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):  June 23, 2008

 

The Medicines Company

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

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):

 

                o            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))

 

 

Item 8.01               Other Events

 

The principal U.S. patent that covers The Medicines Company’s (the “Company”) product, Angiomax® (bivalirudin), expires in 2010.  The United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “PTO”) rejected the Company’s application under the Hatch Waxman Act for an extension of the term of the patent beyond 2010 because the application was not filed on time by our counsel.

 

On June 23, 2008, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that, if enacted, would provide the PTO with discretion to consider patent extension applications filed late unintentionally under the Hatch Waxman Act.  While the Company is hopeful that the United States Senate will consider this legislation, the Company can provide no assurance that a bill will be enacted or that, if it is enacted, the PTO will consider the Company’s application or that the Company will be successful in extending the term of the patent.

 

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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:  June 24, 2008			By:	/s/ Paul M. Antinori
				Paul M. Antinori
				Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

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