As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on ____________, 2004
                                                    File No.  333-____________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                       ---------------------------

                                FORM S-8

                    REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                         SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



                      ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
         ------------------------------------------------------
         (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                               DELAWARE
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)


                               83-0221517
                 ------------------------------------
                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2600 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 176, Dallas, Texas             75207
-----------------------------------------------          -----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)

           ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
       ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 2000 SPECIAL STOCK OPTION PLAN
       -----------------------------------------------------------
                        (Full Title of the Plan)

                              Kerry P. Gray
                    President and Chief Executive Officer
                         Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
                       2600 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 176
                            Dallas, Texas 75207

                             with copies to:

                        John J. Concannon III, Esq.
                          Bingham McCutchen LLP
                            150 Federal Street
                            Boston, MA 02110
                       ----------------------------
                 (Name and address of agent for service)


             (214) 905-5100                        (617) 951-8000
        -------------------------------------------------------------
        (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          Title of
                         Securities       Amount                     Proposed Maximum
                           to be           to be    Proposed Maximum   Aggregate        Amount of
     Plan               Registered     Registered*  Offering Price*  Offering Price*  Registration Fee
----------------- -------------------- ----------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------
<S>               <C>                  <C>         <C>               <C>             <C>
1995 Stock Option
Plan               Common Stock $.01     500,000         $6.46        $3,230,000          $409.24
                   par value per share

2000 Special Stock
Option Plan        Common Stock $.01     500,000         $6.46        $3,230,000          $409.24

</TABLE>

* Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, reported by the American Stock
Exchange on March 31, 2004.

<PAGE>

                                PART II

Item 3.  Incorporation Of Documents By Reference.

The following documents filed by Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the
"Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
 ----------                                                     ---
are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:  (1)
the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003 filed with the SEC on March 24, 2004; (2) our
Amended Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter
ended September 30, 2003; (3) all other reports filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") since December 31, 2003; and
                       ------------
(4) the description of the Common Stock of the Registrant, $.01 par value
per share (the "Common Stock"), contained in the Registrant's registration
                ------------
statement filed under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any
amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, all documents filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities registered hereby have been sold or which
deregisters all of such securities then remaining unsold shall be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement as of the filing
date of each.

Item 4.  Description Of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests Of Named Experts And Counsel.

The validity of the securities registered hereby is being passed upon for
us by Bingham McCutchen LLP 150 Federal Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110. Justin P. Morreale, David L. Engel and John J.
Concannon III, partners of Bingham McCutchen LLP, beneficially own
an aggregate of 208,533 shares of our common stock. Mr. Concannon is
our corporate Secretary.

Item 6.  Indemnification Of Directors And Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL")
empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or
is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of
such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner
that such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or

                                  2
<PAGE>
proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct
was unlawful.  The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit
or proceeding.  A Delaware corporation may also indemnify such persons
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) in actions brought by or in the
right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, subject to the
same conditions set forth in the immediately preceding sentences, except
that no indemnification is permitted in respect of any claim, issue or
matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to
the corporation unless and to the extent the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Court of
Chancery or other such court shall deem proper.  To the extent such
person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the
corporation must indemnify such person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection therewith.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses
provided for in, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 is not exclusive of
any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement
of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Section 145 of the DGCL also provides that a corporation may maintain
insurance against liabilities for which indemnification is not expressly
provided by the statute.  The Registrant is insured against liabilities which
it may incur by reason of its indemnification obligations under its
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and indemnification agreements.

Article X of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides that the
Registrant will indemnify, defend and hold harmless directors, officers,
employees and agents or the Registrant to the fullest extent currently
permitted under the DGCL.

In addition, Article X of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation,
provides that neither the Registrant nor its stockholders may recover
monetary damages from the Registrant's directors for a breach of their
fiduciary duty in the performance of their duties as directors of the
Registrant, unless such breach relates to (i) the director's duty of loyalty,
(ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) unlawful payments of
dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in
Section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) any transactions for which the director
derived an improper personal benefit.  The By-Laws of the Registrant
provide for indemnification of the Registrant's directors, officers,
employees and agents on the terms permitted under Section 145 of the
DGCL described above.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with certain
of its directors and executive officers.  These agreements provide rights
of indemnification to the full extent allowed and provided for by Section
145 of the DGCL and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of
Access.

                                   3
<PAGE>
Item 7.  Exemption From Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as part of or incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement:

3.1 Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a)
of the Registrant's Form 8-B dated July 12, 1989, Commission File
Number 9-9134)

3.2 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed August
21, 1992

3.3 Certificate of Merger filed January 25, 1996.  (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit E of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-4 dated December 21, 1995, Commission File No. 33-64031)

3.4 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed January
25, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit E of the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 21, 1995,
Commission File No. 33-64031)

3.5 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed July 18,
1996. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Registrant's Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996)

3.6 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed June
18, 1998. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Registrant's
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998)

3.7 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed July 31,
2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of our form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2001)

3.8 Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.1 of the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996)

3.9 Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock filed November 7, 2001 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.h
of our Registration Statement on Form S-8, dated December 14, 2001,
Commission File No. 333-75136)

4.1 1995 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit F of our
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 21, 1995,
Commission File No. 33-64031)

                                   4
<PAGE>
4.2 2000 Special Stock Option Plan and Agreement (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.24 of our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2000)

4.3 2001 Restricted Stock Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A
of our Proxy Statement filed on April 16, 2001)

5 Opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP as to the legality of the securities
being registered

23.1 Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

23.2 Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP (included in Exhibit 5)

24 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration
Statement)

Item 9.  Undertakings.

The Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made
pursuant to this Registration Statement, a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement to include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration
Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the

                                   5
<PAGE>
foregoing provisions described in Item 6 above, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question
whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                   6
<PAGE>
                               SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas, Texas, as of the 6th day
of April, 2004.

ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

By: /s/ Kerry P. Gray
   --------------------
Kerry P. Gray
President and Chief Executive Officer


                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby appoints Kerry P.
Gray and Stephen B. Thompson, and each of them severally as his true
and lawful attorney-in-fact with the authority to execute in the name of
each such person, and to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, together with any exhibits thereto and other documents
therewith, any and all amendments (including without limitation post-
effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8
necessary or advisable to enable the Registrant to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations, and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect
thereof, which amendments may make such other changes in the
Registration Statement as the aforesaid attorney-in-fact executing the same
deems appropriate.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

      Signature                         Title                     Date
---------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------
/s/  Kerry P. Gray
-------------------
Kerry P. Gray                President and Chief Executive  April 6, 2004
                             Officer, Director

/s/  Stuart M. Duty
--------------------
Stuart M. Duty               Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ J. Michael Flinn
--------------------
J. Michael Flinn             Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ Stephen B. Howell
---------------------
Stephen B. Howell            Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ Max Link
-------------
Max Link                     Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ Herbert H. McDade, Jr.
--------------------------
Herbert H. McDade, Jr.       Director                       April 6, 2004


                                  7
<PAGE>
/s/ John J. Meakem, Jr.
------------------------
John J. Meakem, Jr.          Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ Stephen B. Thompson
-----------------------
Stephen B. Thompson          Vice President,                April 6, 2004
                             Chief Financial Officer,
                             Treasurer


                                   8
<PAGE>
                             EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No. Description of Documents
----------- --------------------------
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a)
of the Registrant's Form 8-B dated July 12, 1989, Commission File
Number 9-9134)

3.2 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed August
21, 1992

3.3 Certificate of Merger filed January 25, 1996.  (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit E of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-4 dated December 21, 1995, Commission File No. 33-64031)

3.4 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed January
25, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit E of the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 21, 1995,
Commission File No. 33-64031)

3.5 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed July 18,
1996. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Registrant's Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996)

3.6 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed June
18, 1998. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Registrant's
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998)

3.7 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed July 31,
2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of our form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2001)

3.10 Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.1 of the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996)

3.11 Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock filed November 7, 2001 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.h
of our Registration Statement on Form S-8, dated December 14, 2001,
Commission File No. 333-75136)

4.3 1995 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit F of our
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 21, 1995,
Commission File No. 33-64031)

4.4 2000 Special Stock Option Plan and Agreement (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.24 of our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2000)

4.3 2001 Restricted Stock Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A
of our Proxy Statement filed on April 16, 2001)

5 Opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP as to the legality of the securities
being registered

23.1 Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

23.2 Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP (included in Exhibit 5)

24 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration
Statement)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "r804a.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 21016}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS INC", "cik": "0000318306", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "830221517", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-114269", "film-number": "04722341"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2600 N STEMMONS FRWY", "street2": "STE 176", "city": "DALLAS", "state": "TX", "zip": "75207", "phone": "2149055100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2600 N STEMMONS FRWY", "street2": "STE 176", "city": "DALLAS", "state": "TX", "zip": "75207"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "CHEMEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}, {"former-conformed-name": "CHEMEX CORP/WY", "date-changed": "19831102"}]}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on ____________, 2004
                                                    File No.  333-____________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                       ---------------------------

                                FORM S-8

                    REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                         SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                      ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
         ------------------------------------------------------
         (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                               DELAWARE
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

                               83-0221517
                 ------------------------------------
                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2600 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 176, Dallas, Texas             75207
-----------------------------------------------          -----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)

           ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
       ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 2000 SPECIAL STOCK OPTION PLAN
       -----------------------------------------------------------
                        (Full Title of the Plan)

                              Kerry P. Gray
                    President and Chief Executive Officer
                         Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
                       2600 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 176
                            Dallas, Texas 75207

                             with copies to:

                        John J. Concannon III, Esq.
                          Bingham McCutchen LLP
                            150 Federal Street
                            Boston, MA 02110
                       ----------------------------
                 (Name and address of agent for service)

             (214) 905-5100                        (617) 951-8000
        -------------------------------------------------------------
        (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of
                         Securities       Amount                     Proposed Maximum
                           to be           to be    Proposed Maximum   Aggregate        Amount of
     Plan               Registered     Registered*  Offering Price*  Offering Price*  Registration Fee
----------------- -------------------- ----------- ----------------- --------------- ------------------
1995 Stock Option
Plan               Common Stock $.01     500,000         $6.46        $3,230,000          $409.24
                   par value per share

2000 Special Stock
Option Plan        Common Stock $.01     500,000         $6.46        $3,230,000          $409.24
* Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, reported by the American Stock
Exchange on March 31, 2004.
PART II

Item 3.  Incorporation Of Documents By Reference.

The following documents filed by Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the
"Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
 ----------                                                     ---
are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:  (1)
the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003 filed with the SEC on March 24, 2004; (2) our
Amended Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter
ended September 30, 2003; (3) all other reports filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") since December 31, 2003; and
                       ------------
(4) the description of the Common Stock of the Registrant, $.01 par value
per share (the "Common Stock"), contained in the Registrant's registration
                ------------
statement filed under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any
amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, all documents filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities registered hereby have been sold or which
deregisters all of such securities then remaining unsold shall be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement as of the filing
date of each.

Item 4.  Description Of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests Of Named Experts And Counsel.

The validity of the securities registered hereby is being passed upon for
us by Bingham McCutchen LLP 150 Federal Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110. Justin P. Morreale, David L. Engel and John J.
Concannon III, partners of Bingham McCutchen LLP, beneficially own
an aggregate of 208,533 shares of our common stock. Mr. Concannon is
our corporate Secretary.

Item 6.  Indemnification Of Directors And Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL")
empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or
is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of
such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner
that such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or

                                  2
proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct
was unlawful.  The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit
or proceeding.  A Delaware corporation may also indemnify such persons
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) in actions brought by or in the
right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, subject to the
same conditions set forth in the immediately preceding sentences, except
that no indemnification is permitted in respect of any claim, issue or
matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to
the corporation unless and to the extent the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Court of
Chancery or other such court shall deem proper.  To the extent such
person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the
corporation must indemnify such person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection therewith.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses
provided for in, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 is not exclusive of
any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement
of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Section 145 of the DGCL also provides that a corporation may maintain
insurance against liabilities for which indemnification is not expressly
provided by the statute.  The Registrant is insured against liabilities which
it may incur by reason of its indemnification obligations under its
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and indemnification agreements.

Article X of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides that the
Registrant will indemnify, defend and hold harmless directors, officers,
employees and agents or the Registrant to the fullest extent currently
permitted under the DGCL.

In addition, Article X of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation,
provides that neither the Registrant nor its stockholders may recover
monetary damages from the Registrant's directors for a breach of their
fiduciary duty in the performance of their duties as directors of the
Registrant, unless such breach relates to (i) the director's duty of loyalty,
(ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) unlawful payments of
dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in
Section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) any transactions for which the director
derived an improper personal benefit.  The By-Laws of the Registrant
provide for indemnification of the Registrant's directors, officers,
employees and agents on the terms permitted under Section 145 of the
DGCL described above.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with certain
of its directors and executive officers.  These agreements provide rights
of indemnification to the full extent allowed and provided for by Section
145 of the DGCL and the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of
Access.

                                   3
Item 7.  Exemption From Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as part of or incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement:

3.1 Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a)
of the Registrant's Form 8-B dated July 12, 1989, Commission File
Number 9-9134)

3.2 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed August
21, 1992

3.3 Certificate of Merger filed January 25, 1996.  (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit E of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-4 dated December 21, 1995, Commission File No. 33-64031)

3.4 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed January
25, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit E of the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 21, 1995,
Commission File No. 33-64031)

3.5 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed July 18,
1996. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Registrant's Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996)

3.6 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed June
18, 1998. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Registrant's
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998)

3.7 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed July 31,
2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of our form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2001)

3.8 Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.1 of the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996)

3.9 Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock filed November 7, 2001 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.h
of our Registration Statement on Form S-8, dated December 14, 2001,
Commission File No. 333-75136)

4.1 1995 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit F of our
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 21, 1995,
Commission File No. 33-64031)

                                   4
4.2 2000 Special Stock Option Plan and Agreement (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.24 of our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2000)

4.3 2001 Restricted Stock Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A
of our Proxy Statement filed on April 16, 2001)

5 Opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP as to the legality of the securities
being registered

23.1 Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

23.2 Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP (included in Exhibit 5)

24 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration
Statement)

Item 9.  Undertakings.

The Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made
pursuant to this Registration Statement, a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement to include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration
Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the

                                   5
foregoing provisions described in Item 6 above, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question
whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                   6
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas, Texas, as of the 6th day
of April, 2004.

ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

By: /s/ Kerry P. Gray
   --------------------
Kerry P. Gray
President and Chief Executive Officer

                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby appoints Kerry P.
Gray and Stephen B. Thompson, and each of them severally as his true
and lawful attorney-in-fact with the authority to execute in the name of
each such person, and to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, together with any exhibits thereto and other documents
therewith, any and all amendments (including without limitation post-
effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8
necessary or advisable to enable the Registrant to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations, and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect
thereof, which amendments may make such other changes in the
Registration Statement as the aforesaid attorney-in-fact executing the same
deems appropriate.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

      Signature                         Title                     Date
---------------------------- ------------------------------ ----------------
/s/  Kerry P. Gray
-------------------
Kerry P. Gray                President and Chief Executive  April 6, 2004
                             Officer, Director

/s/  Stuart M. Duty
--------------------
Stuart M. Duty               Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ J. Michael Flinn
--------------------
J. Michael Flinn             Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ Stephen B. Howell
---------------------
Stephen B. Howell            Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ Max Link
-------------
Max Link                     Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ Herbert H. McDade, Jr.
--------------------------
Herbert H. McDade, Jr.       Director                       April 6, 2004

                                  7
/s/ John J. Meakem, Jr.
------------------------
John J. Meakem, Jr.          Director                       April 6, 2004

/s/ Stephen B. Thompson
-----------------------
Stephen B. Thompson          Vice President,                April 6, 2004
                             Chief Financial Officer,
                             Treasurer

                                   8
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No. Description of Documents
----------- --------------------------
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a)
of the Registrant's Form 8-B dated July 12, 1989, Commission File
Number 9-9134)

3.2 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed August
21, 1992

3.3 Certificate of Merger filed January 25, 1996.  (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit E of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-4 dated December 21, 1995, Commission File No. 33-64031)

3.4 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed January
25, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit E of the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 21, 1995,
Commission File No. 33-64031)

3.5 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed July 18,
1996. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Registrant's Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996)

3.6 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed June
18, 1998. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Registrant's
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998)

3.7 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation filed July 31,
2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of our form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2001)

3.10 Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.1 of the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996)

3.11 Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock filed November 7, 2001 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.h
of our Registration Statement on Form S-8, dated December 14, 2001,
Commission File No. 333-75136)

4.3 1995 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit F of our
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated December 21, 1995,
Commission File No. 33-64031)

4.4 2000 Special Stock Option Plan and Agreement (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.24 of our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2000)

4.3 2001 Restricted Stock Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A
of our Proxy Statement filed on April 16, 2001)

5 Opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP as to the legality of the securities
being registered

23.1 Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

23.2 Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP (included in Exhibit 5)

24 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration
Statement)