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): October 19, 2005


                              The Medicines Company
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


          Delaware                     000-31191                04-3324394
-------------------------------  ----------------------  -----------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction          (Commission              (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)               File Number)           Identification No.)


                8 Campus Drive
            Parsippany, New Jersey                                07054
----------------------------------------------            ----------------------
   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                     (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (973) 656-1616



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (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 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

         On October 19, 2005, The Medicines Company (the "Company") announced
financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. The full text of the
press release issued in connection with the announcement is furnished as Exhibit
99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

         The information in this Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be
deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section,
nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by
specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

       (c)  Exhibits

            The following exhibit relating to Item 2.02 shall be deemed to be
furnished, and not filed:

            99.1   Press Release dated October 19, 2005 entitled "The Medicines
                   Company Reports Third Quarter Financial Results"






                                   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.

                                                 THE MEDICINES COMPANY


Date:  October 19, 2005                          By:   /s/ Steven H. Koehler
                                                       ---------------------
                                                       Steven H. Koehler
                                                       Senior Vice President and
                                                       Chief Financial Officer






                                  Exhibit Index
                                  -------------


Exhibit No.                             Description
-----------                             -----------

99.1                                    Press release dated October 19, 2005
                                        entitled "The Medicines Company Reports
                                        Third Quarter Financial Results"