8-K

                                 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

 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 12, 2004
                                                  (November 11, 2004)


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


                  DELAWARE             0-20117                 13-3532643
- ----------------------------         -----------           ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission              (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)               File Number)          Identification No.)


 6700 WEST LOOP, 4TH FLOOR, BELLAIRE, TEXAS                      77401
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)


        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 713-796-8822


                                 Not Applicable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
    (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
    (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



ITEM 8.01  OTHER EVENTS.

         Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to
Thelin(TM)(sitaxsentan sodium).

         The U.S. Orphan Drug Act of 1983 provides incentives for companies
that are developing and marketing therapies for diseases and disorders that
affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Following FDA approval,
the Orphan Drug Act provides a drug market exclusivity for a particular
indication for a period of seven years. Additionally, orphan drug designation
provides protocol assistance, clinical trial support, tax credits, grant
funding for research, and waiver of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA)
filing fee. The full text of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit
99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 9.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

           (c) Exhibits.

               99.1     Press Release.


                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]



                                   SIGNATURES



         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.



                                     ENCYSIVE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
                                             (Registrant)

Date:  November 11, 2004
                                     /s/ Stephen L. Mueller
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                                Stephen L. Mueller
                                     Vice President, Finance and Administration
                                              Secretary and Treasurer



                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER           DESCRIPTION
- --------------           -----------

    99.1                 Press Release.

EX-99.1

                                                                      Exh. 99.1

Contact:

Investors:                                               Media:
Ann Tanabe                                               Daniel Budwick
Encysive Pharmaceuticals                                 BMC Communications
(713) 796-8822                                           (212) 477-9007 ext. 14

Hershel Berry
The Trout Group
(415) 392-3385


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

           FDA GRANTS ENCYSIVE ORPHAN DRUG DESIGNATION FOR THELIN(TM)

HOUSTON -NOVEMBER 11, 2004- Encysive Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ENCY) announced
today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug
designation to Thelin(TM) (sitaxsentan sodium).

The U.S. Orphan Drug Act of 1983 provides incentives for companies that are
developing and marketing therapies for diseases and disorders that affect fewer
than 200,000 people in the United States. Following FDA approval, the Orphan
Drug Act provides a drug market exclusivity for a particular indication for a
period of seven years. Additionally, orphan drug designation provides protocol
assistance, clinical trial support, tax credits, grant funding for research,
and waiver of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) filing fee. ABOUT

THELIN AND PAH

Thelin is a small molecule that blocks the action of endothelin, a potent
mediator of blood vessel constriction and growth of smooth muscle in vascular
walls. Endothelin receptor antagonists may prove to be effective in the
treatment of a variety of diseases where the regulation of vascular
constriction is important. Thelin is 6,500 fold selective in the targeting of
the endothelin A receptor.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a condition that involves high blood
pressure and structural changes in the walls of the pulmonary arteries, which
are the blood vessels that connect the right side of the heart to the lungs.
PAH causes shortness of breath, limits activity, and is eventually fatal unless
treated successfully with heart and lung transplant. Primary and secondary PAH
are estimated to afflict approximately 80,000 to 100,000 people worldwide, many
of whom are children and young women.

Side effects of Thelin seen in the program to date, and which occurred more
frequently than in placebo, include liver dysfunction (increased ALT and AST),
headache, edema, constipation, nasal congestion and flushing. Because Thelin
inhibits the metabolism of



warfarin, the dose of warfarin should be adjusted downward when co-administered
with Thelin.

ABOUT ENCYSIVE PHARMACEUTICALS

Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs, is recognized for
our expertise in small molecule drug development and vascular biology.
Argatroban, our first FDA-approved product, is being marketed by
GlaxoSmithKline for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Encysive Pharmaceuticals
is in Phase III development of the endothelin antagonist, Thelin, for pulmonary
arterial hypertension. Our majority-owned affiliate, Revotar Biopharmaceuticals
AG, is in Phase II development with the selectin antagonist bimosiamose in
asthma, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Encysive Pharmaceuticals has several
other research and development programs ongoing for a range of cardiovascular
and inflammatory diseases. To learn more about Encysive Pharmaceuticals please
visit our web site: www.encysive.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements
are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected. Among those risks, trends
and uncertainties are timing and cost of our clinical trials, attainment of
research and clinical goals and milestones of product candidates, attainment of
required government approvals, sales levels of our products and availability of
financing and revenues sufficient to fund development of product candidates and
operations. In particular, careful consideration should be given to cautionary
statements made in the various reports Encysive Pharmaceuticals, including as
Texas Biotechnology Corporation, has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company undertakes no duty to update or revise these
forward-looking statements.


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