1
     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 1997.

                                                    Registration No. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                -----------------


                                    Form S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                -----------------


                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, 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.)

             3174 Porter Drive
           Palo Alto, California                        94304
           (Address of Principal                     (Zip Code)
            Executive Offices)

         INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

             ROY A. WHITFIELD                          
         Chief Executive Officer                       Copy to: 
       Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.               STANTON D. WONG, ESQ.
             3174 Porter Drive                    SALLY BRAMMELL, ESQ.
        Palo Alto, California 94304           Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
              (415) 855-0555                          P.O. Box 7880
       (Name, address and telephone              San Francisco, CA 94120
       number, including area code,                  (415) 983-1000
           of agent for service)

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title of Amount Proposed Maximum Proposed Amount of Securities To To Be Offering Price Maximum Aggregate Registration Be Registered Registered per Share(1) Offering Price(1) Fee(1) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stock, 200,000 shares $63.0625 $12,612,500 $3,822.00 .001 par value - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1), the proposed maximum offering price per share and the registration fee has been computed on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq National Market on July 9, 1997. ----------------- The Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing in accordance with Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 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 DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. The following documents filed by Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement: (1) Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 0-27488) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996; (2) Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 0-27488) for the quarter ended March 31, 1997; and (3) The description of Registrant's Common Stock contained in Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed January 5, 1996 (File No. 0-27488). In addition, all documents subsequently filed by Registrant pursuant to Sections 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. 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, as amended, 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 -2- 3 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. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED. Not applicable. ITEM 8 EXHIBITS. See Index to Exhibits. 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 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; 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 further undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to -3- 4 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- 5 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 July 15, 1997. INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. By 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, Randal W. Scott and Denise M. Gilbert, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her 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 or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her 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 date indicated:
Name Title Date ---- ----- ---- ROY A. WHITFIELD Chief Executive Officer (Principal July 15, 1997 - ---------------------------- Executive Officer) and Director Roy A. Whitfield
-5- 6
Name Title Date ---- ----- ---- Executive Vice President, and Chief DENISE M. GILBERT Financial Officer (Principal July 15, 1997 - ---------------------------- Financial Officer) Denise M. Gilbert JANET L. NIBEL Director of Finance and July 15, 1997 - ---------------------------- Administration (Principal Account- Janet L. Nibel ing Officer) JEFFREY J. COLLINSON Chairman of the Board July 15, 1997 - ---------------------------- Jeffrey J. Collinson BARRY M. BLOOM Director July 15, 1997 - ---------------------------- Barry M. Bloom FREDERICK B. CRAVES Director July 15, 1997 - ---------------------------- Frederick B. Craves JON S. SAXE Director July 15, 1997 - ---------------------------- Jon S. Saxe RANDAL W. SCOTT Director July 15, 1997 - ---------------------------- Randal W. Scott
-6- 7 INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit Sequentially Number Exhibit Numbered Page - ------- ------- ------------- 5.1 Opinion of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP regarding legality of securities to be offered. 10.1 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors. 23.2 Consent of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). 24.1 Power of Attorney (see page 5). -7-
   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1



                [PILLSBURY MADISON & SUTRO LLP LETTERHEAD]



                                           July 15, 1997

Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
3174 Porter Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94304

      Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-8

Gentlemen:

      With reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, relating to
200,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Company's
1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"), it is our opinion that such
shares of the Common Stock of the Company, when issued and sold in accordance
with the Plan will be legally 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 MADISON & SUTRO LLP

   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1


                          INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                       1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN


         The following constitute the provisions of the 1997 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan of Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

         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 Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and
any Designated Subsidiary of the Company.

                 (e)      "Compensation" shall mean all cash salary, wages,
commissions and bonuses, but shall not include any imputed income or income
arising from the exercise or disposition of equity 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.
   2
                 (i)      "Exercise Date" shall mean the last Trading Day of
each Purchase 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 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 on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Administrator 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 Periods" shall mean the periods of
approximately twenty-four (24) months during which an option granted pursuant
to the Plan may be exercised, commencing on the first Trading Day on or after
May 1 and November 1 of each year and terminating on the last Trading Day in
the periods ending twenty-four months later; provided, however, that the first
Offering Period under the Plan shall commence with the first Trading Day on or
after August 1, 1997 and shall end on the last Trading Day in the period ending
October 31, 1999, and the second Offering Period under the Plan shall commence
on the first Trading Day on or after May 1, 1998.  The duration and timing of
Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.

                 (l)      "Plan" shall mean this 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)      "Purchase Period" shall mean the approximately six
month period commencing after one Exercise Date and ending with the next
Exercise Date, except that the first Purchase Period of any Offering Period
shall commence on the Enrollment Date and end with the next Exercise Date;
provided, however that the first Purchase Period under the first Offering
Period under the Plan shall mean the approximately nine month period commencing
on the first Trading Day on or after August 1, 1997 and ending on the last
Trading Day in the period ending April 30, 1998.


                                      -2-
   3
                 (o)      "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.

                 (p)      "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.

                 (q)      "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 has been employed by the Company for
one year or more 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 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, overlapping Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing
on the first Trading Day on or after May 1 and November 1 each year, or on such
other dates as the Board shall determine, and continuing thereafter until
terminated in accordance with Section 19 hereof; provided, however, that the
first Offering Period under the Plan shall commence with the first Trading Day
on or after August 1, 1997 and shall end on the last Trading Day in the period
ending October 31, 1999, and the second Offering Period under the Plan shall
commence on the first Trading Day on or after May 1, 1998.   The Board or a
committee thereof shall have the power to change the duration of Offering
Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) and Purchase Periods
thereunder with respect to future offerings without shareholder 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.





                                      -3-
   4
         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 such percentage of Compensation 
which he or she specifies prior to the commencement of an 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.  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 a Purchase Period.  Payroll deductions shall recommence at the rate
provided in such participant's subscription agreement at the beginning of the
first Purchase 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,





                                      -4-
   5
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 each Exercise Date during 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 Purchase
Period more than two thousand (2,000) shares of the Company's Common Stock
(subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 18) on the Enrollment Date, 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 Purchase Period or 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, a share certificate or certificates
representing the number of shares so purchased shall be delivered to a
brokerage account designated by the Company and kept in such account pursuant
to a subscription agreement between each participant and the Company and 
subject to the conditions described therein which may include a requirement 
that shares be held and not sold for certain time periods, or the Company shall
establish some other means for such participants to receive ownership of the 
shares.

         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





                                      -5-
   6
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 two
hundred thousand (200,000) shares, subject to adjustment upon changes in
capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 18 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 purchased by  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.





                                      -6-
   7
         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.     Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution,
                 Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale.

                 (a)      Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required
action by the shareholders of the Company, the Reserves, the maximum number of
shares each participant may purchase each Purchase Period (pursuant to Section
7), as well as the price per share and the number of shares of





                                      -7-
   8
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 Periods shall
terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless
otherwise provided by the Board.

                 (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, the Plan shall terminate upon the
date of the consummation of such transaction unless the plan of merger,
consolidation or reorganization provides otherwise, and any Purchase Periods
then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the "New
Exercise Date") and any Offering Periods then in progress shall end on 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.  The Plan shall in no
event be construed to restrict the Company's right to undertake liquidation,
dissolution, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.

         19.     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
18 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 shareholders.  Except as provided in
Section 18 hereof, no 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 successor rule or
provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule), the
Company shall obtain shareholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree
as required.





                                      -8-
   9
                 (b)      Without shareholder 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.

         20.     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.

         21.     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.

         22.     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 shareholders of the Company.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten
(10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 19 hereof.

         23.     Automatic Transfer to Low Price Offering Period.  To the
extent permitted by any applicable laws, regulations, or stock exchange rules,
if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on any Exercise Date in an
Offering Period is lower than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the
Enrollment Date of such Offering Period, then all participants in such Offering
Period shall be automatically withdrawn from such Offering Period immediately
after the exercise of their option on such Exercise Date and automatically
re-enrolled in the immediately following Offering Period as of the first day
thereof.





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                                                                    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 Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan of our report dated February 7, 1997, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. included in
its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1996, filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                           /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Palo Alto, California
July 14, 1997