SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

_________________

FORM 10-Q
___________


QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2002

Commission File No. 0-31261


ATHEROGENICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Georgia

58-210832

(State of incorporation)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)



8995 Westside Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia 30004
(Address of registrant's principal executive offices, including zip code)


_______________________


(Registrant's telephone number, including area code): (678) 336-2500


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:  (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [ X ]    No [   ]

As of November 12, 2002, there were 28,128,099 shares of the registrant's
common stock outstanding.

_________________________


ATHEROGENICS, INC.
FORM 10-Q
INDEX

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page No.

Item 1.  Financial Statements (unaudited)


Condensed Balance Sheets

September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001

3


Condensed Statements of Operations

Three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001

4


Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

Nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001

5


Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

6


Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition

and Results of Operations

7


Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

10


Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

11


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 2.  Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

11


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

11


SIGNATURES

12


CERTIFICATIONS

13




2






PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

ATHEROGENICS, INC.
  CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

September 30,

December 31,

2002

2001



ASSETS

(Unaudited)

(Audited)


Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 29,654,344

$ 28,682,050

Short-term investments

11,545,958

29,757,945

Prepaid expenses, notes receivable and other current assets

590,689

576,734



Total current assets

41,790,991

59,016,729

Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation

2,854,999

2,915,512

Notes receivable, net of current portion

241,723

323,037



Total assets

$ 44,887,713

$ 62,255,278




LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


Current liabilities:

Accounts payable              

$    1,524,694

$   1,121,550

Accrued compensation

1,024,151

902,571

Accrued research and development costs

989,776

1,307,435

Accrued liabilities

690,770

541,809

Current portion of equipment loan facility and

capitalized lease obligation

350,145

87,101



Total current liabilities

4,579,536

3,960,466


Equipment loan facility, net of current portion

447,679

--


Shareholders' equity:

Preferred stock, no par value:  Authorized - 5,000,000 shares

--

--

Common stock, no par value:  Authorized - 100,000,000

shares; issued and outstanding - 28,128,099 and

27,834,773 shares at September 30, 2002 and

December 31, 2001, respectively

122,106,327

121,723,102

Warrants

678,076

771,713

Deferred stock compensation

(1,584,486

)

(2,975,314

)

Accumulated deficit

(81,340,919

)

(61,277,987

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

1,500

53,298



Total shareholders' equity

39,860,498

58,294,812



Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$ 44,887,713

$ 62,255,278




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.




3




ATHEROGENICS, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

Three months ended

Nine months ended

September 30,

September 30,

2002

2001

2002

2001





Revenues:

License fees

$                --

$                --

$                  --

$    1,111,111

Research and development

--

538,511

--

1,339,067





Total revenues

--

538,511

--

2,450,178


Operating expenses:

Research and development

5,700,117

4,236,143

16,403,313

11,654,926

General and administrative

989,292

942,574

2,997,487

2,837,846

Amortization of deferred stock

compensation

443,371

815,819

1,442,017

1,836,212





Total operating expenses

7,132,780

5,994,536

20,842,817

16,328,984






Operating loss

(7,132,780

)

(5,456,025

)

(20,842,817

)

(13,878,806

)

Net interest income

206,057

593,806

779,885

1,966,682





Net loss

$ (6,926,723

)

$ (4,862,219

)

$ (20,062,932

)

$ (11,912,124

)






Net loss per share -

basic and diluted

$          (0.25

)

$          (0.18

)

$            (0.72

)

$            (0.47

)






Weighted average shares outstanding -

basic and diluted

27,979,930

27,763,830

27,927,575

25,409,593






The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.




4




ATHEROGENICS, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

Nine months ended

September 30,

2002

2001




Operating activities:

Net loss

$ (20,062,932

)

$ (11,912,124

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in

operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

549,292

354,096

Amortization of deferred stock compensation

1,442,017

1,836,212

Stock issued for services

--

29,778

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

--

599,733

Prepaid expenses, notes receivable and other assets

67,359

(159,728

)

Accounts payable              

403,144

(1,085

)

Accrued liabilities

(47,118

)

655,356

Deferred revenues

--

(1,111,111

)



Net cash used in operating activities

(17,648,238

)

(9,708,873

)


Investing activities:

Purchases of equipment and leasehold improvements

(488,779

)

(777,934

)

Sales of short-term investments

18,160,189

9,423,409



Net cash provided by investing activities

17,671,410

8,645,475


Financing activities:

Proceeds from equipment loan facility

936,851

--

Payments on equipment loan facility and capital lease obligation

(226,128

)

(116,317

)

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock in a private placement

--

18,928,055

Proceeds from the exercise of common stock options

238,399

93,758



Net cash provided by financing activities

949,122

18,905,496




Increase in cash and cash equivalents

972,294

17,842,098

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

28,682,050

26,463,070



Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$ 29,654,344

$ 44,305,168




Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

Interest paid

$       34,986

$       21,437

Valuation adjustment for variable options and warrants issued

for technology license agreement

(30,200

)

--



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.




5



ATHEROGENICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
  (Unaudited)

1.   Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of AtheroGenics for the interim periods presented.  Certain footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted from the interim financial statements as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. 

The interim results should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in AtheroGenics' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.  Shareholders are encouraged to review the Form 10-K for a broader discussion of AtheroGenics' opportunities and risks inherent in the business.  Copies of the Form 10-K are available on request.

2.   Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In October 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets, ("SFAS 144") which is applicable to financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001.  SFAS 144 establishes a new method of accounting and reporting for the impairment of long-lived assets other than goodwill and intangible assets.  The statement provides a single accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed of and changes the criteria required to classify an asset as held-for-sale.  The adoption of SFAS 144 has had no impact on AtheroGenics' financial statements.

3.   Net Loss per Share

SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share, requires presentation of both basic and diluted earnings per share.  Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings per share is computed in the same manner as basic earnings per share except that diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that would occur if outstanding options and warrants were exercised.  Because AtheroGenics reported a net loss for all periods presented, shares associated with stock options and warrants are not included because they are antidilutive.  Basic and diluted net loss per share amounts are the same for these periods.

4.   Deferred Stock Compensation

Deferred compensation for options granted to employees represents the difference between the exercise price and the deemed fair value of AtheroGenics' common stock on the dates these stock options were granted.  The deferred compensation is included as a reduction of shareholders' equity and is amortized over the vesting periods of the individual options, generally four years, using the graded vesting method.  The graded vesting method provides for vesting of portions of the overall award at interim dates and results in higher vesting in earlier years than straight-line vesting.

Deferred compensation for options and warrants granted to consultants is determined in accordance with SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring or in Conjunction with Selling Goods or Services, as the fair value of the equity instruments issued.  Deferred compensation for options and warrants granted to consultants is adjusted to fair market value on each balance sheet date.

At September 30, 2002, AtheroGenics had a total of $1,584,486 remaining to be amortized over the vesting periods of all stock options and warrants.




6



5.  Bank Credit Agreements

In March 2002, AtheroGenics entered into a revolving credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank for up to a maximum amount of $5,000,000 to be used for working capital requirements.  Under the terms of the facility, interest on advances is charged at the Bank's prime rate plus 1.50% per year, provided that certain liquidity levels are maintained; otherwise interest will be charged at prime rate plus 2.0% per year.  Amounts borrowed under the revolving credit facility may be repaid and reborrowed at any time and from time to time during the term of the facility.  The revolving line of credit terminates on September 5, 2004 and all outstanding amounts and accrued interest will be due and payable on that date.  As of September 30, 2002, there were no outstanding balances under the revolving credit facility.

In addition, in March 2002, AtheroGenics entered into an equipment loan facility with Silicon Valley Bank for up to a maximum amount of $2,500,000 to be used to finance existing and new equipment purchases.  Under the terms of the facility, AtheroGenics may request up to six equipment advances until December 6, 2002.  The interest rate on the equipment advances will be equal to the greater of (1) the Bank's prime rate plus 3.0% or (2) 7.5% per year and will be fixed at the time of each advance.  Amounts borrowed under the equipment loan facility will be repaid in 33 equal installments of principal and interest beginning on the first business day of the month following an advance.  As of September 30, 2002, there was an outstanding balance of $775,965 under the equipment loan facility.

As collateral for the revolving credit facility and for the equipment loan facility, AtheroGenics granted to Silicon Valley Bank a security interest in all of its assets other than its intellectual property, and granted a negative pledge on its intellectual property.

6.  Subsequent Events

On November 8, 2002, the board of directors of AtheroGenics elected David Bearman to serve as a Class I director for a term expiring at the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and in accordance with AtheroGenics' bylaws.  Mr. Bearman was also appointed to the audit committee of the board.

On November 13, 2002, AtheroGenics filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Under this shelf registration statement, AtheroGenics may sell common stock in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $75 million.

Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations


The following should be read with the financial statements and related footnotes and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in AtheroGenics' Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The results discussed below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in any future periods.  The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the statements made.

OVERVIEW

Since our operations began in 1994, we have focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, including heart disease (atherosclerosis), rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.  Based on our proprietary vascular protectant technology platform, we have four drug programs in the clinic, and are progressing on a number of other preclinical programs.  Our most advanced clinical compound, AGI-1067, is in a Phase IIb clinical trial for atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis.  We are currently working in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration to define the Phase III clinical development program for AGI-1067 as an oral therapy for atherosclerosis in patients with established coronary artery disease.  Our second clinical compound, AGIX-4207, is a novel oral agent being tested in a Phase II clinical program for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.  AGIX-4207 I.V. is an intravenous rheumatoid arthritis treatment that has completed a Phase I clinical trial.  AGI-1096 is a novel, oral agent that has completed a Phase I clinical trial for the prevention of transplant rejection.



7




To date, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to research and development.  We have not received any commercial revenues from product sales.  Revenues have been derived from certain license fees of a non-recurring nature received in connection with entering into an exclusive license agreement.  We terminated this exclusive license agreement in October 2001.  We expect to incur significant losses in most years prior to deriving any product revenue as we continue to increase research and development costs.  We have incurred significant losses since we began operations in 1994 and as of September 30, 2002, we had an accumulated deficit of $81.3 million.  We cannot assure you that we will become profitable.  We expect that losses will fluctuate from quarter to quarter and that these fluctuations may be substantial.  Our ability to achieve profitability depends upon a variety of factors, including our ability, alone or with others, to complete the successful development of our product candidates, to obtain required regulatory clearances, and to manufacture and market our future products.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of the Three and Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001


Revenues

There were no revenues during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, compared to $538,511 and $2.5 million, respectively, during the same periods in 2001.  Last year's revenues reflected the amortization of a $5.0 million license fee payment and research and development revenue attributable to a license agreement that we terminated in October 2001.

Expenses

Research and Development.  Research and development expenses increased 35% to $5.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, from $4.2 million for the comparable period in 2001, and 41% to $16.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 from $11.7 million in the comparable period in 2001.  The increase in research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2002, was primarily due to higher costs associated with conducting the ongoing clinical trials for AGI-1067.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2002, the increase was primarily due to higher costs associated with the clinical trials for AGI-1067, as well as increases in costs related to ongoing research programs.

General and Administrative.  General and administrative expenses increased 5% to $1.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, from $942,574 for the comparable period in 2001, and 6% to $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 from $2.8 million in the comparable period in 2001.  The increase in general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, was due to increased recruiting and relocation costs in addition to the impact of normal inflationary increases in compensation and administrative operating costs.

Amortization of Deferred Stock Compensation.  Amortization of deferred stock compensation was $443,371 for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, compared to $815,819 for the same period in 2001, and $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared to $1.8 million for the same period in 2001.  The decrease in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 is due to the deferred stock compensation being amortized using the graded vesting method, which results in higher amortization in the earlier years.  Also contributing to the decrease were adjustments for forfeited options.  These decreases were partially offset by revaluing options and warrants granted to consultants to current fair market value.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income decreased 65% from $593,806 for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 to $206,057 for the quarter ended September 30, 2002.  Net interest income decreased 60% from $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 to $779,885 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.  The decrease in net interest income is a reflection of lower average interest rates and lower investment balances.




8



LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Since inception, we have financed our operations primarily through sales of equity securities and payments received from a license agreement.  At September 30, 2002, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $41.2 million, compared with $58.4 million at December 31, 2001.  Working capital at September 30, 2002 was $37.2 million, compared to $55.1 million at December 31, 2001.  The decrease in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and working capital is primarily due to the use of funds for operating purposes and purchases of equipment.

Net cash used in operating activities was $17.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, compared to $9.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001.  The increase in the use of cash in operating activities is principally due to the expenditures for the CART-2 Phase IIb study for AGI-1067 and other ongoing product development activities.

Net cash provided by investing activities was $17.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, compared to $8.6 million provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2001.  Net cash provided by investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 consisted primarily of the sales of short-term investments, with the proceeds reinvested in interest bearing cash equivalents, partially offset by the purchase of equipment and leasehold improvements.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $949,122 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, compared to $18.9 million provided by financing activities for the same period in 2001.  Net cash provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2002 consisted primarily of proceeds from the equipment loan facility and exercise of common stock options offset by capital lease payments.  Net cash provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2001 consisted of net proceeds of $18.9 million from the private placement of 3.6 million shares of our common stock.  In March 2002, we entered into a revolving credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank in the amount of up to $5.0 million to be used for working capital requirements.  In addition, we entered into an equipment loan facility with Silicon Valley Bank in the amount of up to $2.5 million to be used to finance existing and new equipment purchases.  At September 30, 2002 there was no outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility and an outstanding balance of $775,965 on the equipment loan facility.

Based upon the current status of our product development and commercialization plans, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, along with our revolving credit facility and equipment loan facility with Silicon Valley Bank, will be adequate to satisfy our capital needs for at least the next 12 months.   However, our actual capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

-  

the status of product development;


-  

the time and cost involved in conducting clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approvals;


-  

the costs of filing, prosecuting and enforcing patent  and other intellectual property claims;


-  

competing technological and market developments; and


-  

our ability to establish new licensing agreements.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act") provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of AtheroGenics.  AtheroGenics and its representatives may from time to time make written or verbal forward-looking statements, including statements contained in this report and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in our reports to our shareholders.  Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.  All statements which address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, such as projections about our future results of operations or our financial condition, research, development and commercialization of our product candidates and anticipated trends in our business, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act.  The forward-looking statements are and will be based on


9


management's then current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and speak only as of their dates.  AtheroGenics undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The following are some of the factors that could affect our financial performance or could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements:

-  

AGI-1067, AGIX-4207, AGIX-4207 I.V. and AGI-1096 may fail in clinical trials;


-  

our ability to generate positive cash flow in light of our history of operating losses;


-  

our inability to obtain additional financing on satisfactory terms, which could preclude us from

developing or marketing our products;


-  

our ability to successfully develop our other product candidates;


-  

our ability to commercialize our product candidates if we fail to demonstrate adequately their safety

and efficacy;


-  

possible delays in our clinical trials;


-  

our inability to predict whether or when we will obtain regulatory approval to commercialize our

product candidates or the timing of any future revenue from these product candidates;


-  

our need to comply with applicable regulatory requirements in the manufacture and distribution of

our products to avoid incurring penalties that may inhibit our ability to commercialize our products;


-  

our ability to protect adequately or enforce our intellectual property rights or secure rights to third

party patents;


-  

the ability of our competitors to develop and market anti-inflammatory products that are more

effective, have fewer side effects or are less expensive than our current or future product candidates;


-  

third parties' failure to synthesize and manufacture our product candidates, which could delay our

clinical trials or hinder our commercialization prospects;


-  

our ability to create sales, marketing and distribution capabilities or enter into agreements with third

parties to perform these functions;


-  

our ability to attract, retain and motivate skilled personnel and cultivate key academic collaborations;


-  

our ability to obtain an adequate level of reimbursement or acceptable prices for our products; and


-  

if plaintiffs bring product liability lawsuits against us, we may incur substantial financial loss or may

be unable to obtain future product liability insurance at reasonable prices, if at all, either of which

could diminish our ability to commercialize our future products.


The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive.

Item 3. Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position, operating results or cash flows due to changes in U.S. interest rates.  This exposure is directly related to our normal operating activities.  Our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are invested with high quality issuers and are generally of a short-term nature.  Interest rates payable on our lease obligations are generally fixed.  As a result, we do not believe that near-term changes in interest rates will have a material effect on our future results of operations.




10



Item 4. Controls and Procedures


Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.
  Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer are responsible for establishing and maintaining "disclosure controls and procedures" (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c)) for AtheroGenics.  Our disclosure controls and procedures include our "internal controls," as that term is used in Section 302 of the Sarbenes-Oxley Act of 2002 and described in the Security and Exchange Commission's Release No. 34-46427 (August 29, 2002).  Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days before the filing date of this quarterly report, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to us required to be included in our periodic SEC filings.

Changes in internal controls.  There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect those controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation.  As a result, there were no corrective actions to be taken.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2.  Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

The Securities and Exchange Commission declared our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-31140) effective August 8, 2000.  The net proceeds from the sale of the 6,900,000 shares of common stock registered pursuant to the Registration Statement (including the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) were $49.4 million after deducting underwriting discounts of $3.9 million and offering expenses of $1.9 million.

We expect to use the proceeds from our initial public offering for research and development activities, including clinical trials, process development and manufacturing support, and for general corporate purposes, including working capital.  A portion of the proceeds may be used to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, products or technologies.  As of September 30, 2002, the proceeds have been applied toward:

-  

purchases of fixed assets and leasehold improvements, $2.1 million;


-  

operating activities, $30.4 million; and


-  

investments in highly liquid, interest bearing, investment grade securities, $16.9 million.


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits

Exhibit No.

10.22*

Separation and Consulting Agreement and General Release dated as of October 3, 2002 between

AtheroGenics, Inc. and Mitchell Glass, M.D.

__________

* Filed herewith.



(b) Reports on Form 8-K

 None.




11



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, thereunto duly authorized.

                                                                   

ATHEROGENICS, INC.

Date:  November 14, 2002                               

By:  /s/  MARK P. COLONNESE

                                                                   

MARK P. COLONNESE

                                                                   

Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration and

                                                                   

   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and

                                                                   

   Chief Accounting Officer)






12



CERTIFICATIONS

I, Russell M. Medford, President and Chief Executive Officer, certify that:

   1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of AtheroGenics, Inc.;

   2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
         which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly
         report;

   3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this
         quarterly report, fairly represent in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations
         and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for the periods presented in this quarterly report;

   4.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
         controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we
         have:

         a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the
               registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
               entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

         b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within
               90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

         c)   presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
               and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

   5.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the
         registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
         equivalent function):

        a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely
              affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have
              identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

         b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a
               significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

   6.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there
         were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal
         controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard
         to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:  November 14, 2002                                              

/s/  RUSSELL M. MEDFORD

                                                                                       

Russell M. Medford

                                                                                       

President and Chief Executive Officer




13



I, Mark Colonnese, Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer, certify that:

   1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of AtheroGenics, Inc.;

   2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
         which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly
         report;

   3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this
         quarterly report, fairly represent in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations
         and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for the periods presented in this quarterly report;

   4.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
         controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we
         have:

         a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the
               registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
               entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

         b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within
               90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

         c)   presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls
               and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

   5.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the
         registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
         equivalent function):

        a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely
              affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have
              identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

         b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a
               significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

   6.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there
         were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal
         controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard
         to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:  November 14, 2002                                             

/s/  MARK P. COLONNESE

                                                                                       

Mark P. Colonnese

                                                                                        

Senior Vice President of Finance and

                                                                                       

   Administration and Chief Financial Officer




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