SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 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): July 28, 2005

                       PAR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


   DELAWARE                         FILE NUMBER 1-10827         22-3122182
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF   (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)   (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                              IDENTIFICATION NO.)



300 TICE BOULEVARD, WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ                           07677
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                       (ZIP CODE)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (201) 802-4000

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)

[  ] 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 2.02.        Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
---------         ---------------------------------------------

    On July 28, 2005, Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. issued a press release
regarding its earnings for the second quarter ended July 3, 2005. A copy of the
press release is set forth in Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto.

    The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1,
is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated
by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except
as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01.        Financial Statements and Exhibits
---------         ---------------------------------

(c)  Exhibits

99.1         Press Release Dated July 28, 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 thereunto duly authorized.


Dated as of: July 28, 2005


                                     PAR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, INC.
                                     ----------------------------------
                                                 (Registrant)



                                     /s/ Dennis J. O'Connor
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     Dennis J. O'Connor
                                     Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



                                 EXHIBIT INDEX





Exhibit No.       Description
-----------       -----------
99.1              Press Release Dated July 28, 2005