SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G (RULE 13d-102) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b) (AMENDMENT NO. ____________ )1 RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $.001 per share - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 766559 10 8 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) Jeff Benjamin, Esq. Novartis Corporation 608 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10020 Telephone: (212) 307-1122 with a copy to: Morton A. Pierce, Esq. Dewey Ballantine LLP 1301 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10019-6092 Telephone: (212) 259-8000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) December 4, 2000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ ] Rule 13d-1(b) [X] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) - ------------------------------ 1 The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). - ----------------------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 766559 10 8 13G PAGE 2 OF 6 PAGES - ----------------------------------------- ------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Novartis Pharma AG - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) |_| (b) |_| - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Switzerland - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF SHARES 5 SOLE VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY 3,428,571 --------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH 0 --------------------------------------------------------- REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER PERSON 3,428,571 --------------------------------------------------------- WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 3,428,571 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES |_| - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 9.5% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER: Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ITEM 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE: 240 East Grand Avenue South San Francisco, California 94080 ITEM 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING: Novartis Pharma AG ITEM 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE: Lichtstrasse 35 CH-4002 Basel Switzerland ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP: Novartis Pharma AG ("Novartis") is a company incorporated under the laws of Switzerland. ITEM 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: Common Stock, par value $.001 per share ITEM 2(e). CUSIP NUMBER: 766559 10 8 Page 3 of 6 ITEM 3. Not Applicable ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP: (a) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED: 3,428,571 (b) PERCENT OF CLASS: 9.5% (c) NUMBER OF SHARES AS TO WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct to vote: 3,428,571 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct to vote: 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 3,428,571 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS: Not Applicable ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON: Not Applicable ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY: Not Applicable ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP: Not Applicable Page 4 of 6 ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP: Not Applicable ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION: By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. Page 5 of 6 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. December 12, 2000 NOVARTIS PHARMA AG By: /s/ A. Egloff ------------------------- Name: Dr. A. Egloff Title: Senior Legal Counsel By: /s/ Joseph E. Mamie ------------------------- Name: Joseph E. Mamie Title: Head Financial Investments Page 6 of 6