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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QcOZee2mhzrm6eQHu1O6O/h1/HpraeD9vKJvpj4fbEhdJr9rE8YrES4uhVcSyCj0
 jHXRN8ATldFXKHQekOgN7w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001297399-04-000001.txt : 20040719
<SEC-HEADER>0001297399-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040719
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040719143647
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001297399-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040719

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:			Spengler William
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001297399

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23736
		FILM NUMBER:		04919896

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		410-631-6325

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C?O GUILFORD PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		STREET 2:		6611 TRIBUTARY STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21224
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001297399</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Spengler William</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C?O GUILFORD PHARMACEUTICALS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6611 TRIBUTARY STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21224</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. VP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.51</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>125000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options to which this note relates vest 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant, thereafter the options will vest at a rate of 1/36th of the remainder of the options granted, per month, over the following three year period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Asher M. Rubin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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