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                       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): April 12, 2001

                         United Therapeutics Corporation
               --------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)





            Delaware                         0-26301                        52-1984749
        ---------------                      -------                        ----------
                                                                 
        (State or Other                    (Commission                   (I.R.S. Employer
        Jurisdiction of                    File Number)               Identification Number)
         Incorporation)





                  1110 Spring Street
                   Silver Spring, MD                                            20910
--------------------------------------------------------                     -------------
                                                                        
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                               (Zip Code)



               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

                                 (301) 608-9292
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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

        On April 12, 2001, the Registrant issued a press release attached hereto
as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.



Exhibit No.           Description of Exhibit
-----------           ----------------------
                  
   99                 Press release of April 12, 2001





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                                    SIGNATURE

        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.

                                            United Therapeutics Corporation
                                            (Registrant)



Date:  April 12, 2001               By:       /s/ Martine A. Rothblatt
                                            -------------------------------
                                            Name:  Martine A. Rothblatt
                                            Title: Chief Executive Officer










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                                  Exhibit Index



        Exhibit No.                 Description of Exhibit
        -----------                 ----------------------
                                 
             99                     Press release of April 12, 2001