QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Filed Pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(3) and (c)
File No. 333-106942


Prospectus Supplement No. 7
Dated August 20, 2004
To Prospectus Dated July 23, 2003

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
9,583,331 Shares
Common Stock

        This prospectus supplement supplements the prospectus, dated July 23, 2003, of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. relating to the offering and sale by selling stockholders of Rigel (or by donees, pledgees, transferees and other successors in interest that receive such shares as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other non-sale transfer) of 9,583,331 shares of our common stock. This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the prospectus, and is qualified by reference to the prospectus, except to the extent that the information presented herein supercedes the information contained in the prospectus. The term "Selling Stockholders" as used in the prospectus shall be deemed to include the selling stockholders identified in the table below. This prospectus supplement is not complete without, and may not be delivered or utilized except in connection with, the prospectus, including any amendments or supplements thereto.

        Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 1 of the prospectus.

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

        This prospectus supplement is being filed in connection with the distribution of shares held by Alta California Partners, L.P., Alta Embarcadero Partners, LLC, Alta BioPharma Partners II, L.P. and Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners II, LLC (collectively, the "Alta Funds"), each identified in the prospectus as a selling stockholder, to their partners and members. No additional shares of Rigel common stock are being offered for resale hereunder. Except with respect to directors and officers of Rigel, the Alta Funds and entities that have filed reports pursuant to Section 13(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and statements of beneficial ownership filed pursuant to Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Act, the ownership indicated in the table below is based solely on shares owned by the indicated selling stockholders as a result of distributions of shares by the Alta Funds. The table appearing on pages 16 and 17 of the prospectus under the caption "Selling



Stockholders" is supplemented and amended to include the following stockholders in addition to those identified in the prospectus:

 
  Ownership
Before Offering

   
  Ownership
After Offering

 
Name and Address of Owner***

  Shares
Offered

 
  Shares
  Percent*
  Shares
  Percent*
 
Alta California Partners, L.P.(1)
One Embarcadero Center, Suite 4050
San Francisco, CA 94111
  33,947   **   33,947   0   **  

Alta Embarcadero Partners, LLC(1)
One Embarcadero Center, Suite 4050
San Francisco, CA 94111

 

776

 

**

 

776

 

0

 

**

 

Alta BioPharma Partners II, L.P.(1)
One Embarcadero Center, Suite 4050
San Francisco, CA 94111

 

1,025,470

 

5.6

%

1,025,470

 

0

 

**

 

Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners II, LLC(1)
One Embarcadero Center, Suite 4050
San Francisco, CA 94111

 

37,723

 

**

 

37,723

 

0

 

**

 

1999 Farah Hyder Champsi Trust

 

1,998

 

**

 

1,388

 

610

 

**

 

Anne Davis Living Trust Dtd 1/22/04

 

7,359

 

**

 

1,871

 

5,488

 

**

 

A. Rachel Leheny

 

380

 

**

 

264

 

116

 

**

 

Alison de Bord

 

492

 

**

 

342

 

150

 

**

 

Andreas Bremer

 

286

 

**

 

198

 

88

 

**

 

Arnold T Hagler Separate Property Trust dtd 9/17/97

 

142

 

**

 

99

 

43

 

**

 

Arun K. Aggarwal

 

47

 

**

 

33

 

14

 

**

 

ASF Montparnasse Limited

 

10,938

 

**

 

2,782

 

8,156

 

**

 

B.A. Ventures, Inc.

 

572

 

**

 

278

 

294

 

**

 

Bank of America Capital Corporation

 

14,250

 

**

 

9,902

 

4,348

 

**

 

Bear Stearns Securities (Custodians) for Douglas I. Lovison

 

219

 

**

 

56

 

163

 

**

 

Blackboard Ventures, Inc.

 

38,000

 

**

 

26,405

 

11,595

 

**

 

Boatmen's Trust F/B/O Laura Hoblitzelle

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Brian E. Cobb

 

510

 

**

 

234

 

276

 

**

 

Brian W. McNeill

 

296

 

**

 

117

 

179

 

**

 

BSD & T of CA As Agent For 1051-0032-006

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

BSD & T of CA As Trustee For 1051-0005-002

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Burr Family Investment Company, LLC

 

3,680

 

**

 

936

 

2,744

 

**

 

California Public Employees' Retirement System

 

397,785

(2)

1.9

%

141,433

 

256,352

(2)

1.4

%

Chase Capital Partners Private Equity Fund of Funds

 

19,000

 

**

 

13,202

 

5,798

 

**

 

Christopher Walsh

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

CINQ-M Participations

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 
                       


Claudio Engel

 

380

 

**

 

264

 

116

 

**

 

Comerica Capital Advisors

 

950

 

**

 

660

 

290

 

**

 

Continental Investments Corporation, LLC

 

2,044

 

**

 

938

 

1,106

 

**

 

Craig L. Burr 1985 Children's Trust

 

1,146

 

**

 

501

 

645

 

**

 

Craig L. Burr Revocable Trust

 

671

 

**

 

171

 

500

 

**

 

Daniel Fred Goodman

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

Daniel H. Case Separate Property Non-Exempt Marital Trust

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Daniel Janney and Noelle Montgomery Family Trust

 

4,084

 

**

 

1,217

 

2,867

 

**

 

Daniel Richner

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

Daniel V. Santi

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

David E. Retick Trust

 

27

 

**

 

7

 

20

 

**

 

Deleage Children's Trust FBO Andre Deleage

 

2,329

 

**

 

660

 

1,669

 

**

 

Deleage Children's Trust FBO Emmanuel Deleage

 

2,329

 

**

 

660

 

1,669

 

**

 

Deleage Children's Trust FBO Michel Deleage

 

2,329

 

**

 

660

 

1,669

 

**

 

Deleage Children's Trust FBO Phillippe Deleage

 

2,329

 

**

 

660

 

1,669

 

**

 

Des femmes Foundation, Inc.

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Dolly Champsi

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Edward E. Penhoet

 

3,181

 

**

 

2,210

 

971

 

**

 

Edward Hurwitz

 

76

 

**

 

53

 

23

 

**

 

Eileen McCarthy

 

1,947

 

**

 

513

 

1,434

 

**

 

Elliot B. & Pascale V. Evers Revocable Trust

 

832

 

**

 

337

 

495

 

**

 

Eric W. Roberts

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Eugene G. Chen

 

47

 

**

 

33

 

14

 

**

 

Eurazeo

 

28,500

 

**

 

19,804

 

8,696

 

**

 

Finedix, B.V.

 

4,750

 

**

 

3,301

 

1,449

 

**

 

Fleet National Bank & Edith N.K. Meyer Trustees U/I C.P. Knight, Jr. Residuary Trust DTD 12/19/61 as Amended

 

547

 

**

 

139

 

408

 

**

 

Francois A. L'Eplattenier

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

Fred S. Endsley, as Trustee of General Fund c/u/a Dtd August 10, 1987

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Garden Bay Investors

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

Garrett P. Gruener

 

15,865

 

**

 

4,421

 

11,444

 

**

 

GC&H Investments

 

1,306

 

**

 

499

 

807

 

**

 

Geoffrey R. Hoguet

 

201

 

**

 

51

 

150

 

**

 
                       


Guy Paul Nohra and Linda Nohra, Nohra Living Trust

 

11,442

 

**

 

3,087

 

8,355

 

**

 

H. Michael Cohen

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

Hans Tjian

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

Harris Barton

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Health Partners Holdings Limited

 

1,900

 

**

 

1,320

 

580

 

**

 

Hilary Strain

 

202

 

**

 

140

 

62

 

**

 

Hoblitzelle FBO Christopher Augur

 

146

 

**

 

37

 

109

 

**

 

Hoblitzelle FBO Harrison H. Augur

 

145

 

**

 

37

 

108

 

**

 

Hoblitzelle FBO Newell A. Augur Jr.

 

146

 

**

 

37

 

109

 

**

 

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

 

28,500

 

**

 

19,804

 

8,696

 

**

 

James Cervantes

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

James M. Gower(3)

 

125,628

 

**

 

264

 

125,364

 

**

 

Jean Deleage(4)

 

9,593

 

**

 

2,832

 

6,761

 

**

 

Jean-Philippe Tripe

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

John Clawson

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank as Trustee of the Corning Inc. Retirement Master Trust

 

9,500

 

**

 

6,601

 

2,899

 

**

 

Kenneth E. Williams

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

Khaled Nasr

 

101

 

**

 

70

 

31

 

**

 

Kingsley Profit Sharing Trust

 

67

 

**

 

17

 

50

 

**

 

KJM Florida Trust

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Le Serre

 

173

 

**

 

76

 

97

 

**

 

Len R. Small

 

285

 

**

 

198

 

87

 

**

 

Lip-Bu Tan & Ysa Loo, TTES FBO Lip-Bu
Tan & Ysa Loo Trust UTD 2/3/92

 

285

 

**

 

198

 

87

 

**

 

Lockard/Marduel Revocable Trust

 

1,903

 

**

 

1,322

 

581

 

**

 

Lotus BioScience Investment Holdings Ltd

 

19,000

 

**

 

13,202

 

5,798

 

**

 

Lushtak Family Living Trust DTD 8/9/99

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Mahendra G. Shah

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

Marc L. Abramowitz

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Marina Bozilenko

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Mario M. Rosati, Trustee of the Mario M. Rosati Trust U/D/T 1/5/90

 

142

 

**

 

99

 

43

 

**

 

Mark J. and Becky R. Levin

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Agent For 1026-032245-8

 

547

 

**

 

139

 

408

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Agent For 1026-032279-7

 

547

 

**

 

139

 

408

 

**

 
                       


Mellon Bank As Agent For 1083-671500-0

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Agent For 1083-67D200-7

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Agent For 1083-67I600-0

 

874

 

**

 

222

 

652

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Agent For 1084-28YW01-6

 

219

 

**

 

56

 

163

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Agent For 1084-316H01-4

 

547

 

**

 

139

 

408

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Agent For 1084-33VX00-0

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Trustee For 1026-018408-0

 

1,094

 

**

 

278

 

816

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Trustee For 1026-019556-5

 

1,094

 

**

 

278

 

816

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Trustee For 1026-460574-2

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Trustee For 1026-460581-7

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Trustee For 1026-540503-5

 

656

 

**

 

167

 

489

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Trustee For 1084-09FN42-1

 

2,187

 

**

 

556

 

1,631

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Trustee For 1084-09FN46-0

 

547

 

**

 

139

 

408

 

**

 

Mellon Bank As Trustee For 1051-067700-0

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Mellon Bank NA As Agent For Account 1026-020287-0

 

2,187

 

**

 

556

 

1,631

 

**

 

Mellon Bank NA As Agent For Account 1026-402383-0

 

2,187

 

**

 

556

 

1,631

 

**

 

Mellon Bank NA As Agent For Account 1026-047161-0

 

19,000

 

**

 

13,202

 

5,798

 

**

 

Mellon Bank NA As Custodian For Account 1026-071459-0

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Michael G. Dovey Individual Account

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

Mitchell H. Gage

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

Mumtaz H. Champsi

 

380

 

**

 

264

 

116

 

**

 

Needham & Company, Inc.

 

1,094

 

**

 

278

 

816

 

**

 

Niel H. Sherman

 

76

 

**

 

53

 

23

 

**

 

North Star Venture Mgmt Inc. Pst F/B/O Terrance Mcguire

 

134

 

**

 

34

 

100

 

**

 

Northern Trust Bank of Florida A/C
F22316700, Fred Endsley Insurance Trust
dtd 6/27/78, Fred Endsley Trustee

 

437

 

**

 

111

 

326

 

**

 

Nottingham Trust

 

107

 

**

 

27

 

80

 

**

 

Old Westbury Venture Capital Fund, L.L.C.

 

26,195

 

**

 

6,661

 

19,534

 

**

 

Peter S. Handy

 

656

 

**

 

167

 

489

 

**

 

Peter Seeburg

 

3,800

 

**

 

2,641

 

1,159

 

**

 

PH Investments, LLC

 

547

 

**

 

139

 

408

 

**

 

PharmaBio Development

 

9,500

 

**

 

6,601

 

2,899

 

**

 
                       


R. Scott Greer

 

950

 

**

 

660

 

290

 

**

 

Raijacur, N.V.

 

5,700

 

**

 

3,961

 

1,739

 

**

 

Rainicur, N.V.

 

5,700

 

**

 

3,961

 

1,739

 

**

 

Revocable Trust of Gerald M. Rubin

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Robert Simon

 

101

 

**

 

70

 

31

 

**

 

RockPoint Capital II

 

9,500

 

**

 

6,601

 

2,899

 

**

 

Sanford Robertson & Jeanne Robertson,
Trustees of the Robertson Revocable Trust
dated 11/27/02

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Scaler Foundation

 

1,425

 

**

 

990

 

435

 

**

 

Scott C. Sollers

 

152

 

**

 

106

 

46

 

**

 

Silicon Valley Bancshares

 

547

 

**

 

139

 

408

 

**

 

Soparexo

 

5,700

 

**

 

3,961

 

1,739

 

**

 

Stephanie Lovison Trust dtd 10/3/01, Stephanie Lovison Trustee

 

219

 

**

 

56

 

163

 

**

 

Sutro Investment Partners VI, LLC

 

950

 

**

 

660

 

290

 

**

 

Swan Ventures, L.P.

 

1,900

 

**

 

1,320

 

580

 

**

 

Taha Tippu Hyder Champsi

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

Tandon Family Trust

 

2,187

 

**

 

556

 

1,631

 

**

 

Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America

 

38,000

 

**

 

26,405

 

11,595

 

**

 

The Clarence Westbury Foundation

 

570

 

**

 

396

 

174

 

**

 

The McGuire Family Irrevocable Trust

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

The Nohra 1996 Credit Trust U/A/D 12/2/96

 

3,680

 

**

 

936

 

2,744

 

**

 

The Sutro Group

 

1,094

 

**

 

278

 

816

 

**

 

Theodore A. Bosler Trust U/A 4/21/93

 

328

 

**

 

83

 

245

 

**

 

Thomas B. King

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

Thomas J. Dietz

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

Thuban Partners L.P.

 

142

 

**

 

99

 

43

 

**

 

Timothy L. Dibble

 

80

 

**

 

20

 

60

 

**

 

Timothy P. Neher

 

547

 

**

 

139

 

408

 

**

 

Virginia M. Turezyn

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 

Waldemar Jantz

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

Warren E. Miller and Britt Marie E. Ljung Living Trust dtd 6/20

 

95

 

**

 

66

 

29

 

**

 

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota NA & Frank Polestra Co-Executors for Marino Polestra Estate

 

7,417

 

**

 

1,897

 

5,520

 

**

 
                       


William J. Steding

 

219

 

**

 

56

 

163

 

**

 

William P. Egan

 

671

 

**

 

171

 

500

 

**

 

William P. Egan 1985 Childrens Trust F/B/O Gregory J. Egan

 

287

 

**

 

126

 

161

 

**

 

William P. Egan 1985 Childrens Trust F/B/O Kristen E. Reed

 

287

 

**

 

126

 

161

 

**

 

William P. Egan 1985 Childrens Trust F/B/O Mark P. Egan

 

287

 

**

 

126

 

161

 

**

 

William P. Egan 1985 Childrens Trust F/B/O William P. Egan III

 

287

 

**

 

126

 

161

 

**

 

William Thomas Lockard, Trustee and Alix Marduel, Trustee—Lockard/Marduel Revocable Trust

 

475

 

**

 

330

 

145

 

**

 

WS Investment Company 96A

 

201

 

**

 

51

 

150

 

**

 

WS Investment Company, LLC (2000)

 

142

 

**

 

99

 

43

 

**

 

WS Investment Company, LLC (2000B)

 

190

 

**

 

132

 

58

 

**

 
   
 
 
 
 
 

Total

 

1,877,149

 

10.5

%

1,480,549

 

396,600

 

2.5

%
   
 
 
 
 
 

*
Percentage calculations based on 18,454,166 shares of our common stock that were issued and outstanding as of August 17, 2004.

**
Less than 1%

***
Addresses that are not listed are c/o Alta Partners, One Embarcadero Center, Suite 4050, San Francisco, CA 94111.

(1)
Includes 33,947 shares of common stock that are subject to purchase by Alta California Partners, L.P., 776 shares of common stock that are subject to purchase by Alta Embarcadero Partners, LLC, 217,686 shares of common stock that are subject to purchase by Alta BioPharma Partners II, L.P. and 8,008 shares of common stock that are subject to purchase by Alta Embarcadero BioPharma Partners II, LLC under warrants that are currently exercisable. Jean Deleage, PhD, a director of Rigel since 1997, is a principal of Alta Partners and a general partner, managing director, manager or member of the foregoing funds. As a general partner, managing director, manager or member of the foregoing funds, Dr. Deleage may be deemed to share voting and investment powers for the shares held by the foregoing funds. Dr. Deleage disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by funds affiliated with Alta Partners except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest therein.

(2)
Includes 55,545 shares of common stock as disclosed on a Form 13F for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

(3)
Includes 125,248 shares of common stock previously owned by Mr. Gower. Mr. Gower is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Rigel.

(4)
Dr. Deleage is a director of Rigel.



QuickLinks

Prospectus Supplement No. 7 Dated August 20, 2004 To Prospectus Dated July 23, 2003