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 19, 2003

                           ARIAD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                           --------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


     Delaware                      0-21696                     22-3106987
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)    (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)                                         Identification No.)


                              26 LANDSDOWNE STREET
                         CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02139
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)


               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                 (617) 494-0400























ITEM 5.    OTHER EVENTS

           On December 19, 2003, the Registrant disseminated a Press Release
           announcing that it has filed a shelf registration statement with the
           Securities and Exchange Commission for the issuance of up to 7
           million shares of common stock. The Company has no immediate plans to
           offer or sell any shares of its common stock.

           The information contained in the Press Release dated December 19,
           2003, is incorporated herein by reference and attached as Exhibit
           99.1 hereto.

ITEM 7.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.


           (c)    Exhibits.

                  99.1   The Registrant's Press Release dated December 19, 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 thereunto duly authorized.


                               ARIAD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.



                               By:    /s/ Edward M. Fitzgerald
                                      ------------------------
                                      Edward M. Fitzgerald
                                      Senior Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer


Date:    December 21, 2003


                                       2





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number     Description                                    Sequential Page Number
-------    -----------                                    ----------------------

99.1       The Registrant's Press Release dated December 19, 2003.          4


                                       3