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


                                December 23, 2003
                                -----------------
                                (Date of Report)


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


          Delaware                       333-45241                22-3542636
----------------------------           ------------          -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction           (Commission              (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                File Number)          Identification No.)



                 165 Ludlow Avenue, Northvale, New Jersey 07647
                 ----------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


                                 (201) 750-2646
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Item 5.  Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure
         -----------------------------------------

         Registrant issued on December 23, 2003 a press release announcing its
agreement with Pivotal Development, LLC to develop a controlled release product
utilizing Elite's proprietary drug delivery technology.

         A copy of Registrant's press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
         ---------------------------------

      a) Not applicable.

      b) Not applicable.

      c) Exhibits

         99.1.  Press Release, dated December 23, 2003

                                       2


                                     SIGNATURE


      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.


Dated:  December 23, 2003


                                       ELITE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


                                       By: /s/ BERNARD BERK
                                           ------------------------------
                                           Name:  Bernard Berk
                                           Title: Chief Executive Officer


                                        3