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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RzyuKeIQKmAT4R4UdwZyvVTmgNNQhEKD/O+FfTF16bRNGXg16CU8xPTWSMLtUtgL
 hIZ0ccM3ehAsyE2DbOejqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000918066-04-000072.txt : 20040507
<SEC-HEADER>0000918066-04-000072.hdr.sgml : 20040507
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040507192111
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000918066-04-000072
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040505
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040507

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GUILFORD PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000918066
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				521841960
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6611 TRIBUTARY ST
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21224
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4106316300

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHINNICI JOSEPH R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001177263

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23736
		FILM NUMBER:		04790690

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1201 WINTERSON ROAD
		CITY:			LINTHICUM
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21090
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4108658500
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001177263d20040507f4af.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-05</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-05-07</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000918066</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GUILFORD PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GLFD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001177263</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHINNICI JOSEPH R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GUILFORD PHARMACUTICALS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6611 TRIBUTARY STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21224</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.94</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.38</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Price of Derivative Security for this transaction was not entered on the earlier submission.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">*The options to which this note relates will vest 50% on the first anniversary of the date of the grant and 50% on the second anniversary of the date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Asher M. Rubin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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