Exhibit 10.5

                  Warrant  Agreement  dated  June 30,  1998  between  Neurocrine
Biosciences,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  and Jeff Eliot
Margolis ("Holder").

                  Whereas  Holder  and the  Company  are  parties  to a  certain
Sublicense  and  Development  Agreement  dated  June 30,  1998 (the  "Sublicense
Agreement"); and

                  Whereas pursuant to the terms of the Sublicense Agreement, the
Company has agreed to issue Holder  certain  warrants to purchase  shares of the
Company's Common Stock (as defined in section 8.5), with no par value; and

                  Now therefore for good and valuable consideration, the receipt
of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

                  1 Grant.  The Company grants Holder  warrants  ("Warrants") to
purchase up to [***] shares of Common Stock  ("Warrants")  at the Exercise Price
(as defined in section  2.1),  subject to  adjustment  as provided in Section 8,
during the period  commencing  on the start date of the [***] (as defined in the
Sublicense Agreement) and ending five years thereafter (the "Exercise Period").

                  2.       Exercise Price.

                  2.1  The  Exercise  Price  for (a)  [***]  warrants  shall  be
$8.040625 per share of Common Stock representing the Market Price (as defined in
section 2.2) per share of the Common Stock on the date hereof, and for (b) [***]
warrants  shall be the Market Price of the Common Stock on the start date of the
[***].




                  2.2 "Market  Price" shall be the mean of the closing  price of
the Common Stock as quoted on the National  Association  of Securities  Dealers,
Inc. Automated  Quotation System or such other national  securities  exchange or
over-the-counter  market on which the Common Stock is quoted; in the case of the
aforementioned [***] warrants for the 20-day period prior to the date hereof and
in the case of the aforementioned  [***] warrants for the 20-day period prior to
start of the [***].

                  3. Warrant  Certificates.  The warrant certificates  delivered
pursuant to this Warrant  Agreement  shall be in the form set forth in Exhibit A
with such appropriate  changes  required or permitted by this Warrant  Agreement
(the "Warrant Certificates").

                  4.       Exercise of Warrant.

                  4.1 Manner of Exercise.  The Warrants are  exercisable  during
the Exercise  Period (but not  thereafter)  at the Exercise Price and payable to
the Company at its  executive  offices  located at 3050 Science  Park Road,  San
Diego, California 42121, attn: Chief Financial Officer (or such other officer as
designated  to Holder by the Company by notice),  by certified or official  bank
check in New York Clearing  House funds or wire  transfer.  Upon  surrender of a
Warrant Certificate,  submission of an executed election to purchase in the form
set forth in  Exhibit B and  payment  of the  Exercise  Price,  Holder  shall be
entitled to receive a  certificate  for the shares of Common Stock so purchased.
The purchase rights  represented by each Warrant  Certificate are exercisable at
the  option of Holder in whole or in part,  but not as to  fractional  shares of
Common Stock.

                  4.2  Non-Cash  Exercise.  In addition to the method of payment
set forth in  section  4.1 and in lieu of cash  payment,  Holder  shall have the
right to exercise  the Warrants in full or in part by  surrendering  the Warrant
Certificate in the manner specified in section 4.1 in exchange for the number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (x) the number of shares  covered
by the Warrants are being exercised multiplied by (y) a fraction,  the numerator
of  which is the  closing  price of the  Company's  Common  Stock on the date of
exercise less the Exercise  Price,  and the denominator of which is such closing
price.




                  5.       Issuance of Certificates.

                  5.1  Prompt  Issuance.  Upon  exercise  of the  Warrants,  the
certificates  for the shares of Common Stock  underlying  such Warrants shall be
issued within ten business days without charge to the Holder including,  without
limitation,  any tax that may be payable in connection  with the  issuance,  and
such  certificates  shall be  issued  in the name of,  or in such name as may be
directed by, Holder,  provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any
tax payable  solely due to the issuance of a  certificates  in a name other than
Holder.  The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver such certificates
until  Holder pays the amount of such tax to the Company or  establishes  to the
satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

                  5.2 Execution of Certificates.  Stock certificates issued upon
exercise  of the  Warrants  shall be  executed  by  authorized  officers  of the
Company.  The person in whose name any such stock  certificate  is issued shall,
for all  purposes,  be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares
on the date of exercise of the Warrant.

                  5.3 New Warrant Certificate. If Holder purchases less than all
the  shares of Common  Stock  purchasable  under any  Warrant  Certificate,  the
Company  shall cancel the Warrant  Certificate  upon the  surrender  thereof and
shall  execute  and  deliver a new  Warrant  Certificate  of like  tenor for the
balance of the shares of Common Stock not so purchased.

                  6. Transfer of Warrants. Subject to the restrictions set forth
in section 7, Holder may sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise transfer
any rights under this Warrant Agreement,  following notice to the Company in the
form of Exhibit C.




                  7. Registration Under the Securities Act of 1933 .

                  7.1  Neither  the  Warrants  nor the  shares of  Common  Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been registered under the Securities
Act of  1933,  as  amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  or any  applicable  state
securities  or blue sky laws.  Upon  exercise of the  Warrants,  the Company may
cause a legend in  substantially  the form set forth  below to be placed on each
certificate representing the shares of Common Stock issued.

                  The securities  represented by this  certificate have not been
                  registered for public resale under the Securities Act of 1933,
                  as  amended  ("Securities  Act"),  and  may  not  be  offered,
                  transferred  or  sold  except  pursuant  to (i)  an  effective
                  registration  statement  under  the  Securities  Act  and  any
                  applicable  state  securities or blue sky laws,  (ii) Rule 144
                  under  the  Securities  Act (or any  similar  rule  under  the
                  Securities Act relating to the disposition of securities),  to
                  the extent applicable,  together with an opinion of counsel if
                  such opinion,  reasonably satisfactory to issuer's counsel, is
                  that  such  transfer  is  permitted  or  (iii) an  opinion  of
                  counsel, if such opinion,  reasonably satisfactory to issuer's
                  counsel,  is that an  exemption  from  registration  under the
                  Securities Act and any applicable state securities or blue sky
                  laws is available.

                  7.2 Holder  shall have such  registration  rights set forth in
that certain New Registration Rights Agreement dated March 29, 1996.

                  8.       Adjustments to Exercise and Number of Securities.






                  8.1   Recapitalization  and   Reclassifications.   If  upon  a
recapitalization or reclassification the shares of Common Stock shall be changed
into or become  exchangeable for a larger or smaller number of shares, then upon
the  effective  date  thereof  the number of shares of Common  Stock that Holder
shall be entitled to purchase upon exercise of the Warrant shall be increased or
decreased,  as the case may be, in direct proportion to the increase or decrease
in the number of shares of Common  Stock by reason of such  recapitalization  or
reclassification, and the Exercise Price shall be, in the case of an increase in
the number of shares,  proportionately  decreased and, in the case of a decrease
in the number of shares, proportionately increased.

                  8.2  Sale;  Merger;   Consolidation.   Subject  to  the  prior
notification  requirements  of section  13,  upon a  transfer  or sale of all or
substantially  all the assets of the Company or in the case of any consolidation
or merger of the Company  with another  entity  (other than a  consolidation  or
merger that does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding
Common  Stock),  the  transferee,  purchaser or entity  formed by or surviving a
consolidation or merger, as the case may be, shall execute and deliver to Holder
a  supplemental  warrant  agreement  giving Holder the right during the Exercise
Period to receive,  upon exercise of a Warrant, the kind and amount of shares of
stock and/or other securities receivable upon such transfer, sale, consolidation
or  merger,  as the case may be, by a holder  of the  number of shares of Common
Stock for which such Warrant might have been exercised immediately prior to such
transfer,  sale,  consolidation or merger, provided that if such transfer, sale,
consolidation  or  merger  shall  result  in the  shareholders  of  the  Company
receiving cash or publicly traded  securities having a value per share in excess
of the Exercise Price,  this Warrant  Agreement shall terminate if not exercised
prior  to the  closing  date  of such  transaction.  Such  supplemental  warrant
agreement  shall  provide  for  adjustments  that  shall  be  identical  to  the
adjustments provided in this section 8.






                  8.3 Dividends and Other Distributions. If the Company declares
a dividend  payable  in shares of Common  Stock,  Holder  shall be  entitled  to
receive  upon  exercise of the  Warrant,  in addition to the number of shares of
Common Stock as to which the Warrant is  exercised,  such  additional  shares of
Common  Stock as Holder  would have  received  had the  Warrant  been  exercised
immediately prior to such record date for the dividend.  If the Company declares
a dividend of  securities  other than a dividend of Common  Stock,  Holder shall
thereafter  be entitled to  receive,  in addition to the shares of Common  Stock
receivable upon the exercise of such Warrants, such non-Common Stock dividend as
Holder would have received had the Warrant been exercised  immediately  prior to
such  record  date  for the  dividend.  At the  time  of any  such  dividend  or
distribution,  the Company shall make appropriate  reserves to ensure the timely
performance  of the  provisions  of this section 8.3. If the Company  declares a
cash dividend the Holder shall not be entitled to receive any such dividend.

                  8.4      Definition of Common  Stock.  For the purpose of this
Agreement,  the term Common Stock shall mean the following:

                           (a)      the class of stock  designated as Common 
Stock in the Articles of Incorporation of the Company as may be amended,  or any
other class of stock resulting from successive changes or  reclassifications  of
such Common Stock; and
                           (b) if, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
section 8, Holder shall upon exercise of the Warrants become entitled to receive
securities other than Common Stock, wherever appropriate,  all references herein
to shares of Common  Stock  shall be deemed to refer to and  include  such other
securities and thereafter the number of such other  securities  shall be subject
to adjustment from time to time in a manner and upon terms as nearly  equivalent
as practicable to the provisions of this section 8.




                  9.  Issuance of New Warrant  Certificate.  Upon receipt by the
Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of a loss, theft,  destruction
or mutilation of a Warrant  Certificate,  reimbursement by Holder to the Company
of all  incidental  expenses  and,  in the case of loss,  theft or  destruction,
receipt of indemnity or security from Holder reasonably  satisfactory to it, or,
in the case of a mutilated Warrant Certificate,  upon surrender and cancellation
thereof the Company shall make and deliver a replacement  Warrant Certificate to
Holder.

                  10. Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not
be required to issue  certificates  representing  fractions  of shares of Common
Stock upon the exercise of the  Warrants.  The Company  shall have the option to
make  payment  in cash in  respect  of any  fractional  shares  or to round  any
fraction up to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock.

                  11.  Reservation and Listing of Securities.  The Company shall
at all times reserve and keep available out of its  authorized  shares of Common
Stock,  solely for the purpose of issuance  upon the  exercise of the  Warrants,
such  number of shares of Common  Stock as shall be issuable  upon the  exercise
thereof.  The Company  covenants and agrees that,  upon exercise of the Warrants
and payment of the Exercise Price by Holder, all shares of Common Stock issuable
upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid,  non-assessable
and not subject to the preemptive  rights of any stockholder.  The Company shall
use its best  efforts  to cause all  shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon the
exercise of the Warrants to be listed  (subject to official  notice of issuance)
on all  securities  exchanges,  if any,  on which the  Common  Stock may then be
listed and/or quoted.

                  12.   Representations   and   Warranties  of  Holder.   Holder
represents  and warrants to the Company that it is an  accredited  investor,  as
defined in Section 501 of Regulations under the Securities Act, the Warrants are
being acquired solely for Holder's own account,  for investment,  and not with a
view to  resale,  distribution,  assignment,  subdivision  or  fractionalization
thereof,   and  Holder  has  no  present  plans  to  enter  into  any  contract,
undertaking, agreement or arrangement for such purpose.




                  13.  Notice  to  Warrant  Holder.  Nothing  contained  in this
Warrant  Agreement  shall be construed as conferring  upon Holder,  by virtue of
holding  the  Warrants,  the  right to vote,  consent  or  receive  notice  as a
stockholder  in respect of any  meetings  of  stockholders  for the  election of
directors or any other matter,  or as having any rights as a stockholder  of the
Company.  If,  however,  at any time prior to the expiration of the Warrants and
their exercise, any of the following events shall occur:

                  (a) the  Company  shall  take a record of the  holders  of its
shares of Common Stock for the purpose of  entitling  them to receive a dividend
or  distribution  payable  otherwise  than  in  cash,  or  a  cash  dividend  or
distribution  payable  otherwise  than out of current or retained  earnings,  as
indicated by the accounting  treatment  (which  treatment shall be in accordance
with generally accepted accounting  principles) of such dividend or distribution
on the books of the Company; or
                  (b) the  Company  shall offer to all the holders of its Common
Stock any  additional  shares of  capital  stock of the  Company  or  securities
convertible into or exchange for shares of capital stock of the Company,  or any
option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor; or

                  (c)  a  dissolution,   liquidation,   winding  up,   transfer,
consolidation,  or merger) or a sale of all or  substantially  all its property,
assets and business as an entirety shall be proposed;





the  Company  shall give notice of such event at least 15 days prior to the date
fixed as a record  date or the date of the closing  the  transfer  books for the
determination  of the  stockholders  entitled  to such  dividend,  distribution,
convertible or exchangeable  securities or subscription  rights,  or entitled to
vote on such proposed dissolution,  liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice
shall specify such record date or the date of closing the transfer books, as the
case may be.  Failure to give such notice or any defect therein shall not affect
the validity of any action taken in connection  with the  declaration or payment
of any  such  dividend,  or the  issuance  of any  convertible  or  exchangeable
securities,  or  subscription  rights,  options  or  warrants,  or any  proposed
dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale.

                  14.  Notices.  Any notice or demand  pursuant to this  Warrant
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficiently given or made (a)
upon personal delivery;  (b) the day following delivery to a reputable overnight
courier or (c) three days  following  mailing by certified or  registered  mail,
return receipt requested,  postage prepaid, and addressed, until the other party
is notified of another address, as follows:

                  If to the Company:
                  Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
                  3050 Science Park
                  San Diego, California  42121

                  with a copy to:
                  Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                  650 Page Mill Road
                  Palo Alto, California  94304
                  Attn: Michael O'Donnell, Esq.

                  If to Holder:
                  Jeff Eliot Margolis
                  c/o Aurora Capital Corp.
                  425 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York 10022-3506


                  15. Supplements and Amendments.  This Warrant Agreement may be
amended or waived at any time but only by written agreement of the parties.





                  16.  Successors.  All the  covenants  and  provisions  of this
Warrant Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company,
Holder and their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

                  17.  Governing  Law;  Submission  to  Jurisdiction.  (a)  This
Warrant Agreement and each Warrant  Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed
to be a contract made under the laws of Delaware  without giving effect to rules
governing conflicts of law.


                  (b) Any  process  or  summons  to be served  upon  either  the
Company or Holder (at the option of the party  bringing such action,  proceeding
or claim) may be served in accordance  with section 14. The prevailing  party in
any such action or proceeding  shall be entitled to recover from the other party
all its  reasonable  legal costs and expenses  incurred in connection  with such
action or proceeding

                  18. Entire  Agreement;  Modification.  This Warrant  Agreement
contains  the entire  understanding  between  the  parties  with  respect to the
subject matter hereof and may not be modified or amended except by both parties.

                  19.  Severability.  If any provision of this Warrant Agreement
is held to be invalid or  unenforceable,  such  invalidity  or  unenforceability
shall not affect any other provision hereof.

                  20.  Captions.  The caption  headings of the  sections of this
Warrant  Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this
Warrant Agreement and shall be given no substantive effect.






                  21.  Benefits  of  this  Warrant  Agreement.  Nothing  in this
Warrant  Agreement shall be construed to give to any person or entity other than
the Company and Holder any legal or equitable right,  remedy or claim hereunder;
and this Warrant  Agreement  shall be for the sole and exclusive  benefit of the
Company and Holder.

                  22.  Counterparts.  This Warrant  Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts and each of such  counterparts  shall be deemed to be
an original, and such counterparts shall together constitute one instrument.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this  Warrant
Agreement to be duly executed, as of the date first set forth above.




                                         /s/Jeff Eliot Margolis


                                         Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
                                         /s/ Gary Lyons
                                             President and
                                             Chief Executive Officer