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  <p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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  <p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES<br>
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br>
  </font></b><b>Washington,
  D.C. 20549</b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Form&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Current
  Report Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d)&nbsp;of<br>
  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of Report
  (Date of earliest event reported):<b> April&nbsp;</b></font><b>23</b><b>, 2008</b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Metabasis Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc.<br>
  </font></b>(Exact name of
  registrant as specified in its charter)</p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center">
  
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   <tr>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">000-50785</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">33-0753322</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or other
    jurisdiction of incorporation)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Commission File
    Number)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(I.R.S. Employer<br>
    Identification No.)</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  </div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center">
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="66%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:66.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">11119
    North Torrey Pines Road</font></b><br>
    <b>La Jolla, California</b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">92037</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="66%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:66.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of
    principal executive offices)</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Zip Code)</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  </div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area
  code:&nbsp;<b>(858)&nbsp;587-2770</b></font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Not
  Applicable.<br>
  </font></b>(Former name or
  former address, if changed since last report.)</p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check
  the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;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):</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425
  under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12
  under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;">&nbsp;</p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;">&nbsp;</p>
  
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</p>
  
  <div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  
  <p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  </div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\eperez\08-12438-1\task2891775\12438-1-ba.htm',USER='eperez',CD='Apr 24 19:55 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.02.&#160;
  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
  Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(d)&nbsp; Effective April&nbsp;23, 2008, our board
  of directors appointed Elizabeth Stoner, M.D., M.S. as a director of
  Metabasis.&#160; Dr.&nbsp;Stoner was appointed
  to serve as a Class&nbsp;II director, continuing in office until our 2009
  annual meeting of stockholders and until her successor is duly elected and qualified
  or until her earlier death, resignation or removal. In connection with her
  appointment as a director, Dr.&nbsp;Stoner received our standard initial stock
  option grant for non-employee directors and entered into our standard form of
  indemnity agreement for directors.&#160; Dr.&nbsp;Stoner
  was also appointed as a member of our Scientific Advisory Board, and in
  connection therewith, Dr.&nbsp;Stoner is entitled to receive an additional
  stock option to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price
  equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant, subject to
  monthly vesting over a four-year period from the date of grant.&#160; Dr.&nbsp;Stoner is affiliated with MPM
  Capital, an existing stockholder.</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">A press release announcing Dr.&nbsp;Stoner&#146;s
  appointment is attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by
  reference.</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item&nbsp;9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(d)&nbsp; Exhibits.</font></p>
  
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.88%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Number</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.78%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="88%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.34%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.88%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.78%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="88%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.34%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press release of Metabasis Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc., dated
    April&nbsp;25, 2008.</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>
  
  <div align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='2',FILE='C:\JMS\eperez\08-12438-1\task2891775\12438-1-ba.htm',USER='eperez',CD='Apr 24 19:55 2008' -->
  
  
  <br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">
  
  
  <div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURE</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="48%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:48.88%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">METABASIS THERAPEUTICS, INC.</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="48%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:48.88%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.46%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ John W. Beck</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.46%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">John W. Beck</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.46%;">
    <p align="left" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Senior</font></i>  <i>Vice President of Finance, Chief</i></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.46%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Financial Officer and Treasurer</font></i></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
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    <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.46%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</font></i></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date: April&nbsp;25, 2008</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="44%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:44.46%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3</font></p>
  
  <div align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
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  <div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">INDEX TO
  EXHIBITS</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Number</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.78%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
    </td>
    <td width="88%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.34%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></b></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="8%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:8.88%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.78%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="88%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.34%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press release of Metabasis Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc., dated April&nbsp;25,
    2008.</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4</font></p>
  
  <div align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
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text: 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):
  April
  23
  , 2008
  Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc.
  (Exact name of
  registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  000-50785
  33-0753322
  (State or other
    jurisdiction of incorporation)
  (Commission File
    Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
  Identification No.)
  11119
    North Torrey Pines Road
  La Jolla, California
  92037
  (Address of
    principal executive offices)
  (Zip Code)
  Registrant's telephone number, including area
  code:
  (858) 587-2770
  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):
  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 5.02. 
  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
  Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
  (d)  Effective April 23, 2008, our board
  of directors appointed Elizabeth Stoner, M.D., M.S. as a director of
  Metabasis.  Dr. Stoner was appointed
  to serve as a Class II director, continuing in office until our 2009
  annual meeting of stockholders and until her successor is duly elected and qualified
  or until her earlier death, resignation or removal. In connection with her
  appointment as a director, Dr. Stoner received our standard initial stock
  option grant for non-employee directors and entered into our standard form of
  indemnity agreement for directors.  Dr. Stoner
  was also appointed as a member of our Scientific Advisory Board, and in
  connection therewith, Dr. Stoner is entitled to receive an additional
  stock option to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price
  equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant, subject to
  monthly vesting over a four-year period from the date of grant.  Dr. Stoner is affiliated with MPM
  Capital, an existing stockholder.
  A press release announcing Dr. Stoner's
  appointment is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by
  reference.
  Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (d)  Exhibits.
  Number
  Description
  99.1
  Press release of Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc., dated
    April 25, 2008.
  2
  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.
  METABASIS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
  By:
  /s/ John W. Beck
  John W. Beck
  Senior
  Vice President of Finance, Chief
  Financial Officer and Treasurer
  Date: April 25, 2008
  3
  INDEX TO
  EXHIBITS
  Number
  Description
  99.1
  Press release of Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc., dated April 25,
    2008.
  4