustments would constitute a "modification" of such
ISOs (as that term is defined in Section 424(h) of the Code) or would cause any
adverse tax consequences for the holders of such ISOs. If the Administrator
determines that such adjustments made with respect to ISOs would constitute a
modification of such ISOs, it may refrain from making such adjustments, unless
the holder of an ISO specifically requests in writing that such adjustment be
made and such writing indicates that the holder has full knowledge of the
consequences of such "modification" on his or her income tax treatment with
respect to the ISO.

         17. ISSUANCES OF SECURITIES. 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
subject to Options. Except as expressly provided herein, no adjustments shall be
made for dividends paid in cash or in property (including without limitation,
securities) of the Company.

         18. FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares shall be issued under the
Plan and the person exercising such right shall receive from the Company cash in
lieu of such fractional shares equal to the Fair Market Value thereof.

         19. CONVERSION OF ISOS INTO NON-QUALIFIED OPTIONS; TERMINATION OF ISOS.
The Administrator, at the written request of any Participant, may in its
discretion take such actions as may be necessary to convert such Participant's
ISOs (or any portions thereof) that have not been exercised on the date of
conversion into Non-Qualified Options at any time prior to the expiration of
such ISOs, regardless of whether the Participant is an employee of the Company
or an Affiliate at the time of such conversion. Such actions may include, but
not be limited to, extending the exercise period or reducing the exercise price
of the appropriate installments of such Options. At the time of such conversion,
the Administrator (with the consent of the Participant) may impose such
conditions on the exercise of the resulting Non-Qualified Options as the
Administrator in its discretion may determine, provided that such conditions
shall not be inconsistent with this Plan. Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to
give any Participant the right to have such Participant's ISOs converted into
Non-Qualified Options, and no such conversion shall occur until and unless the
Administrator takes appropriate action. The Administrator, with the consent of
the Participant, may also terminate any portion of any ISO that has not been
exercised at the time of such conversion.

         20. WITHHOLDING. In the event that any federal, state, or local income
taxes, employment taxes, Federal Insurance Contributions Act ("FICA")
withholdings or other amounts are required by applicable law or governmental
regulation to be withheld from the Participant's salary, wages or other
remuneration in connection with the exercise of an Option or a Disqualifying
Disposition (as defined in Paragraph 21), the Company may withhold from the
Participant's compensation, if any, or may require that the Participant advance
in cash to the Company, or to any Affiliate of the Company which employs or
employed the Participant, the amount of such withholdings unless a different
withholding arrangement, including the use of shares of the Company's Common

                                       8


Stock or a promissory note, is authorized by the Administrator (and permitted by
law). For purposes hereof, the fair market value of the shares withheld for
purposes of payroll withholding shall be determined in the manner provided in
Paragraph 1 above, as of the most recent practicable date prior to the date of
exercise. If the fair market value of the shares withheld is less than the
amount of payroll withholdings required, the Participant may be required to
advance the difference in cash to the Company or the Affiliate employer. The
Administrator in its discretion may condition the exercise of an Option for less
than the then Fair Market Value on the Participant's payment of such additional
withholding.

         21. NOTICE TO COMPANY OF DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION. Each Key Employee
who receives an ISO must agree to notify the Company in writing immediately
after the Key Employee makes a Disqualifying Disposition of any shares acquired
pursuant to the exercise of an ISO. A Disqualifying Disposition is any
disposition (including any sale) of such shares before the later of (a) two
years after the date the Key Employee was granted the ISO, or (b) one year after
the date the Key Employee acquired Shares by exercising the ISO. If the Key
Employee has died before such stock is sold, these holding period requirements
do not apply and no Disqualifying Disposition can occur thereafter.

         22. TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan will terminate on the date which
is ten (10) years from the earlier of the date of its adoption and the date of
its approval by the shareholders of the Company. The Plan may be terminated at
an earlier date by vote of the shareholders of the Company; provided, however,
that any such earlier termination shall not affect any Option Agreements
executed prior to the effective date of such termination.

         23. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND AGREEMENTS. The Plan may be amended by
the shareholders of the Company. The Plan may also be amended by the
Administrator, including, without limitation, to the extent necessary to qualify
any or all outstanding Options granted under the Plan or Options to be granted
under the Plan for favorable federal income tax treatment (including deferral of
taxation upon exercise) as may be afforded incentive stock options under Section
422 of the Code, and to the extent necessary to qualify the shares issuable upon
exercise of any outstanding Options granted, or Options to be granted, under the
Plan for listing on any national securities exchange or quotation in any
national automated quotation system of securities dealers. Any amendment
approved by the Administrator which the Administrator determines is of a scope
that requires shareholder approval shall be subject to obtaining such
shareholder approval. Any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not,
without the consent of a Participant, adversely affect his or her rights under
an Option previously granted to him or her. With the consent of the Participant
affected, the Administrator may amend outstanding Option Agreements in a manner
which may be adverse to the Participant but which is not inconsistent with the
Plan. In the discretion of the Administrator, outstanding Option Agreements may
be amended by the Administrator in a manner which is not adverse to the
Participant.

         24. EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP. Nothing in this Plan or any
Option Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Company or an Affiliate from
terminating the employment, consultancy or director status of a Participant, nor
to prevent a Participant from terminating his or her own employment, consultancy
or director status or to give any Participant a right to be retained in
employment or other service by the Company or any Affiliate for any period of
time.

         25. GOVERNING LAW. This Plan shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with the law of the State of Delaware.

                                       9


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8) pertaining to options assumed by Incyte Genomics, Inc. originally granted
under the Proteome, Inc. 1998 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Option
Plan of our report dated January 24, 2000 with respect to the consolidated
financial statements and schedule of Incyte Genomics, Inc. (formerly Incyte
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year
ended December 31, 1999, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                   /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Palo Alto, California
January 26, 2001


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of Incyte Genomics, Inc. of our report dated January 17,
2000 relating to the financial statements of diaDexus LLC, which appears in
Incyte Genomics, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1999.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Jose, California
January 26, 2001