SC 13G

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 13G
(Rule 13d-102)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13d-1(b) (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO 13d-2(b)
(Amendment No.    )¹

Pharmacyclics, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)

716933 10 6
(CUSIP Number)

July 11, 2002
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

o    Rule 13d-1(b)
ý    Rule 13d-1(c)
o    Rule 13d-1(d)

¹        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 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).

CUSIP NO. 716933 10 6 13G Page 2 of 9 Pages

1	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P.
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY):
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
		(a) ý
		(b) o
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware

	5	SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF		0
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY	6	SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED		281,450
BY
EACH	7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING		0
PERSON
WITH	8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
		281,450

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	281,450
10	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
		o
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
	1.7%
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
	PN
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

CUSIP NO. 716933 10 6 13G Page 3 of 9 Pages

1	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P.
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY):
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
		(a) ý
		(b) o
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware

	5	SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF		0
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY	6	SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED		175,000
BY
EACH	7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING		0
PERSON
WITH	8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
		175,000

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	175,000
10	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
		o
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
	1.1%
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
	PN
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

CUSIP NO. 716933 10 6 13G Page 4 of 9 Pages

1	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: BVF Investments, L.L.C.
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY):
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
		(a) ý
		(b) o
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware

	5	SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF		0
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY	6	SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED		425,750
BY
EACH	7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING		0
PERSON
WITH	8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
		425,750

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	425,750
10	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
		o
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
	2.6%
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
	OO
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

CUSIP NO. 716933 10 6 13G Page 5 of 9 Pages

1	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: BVF Partners L.P.
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY):
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
		(a) ý
		(b) o
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware

	5	SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF		0
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY	6	SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED		920,700
BY
EACH	7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING		0
PERSON
WITH	8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
		920,700

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	920,700
10	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
		o
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
	5.7%
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
	PN
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

CUSIP NO. 716933 10 6 13G Page 6 of 9 Pages

1	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: BVF Inc.
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY):
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
		(a) ý
		(b) o
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware

	5	SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF		0
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY	6	SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED		920,700
BY
EACH	7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING		0
PERSON
WITH	8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
		920,700

9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	920,700
10	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
		o
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
	5.7%
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
	IA, CO
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

CUSIP NO. 716933 10 6 13G Page 7 of 9 Pages

ITEM 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER:

Pharmacyclics, Inc. ("Pharmacyclics")

ITEM 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

995 E. Arques Avenue
Sunnyvale, California 94085-4521

ITEM 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING:

This Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of the following persons* (the "Reporting Persons"):

(i)

Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. ("BVF")

(ii)

Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P. ("BVF2")

(iii)

BVF Investments, L.L.C. ("Investments")

(iv)

BVF Partners L.P. ("Partners")

(v)

BVF Inc. ("BVF Inc.")



*

Attached as Exhibit 1 is a copy of an agreement among the Reporting Persons filing (as specified hereinabove) that this Schedule 13G is being filed on behalf of each of them.

ITEM 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:

The principal business office of the Reporting Persons comprising the group filing this Schedule 13G is located at 227 West Monroe Street, Suite 4800, Chicago, Illinois, 60606.

ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP:

ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP:

BVF:	a Delaware limited partnership
BVF2:	a Delaware limited partnership
Investments:	a Delaware limited liability company
Partners:	a Delaware limited partnership
BVF Inc.:	a Delaware corporation

ITEM 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:

Common Stock.

ITEM 2(e). CUSIP Number:

716933 10 6

CUSIP NO. 716933 10 6 13G Page 8 of 9 Pages

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: One of the following

Not applicable as this Schedule 13G is filed pursuant to Rule 13d 1(c).

ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP:

The information in items 1 and 5 through 11 on the cover pages (pp. 2 - 6) on this Schedule 13G is hereby incorporated by reference.

ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS:

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the Reporting Persons have ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities check the following. / /

ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON:

BVF shares voting and dispositive power over the shares of the common stock it beneficially owns with Partners. BVF2 also shares voting and dispositive power over the shares of the common stock it beneficially owns with Partners. Investments also shares voting and dispositive power over the shares of the common stock it beneficially owns with Partners. Partners and BVF Inc. share voting and dispositive power over the shares of the common stock they beneficially own with, in addition to BVF, BVF2 and Investments, certain managed accounts on whose behalf Partners, as investment manager, purchased such shares. None of the managed accounts individually owns more than 5% of the common stock of Pharmacyclics.

ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE
                SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF A GROUP:

Not applicable.

ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:

Not applicable.

CUSIP NO. 716933 10 6 13G Page 9 of 9 Pages

ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION

        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.

        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.

Dated:  July 22, 2002
	BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.
	By:	BVF Partners L.P., its general partner
		By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
			By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President
	BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II, L.P.
	By:	BVF Partners L.P., its general partner
		By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
			By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President
	BVF INVESTMENTS, L.L.C.
	By:	BVF Partners L.P., its manager
		By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
			By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President
	BVF PARTNERS L.P.
	By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
		By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President
	BVF INC.
	By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President

QuickLinks

SCHEDULE 13G
ITEM 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER
ITEM 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES
ITEM 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING
ITEM 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE
ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP
ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP
ITEM 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES
ITEM 2(e). CUSIP Number
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: One of the following
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF A GROUP
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION

EX-1

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

EXHIBIT 1

AGREEMENT REGARDING JOINT FILING

        The undersigned, Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, BVF Investments, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, BVF Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and BVF Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby agree and acknowledge that the information required by Schedule 13G, to which this Agreement is attached as an exhibit, is filed on behalf of each of them. The undersigned further agree that any amendments or supplements thereto shall also be filed on behalf of each of them.

Dated:  July 22, 2002
	BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P.
	By:	BVF Partners L.P., its general partner
		By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
			By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President
	BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II, L.P.
	By:	BVF Partners L.P., its general partner
		By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
			By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President
	BVF INVESTMENTS, L.L.C.
	By:	BVF Partners L.P., its manager
		By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
			By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President
	BVF PARTNERS L.P.
	By:	BVF Inc., its general partner
		By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President
	BVF INC.
	By:	/s/  MARK N. LAMPERT Mark N. Lampert President

QuickLinks

EXHIBIT 1
AGREEMENT REGARDING JOINT FILING