UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934*

                       INCARA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                    Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value Per Share
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    45324E103
                                    ---------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                 August 9, 2001
                                 --------------
                      (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 the
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 8 pages





-------------------                                            -----------------
CUSIP No. 45324E103                    13G                     Page 2 of 8 Pages
-------------------                                            -----------------

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

           S.A.C. Capital Advisors, LLC
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                         (a) [ ]

                                                                         (b) [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        3  SEC USE ONLY

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

           Delaware
--------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------------------
                         5  SOLE VOTING POWER

                            0
                      ----- ----------------------------------------------------
     NUMBER OF           6  SHARED VOTING POWER
       SHARES
    BENEFICIALLY            1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000
      OWNED BY              shares of common stock)
        EACH          ----- ----------------------------------------------------
     REPORTING           7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
       PERSON
        WITH                0
                      ----- ----------------------------------------------------
                         8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                            1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000
                            shares of common stock)
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        9  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

           1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000 shares of common
           stock)
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
           [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

           9.64%
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

           00
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                       *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT


                               Page 2 of 8 pages




-------------------                                            -----------------
CUSIP No. 45324E103                    13G                     Page 3 of 8 Pages
-------------------                                            -----------------

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

           S.A.C. Capital Management, LLC
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                         (a) [ ]

                                                                         (b) [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        3  SEC USE ONLY

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

           Delaware
-------------------- ------ ----------------------------------------------------
                         5  SOLE VOTING POWER

                            0
                     ------ ----------------------------------------------------
     NUMBER OF           6  SHARED VOTING POWER
      SHARES
   BENEFICIALLY             1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000
     OWNED BY               shares of common stock)
       EACH          ------ ----------------------------------------------------
     REPORTING           7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      PERSON
       WITH                 0
                     ------ ----------------------------------------------------
                         8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                            1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000
                            shares of common stock)
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        9  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

           1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000 shares of common
           stock)
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
           [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

           9.64%
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

           00
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                       *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT


                               Page 3 of 8 pages




-------------------                                            -----------------
CUSIP No. 45324E103                    13G                     Page 4 of 8 Pages
-------------------                                            -----------------

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

           Steven A. Cohen
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                         (a) [ ]

                                                                         (b) [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        3  SEC USE ONLY

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

           United States
-------------------- ------ ----------------------------------------------------
                         5  SOLE VOTING POWER

                            0
                     ------ ----------------------------------------------------
     NUMBER OF           6  SHARED VOTING POWER
      SHARES
   BENEFICIALLY             1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000
     OWNED BY               shares of common stock)
       EACH          ------ ----------------------------------------------------
     REPORTING           7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      PERSON
       WITH                 0
                     ------ ----------------------------------------------------
                         8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                            1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000
                            shares of common stock)
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        9  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

           1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000 shares of common
           stock)
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
           [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

           9.64%
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

           IN
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                       *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT


                               Page 4 of 8 pages




Item 1(a)           Name of Issuer:
                    --------------

                    Incara Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Item 1(b)           Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
                    -----------------------------------------------

                    79 T.W. Alexander Drive
                    4401 Research Commons - Suite 200
                    Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Items 2(a)          Name of Person Filing:
                    ---------------------

                    This statement is being filed by (i) S.A.C. Capital
                    Advisors, LLC ("SAC Capital Advisors"), (ii) S.A.C. Capital
                    Management, LLC ("SAC Capital Management") and (iii) Steven
                    A. Cohen.

Item 2(b)           Address of Principal Business Office:
                    ------------------------------------

                    (i), (ii) and (iii):
                    777 Long Ridge Road
                    Stamford, Connecticut 06902

Item 2(c)           Citizenship:
                    -----------

                    (i): Delaware
                    (ii): Delaware
                    (iii): United States

Item 2(d)           Title of Class of Securities:
                    ----------------------------

                    Common Stock, par value $.001 per share

Item 2(e)           CUSIP Number:
                    ------------


Item 3              Not Applicable

Item 4.             Ownership:
                    ---------

The securities reported on herein are held by S.A.C. Capital Associates, LLC, an
Anguillan limited liability company ("SAC Capital Associates"). Pursuant to
investment agreements, each of SAC Capital Advisors and SAC Capital Management
share all investment and voting power with respect to the securities held by SAC
Capital Associates. Accordingly, each of SAC Capital Advisors and SAC Capital
Management may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities covered by


                               Page 5 of 8 pages




this statement for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act").

Steven A. Cohen is the Managing Member, President and Chief Executive Officer of
SAC Capital Advisors and the owner, directly and through a wholly owned
subsidiary, of 100% of the membership interests of SAC Capital Management.
Accordingly, Mr. Cohen may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the
securities covered by this statement for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act. Mr. Cohen disclaims beneficial ownership of any of the securities
covered by this statement.

Item 4(a)           Amount Beneficially Owned:
                    -------------------------

                    1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000 shares of
                    common stock)

Item 4(b)           Percent of Class:
                    ----------------

                    9.64%

Item 4(c)           Number of shares as to which such person has:
                    ---------------------------------------------

                    (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0

                    (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 1,240,000
                          (including warrants to purchase 240,000 shares of
                          common stock)

                    (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                          0

                    (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                          of: 1,240,000 (including warrants to purchase 240,000
                          shares of common stock)

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 person has 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:
                    -------


                               Page 6 of 8 pages




                    SAC Capital Associates has the right to
                    receive dividends on, and proceeds from the
                    sale of, the shares reported on this
                    statement as beneficially owned by SAC
                    Capital Advisors, SAC Capital Management and
                    Mr. Cohen.

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 the Group:
                    ------------

                    Not Applicable

Item 9              Notice of Dissolution of Group:
                    ------------------------------

                    Not Applicable

Item 10             Certification:
                    -------------

     By signing below the signatory certifies that, to the best of his 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 7 of 8 pages




                                    SIGNATURE
                                    ---------

     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:  August 20, 2001

S.A.C. CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC

By: /s/ Peter Nussbaum
    ------------------------------
Name:  Peter Nussbaum
Title: Authorized Person


S.A.C. CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

By: /s/ Peter Nussbaum
    ------------------------------
Name:  Peter Nussbaum
Title: Authorized Person


STEVEN A. COHEN

By: /s/ Peter Nussbaum
    ------------------------------
Name:  Peter Nussbaum
Title: Authorized Person


                               Page 8 of 8 pages