<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001235010</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MOMENTA PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MNTA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001296587</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MVM International Life Sciences Fund No 1 L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6 HENRIETTA STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>WC2E 8PU</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1073898</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1610850</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8656</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5965</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>954</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5965</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>96</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>234</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>234</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">In-kind distribution to the limited partners of the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are held directly by MVM International Life Sciences Fund No. 1 L.P. Stephen Reeders, Martin Murphy and David Brister are the investment directors of MVM Limited, which individuals exercise discretionary investment power over securities held by MVM International Life Sciences Fund No. 1 L.P., MVM Limited, Stephen Reeders, Paul Triniman, David Brister, Martin Murphy, Richard Lim and Thomas Casdagli, and are principally responsible for the selection, acquisition and disposition of these securities. Dr. Reeders disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest in such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These shares are held directly by MVM Limited. Stephen Reeders, Martin Murphy and David Brister are the investment directors of MVM Limited, which individuals exercise discretionary investment power over securities held by MVM International Life Sciences Fund No. 1 L.P., MVM Limited, Stephen Reeders, Paul Triniman, David Brister, Martin Murphy, Richard Lim and Thomas Casdagli, and are principally responsible for the selection, acquisition and disposition of these securities. Dr. Reeders disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest in such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These shares are held directly by David Brister. Stephen Reeders, Martin Murphy and David Brister are the investment directors of MVM Limited, which individuals exercise discretionary investment power over securities held by MVM International Life Sciences Fund No. 1 L.P., MVM Limited, Stephen Reeders, Paul Triniman, David Brister, Martin Murphy, Richard Lim and Thomas Casdagli, and are principally responsible for the selection, acquisition and disposition of these securities. Dr. Reeders disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest in such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These shares are held directly by Paul Triniman. Stephen Reeders, Martin Murphy and David Brister are the investment directors of MVM Limited, which individuals exercise discretionary investment power over securities held by MVM International Life Sciences Fund No. 1 L.P., MVM Limited, Stephen Reeders, Paul Triniman, David Brister, Martin Murphy, Richard Lim and Thomas Casdagli, and are principally responsible for the selection, acquisition and disposition of these securities. Dr. Reeders disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest in such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">These shares are held directly by Stephen Reeders. Stephen Reeders, Martin Murphy and David Brister are the investment directors of MVM Limited, which individuals exercise discretionary investment power over securities held by MVM International Life Sciences Fund No. 1 L.P., MVM Limited, Stephen Reeders, Paul Triniman, David Brister, Martin Murphy, Richard Lim and Thomas Casdagli, and are principally responsible for the selection, acquisition and disposition of these securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">These shares are held directly by Martin Murphy. Stephen Reeders, Martin Murphy and David Brister are the investment directors of MVM Limited, which individuals exercise discretionary investment power over securities held by MVM International Life Sciences Fund No. 1 L.P., MVM Limited, Stephen Reeders, Paul Triniman, David Brister, Martin Murphy, Richard Lim and Thomas Casdagli, and are principally responsible for the selection, acquisition and disposition of these securities. Dr. Reeders disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest in such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">These shares are held directly by Richard Lim. Stephen Reeders, Martin Murphy and David Brister are the investment directors of MVM Limited, which individuals exercise discretionary investment power over securities held by MVM International Life Sciences Fund No. 1 L.P., MVM Limited, Stephen Reeders, Paul Triniman, David Brister, Martin Murphy, Richard Lim and Thomas Casdagli, and are principally responsible for the selection, acquisition and disposition of these securities. Dr. Reeders disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest in such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">These shares are held directly by Thomas Casdagli. Stephen Reeders, Martin Murphy and David Brister are the investment directors of MVM Limited, which individuals exercise discretionary investment power over securities held by MVM International Life Sciences Fund No. 1 L.P., MVM Limited, Stephen Reeders, Paul Triniman, David Brister, Martin Murphy, Richard Lim and Thomas Casdagli, and are principally responsible for the selection, acquisition and disposition of these securities. Dr. Reeders disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his proportionate pecuniary interest in such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephen T. Reeders</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
