SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-1004

                                    FORM 8-K
                    CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): November 1, 2004

                           Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                      000-31617                33-059-5156
(State or other jurisdiction of       [Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)       File Number]        Identification Number)

                              6611 Dumbarton Circle
                                Fremont, CA 94555
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (510) 505-2100
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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: 

|_| 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 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

      On November 1, 2004, Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. issued a press release
announcing financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended September 30,
2004. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

      The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K is being furnished and
shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
that Section.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.     Description
-----------     -----------

99.1            Press Release issued by Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. on
                November 1, 2004



                                    SIGNATURE

      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.

                                                  Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.
                                                  (Registrant)

Date:  November 1, 2004                          By: /s/ William Rich          
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                 William E. Rich
                                                 President and Chief Executive 
                                                 Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  Exhibit
  Number                           Description
-------------   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   99.1         Press Release issued by Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. on 
                November 1, 2004