UNITED STATES

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): April 13, 2005

Orchid BioSciences, Inc.

(Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	000-30267	22-3392819
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

4390 US Route One, Princeton, NJ 08540

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (609) 750-2200

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

x Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On April 13, 2005, the Registrant issued a press release announcing that it is seeking shareholder approval for an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation that will allow the Registrant to change its name from Orchid BioSciences, Inc. to Orchid Cellmark Inc. A copy of this press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 8.01 by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

99.1       Press release dated April 13, 2005

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.

	(Registrant)
Date: April 13, 2005	By:	/S/    PAUL J. KELLY
	Name:	Paul J. Kelly
	Title:	President and CEO