SEC FORM 3

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

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

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

PETERSON RICHARD D

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

8125 N. HAYDEN ROAD

(Street)

SCOTTSDALE

85258

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
04/07/2008

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORP [ MRX ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	EVP, CFO & Corp Treasurer

5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	22,761⁽¹⁾	D
Common Stock	99.105⁽¹⁰⁾	I	By 401(k) Plan

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Employee Stock Option⁽²⁾	07/17/2002	07/17/2011	Common Stock	3,710	$26.95	D
Employee Stock Option⁽³⁾	07/17/2002	07/17/2011	Common Stock	30,290	$26.95	D
Employee Stock Option⁽⁴⁾	07/31/2004	07/31/2013	Common Stock	36,000	$29.2	D
Employee Stock Option⁽⁵⁾	07/16/2005	07/16/2014	Common Stock	36,000	$38.45	D
Employee Stock Option⁽⁶⁾	07/21/2006	07/21/2015	Common Stock	15,000	$32.41	D
Employee Stock Option⁽⁷⁾	07/25/2001	07/25/2010	Common Stock	3,618	$27.63	D
Employee Stock Option⁽⁸⁾	07/25/2001	07/25/2010	Common Stock	46,382	$27.63	D
Employee Stock Option⁽⁹⁾	07/11/2003	07/11/2012	Common Stock	22,010	$18.33	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes 2,400 shares from Restricted Stock grant dated 7/21/05 - remaining vesting of 600 shares on 7/21/08, 900 shares on 7/21/09 and 900 shares on 7/21/10. Includes 2,160 shares from Restricted Stock grant dated 2/07/06 - remaining vesting of 540 shares on 2/07/09, 810 shares on 2/07/10 and 810 shares on 2/07/11. Includes 4,379 shares from Restricted Stock grant dated 3/07/07 - remaining vesting of 486 shares on 3/07/09, 973 shares on 3/07/10, 1,460 shares on 3/07/11 and 1,460 shares on 3/07/12. Includes 12,755 shares from Restricted Stock grant dated 3/05/08 - vesting over 5 years beginning on grant date - 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4 and 30% year 5.

2. ISO Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/17/01. Fully vested.

3. NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/17/01. Fully vested.

4. NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/31/03. Vesting over 5 years beginning 7/31/04. 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.

5. NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/16/04. Vesting over 5 years beginning 7/16/05. 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.

6. NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/21/05. Vesting over 5 years beginning 7/21/06. 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.

7. ISO Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/25/00. Fully vested.

8. NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/25/00. Fully vested.

9. NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/11/02. Fully vested.

10. Through March 31, 2008, the reporting person has acquired 99.105 of shares of MRX common stock under the MRX 401(k) plan. The information in this report is based on a plan statement dated as of March 31, 2008.

	Richard D. Peterson	04/04/2008
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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