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Filed Pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(3) and (c)
File No. 333-106942


Prospectus Supplement No. 8
Dated September 14, 2004
To Prospectus Dated July 23, 2003

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
9,583,331 Shares
Common Stock

        This prospectus supplement supplements the prospectus, dated July 23, 2003, of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. relating to the offering and sale by selling stockholders of Rigel (or by donees, pledgees, transferees and other successors in interest that receive such shares as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other non-sale transfer) of 9,583,331 shares of our common stock. This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the prospectus, and is qualified by reference to the prospectus, except to the extent that the information presented herein supercedes the information contained in the prospectus. The term "Selling Stockholders" as used in the prospectus shall be deemed to include the selling stockholders identified in the table below. This prospectus supplement is not complete without, and may not be delivered or utilized except in connection with, the prospectus, including any amendments or supplements thereto.

        Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 1 of the prospectus.

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

        This prospectus supplement is being filed in connection with the distribution of shares held by MPM BioVentures III-QP, L.P., MPM BioVentures III L.P., MPM BioVentures III Parallel Fund L.P., MPM Asset Management Investors 2003 BVIII LLC, and MPM BioVentures III GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG (the "MPM Funds") each identified in the prospectus as a selling stockholder, to their respective partners and members. No additional shares of Rigel common stock are being offered for resale hereunder. Except with respect to directors and officers of Rigel, the MPM Funds and entities that have filed reports pursuant to Section 13(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and statements of beneficial ownership filed pursuant to Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Act, the ownership indicated in the table below is based solely on shares owned by the indicated selling stockholders as a result of a distribution of shares by the MPM Funds on September 13, 2004. The table appearing on pages 16 and 17 of the prospectus under the caption "Selling Stockholders" is supplemented and amended to include the following stockholders in addition to those identified in the prospectus:

 
  Beneficial Ownership
Before Offering

   
  Beneficial Ownership
After Offering

 
Name and Address
of Beneficial Owner***

  Shares
Offered

 
  Shares
  Percent*
  Shares
  Percent*
 
MPM BioVentures III-QP, L.P.(1)
601 Gateway Blvd., Suite 350
South San Francisco, CA 94080
  722,589   3.9 % 722,589   0   3.9 %

MPM BioVentures III L.P.(1)
601 Gateway Blvd., Suite 350
South San Francisco, CA 94080

 

48,585

 

**

 

48,585

 

0

 

**

 
                       


MPM BioVentures III Parallel Fund L.P.(1)
601 Gateway Blvd., Suite 350
South San Francisco, CA 94080

 

21,823

 

**

 

21,823

 

0

 

**

 

MPM Asset Management Investors 2003 BVIII LLC(1)
601 Gateway Blvd., Suite 350
South San Francisco, CA 94080

 

13,990

 

**

 

13,990

 

0

 

**

 

MPM BioVentures III GmbH & Co. Beteiligungs KG(1)
601 Gateway Blvd., Suite 350
South San Francisco, CA 94080

 

61,068

 

**

 

61,068

 

0

 

**

 

A. Segal Holdings

 

2,458

 

**

 

2,458

 

0

 

**

 

AAG Peakham LLC

 

557

 

**

 

557

 

0

 

**

 

Abbott Laboratories

 

24,579

 

**

 

24,579

 

0

 

**

 

AH Investments Limited (Wyeth)

 

12,290

 

**

 

12,290

 

0

 

**

 

Alexandria Equities, LLC

 

6,022

 

**

 

6,022

 

0

 

**

 

Allianz Leben Private Equity Fonds 2001 GmbH

 

24,579

 

**

 

24,579

 

0

 

**

 

Allianz Private Equity Partners GmbH

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Altana AG

 

13,270

 

**

 

13,270

 

0

 

**

 

American Family Mutual Insurance Company

 

12,290

 

**

 

12,290

 

0

 

**

 

Anatolia College

 

307

 

**

 

307

 

0

 

**

 

Ann Arbor Partners, L.P.

 

614

 

**

 

614

 

0

 

**

 

Anthem Insurance Companies

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Auda Advisors

 

3,254

 

**

 

3,254

 

0

 

**

 

Auda Management

 

28,419

 

**

 

28,419

 

0

 

**

 

Auda Securities GmbH

 

6,635

 

**

 

6,635

 

0

 

**

 

Autumn Ventures LLC

 

2,458

 

**

 

2,458

 

0

 

**

 

Ayers, Gregory

 

18

 

**

 

18

 

0

 

**

 

Bank of America Capital Corporation

 

24,579

 

**

 

24,579

 

0

 

**

 

Banque de Luxembourg

 

12,290

 

**

 

12,290

 

0

 

**

 

BB TRUST under authorized date 2/21/03

 

1,229

 

**

 

1,229

 

0

 

**

 

Bechtle Revocable Trust Dated October 18, 1991

 

1,536

 

**

 

1,536

 

0

 

**

 

Biogen Idec MA, Inc.

 

4,916

 

**

 

4,916

 

0

 

**

 

BioMedical Sciences Investment Fund Pte Ltd

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

BSC Venture Fund 2001 LLC

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Burda, Hubert

 

1,327

 

**

 

1,327

 

0

 

**

 
                       


Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

 

92,173

 

**

 

92,173

 

0

 

**

 

Carl-Th. Epping GmbH

 

1,327

 

**

 

1,327

 

0

 

**

 

Case Western Reserve University

 

3,687

 

**

 

3,687

 

0

 

**

 

CDK Associates, L.L.C.

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Chabner, Brandon S.

 

18

 

**

 

18

 

0

 

**

 

Chabner, Bruce Allan

 

18

 

**

 

18

 

0

 

**

 

China Development Industrial Bank Inc.

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Comerica Capital Advisors Incorporated

 

614

 

**

 

614

 

0

 

**

 

Commerce and Industry Insurance Company by AIG Global Investment Corp., its Investment Advisor

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Daley, George Q.

 

177

 

**

 

177

 

0

 

**

 

Danske Private Equity Partners II (USD) K/S

 

30,724

 

**

 

30,724

 

0

 

**

 

Danske Private Equity Partners K/S

 

43,014

 

**

 

43,014

 

0

 

**

 

Dombkowski, Ashley

 

15

 

**

 

15

 

0

 

**

 

Dottinger/Straubinger Vermogensverwaltung GmbH

 

20,701

 

**

 

20,701

 

0

 

**

 

Erickson, Thomas J.

 

461

 

**

 

461

 

0

 

**

 

Evnin, Anthony B.

 

1,229

 

**

 

1,229

 

0

 

**

 

Evnin, Luke

 

139,895

 

**

 

139,895

 

0

 

**

 

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

 

7,374

 

**

 

7,374

 

0

 

**

 

Fiduciary Trust Co., Trustee u/a 4/23/93

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Fiduciary Trust Company, Trustee u/a 10/9/91

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Foley, Todd

 

25

 

**

 

25

 

0

 

**

 

Forbes Jr., John G.

 

184

 

**

 

184

 

0

 

**

 

Gadicke, Ansbert

 

133,836

 

**

 

133,836

 

0

 

**

 

Galakatos, Nicholas

 

56,973

 

**

 

56,973

 

0

 

**

 

General Electric Capital Corporation

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Genzyme Corporation

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Gollamudi, Raj L.

 

246

 

**

 

246

 

0

 

**

 

Greene, William

 

88

 

**

 

88

 

0

 

**

 

GS PEP 1999 Manager Fund Technology Holdings, LLC

 

695

 

**

 

695

 

0

 

**

 

GS PEP Technology Fund 2000 Offshore Holdings, L.P.

 

9,532

 

**

 

9,532

 

0

 

**

 

GS PEP Technology Fund 2000, L.P.

 

24,153

 

**

 

24,153

 

0

 

**

 
                       


GS Private Equity Partners 2000—Manager Fund L.P.

 

6,698

 

**

 

6,698

 

0

 

**

 

GS Private Equity Partners 2000 Offshore Holdings, LP

 

6,071

 

**

 

6,071

 

0

 

**

 

GS Private Equity Partners 2000, LP

 

17,955

 

**

 

17,955

 

0

 

**

 

GS Private Equity Partners 2002—Manager Fund, LP

 

6,391

 

**

 

6,391

 

0

 

**

 

GS Private Equity Partners 2002 Employee Fund, LP

 

1,708

 

**

 

1,708

 

0

 

**

 

GS Private Equity Partners 2002 Offshore Holdings, LP

 

14,612

 

**

 

14,612

 

0

 

**

 

GS Private Equity Partners 2002, LP

 

3,650

 

**

 

3,650

 

0

 

**

 

Haas, Sylvia

 

1,327

 

**

 

1,327

 

0

 

**

 

HAPEP II Holding GmbH

 

13,270

 

**

 

13,270

 

0

 

**

 

Henner, Dennis(2)

 

13,918

 

**

 

13,918

 

0

 

**

 

Henner Irrevocable Trust

 

3,335

 

**

 

1,766

 

1,569

 

**

 

Henney, Jane

 

50

 

**

 

50

 

0

 

**

 

Henzler, Herbert

 

1,327

 

**

 

1,327

 

0

 

**

 

HFI Private Equity Ltd.

 

12,290

 

**

 

12,290

 

0

 

**

 

Hosang, Markus

 

71

 

**

 

71

 

0

 

**

 

Hunter Portsmouth, LLC

 

1,229

 

**

 

1,229

 

0

 

**

 

ITOCHU Corporation

 

33,501

 

**

 

33,501

 

0

 

**

 

Jax Partners

 

2,950

 

**

 

2,950

 

0

 

**

 

Jovan, Morana

 

707

 

**

 

707

 

0

 

**

 

K Investments IV, LLC

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Knightsbridge Integrated Holdings V, LP

 

18,435

 

**

 

18,435

 

0

 

**

 

Kowloon Ltd.

 

3,687

 

**

 

3,687

 

0

 

**

 

Kucherlapati, Raju

 

246

 

**

 

246

 

0

 

**

 

Langton Ltd.

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Legacy I, LLC

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Legacy Venture II, LLC

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Liptak, Robert

 

101

 

**

 

101

 

0

 

**

 

Maassen, Hans Peter

 

2,322

 

**

 

2,322

 

0

 

**

 

Maraganore, John

 

246

 

**

 

246

 

0

 

**

 

Mascioli, Ed

 

141

 

**

 

141

 

0

 

**

 
                       


Merck & Co., Inc.

 

24,579

 

**

 

24,579

 

0

 

**

 

Neugebauer, Klaus

 

2,654

 

**

 

2,654

 

0

 

**

 

Newtech International Limited

 

24,579

 

**

 

24,579

 

0

 

**

 

Next Chapter Holdings, LP

 

614

 

**

 

614

 

0

 

**

 

Nippon Life Insurance Company

 

24,579

 

**

 

24,579

 

0

 

**

 

Nipponkoa Insurance Co., Ltd.

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Nunn, Jake

 

126

 

**

 

126

 

0

 

**

 

Old Westbury Private Equity Fund 2001, LLC (Series A)

 

4,701

 

**

 

4,701

 

0

 

**

 

Old Westbury Private Equity Fund 2001, LLC (Series B)

 

1,444

 

**

 

1,444

 

0

 

**

 

Oscar L. Tang Grantor Trust

 

246

 

**

 

246

 

0

 

**

 

Overbrook Limited Partnership

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Paster, Anne-Mari

 

18

 

**

 

18

 

0

 

**

 

Peter E. and Miriam L. Haas, CPWROS

 

2,458

 

**

 

2,458

 

0

 

**

 

Phillip W. Moffitt Revocable Trust

 

614

 

**

 

614

 

0

 

**

 

Potts, John

 

505

 

**

 

505

 

0

 

**

 

Prince Holdings, Inc.

 

1,843

 

**

 

1,843

 

0

 

**

 

ProSA-Feuer Beteiligungsgesellschaft der Westfälischen Provinzial-Feuersozietät

 

4,645

 

**

 

4,645

 

0

 

**

 

ProSA-Leben Beteiligungsgesellschaft der Westfälischen Provinzial-Lebensversicherungsanstalt

 

8,626

 

**

 

8,626

 

0

 

**

 

Puren Elisabeth

 

614

 

**

 

614

 

0

 

**

 

Rinconada LLC

 

1,229

 

**

 

1,229

 

0

 

**

 

Rivercoast & Co. (State Treasurer of the State of Michigan, Custodian of the Michigan Public School Employees' Retirement System, State Employees' Retirement System, and Michigan State Police Retirement System)

 

30,724

 

**

 

30,724

 

0

 

**

 

Rose Nominees Limited a/c 29977

 

4,916

 

**

 

4,916

 

0

 

**

 

Rosenzweig, Anne L.

 

18

 

**

 

18

 

0

 

**

 

Scolnick, Edward

 

1,766

 

**

 

1,766

 

0

 

**

 

Scottish Widows Investment Partnership Limited

 

18,435

 

**

 

18,435

 

0

 

**

 

Seizinger, Bernd R.

 

133

 

**

 

133

 

0

 

**

 

Selby, Norman C.

 

614

 

**

 

614

 

0

 

**

 

Shiosaki, Kazumi

 

177

 

**

 

177

 

0

 

**

 
                       


Shiseido Co., Ltd.

 

5,025

 

**

 

5,025

 

0

 

**

 

Sieghold, Gralf

 

1,327

 

**

 

1,327

 

0

 

**

 

Silver Aggressive Growth Fund, LP

 

8,603

 

**

 

8,603

 

0

 

**

 

Simon, Nicholas III(3)

 

14,956

 

**

 

14,956

 

0

 

**

 

Singer, David B.

 

123

 

**

 

123

 

0

 

**

 

SRB Ruby Trust

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

State—Boston Retirement System

 

12,290

 

**

 

12,290

 

0

 

**

 

Steiner, Michael

 

19,302

 

**

 

19,302

 

0

 

**

 

Steinmetz, Michael

 

87,164

 

**

 

87,164

 

0

 

**

 

Stephen J. Bergman Revocable Trust dated 1/22/99

 

14

 

**

 

14

 

0

 

**

 

Stone Street PEP Technology Fund 2000, L.P.

 

8,635

 

**

 

8,635

 

0

 

**

 

SunAmerica Investments Inc.

 

18,435

 

**

 

18,435

 

0

 

**

 

Surfboard & Co. (California Emerging Ventures II, LLC)

 

61,449

 

**

 

61,449

 

0

 

**

 

SVB Strategic Investors, LLC

 

9,217

 

**

 

9,217

 

0

 

**

 

SWAN Private Equity Verwaltungs GmbH

 

3,981

 

**

 

3,981

 

0

 

**

 

Tang Family Trust BTCL Article V Oscar Trust

 

4,670

 

**

 

4,670

 

0

 

**

 

Tang, Oscar L.

 

492

 

**

 

492

 

0

 

**

 

Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America

 

49,159

 

**

 

49,159

 

0

 

**

 

Technopreneur Investment Pte Ltd

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Tepper, Robert I.

 

307

 

**

 

307

 

0

 

**

 

The Bank of New York as Trustee for the Non-Union Life VEBA Master Trust of KeySpan Corporation

 

922

 

**

 

922

 

0

 

**

 

The Bank of New York for the Pension Master Trust of KeySpan Corporation

 

20,585

 

**

 

20,585

 

0

 

**

 

The Bank of New York as Trustee for the Union VEBA Master Trust of KeySpan Corporation

 

3,072

 

**

 

3,072

 

0

 

**

 

The Bernard Rosenzweig Revocable Trust UA 1-26-93

 

18

 

**

 

18

 

0

 

**

 

The John Merck Fund

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

The Kresge Foundation

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

The Paul B. Kopperl 1997 Trust

 

1,229

 

**

 

1,229

 

0

 

**

 

The Plum Coulee Partnership

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

The St. James Trust Company Ltd.

 

6,759

 

**

 

6,759

 

0

 

**

 
                       


The Tang Fund

 

737

 

**

 

737

 

0

 

**

 

Todd, Karla

 

1,628

 

**

 

1,628

 

0

 

**

 

Trust dated 12/19/1966 f/b/o Shirley S. Katzenbach #1

 

3,687

 

**

 

3,687

 

0

 

**

 

Trust U/Article Third of L/W/T of Shirley W. Steinman

 

3,687

 

**

 

3,687

 

0

 

**

 

Turner, Stacy

 

71

 

**

 

71

 

0

 

**

 

Valinco Investments Limited

 

1,229

 

**

 

1,229

 

0

 

**

 

Vander Vort, John W.

 

369

 

**

 

369

 

0

 

**

 

Vierte MPC Global Equity GmbH & Co. KG

 

1,327

 

**

 

1,327

 

0

 

**

 

von Emster, Kurt

 

631

 

**

 

631

 

0

 

**

 

von Schoenborn, Albert Graf

 

1,194

 

**

 

1,194

 

0

 

**

 

W.M. Keck Foundation

 

30,724

 

**

 

30,724

 

0

 

**

 

Wachovia Investors, Inc.

 

6,145

 

**

 

6,145

 

0

 

**

 

Walker, Paul

 

141

 

**

 

141

 

0

 

**

 

Walsh, Christopher

 

265

 

**

 

265

 

0

 

**

 

Walton Investment V, LLC

 

3,687

 

**

 

3,687

 

0

 

**

 

Weissman, Carl

 

50

 

**

 

50

 

0

 

**

 

Wheeler, Kurt

 

56,601

 

**

 

56,601

 

0

 

**

 

Wheeler, Mary

 

930

 

**

 

930

 

0

 

**

 

Winkey, Travis J.

 

154

 

**

 

154

 

0

 

**

 

Winterthur Life Einzel (Winterthur Life Insurance Co.)

 

12,289

 

**

 

12,289

 

0

 

**

 

Winterthur Life Kollektiv (Winterthur Life Insurance Co.)

 

12,290

 

**

 

12,290

 

0

 

**

 
   
 
 
 
 
 

Total

 

2,556,696

 

13.8

%

2,555,127

 

1,569

 

**

 
   
 
 
 
 
 

*
Percentage calculations based on 18,466,867 shares of our common stock that were issued and outstanding as of September 13, 2004.

**
Less than 1%

***
Addresses that are not listed are c/o MPM Capital, 601 Gateway Blvd., Suite 350, South San Francisco, CA 94080.

(1)
Includes 722,589 shares of common stock subject to a currently exercisable warrant held by MPM BioVentures III-QP, L.P., 48,585 shares of common stock subject to a currently exercisable warrant held by MPM BioVentures III L.P., 21,823 shares of common stock subject to a currently exercisable warrant held by MPM BioVentures III Parallel Fund L.P., 13,990 shares of common stock subject to a currently exercisable warrant held by MPM Asset Management Investors 2003 BVIII LLC, and 61,068 shares of common stock subject to a currently exercisable warrant held by

(2)
Dr. Henner is a director of Rigel.

(3)
Mr. Simon is a director of Rigel.



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Prospectus Supplement No. 8 Dated September 14, 2004 To Prospectus Dated July 23, 2003