KOSAN BIOSCIENCES INCORPORATED

 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN AMENDED AS OF OCTOBER 1998, OCTOBER 1999 AND MARCH 2000

         1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The purposes of this Stock Option Plan are to
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees and Consultants of
the Company and its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of the Company's
business. Options granted under the Plan may be incentive stock options (as
defined under Section 422 of the Code) or nonstatutory stock options, as
determined by the Administrator at the time of grant of an option and subject to
the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.

         2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

                  (a) "ADMINISTRATOR" means the Board or any of its Committees
appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

                  (b) "APPLICABLE LAWS" means the legal requirements relating to
the administration of stock option plans under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S.
federal and state securities laws, the Code and the applicable laws of any
foreign country or jurisdiction.

                  (c) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  (d) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

                  (e) "COMMITTEE" means a Committee appointed by the Board of
Directors in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

                  (f) "COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock of the Company.

                  (g)      "COMPANY" means Kosan Biosciences Incorporated

                  (h) "CONSULTANT" means any person who is engaged by the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to render consulting or advisory services
and is compensated for such services, and any director of the Company whether
compensated for such services or not.

                  (i) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT" means
that the employment or consulting relationship with the Company, any Parent, or
Subsidiary is not interrupted or terminated. Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of
absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the
Company or between the Company, its Parent, any Subsidiary, or any successor. A
leave of absence approved by the Company shall include sick leave, military
leave, or any other personal leave approved by an authorized representative of
the Company. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed
90 days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such



leave is guaranteed by statute or contract, including Company policies. If
reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is
not so guaranteed, on the 181st day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option
held by the Optionee shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option
and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

                  (j) "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including Officers and
directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
The payment of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to
constitute "employment" by the Company.

                  (k) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

                  (l) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of
Common Stock determined as follows:

                           (i) 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 for
the last market trading day prior to the time of determination, as reported in
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as the Administrator deems
reliable;

                           (ii) 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 between the high bid and low asked prices for the
Common Stock on the last market trading day prior to the day of determination,
or;

                           (iii) In the absence of an established market for the
Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by
the Administrator.

                  (m) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to
qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code.

                  (n) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended
to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

                  (o) "OFFICER" means a person who is an officer of the Company
within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  (p) "OPTION" means a stock option granted pursuant to the
Plan.

                  (q) "OPTIONED STOCK" means the Common Stock subject to an
Option.

                  (r) "OPTIONEE" means an Employee or Consultant who receives an
Option.

                  (s) "PARENT" means a "parent corporation", whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

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                  (t) "PLAN" means this 1996 Stock Option Plan.

                  (u) "SECTION 16(b)" means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

                  (v) "SHARE" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 11 below.

                  (w) "SUBSIDIARY" means a "subsidiary corporation", whether now
or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

         3. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and
sold under the Plan is 1,700,000, Shares, plus an annual increase to be added on
January 1 of each year (beginning in 2001), equal to the lesser of (i) 375,000
Shares, (ii) 5% of the outstanding Shares on such date or (iii) such lesser
number of Shares as approved by the Board of Directors. The Shares may be
authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

         If an Option expires or becomes unexercisable without having been
exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an option exchange program, the
unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall become available for future
grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated); PROVIDED,
however, that Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan shall not be
returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution
under the Plan, except that if unvested Shares are repurchased by the Company at
their original purchase price, and the original purchaser of such Shares did not
receive any benefits of ownership of such Shares, such Shares shall become
available for future grant under the Plan. For purposes of the preceding
sentence, voting rights shall not be considered a benefit of Share ownership.

         4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

                  (a) INITIAL PLAN PROCEDURE. Prior to the date, if any, upon
which the Company becomes subject to the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be
administered by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board.

                  (b) PLAN PROCEDURE AFTER THE DATE, IF ANY, UPON WHICH THE
COMPANY BECOMES SUBJECT TO THE EXCHANGE ACT.

                           (i) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO DIRECTORS AND
OFFICERS. With respect to grants of Options to Employees who are also Officers
or directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board if
the Board may administer the Plan in compliance with the rules under Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto ("Rule 16b-3")
relating to the disinterested administration of employee benefit plans under
which Section 16(b) exempt discretionary grants and awards of equity securities
are to be made, or (B) a Committee designated by the Board to administer the
Plan, which Committee shall be constituted to comply with the rules under Rule
16b-3 relating to the disinterested administration of employee benefit plans
under which Section 16(b) exempt discretionary grants and awards of equity
securities are to be made. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to
serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. From
time to time the Board may increase the size of the

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Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or
without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill
vacancies, however caused, and remove all members of the Committee and
thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the
rules under Rule 16b-3 relating to the disinterested administration of
employee benefit plans under which Section 16(b) exempt discretionary grants
and awards of equity securities are to be made.

                           (ii) MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES. If permitted by
Rule 16b-3, the Plan may be administered by different bodies with respect to
directors, non-director Officers and Employees who are neither directors nor
Officers.

                           (iii) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO CONSULTANTS AND
OTHER EMPLOYEES. With respect to grants of Options to Employees or Consultants
who are neither directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan shall be
administered by (A) the Board or (B) a committee designated by the Board, which
committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy Applicable Laws.
Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated
capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. From time to time the Board may
increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereof,
remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution
therefor, fill vacancies, however caused, and remove all members of the
Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent
permitted by the Applicable Laws.

                  (c) POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. Subject to the provisions of
the Plan and, in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the
Board to such Committee, and subject to the approval of any relevant
authorities, including the approval, if required, of any stock exchange upon
which the Common Stock is listed, the Administrator shall have the authority, in
its discretion:

                           (i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock, in accordance with Section 2(l) of the Plan;

                           (ii) to select the Consultants and Employees to whom
Options may from time to time be granted hereunder;

                           (iii) to determine whether and to what extent Options
are granted hereunder;

                           (iv) to determine the number of shares of Common
Stock to be covered by each such award granted hereunder;

                           (v) to approve forms of agreement for use under the
Plan;

                           (vi) to determine the terms and conditions of any
award granted hereunder;

                           (vii) to determine whether and under what
circumstances an Option may be settled in cash under subsection 9(f) instead of
Common Stock;

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                           (viii) to reduce the exercise price of any Option to
the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
covered by such Option has declined since the date the Option was granted; and

                           (ix) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan
and awards granted pursuant to the Plan.

                  (d) EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATOR'S DECISION. All decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and
binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any Options.

         5. ELIGIBILITY.

                  (a) Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted to Employees and
Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. An
Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option may, if otherwise
eligible, be granted additional Options.

                  (b) Each Option shall be designated in the written option
agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair
Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under
all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such
Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this
Section 5(b), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order
in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be
determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.

                  (c) The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with
respect to continuation of employment or consulting relationship with the
Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her right or the
Company's right to terminate his or her employment or consulting relationship at
any time, with or without cause.

         6. TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by
the Board of Directors. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years
unless sooner terminated under Section 13 of the Plan.

         7. TERM OF OPTION. The term of each Option shall be the term stated in
the Option Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall be no more than ten
(10) years from the date of grant thereof. However, in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns
stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the
Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter
term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.

                                      -5-



         8. OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.

                  (a) The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued
pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the
Administrator, but shall be subject to the following:

                           (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

                                    (A) granted to an Employee who, at the time
of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than
ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than
110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

                                    (B) granted to any Employee other than an
Employee described in the preceding paragraph, the per Share exercise price
shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant.

                           (ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option

                                    (A) granted to a person who, at the time of
the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of
the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair
Market Value per Share on the date of the grant.

                                    (B) granted to any person, the per Share
exercise price shall be no less than 85% of the Fair Market Value per Share on
the date of grant.

                  (b) The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued
upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined
by the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be
determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of (1) cash, (2)
check, (3) promissory note, (4) other Shares which (x) in the case of Shares
acquired upon exercise of an Option have been owned by the Optionee for more
than six months on the date of surrender and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the
date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to
which said Option shall be exercised, (5) delivery of a properly executed
exercise notice together with such other documentation as the Administrator and
the broker, if applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and
delivery to the Company of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the
exercise price, or (6) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. In
making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the
Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be
reasonably expected to benefit the Company.

         9. EXERCISE OF OPTION.

                  (a) PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE; RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Any
Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such
conditions as determined by the Administrator, including performance criteria
with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee, and

                                     -6-



as shall be permissible under the terms of the Plan, but in no case at a rate
of less than 20% per year over five(5) years from the date the Option is
granted.

         An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

         An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such
exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the
Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the
Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the
Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of any
consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(b) of the Plan.
Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the
Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock
certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any
other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock,
notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to
be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise of the Option. No
adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date
is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in
Section 11 of the Plan.

         Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the
number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the
Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the
Option is exercised.

                  (b) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP. In
the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant (but not in the event of an Optionee's change of status from Employee
to Consultant (in which case an Employee's Incentive Stock Option shall
automatically convert to a Nonstatutory Stock Option on the date three (3)
months and one day from the date of such change of status) or from Consultant to
Employee), such Optionee may, but only within such period of time as is
determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Notice of Grant, of at
least thirty (30) days, with such determination in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option not exceeding three (3) months after the date of such termination
(but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as
set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise his or her Option to the extent
that Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. To
the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of
such termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so
entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

                  (c) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event of termination of an
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of his or
her disability, Optionee may, but only within six (6) months from the date of
such termination (and in no event later than the expiration date of the term of
such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the Option to the
extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination;
provided, however, that if such disability is not a "disability" as such term is
defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option such Incentive Stock Option shall automatically convert to a Nonstatutory
Stock Option one day following the end of the exercise period determined
pursuant to Section 9(b) of the Plan. To the extent that Optionee is not
entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee does
not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time

                                      -7-



specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such
Option shall revert to the Plan.

                  (d) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an
Optionee, the Option may be exercised at any time within six (6) months
following the date of death (but in no event later than the expiration of the
term of such Option as set forth in the Notice of Grant), by the Optionee's
estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest
or inheritance, but only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to
exercise the Option at the date of death. If, at the time of death, the Optionee
was not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall immediately revert to the Plan. If,
after death, the Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to
exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance does not exercise the Option
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares
covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.

                  (e) RULE 16b-3. Options granted to persons subject to Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act must comply with Rule 16b-3 and shall contain such
additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify
for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to
Plan transactions.

                  (f) BUYOUT PROVISIONS. The Administrator may at any time offer
to buy out for a payment in cash or Shares, an Option previously granted, based
on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and
communicate to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made.

         10. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. Options may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the
lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.

         11. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR MERGER.

                  (a) CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. Subject to any required action
by the shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered
by each outstanding Option, and the number of shares of Common Stock which have
been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet
been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or
expiration of an Option, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered
by each such outstanding Option, 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 issued 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
Administrator, 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.

                                      -8-



                  (b) DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify the
Optionee at least fifteen(15) days prior to such proposed action. To the extent
it has not been previously exercised, the Option will terminate immediately
prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

                  (c) MERGER. In the event of a merger of the Company with or
into another corporation, the Option may be assumed or an equivalent option may
be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such
successor corporation. If, in such event, the Option is not assumed or
substituted, the Option shall terminate as of the date of the closing of the
merger. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option shall be considered
assumed if, following the merger, the option confers the right to purchase, for
each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the
merger, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property)
received in the merger by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the
effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of
consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of
the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received
in the merger was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its
Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation,
provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option for
each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option to be solely common stock of
the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per
share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger.

         12. TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS. The date of grant of an Option shall, for
all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination
granting such Option, or such other date as is determined by the Board. Notice
of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an
Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

         13. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

                  (a) AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board may at any time
amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration,
suspension or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of any
Optionee under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In
addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 under
the Exchange Act or with Section 422 of the Code (or any other applicable law or
regulation, including the requirements of the NASD or an established stock
exchange), the Company shall obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment
in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

                  (b) EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. Any such amendment or
termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted, and such
Options shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been
amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and
the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee
and the Company.

         14. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares shall not be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the
issuance and delivery of such

                                      -9-



Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law,
including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Exchange Act, 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 relevant provisions of law.

         15. RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

         The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory
body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to
be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall
relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell
such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

         16. AGREEMENTS. Options shall be evidenced by written agreements in
such form as the Administrator shall approve from time to time.

         17. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or
after the date the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained
in the degree and manner required under Applicable Laws and the rules of any
stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed.

         18. INFORMATION TO OPTIONEES AND PURCHASERS. The Company shall provide
to each Optionee, not less frequently than annually, copies of annual financial
statements. The Company shall also provide such statements to each individual
who acquires Shares pursuant to the Plan while such individual owns such Shares.
The Company shall not be required to provide such statements to key employees
whose duties in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent
information.

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