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): February 3, 1999


                           COPLEY PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Delaware
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)


         0-20126                                         04-2514637
(Commission File Number)                     (IRS Employer Identification No.)


      25 John Road
    Canton, Massachusetts                                 02021
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)


                                (781) 821-6111
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



<PAGE>




Item 5.           Other Events.

On February 8, 1999, Copley  Pharmaceutical,  Inc. announced that Charles T. Lay
joined its Board of Directors on February 3, 1999.  With Mr. Lay's  appointment,
Copley's Board of Directors comprises nine members,  including a full complement
of three Independent Directors. Mr. Lay, the Company's second recent Independent
Board  appointment,  joins Jess G. Thoene,  M.D., of the  University of Michigan
School of Medicine,  appointed in October 1998 and Robert P. Cook as Independent
Directors.

Until   December   1998,   Mr.  Lay,  58,  was   President  and  CEO  of  Geneva
Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., the U.S.  generic drug subsidiary of Novartis AG. During
his tenure at Geneva,  Mr. Lay directed the company's  growth,  resulting in its
becoming the second largest generic  pharmaceutical  company in the U.S. Revenue
during Mr. Lay's period of  leadership  tripled to $300 million and profits grew
ten-fold.

<PAGE>


                                   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.


DATE                            COPLEY PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.

February 8, 1999                /s/ Daniel M. P. Caron
                                Vice President Finance, Chief Financial
                                Officer and Treasurer
                                (Principal Financial Officer)
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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): February 3, 1999

                           COPLEY PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Delaware
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

         0-20126                                         04-2514637
(Commission File Number)                     (IRS Employer Identification No.)

      25 John Road
    Canton, Massachusetts                                 02021
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

                                (781) 821-6111
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Item 5.           Other Events.

On February 8, 1999, Copley  Pharmaceutical,  Inc. announced that Charles T. Lay
joined its Board of Directors on February 3, 1999.  With Mr. Lay's  appointment,
Copley's Board of Directors comprises nine members,  including a full complement
of three Independent Directors. Mr. Lay, the Company's second recent Independent
Board  appointment,  joins Jess G. Thoene,  M.D., of the  University of Michigan
School of Medicine,  appointed in October 1998 and Robert P. Cook as Independent
Directors.

Until   December   1998,   Mr.  Lay,  58,  was   President  and  CEO  of  Geneva
Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., the U.S.  generic drug subsidiary of Novartis AG. During
his tenure at Geneva,  Mr. Lay directed the company's  growth,  resulting in its
becoming the second largest generic  pharmaceutical  company in the U.S. Revenue
during Mr. Lay's period of  leadership  tripled to $300 million and profits grew
ten-fold.
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.

DATE                            COPLEY PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.

February 8, 1999                /s/ Daniel M. P. Caron
                                Vice President Finance, Chief Financial
                                Officer and Treasurer
                                (Principal Financial Officer)