SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT


    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                               July 24, 2000
                  (Date of Report - earliest event reported)

                          DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          DELAWARE                     000-19809                95-3645543
(State or other jurisdiction          (Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation)               File Number)          Identification No.)

      7475 LUSK BOULEVARD, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA                 92121
      (Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

      REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE IS (858) 457-2553









Item 5.  Other Events.

         On July 24, 2000, Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Dura") announced
implementation of a refocused growth strategy to enhance stockholder value.
Dura will capitalize upon its strengths in sales and marketing to increase
pharmaceutical product revenues and substantially reduce and focus its
research and development spending. As part of the strategy, Dura will, upon
the successful completion of the proposed acquisition of Spiros Development
Corporation II, Inc. ("SDCII"), discontinue the development of all motorized
Spiros-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- cassette programs, including Beclomethasone
Spiros-TRADEMARK- and Budesonide Spiros-TRADEMARK-. Upon completion of the
proposed acquisition, David S. Kabakoff, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer of SDCII and President of Dura Technologies, plans to leave Dura to
pursue other interests. Lloyd E. Flanders, Ph.D., currently Senior Vice
President, Program Management and Research and Development Planning, will
assume the new role of Senior Vice President, Technology Operations.

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

     C.  Exhibits

         99.1 Press Release dated July 24, 2000.



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                                  SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 8-K to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                       DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.



Date: July 25, 2000                    /s/ Mitchell R. Woodbury
                                       --------------------------------------
                                       Sr. Vice President, General Counsel



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