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): MAY 26, 2004



                              HALSEY DRUG CO., INC.



             616 N. NORTH COURT, SUITE 120, PALATINE, ILLINOIS 60067

                                 (847-705-7709)





                                                               
Incorporated under the laws of            Commission File Number     I.R.S. Employer Identification Number
    State of New York                            1-10113                        11-0853640
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On May 26, 2004, Halsey Drug Co., Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release disclosing the filing of four non-provisional patent applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office relating to the Company's opioid synthesis technologies. A copy of the Company's press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS. (B) EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION - ------ ----------- 99.1 Press Release of Halsey Drug Co., Inc. dated May 26, 2004.
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 thereunto duly authorized. HALSEY DRUG CO., INC. By: /s/ Peter A. Clemens ------------------------------------- Peter A. Clemens Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Date: May 26, 2004 3 EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION 99.1 Press Release dated May 26, 2004.
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                                                                   Exhibit 99.1
CONTACT: Halsey Drug Co., Inc.
Investor Relations, Peter A. Clemens, SVP & CFO   847-705-7709



                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


   HALSEY DRUG CO., INC. ANNOUNCES FILING OF FOUR PATENT APPLICATIONS FOR THE
                              SYNTHESIS OF OPIOIDS


PALATINE, IL, MAY 26, 2004: Halsey Drug Co., Inc. (OTC.BB-HDGC) today
announced the filing of four non-provisional patent applications with the
US Patent and Trademark Office relating to the Company's opioid synthesis
technologies.

Commenting, Ron Spivey, Ph.D., Senior VP and Chief Scientific Officer said, "We
believe, depending on the specific opioid active pharmaceutical ingredient
(API), that utilizing the opioid synthesis technologies described in these
patent applications will lead to higher purity API's with potentially reduced
manufacturing cycle times, greater yields and/or lower manufacturing costs.
These patent applications, if issued, for which there can be no assurances,
represent significant advances in the expansion of the Company's intellectual
property portfolio and compliment our strategy of developing competitive
advantages based on our proprietary opioid abuse deterrent formulation
technology and opioid API synthesis technologies".

Halsey Drug Co., Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is an emerging
pharmaceutical technology development company specializing in proprietary
abuse deterrent formulation technology and opioid API synthesis
technologies.

This press release contains forward looking statements, within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act
of 1934, as amended that are based on management's beliefs and assumptions,
current expectations, estimates and projections. Investors are cautioned that
forward looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which
could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or
implied by such forward looking statements. The most significant of such factors
include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, competitive
conditions, technological conditions and governmental legislation. More
specifically, important factors that may affect future results include, but are
not limited to: changes in laws and regulations, particularly those affecting
the Company's operations; the Company's ability to continue to attract,
assimilate and retain highly skilled personnel; its ability to secure and
protect its patents, trademarks and proprietary rights; litigation or regulatory
action that could require the Company to pay significant damages or change the
way it conducts its business; the Company's ability to successfully develop and
market its products; customer responsiveness to new


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products and distribution channels; its ability to compete successfully against
current and future competitors; its dependence on third-party suppliers of raw
materials; the availability of controlled substances that constitute the active
ingredients of the Company's products in development; difficulties or delays in
clinical trials for Company products or in the manufacture of Company products;
and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Company filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company is at an early stage of
development and may not ever have any products that generate significant
revenue.

Further, the forward looking statements speak only as of the date of such
statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any
forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of
such statements. Any or all of the forward looking statements whether included
in this release or in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, may turn out to be wrong. Readers should remember that no forward
looking statement can be guaranteed and other factors besides those listed above
could adversely affect the Company, its operating results or financial
condition.

This and past press releases for Halsey Drug Co., Inc. are available at Halsey's
web site at www.halseydrug.com.


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