TRIANGLE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                       NOTICE OF GRANT OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
                                AUTOMATIC STOCK OPTION


          Notice is hereby given of the following option grant (the "Option") to
purchase shares of the Common Stock of Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the
"Corporation"):

          OPTIONEE:                                                             
                     -----------------------------------------------------------

          GRANT DATE:                                                           
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          EXERCISE PRICE:  $                                           per share
                             -----------------------------------------

          NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES:                           shares
                                    ------------------------

          EXPIRATION DATE:                                                      
                            ----------------------------------------------------

          TYPE OF OPTION:  Non-Statutory Stock Option

          
          VESTING SCHEDULE:  With respect to automatic stock option grants 
          made on the date the Optionee is first elected or appointed to the 
          Board of Directors (the "Board"), the Option Shares shall vest and 
          become exercisable with respect to two thousand (2,000) shares on 
          the day the Optionee is first elected or appointed to the Board and 
          with respect to an additional two thousand (2,000) shares on the day 
          immediately preceding the date of each subsequent annual 
          stockholders meeting following the grant date until all of the 
          Option Shares have become vested and exercisable. With respect to 
          automatic stock option grants made on the date the Optionee is 
          reelected to the Board, the Option Shares shall vest and become 
          exercisable with respect to two thousand (2,000) shares on the day 
          immediately preceding the date of each subsequent annual 
          stockholders meeting following the grant date until all of the 
          Option Shares have become vested and exercisable. In no event shall 
          any additional Option Shares vest after Optionee's cessation of 
          Board service.

          Optionee understands and agrees that the Option is granted subject to
and in accordance with the terms of the automatic option grant program under the
Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").  Optionee
further agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan and the terms of the Option
as set forth in the Automatic Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit
A.  A copy of the Plan is available upon request made to the Corporate Secretary
at the Corporation's principal offices.

          NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS.  Nothing in this Notice or in the attached
Automatic Stock Option Agreement or the Plan shall interfere with or otherwise
restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation or the Corporation's
stockholders to remove Optionee from the Board at any time in accordance with
the provisions of applicable law.




          DEFINITIONS.  All capitalized terms in this Notice shall have the
meaning assigned to them in this Notice or in the attached Automatic Stock
Option Agreement.

DATED:                        , 199  
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                                        TRIANGLE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


                                        By:                                     
                                             -----------------------------------

                                        Title:                                  
                                               ---------------------------------


                                             -----------------------------------
                                                          OPTIONEE

                                        Address:                                
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ATTACHMENTS
EXHIBIT A - AUTOMATIC STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


                                          2.




                                      EXHIBIT A

                           AUTOMATIC STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT