content: <PAGE>
  
                         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): August 13, 2001
  
  
                                     SCIOS, INC.
                      -----------------------------------------
                 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
  <TABLE>
  <S>                                         <C>                                 <C>
  
                Delaware                                 0-11749                               95-3701481
   --------------------------------------     ---------------------------------    -----------------------------------
      (State or Other Jurisdiction of             (Commission File Number)         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
               Incorporation)
  
  </TABLE>
  
                     820 West Maude Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
               -------------------------------------------------------
                 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
  
                                   (408) 616-8200
               -------------------------------------------------------
                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
                                         N/A
               -------------------------------------------------------
            (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 5.     Other Events.
  
  On August 13, 2001, Scios Inc. announced that it has received final approval
  from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Natrecor(R)
  (nesiritide) for the intravenous treatment of patients with acutely
  decompensated congestive heart failure who have shortness of breath (i.e.,
  dyspnea) at rest or with minimal activity. For additional information, refer to
  the press release attached as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The
  contents of the press release are incorporated by reference herein.
  
  Item 7.     Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
  (c)         Exhibits
  
              The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report:
  
              No.      Exhibit
              ---      -------
              99.1     Press Release dated August 13, 2001
  
  
  
  
  
                                          2
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
           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.
  
                                              SCIOS, INC.
  
  
                                              By:  /s/ David W. Gryska
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                 David W. Gryska
                                                 Senior Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer
  
  
  Date:  August 13, 2001
  
  
  
                                          3
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  No.      Exhibit
  ---      -------
  99.1     Press Release dated August 13, 2001
  
  
                                          4
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SCIOS INC", "cik": "0000726512", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "953701481", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-11749", "film-number": "1707565"}, "business-address": {"street1": "820 W MAUDE AVE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94086", "phone": "4086168200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "820 W MAUDE AVENUE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94085"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "CALIFORNIA BIOTECHNOLOGY INC", "date-changed": "19920302"}, {"former-conformed-name": "SCIOS NOVA INC", "date-changed": "19930423"}]}
text: 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): August 13, 2001
  
                                     SCIOS, INC.
                      -----------------------------------------
                 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
  Delaware                                 0-11749                               95-3701481
   --------------------------------------     ---------------------------------    -----------------------------------
      (State or Other Jurisdiction of             (Commission File Number)         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
               Incorporation)
  820 West Maude Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
               -------------------------------------------------------
                 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
  
                                   (408) 616-8200
               -------------------------------------------------------
                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
                                         N/A
               -------------------------------------------------------
            (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
  Item 5.     Other Events.
  
  On August 13, 2001, Scios Inc. announced that it has received final approval
  from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Natrecor(R)
  (nesiritide) for the intravenous treatment of patients with acutely
  decompensated congestive heart failure who have shortness of breath (i.e.,
  dyspnea) at rest or with minimal activity. For additional information, refer to
  the press release attached as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The
  contents of the press release are incorporated by reference herein.
  
  Item 7.     Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
  (c)         Exhibits
  
              The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report:
  
              No.      Exhibit
              ---      -------
              99.1     Press Release dated August 13, 2001
  
                                          2
  SIGNATURES
  
           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.
  
                                              SCIOS, INC.
  
                                              By:  /s/ David W. Gryska
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                 David W. Gryska
                                                 Senior Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer
  
  Date:  August 13, 2001
  
                                          3
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  No.      Exhibit
  ---      -------
  99.1     Press Release dated August 13, 2001
  
                                          4