SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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 20, 2005

GUILFORD PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-23736	52-1841960
(State or other	(Commission File	(I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of	Number)	Identification No.)
incorporation or
organization)

6611 Tributary Street Baltimore, Maryland	21224
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (410) 631-6300

(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:

þ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

Item 8.01.Other Items.

On July 20, 2005, Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Guilford”) entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with MGI PHARMA, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“MGI PHARMA”), and Granite Acquisition, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a wholly owned subsidiary of MGI PHARMA. The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Guilford, with Guilford continuing as the surviving corporation as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MGI PHARMA (the “Merger”).

The Merger Agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of MGI PHARMA and Guilford, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Guilford’s stockholders, absence of any law or order prohibiting the consummation of the Merger, and expiration or termination of the applicable Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period. A copy of the press release announcing the Merger is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

Additionally, Guilford hereby files the Employee Letter and Employee Presentation attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and the script of the investor conference call dated July 21, 2005 attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

Additional Information About The Merger

In connection with the Merger, MGI PHARMA will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Investors are urged to read the registration statement, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus when it is available and all other relevant documents filed or to be filed with the SEC because they contain important information about MGI PHARMA, Guilford and the Merger. The final Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be mailed to Guilford stockholders after the registration statement is declared effective by the SEC. Guilford stockholders will be able to obtain the registration statement, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any other relevant filed documents for free at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). These documents can also be obtained for free from MGI PHARMA by directing a request to MGI PHARMA Investor Relations at 952-346-4700 and for free from Guilford by directing a request to Guilford Investor Relations at 410-631-5022.

Participants in the Merger

MGI PHARMA, Guilford and their directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Guilford shareholders in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding MGI PHARMA’s participants is available in MGI PHARMA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and its proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of stockholders, which are filed with the SEC. Information regarding Guilford’s participants is available in Guilford’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of stockholders, which are filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding interests of such participants will be included in the registration statement containing the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that will be filed with the SEC. You can obtain free copies of these documents from MGI PHARMA and Guilford using the contact information above.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically preceded by words such

as “believes,” “ expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “will,” “may,” “should,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of MGI PHARMA’s or Guilford’s future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in these statements. Factors that might cause either company’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of MGI PHARMA and Guilford’s product candidates to be proven safe and effective in humans, to receive marketing authorization from regulatory authorities, and to ultimately compete successfully with other therapies; continued sales of MGI PHARMA and Guilford’s marketed products; development or acquisition of additional products; reliance on contract manufacturing; changes in strategic alliances; continued access to capital; ability of MGI PHARMA and Guilford to complete the transaction on the proposed terms; the risk that the perceived advantages of the transaction, if consummated, may not be achieved; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the companies’ filings with the SEC including their most recently filed Form 10-Q or 10-K. MGI PHARMA and Guilford undertake no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements to conform them to actual results.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits

99.1	Press release issued by Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. announcing the Agreement and Plan of Merger.
99.2	Employee Letter and Employee Presentation of Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. dated July 21, 2005.
99.3	Script of investor conference call dated July 21, 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 hereunto duly authorized.

	Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Date: July 21, 2005	By:	/s/ Asher M. Rubin
		Asher M. Rubin Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary