FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact at Neurocrine Biosciences
Claudia Jones or Paul Hawran  (858) 658-7600



              NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES AMENDS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

San Diego, CA, January 11, 2002 - Neurocrine  Biosciences,  Inc. (NASDAQ:  NBIX)
today  announced  that its Board of  Directors  has approved an amendment of its
shareholder  rights plan to increase  the initial  exercise  price of the rights
issued pursuant to the plan from $51.75 to $350.00 per right.

The intent of the increase is to preserve the  effectiveness of the plan in view
of the recent  appreciation of the company's  stock price.  No other  amendments
were made to the plan. The  shareholder  rights plan was originally  approved in
April 1997. The Company was advised by Robertson Stephens, Inc.

Neurocrine  Biosciences,  Inc.  is  a  product-based  biopharmaceutical  company
focused on  neurological  and  endocrine  diseases  and  disorders.  Our product
candidates  address  some of the  largest  pharmaceutical  markets  in the world
including insomnia, anxiety,  depression,  malignant brain tumors and peripheral
cancers,  diabetes,   multiple  sclerosis,   irritable  bowel  syndrome,  eating
disorders,  pain,  stroke,  and  certain  female  health  disorders.  Neurocrine
Biosciences,  Inc. news releases are available through the Company's website via
the Internet at http://www.neurocrine.com.

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