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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             450 Fifth Street, N.W.
                            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:  December 17, 1996


                             Atrix Laboratories, Inc.                
               --------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)




                                                                       
       Delaware                                0-18231                             84-1043826   
- -------------------                      -------------------                 ---------------------
     (State of                               (Commission                          (IRS Employer
   incorporation)                           File Number)                       Identification No.)



              2579 Midpoint Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado    80525
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (970) 482-5868

                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Change Since Last Report)
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Item 5.  Other Events.

         See the Press Release attached hereto as Exhibit 20.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)     Exhibits

                 10      Agreement between the Registrant and Block Drug 
                         Corporation dated December 16, 1996

                 20      Press Release dated December 17, 1996 regarding 
                         agreement with Block Drug Company
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         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 thereunto duly authorized.



                                          ATRIX LABORATORIES, INC.



Date:  January 31, 1997                   By: /s/ BRIAN RICHMOND 
                                             ----------------------------
                                             Brian Richmond, Assistant 
                                             Secretary
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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.                       Exhibit Description
- -----------                       -------------------
                      

        10               Agreement between the Registrant and Block Drug 
                         Corporation dated December 16, 1996*

        20               Press Release dated December 17, 1996 regarding 
                         agreement with Block Drug Company


        *     Confidential treatment has been requested for portions of this 
              exhibit.