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): May 22, 2008
ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-21696	22-3106987
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

26 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts	02139
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

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

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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 8.01     Other Events.

On May 22, 2008 ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. issued a press release announcing the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial of its investigational oral multi-targeted kinase inhibitor, AP24534, in patients with refractory hematological cancers, including those with drug-resistant forms of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This clinical study is designed to determine the safety and tolerability of AP24534, as well as its pharmacokinetics (the behavior of the drug in patients) and its pharmacodynamics (the effects of the drug on patients’ cells). Since all participants in the trial will have well-characterized malignancies, initial information describing the product candidate’s anti-tumor activity will also be obtained.

A copy of the press release is being filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and this information contained therein is incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K.

ITEM 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release dated May 22, 2008.

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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.

		ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Date:	May 22, 2008	By:	/s/ Edward M. Fitzgerald
			Edward M. Fitzgerald
			Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

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