SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    Form 8-K

                                 Current Report
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 16, 2001



                          Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




          Delaware                    0-28150                       33-0525145
(State or Other                (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer
 Jurisdiction of Incorporation)                            Identification No.)



    10555 Science Center Drive, San Diego, California         92121
        (Address of Principal Executive Offices)           (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (858) 658-7600





     This Current Report on Form 8-K is filed by Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., a
Delaware  corporation (the "Company"),  in connection with the matters described
herein.

Item 5.  Other Events.

     On November 16, 2001, the Company announced that it has initiated the first
pivotal Phase III clinical trial of NBI-34060 in approximately 500 patients with
chronic (primary) insomnia. A copy of the Company's press release announcing the
initiation of the clinical trial, dated November 16, 2001, is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Exhibits.

(c)      Exhibits.
          Exhibit
           Number              Description of Exhibit
           ------              ----------------------
             99.1              Press Release, dated November 16, 2001.












                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 16, 2001                     NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, Inc.



                                            By:    /s/ PAUL W. HAWRAN
                                                   --------------------------
                                                   Paul W. Hawran
                                                   Senior Vice President and
                                                   Chief Financial Officer