AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 14, 2002
                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                 EXELIXIS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                Delaware                       04-3257395
     (State or other jurisdiction of        (I.R.S.  Employer
     incorporation  or  organization)     Identification  Number)

                                 170 Harbor Way
                                  P.O. Box 511
                          South San Francisco, CA 94083
                                 (650) 837-7000
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                           2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                        2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                 2000 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plans)

                                  Glen Y. Sato
                             Chief Financial Officer
                                 Exelixis, Inc.
                                 170 Harbor Way
                                  P.O. Box 511
                          South San Francisco, CA 94083
                                 (650) 837-7000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,of
                               agent for service)

                                   Copies to:
                              ROBERT L. JONES, ESQ.
                               COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                              FIVE PALO ALTO SQUARE
                               3000 EL CAMINO REAL
                           PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94306



                                            CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=======================================================================================================================
                                                                                 PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES      AMOUNT TO BE      PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING    AGGREGATE OFFERING       AMOUNT OF
 TO BE REGISTERED                 REGISTERED(1)        PRICE PER SHARE (2)           PRICE (2)        REGISTRATION FEE
- ------------------------------  -----------------  ---------------------------  --------------------  -----------------
                                                                                          
- ------------------------------  -----------------  ---------------------------  --------------------  -----------------
Stock Options and Common Stock    3,979,304 shares  $         11.225 - 14.9949  $      50,219,461.44  $        4,620.19
(par value $.001)
=======================================================================================================================


(1)     This  Registration Statement shall cover any additional shares of common
stock  that  become  issuable  under  the  2000  Equity  Incentive  Plan,  2000
Non-Employee  Directors' Stock Option Plan and 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
set  forth herein by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization
or  any other similar transaction without receipt of consideration which results
in  an  increase  in the number of shares of the Registrant's outstanding common
stock.

(2)     Estimated  solely  for  the  purpose  of  calculating  the amount of the
registration  fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of
1933,  as  amended  (the  "Act").  The  offering  price  per share and aggregate
offering  price  for  the unissued stock options and common stock are based upon
the  average  of  the  high  and  low prices of the Registrant's common stock as
reported  on the Nasdaq National Market System on February 8, 2002. The offering
price  per  share and aggregate offering price for the outstanding stock options
are  based  upon  a  weighted  average  exercise price of such options. The
following  chart  illustrates  the  calculation  of  the  registration  fee:






TITLE OF SHARES                                                    NUMBER OF SHARES   OFFERING PRICE PER   AGGREGATE OFFERING
                                                                                             SHARE               PRICE
                                                                                                  
Shares issuable pursuant to unissued stock options                         1,617,056  $            11.225  $     18,151,453.60
pursuant to the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding stock options                      1,472,652  $           14.9949  $     22,082,292.74
pursuant to the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

Shares issuable pursuant to unissued stock options                           444,798  $            11.225  $      4,992,857.55
pursuant to the 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan

Shares issuable pursuant to the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan            444,798  $            11.225  $      4,992,857.55

Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price                                                                  $     50,219,461.44


     Approximate  date  of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  as soon
as  practicable  after  this  Registration  Statement  becomes  effective.

EXPLANATORY NOTE This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed for the purpose of registering an additional: (i) 3,089,708 shares of the Registrant's common stock to be issued pursuant to the Registrant's 2000 Equity Incentive Plan; (ii) 444,798 shares of the Registrant's common stock to be issued pursuant to the Registrant's 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan; and (iii) 444,798 shares of the Registrant's common stock to be issued pursuant to the Registrant's 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The contents of the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (relating to the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan and 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan) File Nos. 333-35862 and 333-57026 previously filed with the SEC on April 28, 2000 and March 14, 2001, respectively, are incorporated by reference herein.

EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION 4.1* Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. 4.2* Restated Bylaws of the Company. 5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP. 23.1 Consent of Independent Accountants. 23.2 Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement. 24.1 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages to this Registration Statement. 99.1* 2000 Equity Incentive Plan. 99.2* 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 99.3* 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan. ________________________ *Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No.333-96335), originally filed with the SEC on February 7, 2000.

SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of South San Francisco, State of California, on February 11, 2002. EXELIXIS, INC. By: /s/ George A. Scangos ------------------------- George A. Scangos, Ph.D. President and Chief Executive Officer POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints George A. Scangos and Glen Y. Sato, and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. SIGNATURE TITLE DATE - ------------------------------ ---------------------------------- ------------------ /s/ George A. Scangos President, Chief Executive February 11, 2002 - ------------------------------ Officer and Director George A. Scangos, Ph.D. (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ Glen Y. Sato Chief Financial Officer February 11, 2002 - ------------------------------ (Principal Financial and Glen Y. Sato Accounting Officer) /s/ Stelios Papadopoulos Chairman of the Board of - ------------------------------- Directors February 11, 2002 Stelios Papadopoulos, Ph.D. - ------------------------------ Director Charles Cohen, Ph.D. ------------------------------ Director Jurgen Drews, M.D. /s/ Geoffrey Duyk Director February 11, 2002 - ------------------------------- Geoffrey Duyk, M.D., Ph.D. /s/ Jason Fisherman Director February 11, 2002 - ------------------------------- Jason S. Fisherman, M.D. /s/ Jean-Francois Formela Director February 11, 2002 - ------------------------------- Jean-Francois Formela, M.D. /s/ Vincent T. Marchesi Director February 11, 2002 - ------------------------------- Vincent T. Marchesi, Ph.D. /s/ Peter Stadler Director February 11, 2002 - ------------------------------- Peter Stadler, Ph.D. ------------------------------ Director Lance Willsey, M.D. EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION 4.1* Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. 4.2* Restated Bylaws of the Company. 5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP. 23.1 Consent of Independent Accountants. 23.2 Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement. 24.1 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages to this Registration Statement. 99.1* 2000 Equity Incentive Plan. 99.2* 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 99.3* 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan. ________________________ *Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No.333-96335), originally filed with the SEC on February 7, 2000.

                                   EXHIBIT 5.1



                                   Robert  L.  Jones,  Esq.
                                   Direct:  (650)  843-5034
                                   Internet:  jonesrl@cooley.com



February  14,  2002



Exelixis,  Inc.
170  Harbor  Way
P.O.  Box  511
South  San  Francisco,  CA  94083


Ladies  and  Gentlemen:

You  have  requested  our  opinion with respect to certain matters in connection
with the filing by Exelixis, Inc. (the "Company") of a Registration Statement on
Form  S-8  (the  "Registration  Statement")  with  the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  covering  the  offering  of  an aggregate of 3,979,304 shares of the
Company's  common  stock,  $.001  par  value  (the  "Shares"),  pursuant  to the
Company's  2000 Equity Incentive Plan, 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option
Plan  and  2000  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan  (collectively  the  "Plans").

In connection with this opinion, we have examined the Registration Statement and
related  Prospectus,  your Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
Restated  Bylaws  and such other documents, records, certificates, memoranda and
other  instruments  as  we  deem necessary as a basis for this opinion.  We have
assumed  the  genuineness  and  authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals,  the  conformity  to  originals  of  all documents submitted to us as
copies  thereof  and  the  due execution and delivery of all documents where due
execution  and  delivery  are  a  prerequisite  to  the  effectiveness  thereof.

On  the  basis  of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion
that  the  Shares,  when  sold  and  issued  in  accordance  with the Plans, the
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, will be validly issued, fully
paid  and nonassessable (except as to shares issued pursuant to certain deferred
payment  arrangements,  which  will  be  fully  paid and nonassessable when such
deferred  payments  are  made  in  full).

We  consent  to  the  filing  of  this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.

Very  truly  yours,


Cooley  Godward  LLP



By:  /s/ Robert L. Jones
     -------------------
     Robert  L.  Jones


                                                         EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We  hereby  consent  to  the  incorporation  by  reference  in this Registration
Statement  on  Form  S-8,  relating  to the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, the 2000
Employee  Stock  Purchase Plan and the 2000 Non-employee Director's Stock Option
Plan,  of  our  report  dated  February  2,  2001,  relating to the consolidated
financial  statements,  which  appears in Exelixis, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form
10-K  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2000.


/s/  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP

San  Jose,  California
February  13,  2002