<PAGE>

   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2002.

                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                               __________________

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    under the
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                               __________________

                             PARADIGM GENETICS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                            56-2047837
 (State or other jurisdiction                              (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

                               108 Alexander Drive
                      Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-4528
                                 (919) 425-3000

                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                             PARADIGM GENETICS, INC.
                      2002 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN

                           (Full Titles of the Plans)

                    Heinrich Gugger, Ph.D., President and CEO
                             Paradigm Genetics, Inc.
                               108 Alexander Drive
                      Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-4528
                                 (919) 425-3000

    (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
                           code, of agent for service)

                               __________________


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================
                                                       Proposed              Proposed
                                                        maximum              maximum
          Title of               Amount to be       offering price           aggregate                Amount of
 securities to be registered    registered/(1)/       per share/(2)/     offering price/(2)/       registration fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>                 <C>                  <C>                       <C>
Common Stock, $.01 par value       220,000               $1.25               $275,000                  $25.30

====================================================================================================================
Common Stock, $.01 par value       180,000               $ .44               $ 79,200                  $ 7.29
                                   -------                                                             ------
                         Total     400,000                                                    Total    $32.59
====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  The number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common
     Stock"), stated above consists of the aggregate number of shares which may
     be sold upon the exercise of options which have been granted and/or may
     hereafter be granted under Paradigm Genetics, Inc. 2002 Non-Qualified Stock
     Option Plan (the "Plan"). The maximum number of shares which may be sold
     upon the exercise of such options granted under the Plan is subject to
     adjustment in accordance with certain anti-dilution and other provisions of
     the Plan. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of
     1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement
     covers, in addition to the number of shares stated above, an indeterminate
     number of shares which may be subject to grant or otherwise issuable after
     the operation of any such anti-dilution and other provisions.

(2)  This calculation is made solely for the purpose of determining the
     registration fee pursuant to the provisions of Rule 457(c) and (h) under
     the Securities Act as follows: (i) in the case of the shares of Common
     Stock which may be purchased upon exercise of outstanding options, the fee
     is calculated on the basis of the price at which the options may be
     exercised; and (ii) in the cases of shares of Common Stock for which
     options have not yet been granted and the option price of which is
     therefore unknown, the fee is calculated on the basis of the average of the
     high and low sale prices per share of the Common Stock on the National
     Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
     Quotation System ("Nasdaq") as of a date December 16, 2002 within 5
     business days prior to filing this Registration Statement.

================================================================================

<PAGE>

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

     In accordance with the instructional Note to Part I of Form S-8 as
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the information specified
by Part I of Form S-8 has been omitted from this Registration Statement on Form
S-8 for offers of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan.


<PAGE>

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.

         The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission are
incorporated herein by reference:

         (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2001.

         (b) The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarters ended March 31, 2002, June 30, 2002 and September 30, 2002.

         (c) The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 27,
2002, March 5, 2002, April 22, 2002, May 7, 2002, May 20, 2002, August 6, 2002,
August 19, 2002, November 6, 2002, November 12, 2002, and November 14, 2002.

         (d) The description of the Common Stock contained in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-30365) filed with the
Commission on April 17, 2000 pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating
such description.

     All reports and other documents filed by the Registrant after the date
hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 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 part hereof from the date of filing of such reports
and documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Registration Statement
         on Form S-1, No. 333-30758.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

         (4.1)    Form of Common Stock Certificate (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
                  Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758,
                  and incorporated herein by reference).

         (4.2)    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Filed as
                  Exhibit 3.2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended,
                  No. 333-30758, and incorporated herein by reference).

                                      II-1

<PAGE>

         (4.3)    Restated By-laws (Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Registration
                  Statement on Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758, and
                  incorporated herein by reference).

         (5)      Opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
                  as to the legality of shares being registered.

         (23.1)   Consent of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
                  (included in opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5).

         (23.2)   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

         (24)     Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the
                  Registration Statement).

         (99.1)   Paradigm Genetics, Inc. 2002 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan

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 this Registration Statement:

                 (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
              the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
              after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the
              most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
              or in the aggregate, represents 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) (Section 230.424(b) of
              this chapter) 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.

                 (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 Registration Statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form
         F-3, and 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
         are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

         (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
         Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
         deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the

                                      II-2

<PAGE>

         securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
         time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (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 of 1933, each filing
         of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
         15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by
         reference in this Registration Statement 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.

(c)      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
         Act of 1933 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
         Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against
         public policy as expressed in the 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 Act
         and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                     II-3

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         The Registrant. 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 Research Triangle Park, North Carolina on December 19, 2002.

                                  PARADIGM GENETICS, INC.



                                   By /s/ Heinrich Gugger
                                   ------------------------
                                   Heinrich Gugger
                                   President and CEO

     Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Heinrich
Gugger and Phil Alfano, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution
in each of them, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, and in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Paradigm Genetics,
Inc., and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in
or about the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he or she might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his or her 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 and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             Signatures                            Title                            Date
             ----------                            -----                            ----
<S>                                      <C>                                  <C>
By:  /s/ Heinrich Gugger                 President and Chief                  December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------        Executive Officer (principal
          Heinrich Gugger                executive officer)


By:  /s/ Philip R. Alfano                Chief Financial Officer              December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------        (principal financial officer)
         Philip R. Alfano

By:  /s/ G. Steven Burrill               Director                             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
          G. Steven Burrill
</TABLE>

                                      II-4

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                      <C>                  <C>
By: /s/ Michael Summers                  Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Michael Summers

By:                                      Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Robert M. Goodman

By: /s/ Henri Zinsli                     Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Henri Zinsli

By: /s/ Mark B. Skaletsky                Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Mark B. Skaletsky

By: /s/ Susan K. Harlander               Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Susan K. Harlander

By:                                      Director            December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
            Leroy E. Hood
</TABLE>

                                      II-5

<PAGE>

                             PARADIGM GENETICS, INC.

                          INDEX TO EXHIBITS FILED WITH
                         FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Exhibit
Number   Description
-------  -----------

(4.1)    Form of Common Stock Certificate (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registration
         Statement on Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758, and incorporated
         herein by reference).

(4.2)    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Filed as Exhibit 3.2
         to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758, and
         incorporated herein by reference).

(4.3)    Restated By-laws (Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Registration Statement on
         Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758, and incorporated herein by
         reference).

(5)      Opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. as to
         the legality of shares being registered.

(23.1)   Consent of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C (included
         in opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5).

(23.2)   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

(24)     Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration
         Statement).

(99.1)   Paradigm Genetics, Inc. 2002 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "ds8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 18919}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PARADIGM GENETICS INC", "cik": "0001057217", "assigned-sic": "8731", "irs-number": "542047837"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-102003", "film-number": "02863212"}, "business-address": {"street1": "104 ALEXANDER DR", "street2": "ADMINISTIVE BLDG #6", "city": "RESEARCH TRIANGLE PA", "state": "NC", "zip": "27709", "phone": "9195445578"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "104 ALEXANDER DR.", "city": "RESEARCH TRIANGLE PA", "state": "NC", "zip": "27709"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2002.

                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                               __________________

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    under the
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                               __________________

                             PARADIGM GENETICS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                            56-2047837
 (State or other jurisdiction                              (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

                               108 Alexander Drive
                      Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-4528
                                 (919) 425-3000

                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                             PARADIGM GENETICS, INC.
                      2002 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN

                           (Full Titles of the Plans)

                    Heinrich Gugger, Ph.D., President and CEO
                             Paradigm Genetics, Inc.
                               108 Alexander Drive
                      Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-4528
                                 (919) 425-3000

    (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
                           code, of agent for service)

                               __________________
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================
                                                       Proposed              Proposed
                                                        maximum              maximum
          Title of               Amount to be       offering price           aggregate                Amount of
 securities to be registered    registered/(1)/       per share/(2)/     offering price/(2)/       registration fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.01 par value       220,000               $1.25               $275,000                  $25.30

====================================================================================================================
Common Stock, $.01 par value       180,000               $ .44               $ 79,200                  $ 7.29
                                   -------                                                             ------
                         Total     400,000                                                    Total    $32.59
====================================================================================================================
(1)  The number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common
     Stock"), stated above consists of the aggregate number of shares which may
     be sold upon the exercise of options which have been granted and/or may
     hereafter be granted under Paradigm Genetics, Inc. 2002 Non-Qualified Stock
     Option Plan (the "Plan"). The maximum number of shares which may be sold
     upon the exercise of such options granted under the Plan is subject to
     adjustment in accordance with certain anti-dilution and other provisions of
     the Plan. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of
     1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement
     covers, in addition to the number of shares stated above, an indeterminate
     number of shares which may be subject to grant or otherwise issuable after
     the operation of any such anti-dilution and other provisions.

(2)  This calculation is made solely for the purpose of determining the
     registration fee pursuant to the provisions of Rule 457(c) and (h) under
     the Securities Act as follows: (i) in the case of the shares of Common
     Stock which may be purchased upon exercise of outstanding options, the fee
     is calculated on the basis of the price at which the options may be
     exercised; and (ii) in the cases of shares of Common Stock for which
     options have not yet been granted and the option price of which is
     therefore unknown, the fee is calculated on the basis of the average of the
     high and low sale prices per share of the Common Stock on the National
     Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
     Quotation System ("Nasdaq") as of a date December 16, 2002 within 5
     business days prior to filing this Registration Statement.

================================================================================
EXPLANATORY NOTE

     In accordance with the instructional Note to Part I of Form S-8 as
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the information specified
by Part I of Form S-8 has been omitted from this Registration Statement on Form
S-8 for offers of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan.
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.

         The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission are
incorporated herein by reference:

         (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2001.

         (b) The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarters ended March 31, 2002, June 30, 2002 and September 30, 2002.

         (c) The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 27,
2002, March 5, 2002, April 22, 2002, May 7, 2002, May 20, 2002, August 6, 2002,
August 19, 2002, November 6, 2002, November 12, 2002, and November 14, 2002.

         (d) The description of the Common Stock contained in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-30365) filed with the
Commission on April 17, 2000 pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating
such description.

     All reports and other documents filed by the Registrant after the date
hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 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 part hereof from the date of filing of such reports
and documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Incorporated by reference from the Registrant's Registration Statement
         on Form S-1, No. 333-30758.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

         (4.1)    Form of Common Stock Certificate (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
                  Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758,
                  and incorporated herein by reference).

         (4.2)    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Filed as
                  Exhibit 3.2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended,
                  No. 333-30758, and incorporated herein by reference).

                                      II-1
(4.3)    Restated By-laws (Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Registration
                  Statement on Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758, and
                  incorporated herein by reference).

         (5)      Opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
                  as to the legality of shares being registered.

         (23.1)   Consent of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
                  (included in opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5).

         (23.2)   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

         (24)     Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the
                  Registration Statement).

         (99.1)   Paradigm Genetics, Inc. 2002 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan

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 this Registration Statement:

                 (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
              the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
              after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the
              most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
              or in the aggregate, represents 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) (Section 230.424(b) of
              this chapter) 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.

                 (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 Registration Statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form
         F-3, and 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
         are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

         (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
         Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
         deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the

                                      II-2
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
         time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (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 of 1933, each filing
         of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
         15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by
         reference in this Registration Statement 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.

(c)      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
         Act of 1933 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
         Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against
         public policy as expressed in the 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 Act
         and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                     II-3
SIGNATURES

         The Registrant. 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 Research Triangle Park, North Carolina on December 19, 2002.

                                  PARADIGM GENETICS, INC.

                                   By /s/ Heinrich Gugger
                                   ------------------------
                                   Heinrich Gugger
                                   President and CEO

     Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Heinrich
Gugger and Phil Alfano, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution
in each of them, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, and in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Paradigm Genetics,
Inc., and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in
or about the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he or she might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his or her 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 and on the dates indicated.
Signatures                            Title                            Date
             ----------                            -----                            ----
By:  /s/ Heinrich Gugger                 President and Chief                  December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------        Executive Officer (principal
          Heinrich Gugger                executive officer)

By:  /s/ Philip R. Alfano                Chief Financial Officer              December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------        (principal financial officer)
         Philip R. Alfano

By:  /s/ G. Steven Burrill               Director                             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
          G. Steven Burrill
II-4
By: /s/ Michael Summers                  Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Michael Summers

By:                                      Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Robert M. Goodman

By: /s/ Henri Zinsli                     Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Henri Zinsli

By: /s/ Mark B. Skaletsky                Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Mark B. Skaletsky

By: /s/ Susan K. Harlander               Director             December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
        Susan K. Harlander

By:                                      Director            December 19, 2002
    -----------------------------
            Leroy E. Hood
II-5
PARADIGM GENETICS, INC.

                          INDEX TO EXHIBITS FILED WITH
                         FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Exhibit
Number   Description
-------  -----------

(4.1)    Form of Common Stock Certificate (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registration
         Statement on Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758, and incorporated
         herein by reference).

(4.2)    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Filed as Exhibit 3.2
         to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758, and
         incorporated herein by reference).

(4.3)    Restated By-laws (Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Registration Statement on
         Form S-1, as amended, No. 333-30758, and incorporated herein by
         reference).

(5)      Opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. as to
         the legality of shares being registered.

(23.1)   Consent of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C (included
         in opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5).

(23.2)   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

(24)     Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration
         Statement).

(99.1)   Paradigm Genetics, Inc. 2002 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.