SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


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                                    FORM 8-K

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                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)    September 19, 2000
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                         ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
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             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

        Delaware                  0-27756                  13-3648318
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(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission              (IRS Employer
    of Incorporation)           File Number)            Identification No.)

      25 Science Park, New Haven, CT                             06511
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                       (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (203) 776-1790
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                                 Not Applicable
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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On September 19, 2000, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. issued the press
release filed herewith as Exhibit 99.


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

         (C)  EXHIBITS.

         99       Press Release dated September 19, 2000.





                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                             ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


Date: September 19, 2000                     By: /s/  Leonard Bell, M.D.
                                                 ------------------------------
                                             Name: Leonard Bell, M.D.
                                             Title: President, Chief Executive
                                                    Officer, Secretary and
                                                    Treasurer



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Leonard Bell
President & CEO
(203) 776-1790

Noonan/Russo Communications,Inc.
Ernie Knewitz (Media)
(212) 696-4455 Ext. 204

Thomson Financial
Rhonda Chiger (Investor)
(212) 510-9280


                            ALEXION ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS

New Haven, CT,  September 19, 2000  -- Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:
ALXN) today announced the promotion of Stephen P. Squinto, PhD to Executive
Vice President and Head of Research, Dr. Christopher Mojcik, MD, PhD to Vice
President, Clinical Development, and Scott A. Rollins, PhD to Vice President,
Drug Development and Project Management. Additionally, Samuel S. Chu, PhD has
joined the Company as Vice President, Manufacturing and Process Sciences. Dr.
Louis A. Matis, MD, who has resigned as Senior Vice President and Chief
Scientific Officer to pursue other interests, has joined Alexion's Scientific
Advisory Board.

Dr. Squinto, 44, a co-founder of Alexion and formerly Senior Vice President
and Chief Technology Officer, will now head all of the research at the firm
and will continue to report to Leonard Bell, MD, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Alexion.  Dr. Mojcik, 40, who joined Alexion in 1998 as
Senior Director of Clinical Development, will now head an expanded clinical
development and operations group and will continue to report to Dr. Bell.

"These promotions reflect the many accomplishments Alexion has achieved with
the strong management team it has in place," said Dr. Leonard Bell, President
and Chief Executive Officer.  "Dr. Squinto and Dr. Mojcik have been
instrumental in the development of our product candidates.  I am confident
that under Steve's leadership, we will accelerate the identification and
development of new product candidates and continue to augment our already
expanding technology base. Under Chris' leadership, we have now completed
enrollment in a 1,000 patient cardiopulmonary bypass efficacy trial and a 200
patient rheumatoid arthritis efficacy trial. I expect that we will continue
to augment the resources within Chris' group over the future so that the firm
can most efficiently both obtain its current objectives and continue to meet
further development goals."

Dr. Rollins, 37, a co-founder of Alexion, joined Alexion as a staff scientist
in 1992 and was most recently Director of Drug Development and Project
Management, responsible for managing, among other aspects, the firm's
alliance with Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Rollins will report to
Mr. David Keiser, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
Alexion.

Dr. Chu, 50, joins Alexion with a 15 year track record in manufacturing of
recombinant proteins. Most recently, Dr. Chu was Director of Biotechnology
Development and Pilot Plant operations with Bristol-Myers Squibb Corporation,
where he managed recombinant protein manufacturing with a staff of over 70
employees. In this capacity, Dr. Chu directed GMP production, compliance,
validation, and facility engineering of recombinant products, including
monoclonal antibodies.  At Alexion, Dr. Chu will supervise all aspects of
process development and manufacturing of the Company's product candidates. He
will report to Mr. Keiser.

"I am extremely pleased to announce Dr. Rollins' promotion and to welcome
Dr. Chu to the Alexion team," said David Keiser, Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer.  "Scott's role in managing the complex interaction
of the varied aspects of development will continue to become even more vital
as we both

                                      --MORE--

further develop the current indications as well as introduce additional
development objectives. Sam's appointment provides increasingly important
recombinant antibody production expertise as well as substantial broad
industry manufacturing experience. We are very fortunate to have Sam join our
team and look forward to substantial contributions to our ongoing development
programs."

"Lastly, since joining the firm in 1993, Lou Matis has been a highly valued
contributor to our early discovery efforts," continued Dr. Bell.  "I have
come to very much value his insights and breadth of scientific knowledge and
am glad that Lou will continue to assist with Alexion's growth as a valued
Scientific Advisor. More personally, I hope that Lou enjoys equal success in
his future endeavors."

Alexion is engaged in the development of products for the treatment of
cardiovascular, autoimmune and neurologic diseases caused by undesired
effects of the human immune system. Alexion's two lead product candidates are
currently in eight clinical development programs.  5G1.1-SC, in collaboration
with Procter & Gamble, is in a Phase IIb cardiopulmonary bypass efficacy
trial and in two Phase II myocardial infarction efficacy trials. 5G1.1 is
currently in a Phase II efficacy trial for the chronic treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis, a Phase II efficacy trial for the treatment of
membranous nephritis and in Phase Ib pilot studies for treatment of
psoriasis, dermatomyositis, and pemphigoid. This press release and further
information about Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. can be found on the World
Wide Web at: www.AlexionPharm.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are
subject to certain factors which may cause Alexion's plans to differ or
results to vary from those expected including unexpected pre-clinical or
clinical results, the need for additional research and testing, delays in
manufacturing, access to capital and funding, delays and adverse changes in
development of commercial relationships and a variety of risks set forth from
time to time in Alexion's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including but not limited to the risks discussed in Alexion's
Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended July 31, 1999. Alexion
undertakes no obligation to publicly release results of any of these
forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.


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