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  <TITLE>Prepared by R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Form 8-K filed 9/23/2002</TITLE>
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000"><B>FORM 8-K </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
  SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000"><B>DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>SEPTEMBER 23, 2002 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">KOSAN BIOSCIENCES INCORPORATED </FONT></DIV> <HR NOSHADE WIDTH="44%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Exact name of registrant specified in its charter) </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">DELAWARE</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="2" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="32%" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">000-31633</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="2" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">94-3217016</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="2" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"></TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="32%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(State&nbsp;or&nbsp;other</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">jurisdiction&nbsp;of</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">incorporation)</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="32%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Commission</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">File&nbsp;Number)</FONT></DIV>
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="32%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(IRS&nbsp;Employee</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">Identification&nbsp;No.)</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">3832 BAY CENTER PLACE HAYWARD, CA
  94545 </FONT></DIV> <HR NOSHADE WIDTH="44%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">REGISTRANT&#146;S TELEPHONE, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (510) 732-8400 </FONT></DIV>
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;OTHER EVENTS </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">On September 23, 2002, the Company issued the press release attached to this Form as Exhibit 99.1 and such press release is incorporated herein by reference.
  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;EXHIBITS </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"
  COLOR="#000000">99.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Press Release dated September 23, 2002. </FONT></DIV>
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>SIGNATURE </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  STYLE="text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">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. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="right">
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  <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="43%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>KOSAN BIOSCIENCES INCORPORATED</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">(Registrant)</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD HEIGHT="16"> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="3%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">By</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="43%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">/<SMALL>S</SMALL>/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;D<SMALL>ANIEL</SMALL> V. S<SMALL>ANTI</SMALL>, M.D.,
  P<SMALL>H</SMALL>.D&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="43%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Daniel V. Santi, M.D., Ph.D.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Chairman and Chief Executive Officer</FONT></DIV> </TD>
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   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Dated:&nbsp;&nbsp;September 23, 2002 </FONT></DIV>
  
  
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   <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  ALIGN="center">
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000"><B>EXHIBIT</B></FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="2" NOSHADE WIDTH="42" ALIGN="left" COLOR="#000000"></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="9%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">99.1</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="99%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:2%; text-indent:-2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000">Press Release dated September 23, 2002.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "KOSAN BIOSCIENCES INC", "cik": "0001110206", "assigned-sic": "8731", "irs-number": "943217016", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-31633", "film-number": "02769918"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3832 BAY CENTER PLACE", "city": "HAYWARD", "state": "CA", "zip": "94545", "phone": "5107328400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3832 BAY CENTER PLACE", "city": "HAYWARD", "state": "CA", "zip": "94545"}}
text: Prepared by R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Form 8-K filed 9/23/2002
  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):
  SEPTEMBER 23, 2002
  KOSAN BIOSCIENCES INCORPORATED
  (Exact name of registrant specified in its charter)
  DELAWARE
  000-31633
  94-3217016
  (State or other
  jurisdiction of
  incorporation)
  (Commission
  File Number)
  (IRS Employee
  Identification No.)
  3832 BAY CENTER PLACE HAYWARD, CA
  94545
  (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
  REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (510) 732-8400
  Item 5.    OTHER EVENTS
  On September 23, 2002, the Company issued the press release attached to this Form as Exhibit 99.1 and such press release is incorporated herein by reference.
  Item 7.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  (c)  EXHIBITS
  99.1    Press Release dated September 23, 2002.
  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.
  KOSAN BIOSCIENCES INCORPORATED
  (Registrant)
  By
  /
  S
  /    D
  ANIEL
  V. S
  ANTI
  , M.D.,
  P
  H
  .D
  Daniel V. Santi, M.D., Ph.D.
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
  Dated:  September 23, 2002
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  EXHIBIT
  99.1
  Press Release dated September 23, 2002.