<PAGE>


                                                      Total Number of Pages: 3
                                                                             --



                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT



     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  July 9, 1999
                                                  ------------------
                                  CYGNUS, INC.
              --------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



     DELAWARE                      0-18962                  94-2978092
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission           (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)             File Number)        Identification No.)


400 PENOBSCOT DRIVE, REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA                    94063-4719
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (650) 369-4300
                                                    --------------

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
         --------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


<PAGE>

Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

                Cygnus, Inc. announced on July 9, 1999 that John C. Hodgman,
the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, will be named
chairman of the Board, succeeding Gary W. Cleary, Ph.D.  Dr. Cleary will
serve as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

    (c)  Exhibits.

    Exhibit Number
    ---------------
        99.1    Press Release by Cygnus, Inc. dated July 9, 1999
                referred to in Item 5 above.







<PAGE>
                                      SIGNATURE

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

                                     CYGNUS, INC.



DATE:  July 9, 1999              By: /s/ John C. Hodgman
                              -----------------------------------
                              Name:  John C. Hodgman
                              Title: President, Chief Executive
                                     Officer and Chairman


<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER              DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
-------             --------------------

   99.1   Press Release by Cygnus, Inc. dated July 9, 1999. Refer to Item
          5 above.
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2995}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CYGNUS INC /DE/", "cik": "0000870755", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "942978092", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-18962", "film-number": "99667122"}, "business-address": {"street1": "400 PENOBSCOT DR", "city": "REDWOOD CITY", "state": "CA", "zip": "94063", "phone": "6503694300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "400 PENOBSCOT DR", "city": "REDWOOD CITY", "state": "CA", "zip": "94063-4719"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "CYGNUS THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS", "date-changed": "19930328"}}
Total Number of Pages: 3
                                                                             --

                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  July 9, 1999
                                                  ------------------
                                  CYGNUS, INC.
              --------------------------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

     DELAWARE                      0-18962                  94-2978092
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission           (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)             File Number)        Identification No.)

400 PENOBSCOT DRIVE, REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA                    94063-4719
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (650) 369-4300
                                                    --------------

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
         --------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

                Cygnus, Inc. announced on July 9, 1999 that John C. Hodgman,
the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, will be named
chairman of the Board, succeeding Gary W. Cleary, Ph.D.  Dr. Cleary will
serve as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

    (c)  Exhibits.

    Exhibit Number
    ---------------
        99.1    Press Release by Cygnus, Inc. dated July 9, 1999
                referred to in Item 5 above.
SIGNATURE

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

                                     CYGNUS, INC.

DATE:  July 9, 1999              By: /s/ John C. Hodgman
                              -----------------------------------
                              Name:  John C. Hodgman
                              Title: President, Chief Executive
                                     Officer and Chairman
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER              DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
-------             --------------------

   99.1   Press Release by Cygnus, Inc. dated July 9, 1999. Refer to Item
          5 above.