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): September 21, 2011

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 494-0400

Not Applicable
(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 8.01   Other Events.

On September 21, 2011 ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Company”) issued a press release announcing the start of patient dosing in an international Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AP26113, an investigational dual inhibitor of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) -- two clinically validated targets in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). AP26113 is the third novel, small-molecule drug candidate for the treatment of cancer that was discovered by ARIAD scientists and has advanced into clinical development.

A copy of the press release is being filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and the information contained therein is incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K.

ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)   The following exhibit is filed with this report:

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.

Exhibit Index

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