8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 21, 2003

SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

000-23265	94-3267443
(Commission file Number)	(IRS Employer ID Number)

8540 Colonnade Center Drive, Suite 501, Raleigh, North Carolina 27615
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (919) 862-1000

Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure

On October 21, 2003, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (the “Registrant”) issued a press release announcing that the Registrant will report third quarter 2003 financial results before the market opens on Tuesday, October 28, 2003.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release dated October 21, 2003, announcing that the Registrant will report third quarter 2003 financial results before the market opens on Tuesday, October 28, 2003.

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, LTD.
Date: October 21, 2003	By:	/s/ Adam C. Derbyshire
		Adam C. Derbyshire Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Adam C. Derbyshire Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 919-862-1000 Mike Freeman Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications 919-862-1000

SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES

3Q03 FINANCIAL RESULTS

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

RALEIGH, NC, October 21, 2003—Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (Nasdaq:SLXP) today announced that the company will report third quarter 2003 financial results before the market opens on Tuesday, October 28, 2003.

The Company will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET, on October 28, 2003. Interested parties may access the conference call by way of web cast or telephone. The live web cast will be available at http://www.salix.com. The web cast will be archived on the Company’s web site through November 3.

The telephone numbers to access the conference call are (800) 231-9012 (U.S. and Canada) or (719) 457-2617 (international.) The access code for the call is 500530. A replay of the call will be available from 12:00 noon ET, October 28 through November 3. The telephone numbers to access the replay of the call are (888) 203-1112 (U.S. and Canada) or (719) 457-0820 (international.) The access code for the replay is 500530.

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Salix’s strategy is to in-license late-stage or marketed proprietary therapeutic drugs, complete any required development and regulatory submission of these products, and market them through the Company’s 84-member gastroenterology specialty sales and marketing team. Salix trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol “SLXP.”

For more information please contact the Company at 919-862-1000 or visit our web site at www.salix.com. Information on our web site is not incorporated in our SEC filings.