SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Rule 13d-102 Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. __)* Cell Genesys, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 150921104 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) 07/23/2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: |_| Rule 13d-1 (b) |X| Rule 13d-1 (c) |_| Rule 13d-1 (d) ---------- * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). Page 1 of 5 Pages CUSIP No. 150921104 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Names and I.R.S. Identification Nos.(entities only) of reporting persons. Novartis AG 98-0363351 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (see instructions) (a)|X| (b)|_| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC use only. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Citizenship or place of organization. Switzerland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with: (5) Sole voting power: N/A (6) Shared voting power: 1,999,840 (7) Sole dispositive power: N/A (8) Shared dispositive power: 1,999,840 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person. 1,999,840 (1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) Check if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares |_| (see instructions). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) Percent of class represented by amount in Row 9. 5.1% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) Type of reporting person (see instructions). CO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- (1) 1. Novartis AG owns 999,920 shares of Common Stock and Genetic Therapy, Inc. owns 999,920 shares of Common Stock. Novartis AG, as the ultimate parent entity, beneficially owns 1,999,840 shares of Common Stock. Page 2 of 5 Pages CUSIP No. 150921104 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Names and I.R.S. Identification Nos.(entities only) of reporting persons. Genetic Therapy, Inc. 13-3411642 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (see instructions) (a)|_| (b)|X| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) SEC use only. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Citizenship or place of organization. Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with: (5) Sole voting power: N/A (6) Shared voting power: 1,999,840 (7) Sole dispositive power: N/A (8) Shared dispositive power: 1,999,840 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (9) Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person. 1,999,840 (1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (10) Check if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares |_| (see instructions). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (11) Percent of class represented by amount in Row 9. 5.1% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (12) Type of reporting person (see instructions). CO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- (1) 1. Novartis AG owns 999,920 shares of Common Stock and Genetic Therapy, Inc. owns 999,920 shares of Common Stock. Novartis AG, as the ultimate parent entity, beneficially owns 1,999,840 shares of Common Stock. Page 3 of 5 Pages Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: Cell Genesys, Inc. Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 500 Forbes Boulevard South San Francisco, CA 94080 Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: Novartis AG Item 2(b). Address or Principal Business Office or, If None, Residence: Lichtstrasse 35 CH-4002, Basel Switzerland Item 2(c). Citizenship: Switzerland Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Item 2(e). CUSIP No.: 150921104 Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a: (a) |_| Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) |_| Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) |_| Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) |_| Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8). (e) |_| An investment adviser in accordance with ss. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) |_| An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) |_| A parent holding company or control person in accordance with ss.240.13d- 1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) |_| A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) |_| A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j) |_| Group, in accordance with ss. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box. |X| Item 4. Ownership (a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,999,840 (b) Percent of class: 5.1% (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to direct the vote N/A (ii) Shared power to direct the vote 1,999,840 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of N/A (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 1,999,840 Item 5. Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following |_| Item 6. Ownership of More than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Not applicable. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person. Not applicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not applicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not applicable. Item 10. Certifications By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. Page 4 of 5 Pages After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Novartis AG Date: 07/28/2003 /s/ Peter Rupprecht Name: Peter Rupprecht Title: Authorized Signatory for Novartis AG Novartis AG Date: 07/28/2003 /s/ George Miller Name: George Miller Title: Authorized Signatory for Novartis AG Genetic Therapy, Inc. Date: 07/28/2003 /s/ Russette M. Lyons Name: Russette M. Lyons Title: Chief Operating Officer The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement, Provided, however, That a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incor porated by reference. The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature. ATTENTION: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001). (Secs. 3(b), 13(d)(1), 13(d)(2), 13(d)(5), 13(d)(6), 13(g)(1), 13(g)(2), 13(g)(5), 23, 48 Stat. 882, 894, 901; sec. 203(a), 49 Stat. 704; sec. 8, 49 Stat. 1379; sec. 10, 78 Stat. 88a; sec. 2, 82 Stat. 454; secs. 1, 2, 84 Stat. 1497; secs. 3, 10, 18, 89 Stat. 97, 119, 155; secs. 202, 203, 91 Stat. 1494, 1498, 1499; (15 U.S.C. 78c(b), 78m(d)(1), 78m(d)(2), 78m(d)(5), 78m(d)(6), 78m(g)(1), 78m(g)(2), 78m(g)(5), 78w)) [43 FR 18499, Apr. 28, 1978, as amended at 43 FR 55756, Nov. 29, 1978; 44 FR 2148, Jan. 9, 1979; 44 FR 11751, Mar. 2, 1979; 61 FR 49959, Sept. 24, 1996; 62 FR 35340, July 1, 1997; 63 FR 2867, Jan. 16, 1998; 63 FR 15287, Mar. 31, 1998] Page 5 of 5 Pages