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  <p align="center" style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></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</font></b><b><br>
  </b><b>Washington,
  D.C. 20549</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="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>29</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.</font></b><b><br>
  </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">
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <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<br>
    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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></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> &nbsp;Identification No.)</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="66%" colspan="3" valign="bottom" 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="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></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%" colspan="3" 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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></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 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;"><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;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;padding:0in;text-indent:-.5in;">&nbsp;</p>
  
  </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>
  
  <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\xaugust\08-13229-1\task2909967\13229-1-ba.htm',USER='105277',CD='May  1 23:45 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="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 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial
  Condition.</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;">On May&nbsp;1, 2008, Metabasis announced its
  financial results for the first quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2008 in the
  earnings release filed as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to this Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K
  and incorporated by reference herein.</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;">The information in this Item 2.02 is being
  furnished and shall not be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for the purposes of Section&nbsp;18
  of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to
  the liabilities of that Section.&nbsp; The information in this Item 2.02 shall
  not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other
  document pursuant to the Securities Act.</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 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="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(b)&nbsp; </font>On April&nbsp;29, 2008, John W. Beck, C.P.A.,
  our Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer,
  notified us that he will resign from that position effective as of May&nbsp;9,
  2008 in order to pursue other opportunities.</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 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="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
    <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:2.2%;">
    <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="91%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:91.14%;">
    <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="6%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
    <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:2.2%;">
    <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="91%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:91.14%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Earnings release of Metabasis Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. dated May&nbsp;1,
    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\xaugust\08-13229-1\task2909967\13229-1-ba.htm',USER='105277',CD='May  1 23:45 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="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="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:18.58%;">
    <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="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="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.42%;">
    <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="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:18.58%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.42%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:18.58%;">
    <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="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <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="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.58%;">
    <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="45%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.84%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/
    Paul K. Laikind</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:18.58%;">
    <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="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <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="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.58%;">
    <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="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.84%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Paul
    K. Laikind</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:18.58%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</font></i></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</font></i></p>
    </td>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.58%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</font></i></p>
    </td>
    <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.84%;">
    <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;">President
    and Chief Executive Officer</font></i></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:18.58%;">
    <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>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <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>
    <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.58%;">
    <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>
    <td width="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.84%;">
    <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="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:18.58%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:
    May&nbsp;1, 2008</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="32%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
    <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="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.58%;">
    <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="45%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:45.84%;">
    <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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  <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="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>
  
  <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="6%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.84%;">
    <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:2.18%;">
    <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="90%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.98%;">
    <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="6%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.84%;">
    <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:2.18%;">
    <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="90%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.98%;">
    <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Earnings release of Metabasis Therapeutics,&nbsp;Inc. dated
    May&nbsp;1, 2008.</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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
  29
  , 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 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial
  Condition.
  On May 1, 2008, Metabasis announced its
  financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008 in the
  earnings release filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K
  and incorporated by reference herein.
  The information in this Item 2.02 is being
  furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18
  of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to
  the liabilities of that Section.  The information in this Item 2.02 shall
  not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other
  document pursuant to the Securities Act.
  Item 5.02. 
  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
  Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
  (b)
  On April 29, 2008, John W. Beck, C.P.A.,
  our Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer,
  notified us that he will resign from that position effective as of May 9,
  2008 in order to pursue other opportunities.
  Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (d)  Exhibits.
  Number
  Description
  99.1
  Earnings release of Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc. dated May 1,
    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/
    Paul K. Laikind
  Paul
    K. Laikind
  President
    and Chief Executive Officer
  Date:
    May 1, 2008
  3
  INDEX TO
  EXHIBITS
  Number
  Description
  99.1
  Earnings release of Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc. dated
    May 1, 2008.
  4