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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October&nbsp;7, 2005</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt">Registration No.&nbsp;333-
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>AVALON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware</B><BR>
(State or other jurisdiction of<BR>
incorporation or Organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>52-2209310</B><BR>
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>20358 Seneca Meadows Parkway, Germantown, Maryland</B><BR>
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>20876</B><BR>
(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Plan<BR>
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan</B><BR>
(Full titles of the plans)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Kenneth C. Carter,<BR>
President and Chief Executive Officer<BR>
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.<BR>
20358 Seneca Meadows Parkway<BR>
Germantown, Maryland 20876</B><BR>
(Name and address of agent for service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>(301)&nbsp;556-9900</B><BR>
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Copy to:<BR>
<B>Michael J. Silver<BR>
Hogan &#038; Hartson L.L.P.<BR>
111 South Calvert Street, 16</B><B><SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">th</SUP></B><B> Floor<BR>
Baltimore, Maryland 21202</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Telephone: (410)&nbsp;659-2700<BR>
Telecopy: (410)&nbsp;539-6981</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="34%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="11%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 3px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of securities</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount to be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>to be registered</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>registered(1)</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>offering price per share</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>aggregate offering price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>registration fee</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="center" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">546,123 Shares(2)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">2.99</TD>
    <TD nowrap style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">(3)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">1,632,908</TD>
    <TD nowrap style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">(3)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">193</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock, par value
$0.01</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="center" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">989,738 Shares (4)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">9.00</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">8,907,642</TD>
    <TD nowrap style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">(5)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">1,049</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:45px; text-indent:-15px">Total</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="center" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">1,535,861 Shares</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">N/A</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">10,540,550</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">1,242</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-top: 3px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;),
this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock which
become issuable under the above-named plans by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of
consideration which results in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares of common
stock.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Represents shares of Common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding
options granted under Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock
Plan (&#147;1999 Plan&#148;).</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for purposes of calculating the maximum aggregate
offering price and the amount of the registration fee for the 546,123 shares reserved for
issuance under the 1999 Plan. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price per share and
proposed maximum aggregate offering price for the 546,123 shares of Common Stock reserved for
future issuance upon the exercise of options outstanding under the 1999 Plan are calculated
using a weighted average exercise price for such shares of $2.99 per share.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(4)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Represents 989,738 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance for future grants under
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (&#147;2005 Plan&#148;).</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(5)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>This estimate is made pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act solely for purposes of
calculating the registration fee, and is based on the average of the high and low prices
reported for the shares on The Nasdaq National Market on October&nbsp;3, 2005.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>







<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">








<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART I</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Item&nbsp;1. Plan Information.*
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Item&nbsp;2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*
</DIV>



<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">*</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The documents containing the information specified in Part&nbsp;I will be delivered in accordance
with Rule&nbsp;428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;). Such
documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the &#147;<B>Commission</B>&#148;), either as part of this Registration Statement or as
prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424 under the Securities Act. These
documents, and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant
to Item&nbsp;3 of Part&nbsp;II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">






<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents, which have been filed by Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;)
with the Commission, are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 3%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Company&#146;s Prospectus, dated September&nbsp;29, 2005, filed pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the Securities Act, which relates to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (Registration No.&nbsp;333-124565) (as amended and including exhibits, the
&#147;S-1 Registration Statement&#148;).
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 3%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The description of the Company&#146;s common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
included under the caption &#147;Description of Securities&#148; in the Prospectus forming a
part of the S-1 Registration Statement, which description has been incorporated by
reference in Item&nbsp;1 of the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed
pursuant to Section&nbsp;12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
&#147;Exchange Act&#148;), on September&nbsp;27, 2005, including any amendment or report filed for
the purpose of updating such description.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that
all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also
is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, allows a corporation to
eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the
director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional
misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock
repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145 of the DGCL provides, among other things, that we may indemnify any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding &#151; other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant &#151; by reason of the
fact that the person is or was a director, officer, agent, or employee of the Registrant, or is or
was serving at our request as a director, officer, agent or employee of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including attorneys&#146; fees,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding. The power to indemnify applies (a)&nbsp;if such person
is successful on the
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-1
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding or (b)&nbsp;if such person acting in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interest, or not opposed to the
best interest, of the Registrant, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The power to indemnify applies to
actions brought by or in the right of the Registrant as well but only to the extent of defense
expenses, including attorneys&#146; fees but excluding amounts paid in settlement, actually and
reasonably incurred and not to any satisfaction of judgment or settlement of the claim itself, and
with the further limitation that in such actions no indemnification shall be made in the event of
any adjudication of liability to the Registrant, unless the court believes that in light of all the
circumstances indemnification should apply.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;174 of the DGCL provides, among other things, that a director, who willfully or
negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or
redemption, may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the
unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time, may avoid liability by causing his or her
dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing minutes of the meetings of the board
of directors at the time such action occurred or immediately after such absent director receives
notice of the unlawful acts.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws
provide that we shall indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents to the maximum extent
permitted by Delaware Law. We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our
directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended
and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws. These agreements,
among other things, provide that we will indemnify our directors and executive officers for any and
all expenses, including attorneys&#146; fees, judgments, witness fees, fines, and settlement amounts
incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their
services as one of our directors or executive officers, or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates or
any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request. We also have
purchased a policy of directors&#146; and officers&#146; liability insurance. These indemnification
provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification
of our officers and directors for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred,
arising under the Securities Act.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Reference is made to the attached Exhibit&nbsp;Index, which is incorporated by reference herein.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 6%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 9%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) To include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act;
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 9%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the Registration Statement (or most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than a 20% change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#147;Calculation of Registration Fee&#148;
table in the effective registration statement; and
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-2
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 9%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material
change to such information in the Registration Statement;
</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 6%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof; and
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 6%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 3%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company&#146;s
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#146;s annual report pursuant
to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 3%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised
that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit
to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-3
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 County of Montgomery, State of Maryland, on October&nbsp;7, 2005.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="65%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="left"><B>AVALON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Kenneth C. Carter</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Name: Kenneth C. Carter, Ph.D.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Title: President and Chief Executive Officer</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Kenneth C. Carter, Gary Lessing and Thomas G. David and each of them his or her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or
her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (including his or her
capacity as a director and/or officer) to sign any or 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 attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on October&nbsp;7, 2005.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="55%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Kenneth C. Carter, Ph.D.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top" nowrap>President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director (<I>Principal Executive Officer</I>)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Kenneth C. Carter, Ph.D.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Gary Lessing
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Financial Officer
(<I>Principal Financial Officer</I>)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Gary Lessing</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Glen Farmer
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Controller
(<I>Principal Accounting Officer</I>)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Glen Farmer</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Michael R. Kurman, M.D.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Michael R. Kurman, M.D.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Bradley G. Lorimier
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Bradley G. Lorimier</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Ivor Royston, M.D.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Ivor Royston, M.D.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ William A. Scott, Ph.D.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">William A. Scott, Ph.D.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Patrick Van Beneden
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Patrick Van Beneden</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Alan G. Walton, Ph.D., D.Sc.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chairman of the Board of Directors</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Alan G. Walton, Ph.D., D.Sc.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Raymond J. Whitaker, Ph.D.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Raymond J. Whitaker, Ph.D.</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-4
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="6%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="2">&nbsp;<B>Exhibit</B></TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" colspan="2"><B>Number</B></TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Specimen Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 of the Registrant&#146;s S-1 Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Plan,
as of October&nbsp;15, 2001, as amended, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;10.13 of the Registrant&#146;s S-1 Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement &#151; $.20 per share,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.13 of the Registrant&#146;s S-1
Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement &#151; $.40 per share,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.14 of the Registrant&#146;s S-1
Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement &#151; $.20 per share,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.15 of the Registrant&#146;s S-1
Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement &#151; $.40 per share,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.16 of the Registrant&#146;s S-1
Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.6
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">First Amendment to Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.17 of the Registrant&#146;s S-1
Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.7
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Second Amendment to Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.18 of the Registrant&#146;s S-1
Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.8
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive
Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.43 of the
Registrant&#146;s S-1 Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Hogan &#038; Hartson L.L.P.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Hogan &#038; Hartson, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Powers of Attorney (included in Part II)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">II-5
</DIV>

</BODY>
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sv8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2005
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AVALON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or Organization)
52-2209310
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
20358 Seneca Meadows Parkway, Germantown, Maryland
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
20876
(Zip Code)
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Plan
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan
(Full titles of the plans)
Kenneth C. Carter,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
20358 Seneca Meadows Parkway
Germantown, Maryland 20876
(Name and address of agent for service)
(301) 556-9900
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Michael J. Silver
Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
111 South Calvert Street, 16
th
Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Telephone: (410) 659-2700
Telecopy: (410) 539-6981
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities
Amount to be
Proposed maximum
Proposed maximum
Amount of
to be registered
registered(1)
offering price per share
aggregate offering price
registration fee
Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share
546,123 Shares(2)
$
2.99
(3)
$
1,632,908
(3)
$
193
Common Stock, par value
$0.01
989,738 Shares (4)
$
9.00
$
8,907,642
(5)
$
1,049
Total
1,535,861 Shares
N/A
$
10,540,550
$
1,242
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of common stock which
become issuable under the above-named plans by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of
consideration which results in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares of common
stock.
(2)
Represents shares of Common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding
options granted under Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock
Plan ("1999 Plan").
(3)
Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for purposes of calculating the maximum aggregate
offering price and the amount of the registration fee for the 546,123 shares reserved for
issuance under the 1999 Plan. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price per share and
proposed maximum aggregate offering price for the 546,123 shares of Common Stock reserved for
future issuance upon the exercise of options outstanding under the 1999 Plan are calculated
using a weighted average exercise price for such shares of $2.99 per share.
(4)
Represents 989,738 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance for future grants under
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan ("2005 Plan").
(5)
This estimate is made pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act solely for purposes of
calculating the registration fee, and is based on the average of the high and low prices
reported for the shares on The Nasdaq National Market on October 3, 2005.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1. Plan Information.*
Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*
*
The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered in accordance
with Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Such
documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "
Commission
"), either as part of this Registration Statement or as
prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These
documents, and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant
to Item 3 of Part II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents, which have been filed by Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company")
with the Commission, are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:
(a) The Company's Prospectus, dated September 29, 2005, filed pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the Securities Act, which relates to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-124565) (as amended and including exhibits, the
"S-1 Registration Statement").
(b) The description of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
included under the caption "Description of Securities" in the Prospectus forming a
part of the S-1 Registration Statement, which description has been incorporated by
reference in Item 1 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed
pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), on September 27, 2005, including any amendment or report filed for
the purpose of updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that
all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also
is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, allows a corporation to
eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the
director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional
misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock
repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.
Section 145 of the DGCL provides, among other things, that we may indemnify any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding — other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant — by reason of the
fact that the person is or was a director, officer, agent, or employee of the Registrant, or is or
was serving at our request as a director, officer, agent or employee of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including attorneys' fees,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding. The power to indemnify applies (a) if such person
is successful on the
II-1
merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding or (b) if such person acting in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interest, or not opposed to the
best interest, of the Registrant, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The power to indemnify applies to
actions brought by or in the right of the Registrant as well but only to the extent of defense
expenses, including attorneys' fees but excluding amounts paid in settlement, actually and
reasonably incurred and not to any satisfaction of judgment or settlement of the claim itself, and
with the further limitation that in such actions no indemnification shall be made in the event of
any adjudication of liability to the Registrant, unless the court believes that in light of all the
circumstances indemnification should apply.
Section 174 of the DGCL provides, among other things, that a director, who willfully or
negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or
redemption, may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the
unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time, may avoid liability by causing his or her
dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing minutes of the meetings of the board
of directors at the time such action occurred or immediately after such absent director receives
notice of the unlawful acts.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws
provide that we shall indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents to the maximum extent
permitted by Delaware Law. We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our
directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended
and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws. These agreements,
among other things, provide that we will indemnify our directors and executive officers for any and
all expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, witness fees, fines, and settlement amounts
incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their
services as one of our directors or executive officers, or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates or
any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request. We also have
purchased a policy of directors' and officers' liability insurance. These indemnification
provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification
of our officers and directors for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred,
arising under the Securities Act.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Reference is made to the attached Exhibit Index, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the Registration Statement (or most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than a 20% change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee"
table in the effective registration statement; and
II-2
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material
change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof; and
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant
to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised
that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit
to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 County of Montgomery, State of Maryland, on October 7, 2005.
AVALON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:
/s/ Kenneth C. Carter
Name: Kenneth C. Carter, Ph.D.
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Kenneth C. Carter, Gary Lessing and Thomas G. David and each of them his or her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or
her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (including his or her
capacity as a director and/or officer) to sign any or 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 attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on October 7, 2005.
Signature
Title
/s/ Kenneth C. Carter, Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director (
Principal Executive Officer
)
Kenneth C. Carter, Ph.D.
/s/ Gary Lessing
Chief Financial Officer
(
Principal Financial Officer
)
Gary Lessing
/s/ Glen Farmer
Controller
(
Principal Accounting Officer
)
Glen Farmer
/s/ Michael R. Kurman, M.D.
Director
Michael R. Kurman, M.D.
/s/ Bradley G. Lorimier
Director
Bradley G. Lorimier
/s/ Ivor Royston, M.D.
Director
Ivor Royston, M.D.
/s/ William A. Scott, Ph.D.
Director
William A. Scott, Ph.D.
/s/ Patrick Van Beneden
Director
Patrick Van Beneden
/s/ Alan G. Walton, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Alan G. Walton, Ph.D., D.Sc.
/s/ Raymond J. Whitaker, Ph.D.
Director
Raymond J. Whitaker, Ph.D.
II-4
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.1
Specimen Common Stock Certificate, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant's S-1 Registration Statement.
10.1
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Plan,
as of October 15, 2001, as amended, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.13 of the Registrant's S-1 Registration Statement.
10.2
Form of Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement — $.20 per share,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of the Registrant's S-1
Registration Statement.
10.3
Form of Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement — $.40 per share,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of the Registrant's S-1
Registration Statement.
10.4
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement — $.20 per share,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Registrant's S-1
Registration Statement.
10.5
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement — $.40 per share,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of the Registrant's S-1
Registration Statement.
10.6
First Amendment to Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of the Registrant's S-1
Registration Statement.
10.7
Second Amendment to Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Registrant's S-1
Registration Statement.
10.8
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive
Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 of the
Registrant's S-1 Registration Statement.
5.1
Opinion of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2
Consent of Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Powers of Attorney (included in Part II)
II-5