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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) December 18, 2000
                         Commission File Number 0-23252


                            IGEN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                           (Exact name of registrant)


           Delaware                                     94-2852543
   (State of organization)                   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No)


               16020 Industrial Drive, Gaithersburg Maryland 20877
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)


                                 (301) 869-9800
                         (Registrant's telephone Number)


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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

IGEN International, Inc. announced that based on significant progress in its
collaborative effort with Bayer Diagnostics to explore new products for the
hospital point of care (HPOC) testing market, Bayer and IGEN are continuing
their previously announced alliance. Bayer is providing $2 million of
additional funding. Going forward, IGEN will focus on development of a
marketing strategy and product design for IGEN's TRICORDER(R) diagnostic
detection module and Bayer's clinical products to improve clinical medical
practice in the hospital through point of care testing. The company continues
to work with Bayer to finalize a definitive agreement, which the company
expects to be completed in the spring of 2001.

In addition to historical information this document contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provision of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Reference is made in particular to
statements regarding the prospects for the development and commercialization of
new products, the anticipated timeline for completing a definitive agreement
with Bayer, and the potential utility of ORIGEN technology and the TRICORDER
detection unit for hospital point of care products. Such statements are based on
management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and
uncertainties including those relating to decisions made by IGEN and Bayer, the
impact of competitive products and pricing, market acceptance of new products,
market conditions, and enforcement of IGEN's intellectual property rights any of
which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in
the forward-looking statements.

A more complete description of the risks applicable to the Company appears in
the Company's documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In
particular careful consideration should be given to the cautionary statements
and risk factors noted in the Company's Annual Report on Form10-K and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to
continuously update these forward-looking statements.












                                    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.


                                           IGEN INTERNATIONAL, INC.



                                           By: /s/ SAMUEL J. WOHLSTADTER
                                              ---------------------------------

                                               Samuel J. Wohlstadter
                                               Chairman of the Board &
                                               Chief Executive Officer




Dated: December 21, 2000