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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                    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): October 15, 2001

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                            GENOME THERAPEUTICS CORP.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


       MASSACHUSETTS                   0-10824                  04-2297484
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)      (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation)                                    Identification Number)


                                100 BEAVER STREET
                          WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02453
          (Address, of principal executive offices, including zip code)


                                 (781) 398-2300
               (Registrant's Telephone number including area code)

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                               PAGE 1 OF 4 PAGES.





Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On October 15, 2001, Genome Therapeutics Corp. issued a press release
announcing that researchers from Genome Therapeutics and Creighton University
have identified a novel gene responsible for high bone density. A copy of this
press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.



                                      -2-



                                   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.

                                         GENOME THERAPEUTICS CORP.

                                         By /s/ Stephen Cohen
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Name:  Stephen Cohen
                                            Title: Chief Financial Officer


Date: October 16, 2001





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


99.1              Press Release dated October 15, 2001