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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-25</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000356830</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OSCIENT PHARMACEUTICALS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OSCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001289643</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GLG Partners LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 CURZON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>W1J 5HB</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001417841</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GLG Partners LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GLG PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 CURZON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>W1J 5HB</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001365790</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GLG Partners, Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>390 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>20TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001451456</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GLG Market Neutral Fund</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GLG PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 CURZON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>W1J 5HB</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, par value $0.10 (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>859539</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>12.50% Convertible Guaranteed Senior Notes</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-11-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3272727</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">GLG Partners LP, an English limited partnership, acts as the investment manager for GLG Market Neutral Fund, which owns
 859,539 shares of Common Stock and $3,600,000 aggregate principal amount of 12.50% Convertible Guaranteed Senior Notes due
 2011, convertible into 3,272,727 shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">GLG Partners LP, an English limited partnership, acts as the investment manager of GLG Market Neutral Fund and may be deemed,
 as of the date hereof, to be the beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities or derivative securities held by GLG Market
 Neutral Fund. GLG Partners Limited, an English limited company, is the general partner of GLG Partners LP. GLG Partners,
 Inc. indirectly wholly owns GLG Partners Limited.  GLG Partners LP, GLG Partners Limited and GLG Partners, Inc. do not hold
 directly any of the Issuer's securities or derivative securities with respect thereto, and disclaim any beneficial ownership
 of any of the Issuer's securities reported or excluded herein for purposes of Rule 16a-1(a) under the Securities Exchange
 Act of 1934, as amended, except for their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GLG Partners LP, By: GLG Partners Limited as its General Partner, By: /s/ Victoria Parry, Senior Legal Counsel of GLG Partners LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GLG Partners LP, By: GLG Partners Limited as its General Partner, By:  /s/ Emmanuel Roman, Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
