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                                  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)   AUGUST 13, 2002

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

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           DELAWARE                        000-21589                     56-1930728
 (State or other jurisdiction             (Commission                   (IRS Employer
       of incorporation)                  File Number)               Identification No.)

4 UNIVERSITY PLACE, 4611 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA            27707
               (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (919) 493-5980


          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)   Exhibits.   The following document is incorporated by reference to
                  this Report:

      99.1        Officer Certifications dated August 13, 2002 pursuant to
                  the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

      In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the following
information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed
incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

      On August 13, 2002, the President and Chief Operating Officer and the
Treasurer of Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. submitted to the Securities and
Exchange Commission certifications pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
in connection with the Form 10-Q of Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the
period ended June 30, 2002.  Copies of these certifications are attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1

                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                            Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
                                            ------------------------------
                                                     (Registrant)

               August 13, 2002                    /s/ Chris A. Rallis
               ---------------              ------------------------------
                    Date                              (Signature)

                                      Name:  Chris A. Rallis
                                      Title:    President & Chief Operating
                                                Officer