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): February 21, 2001





                           BIOTRANSPLANT INCORPORATED

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         DELAWARE                        000-28324               04-3119555
-------------------------------   -------------------------   ----------------
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
         incorporation)                                      Identification No.)



     Building 75, Third Avenue
       Charlestown Navy Yard
          Charlestown, MA                                              02129
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  (Address of principal executive                                    (Zip Code)
              offices)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 241-5200

                                       N/A
               --------------------------------------------- ----
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




Item 5.      Other Events.

On February 21, 2001, BioTransplant Incorporated issued a press release
announcing that Eligix, Inc. had received European Community authorization to
affix the CE Mark to its B-Cell HDM cell separation devices. See the press
release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

On February 21, 2001, Dr. Elliot Lebowitz, President and Chief Executive
Officer of BioTransplant Incorporated, made a slide presentation at the
BIO-CEO Conference relating to BioTransplant's business and its proposed
merger with Eligix, Inc. See the text of the slide presentation attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

Item 7.      Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

         (c)   Exhibits.

         See Exhibit Index attached hereto.

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                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:    February 21, 2001                 BIOTRANSPLANT INCORPORATED

                                           By: /s/ Richard V. Capasso
                                              ----------------------------------
                                           Richard V. Capasso
                                           Vice President, Finance and Treasurer

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.                         EXHIBIT

Exhibit 99.1                        Press Release dated February 21, 2001

Exhibit 99.2                        Text of the slide presentation given on
                                    February 21, 2001



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