AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 23, 1999
                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              SUNPHARM CORPORATION
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                DELAWARE                             F593097048
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF               (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)               IDENTIFICATION NO.)


         THE VERANDA, SUITE 301
            814 HIGHWAY A1A                             32082
    PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA 32082                  (ZIP CODE)
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)


                              SUNPHARM CORPORATION
                     AMENDED AND RESTATED 1995 NON-EMPLOYEE
                          DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                                   STEFAN BORG
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                              SUNPHARM CORPORATION
                             THE VERANDA, SUITE 301
                                 814 HIGHWAY A1A
                        PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA 32082
                     (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                 (904) 394-2800
          (TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                       ----------------------------------
                                    COPY TO:
                                JEFFREY R. HARDER
                             ANDREWS & KURTH L.L.P.
                        2170 BUCKTHORNE PLACE, SUITE 150
                           THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS 77380
                                 (713) 220-4801
                       ----------------------------------



                                              CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
==========================================================================================================================
                                                                    PROPOSED MAXIMUM   PROPOSED MAXIMUM  
                                                 AMOUNT TO          OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE          AMOUNT OF
    TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED      BE REGISTERED (1)      PER SHARE (2)    OFFERING PRICE (2)  REGISTRATION FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   
  Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share      200,000 Shares           $2.00             $400,000           $111.20
==========================================================================================================================
(1)      Pursuant to Rule 416(a),  this  registration  statement shall cover any
         additional  securities issued to prevent dilution  resulting from stock
         splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(2)      Estimated  solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee
         pursuant to Rule  457(c) and (h),  based on the average of the high and
         low sales  price per share of the  Common  Stock,  as  reported  on The
         Nasdaq SmallCap Market on April 20, 1999.
==========================================================================================================================



                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


         This  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 is  being  filed  solely  to
register additional securities. In accordance with General Instruction E of Form
S-8, SunPharm Corporation (the "Company"),  hereby incorporates by reference the
contents of the Company's  registration  statement on Form S-8 (No.  333-41967),
originally  filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission on December 11,
1997,   relating  to  the  SunPharm   Corporation   Amended  and  Restated  1995
Non-employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         Exhibit
         Number   Description
         ------   -----------

          5.1*    Opinion of Andrew & Kurth L.L.P.

         10.1     First  Amendment  to  the  SunPharm  Corporation  Amended  and
                  Restated  1995  Non-employee   Directors'  Stock  Option  Plan
                  (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 10.1 to the  Company's
                  Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended June 30,
                  1998 (File No. 0-27578)).

         23.1*    Consent  of Andrew & Kurth  L.L.P.  (included  in the  opinion
                  filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this registration statement).

         23.2*    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

         24.1*    Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature  page  contained
                  in Part II of this Registration Statement).

- ------------------------
*  filed herewith

                                       2



                                   SIGNATURES

                  Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933,
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 Ponte Vedra Beach,  Florida, on the 23rd day of
April, 1999.

                                   SUNPHARM CORPORATION
                                   (Registrant)


                                   By: /s/ STEFAN BORG
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                           Stefan Borg
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                  KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each of the undersigned
officers  and  directors  of  SunPharm   Corporation   (the  "Company")   hereby
constitutes  and appoints  Stefan Borg and Paul M. Herron as his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  with full power of substitution,  for him and on
his behalf and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign,
execute and file this  Registration  Statement under the Securities Act of 1933,
as  amended,  and  any  or  all  amendments   (including,   without  limitation,
post-effective amendments), with all exhibits and any and all documents required
to be filed with respect thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any regulatory authority,  granting unto such  attorneys-in-fact and agents full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to  effectuate  the same,  as fully to all intents
and purposes as he, or his  substitute,  himself might or could do if personally
present,  hereby  ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents may lawfully do or cause to be done.

                  PURSUANT TO THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF THE  SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE  FOLLOWING  PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.




             SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                DATE
             ---------                                   -----                                ----

                                                                                  
         /s/ STEFAN BORG                    President, Director and Chief Executive         March 3, 1999
         ------------------------------     Officer (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER)
             Stefan Borg


         /s/ PAUL M. HERRON                 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer      March 3, 1999
         ------------------------------     (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER)
             Paul M. Herron


         /s/ PHILIP R. TRACY                Chairman of the Board of Directors              March 3, 1999
         ------------------------------
             Philip R. Tracy


         /s/ CHARLES L. DIMMLER, III        Director                                        March 3, 1999
         ------------------------------
             Charles L. Dimmler, III


         /s/ JERRY T. JACKSON               Director                                        March 3, 1999
         ------------------------------
             Jerry T. Jackson


         /s/ ROBERT S. JANICKI, M.D.        Director                                        March 3, 1999
         ------------------------------
             Robert S. Janicki, M.D.


                                            Director                                        March 3, 1999
         ------------------------------
             Jacques F. Rejeange


         /s/ ROBERT A. SCHOELLHORN          Director                                        March 3, 1999
         ------------------------------
             Robert A. Schoellhorn


         /s/ JAY MOORIN                     Director                                        March 3, 1999
         ------------------------------
             Jay Moorin




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
- ------

  5.1*   Opinion Letter of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.

 10.1    First  Amendment  to SunPharm  Corporation  Amended and  Restated  1995
         Non-employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to
         Exhibit 10.1 to the  Company's  Form 10-QSB for the quarter  ended June
         30, 1998 (File No. 0-27578)).

 23.1*   Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 23.2*   Consent of Independent Accountants.

 24.1*   Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

- -------------------------
* filed herewith