8-K

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                       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): December 20, 2002

                          BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            Delaware                    000-26727                  68-0397820
(State or other jurisdiction of        (Commission               (IRS Employer
 incorporation or organization)        File Number)          Identification No.)


371 Bel Marin Keys Boulevard, Suite 210, Novato, California              94949
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:               (415) 884-6700


                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5.  Other Events.

     On December 20,  2002,  BioMarin  Pharmaceutical  Inc.  (the  "Registrant")
issued a press release regarding the filing of a registration statement with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission for the offer and sale by the Registrant of
up to an aggregate of $150 million of its common stock. The  Registrant's  press
release issued on December 20, 2002 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements and
          Exhibits.


    (a)  Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

         Not Applicable.

    (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information.

         Not Applicable.

    (c)  Exhibits.

         Exhibit 99.1   Press Release of the Registrant dated December 20, 2002.



                                    SIGNATURE

     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.

                                BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.,
                                a Delaware corporation


Date: December 20, 2002         By: /s/ Louis Drapeau
                                    -----------------
                                        Louis Drapeau
                                        Chief Financial Officer, Vice President,
                                        Finance and Secretary



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.             Description
- -----------             -----------

Exhibit 99.1            Press Release of the Registrant dated December 20, 2002.

EX-99

NEWS                                                                Exhibit 99.1

Contacts:


Joshua Grass
Manager, Investor and Financial Relations
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
(415) 884-6777

Fredda Malkoff
Account Director
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
(617) 577-8110

For Immediate Release:

                   BioMarin Files Shelf Registration Statement

Novato, California, December 20, 2002 - BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq and
SWX New  Market:  BMRN)  today  announced  that it has filed a Form S-3  "shelf"
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the offer
and sale by BioMarin of up to an aggregate of $150 million of its common stock.

A registration  statement  relating to these  securities has been filed with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  but has not yet become  effective.  These
securities  may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted  prior to the time
the registration  becomes  effective.  This news release shall not constitute an
offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale
of these securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would
be unlawful prior to registration or qualification  under the securities laws of
any such State.

When  available,  copies of the  preliminary  prospectus  may be  obtained  from
BioMarin's investor relations department at 371 Bel Marin Keys Boulevard,  #210,
Novato, California 94949.

BioMarin  specializes in the  development and  commercialization  of therapeutic
enzyme products to treat serious, life-threatening diseases and conditions.