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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001415739</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Stoner Elizabeth</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MOMENTA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>301 BINNEY STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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    <derivativeTable>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-06-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-06-23</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
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                <value>2020-10-01</value>
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                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8855</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>12.64</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-10-01</value>
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                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
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                <value>38.09</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects disposition of Issuer common stock in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 19, 2020 (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;), by and among Johnson &amp; Johnson, Vigor Sub, Inc. (&quot;Merger Sub&quot;) and the Issuer, including the completion of a tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Issuer common stock at a price of $52.50 per share in cash, without interest, less any required withholding taxes (the &quot;Offer Price&quot;), and the consummation of the merger (the &quot;Merger&quot;) between the Issuer and Merger Sub on October 1, 2020.  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as of the effective time of the Merger (the &quot;Effective Time&quot;), each outstanding share of Issuer common stock was cancelled in exchange for the right to receive an amount equal to the Offer Price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects disposition of options to acquire shares of Issuer common stock (each, an &quot;Issuer Option&quot;) in accordance with the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which, effective immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Issuer Option held by the Reporting Person became vested in full and, as of the Effective Time, was cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash (without interest) equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the aggregate number of shares of Issuer common stock underlying such Issuer Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (y) the amount, if any, by which the Offer Price exceeds the per share exercise price of such Issuer Option.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ R. Mark Chamberlin as attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
