EXHIBIT 99.2


                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
      AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


I, Bert W. Hogue, Chief Financial Officer of Epoch Biosciences, Inc. (the
"Company"), certify pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

(1)     the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended
        December 31, 2002 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of
        Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
        78m or 780(d)); and

(2)     the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
        respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
        Company.

Date: March 26, 2003               By: /s/ Bert W. Hogue
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Bert W. Hogue
                                       Vice President and Chief Financial
                                       Officer