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): March 14, 2003

                          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 March 14 , 2003, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (the
"Registrant"), issued a press release regarding the presentation of data related
to the Registrant's Phase II trial of Aryplase for the treatment of MPS VI. The
Registrant's press release issued on March 14, 2003 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 March 14, 2003.




                                    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: March 14, 2003                    By: /s/ Fredric D. Price
                                            -----------------
                                            Fredric D. Price
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                Description

Exhibit 99.1               Press Release of the Registrant dated March 14, 2003.

EX-99

                                                               Exhibit 99.1

                             BioMarin Pharmaceutical

NEWS

CONTACTS:
Joshua Grass (Investors)
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
(415) 884-6777

Fredda Malkoff (Media)
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
(617) 577-8110



For Immediate Release:
- ----------------------

         BioMarin Presents Positive Phase II Data on Aryplase for MPS VI

      AryplaseTM Well Tolerated and Associated with Functional Improvements

             BioMarin to Initiate a Pivotal Phase III Trial in 2003

Novato, CA, March 14, 2003 - BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq and Swiss SWX
New Market: BMRN) announced positive results from its Phase II open-label study
of Aryplase, recombinant human arylsulfatase B (rhASB), an investigational
enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS
VI). MPS VI (also known as Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome) is a debilitating,
life-threatening genetic disease, for which no drug therapies are currently
available, that is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase B.

Dr. Paul Harmatz, M.D. of Children's Hospital Research Center of Oakland,
California will present the results today at the American College of Medical
Genetics 9th Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in San Diego, California. The
open-label, 10 patient, clinical study of Aryplase was conducted at two sites,
one in the United States, and one in Australia. The study evaluated clinical and
biochemical measures of safety and efficacy in male and female subjects between
the ages of 6 and 22, for a duration of 24 weeks. During the study, subjects
received weekly 1.0 mg/kg infusions of Aryplase, a dose selected based on
results from both a Phase I study, and the feline MPS VI model.

Study Results
- -------------

Results from this Phase II study indicate that Aryplase is well tolerated and is
associated with improvements in several clinical endpoints. On average, subjects
experienced improvements in endurance as measured by the distance walked at the
6 and 12 minute time points of a 12-minute walk test, and the number of stairs
climbed in 3 minutes. Functional improvements were also observed in joint pain
and stiffness, and in shoulder flexion, extension, and rotation in subjects who
exhibited less than 90 degrees shoulder flexion at baseline. Results are
provided in more detail below:


o        The average improvement at the 6-minute time point in the walk test was
         64 meters over baseline distances, which ranged from 19 to 247 meters.
         On average subjects demonstrated a 62% improvement in distance walked
         at 6 minutes.

o        The average improvement at 12 minutes in the walk test was 155 meters
         over baseline distances, which ranged from 33 to 475 meters. On average
         subjects demonstrated a 98% improvement in distance walked after 12
         minutes.

o        The average improvement in the number of stairs climbed in 3 minutes
         was 48 stairs over the baseline number, which ranged from 20 to 92
         stairs. This increase in the number of stairs climbed represents an
         average improvement of 110% over baseline.

o        Subjects also experienced improvement in pain and joint stiffness based
         on a modified child health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ) in which
         subjects were asked to score pain levels on a scale from 0 to 100.
         Joint pain and stiffness scores were reduced on average by 57% and 54%
         compared to baseline, respectively.

o        Small improvements in both passive and active measurements of shoulder
         range of motion for flexion, extension and lateral rotation were
         observed, with the largest gain achieved in the three subjects who
         exhibited less than 90 degrees of active shoulder flexion at baseline.

In addition to the clinical improvements observed, study participants also
demonstrated an average decrease in urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) excretion of
71% in 24 weeks, indicating Aryplase reduced carbohydrate storage in MPS VI
subjects. As part of the Phase II trial, several other exploratory endpoints
were evaluated, but on average did not indicate meaningful changes in the
24-week study period. These include pulmonary function as measured by forced
vital capacity, a pinch and grip strength test, physical activity, oxygenation
level during sleep, expanded time to get up and go test, and a set of tasks
reflecting quality of life. Improvement in these clinical endpoints may be
observed with continued infusions over a longer period of time.

Results of the study demonstrated that Aryplase was generally well tolerated.
Out of 240 infusions over the 24-week period, 5 adverse events were reported
during infusion and an additional 8 during the day of infusion, which were most
commonly abdominal pain, febrile reactions, and pruritis. Separately, there were
7 serious adverse events, 6 unrelated to drug, and 1 possibly related to the
drug. Consistent with infusion of protein drugs, subjects developed antibodies
to Aryplase during the course of the study, which did not correlate to reduction
in urinary GAG excretion. Mildly reduced complement levels were detected in some
patients, which did not have a measurable clinical impact.


About MPS VI
- ------------

MPS VI (also known as Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome) is a debilitating,
life-threatening genetic disease for which no drug therapies are currently
available. MPS VI is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase B. The
deficiency leads to the accumulation of GAGs in the lysosomes, the digestive
organelles of the cell. This accumulation in the lysosomes leads to progressive
cellular, tissue and organ system dysfunction. Debilitating symptoms can include
impaired cardiac and pulmonary function, delayed physical development, skeletal
and joint deformities, impaired vision and hearing, sleep apnea, and reduced
endurance. The majority of subjects die from disease-related complications
between childhood and early adulthood, depending on the severity of the disease.

BioMarin has received orphan drug and fast track designations for Aryplase from
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, the European
Commission has designated Aryplase for the treatment of MPS VI as an orphan
medicinal product in the European Community. BioMarin plans to initiate a
multi-national, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase III trial of Aryplase in
MPS VI subjects in 2003.

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

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the business
prospects of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., including without limitation
statements about: expectations concerning the final results of past clinical
trials of Aryplase; the expected timing on future clinical trials for Aryplase;
and actions by regulatory authorities, including the FDA and the European
Commission. These forward-looking statements are predictions and involve risks
and uncertainties such that actual results may differ materially from these
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the final
analysis of results of past clinical trials; results and timing of current and
future clinical trials; the content and timing of decisions by the FDA, the
European Commission and other regulatory authorities concerning Aryplase; and
those factors detailed in BioMarin's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including, without limitation, the factors contained under the
caption "Factors That May Affect Future Results" in BioMarin's 2002 Annual
Report on Form 10-K and the factors contained in BioMarin's reports on Forms 10Q
and 8K. Stockholders are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. BioMarin is under no
obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.

BioMarin's press releases and other company information are available online at
http://www.biomarinpharm.com. Information on our website is not incorporated by
reference into this press release.