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 6, 2002

                               Aphton Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



       Delaware                       0-19122               95-3640931
--------------------------    ---------------------    ---------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
    of Incorporation)                                  Identification Number)


             80 S.W. Eighth Street, Suite 2160, Miami, Florida 33130
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

                                 (305) 374-7338
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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






<PAGE>




ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.


     On November 6, 2002, Aphton  Corporation (the "Company")  announced that it
has  received  approval  and plans to  initiate a  clinical  trial in Europe for
patients  suffering from  Gastroesophageal  Reflux Disease (GERD).  The clinical
trial will examine,  among other endpoints,  whether G17DT may be efficacious in
providing  symptomatic  relief to patients suffering from GERD. In parallel with
the  clinical  trial in Europe,  the  Company has agreed with the FDA to conduct
certain  toxicology  and other  preclinical  studies prior to initiation of this
trial in the US. The  Company  is in  discussions  with  current  and  potential
strategic  partners  to license  the GERD  product  worldwide,  in return for an
up-front fee, milestone  payments,  payments for conducting  clinical trials and
royalties.  The  Company  plans to  recruit  the  first  patients  in  Europe by
mid-January, 2003.

     The  Company  announced  in July,  2002  that it has  concluded  a phase II
clinical trial with G17DT which showed,  among other findings,  the reduction of
post-prandial  (post-meal)  levels of gastrin to pre-meal levels of gastrin,  in
patients immunized with G17DT.  Furthermore,  for patients also treated with the
proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) drug omeprazole, the Company showed the reduction of
the many-fold  increase in gastrin  levels  induced by  omeprazole,  a condition
known as hypergastrinemia, to pre-meal levels of gastrin.

     Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a clinical disorder characterized by the
retrograde  flow of  gastric  contents  across an  incompetent  gastroesophageal
junction into the esophagus. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn.  GERD
is the most  common  gastrointestinal  pathology.  In the United  States  alone,
industry  sources  have  estimated  that 21  million  people,  or over 7% of the
population,  suffer  from GERD.  About 40% of the  adults in the  United  States
experience  GERD at  least  once a month  (most  frequently  heartburn).  In the
European  Union,  the  incidence  of GERD is  comparable  to that in the  United
States.  In Asia, in particular in Japan,  the prevalence of GERD is approaching
that of Western nations.

     The most  commonly  used  therapies  for the treatment of GERD are based on
reducing acid  secretion.  PPIs such as Prilosec and Prevacid are among the most
widely used drugs. Industry sources have estimated that the worldwide market for
medications to treat for GERD was approximately $14 billion in 2001. Episodes of
GERD occur most  frequently  after a meal and are associated  with  postprandial
acid secretion.  While some patients have excess acid production,  it is not the
quantity of acid  produced but rather the quantity  that reaches the  esophageal
mucosa and frequency  with which that occurs that result in damage and symptoms.
PPIs, while generally effective,  treat the symptoms of GERD, not the underlying
physiological  mechanisms.  The fundamental  underlying mechanism of GERD is now
widely accepted to be Transient Lower Esophageal Sphincter  Relaxations (TLESRs)
occurring in  conjunction  with acid  reflux.  PPIs do not address  TLESRs,  the
neuromuscular  component  of GERD.  As a result,  PPIs do not  provide  complete
efficacy, as approximately 40% to 50% of the patients do not achieve symptomatic
relief,  which is the principal reason for their seeking medical help.  Further,
relapses  often occur,  especially  due to lack of patient  compliance  with the
therapy by those who do feel relief. GERD is a symptom-driven disorder.

     Human data has been obtained that postprandial levels of gastrin 17 provoke
approximately a three hundred percent  increase in episodes of TLESRs  occurring
in conjunction



                                      -2-


<PAGE>




with  gastroesophageal  reflux  (GER).  Given  gastrin  17's effect of increased
episodes of TLESRs with GER, the Company believes that a reduction of gastrin 17
should also lead to a reduction of these episodes, in particular  postprandially
(i.e., following a meal); thereby the fundamental cause of GERD symptoms and the
ensuing acid (and bile) increase  should be reduced,  rather than the acid only,
as in the case of PPIs.  Based on this dual  mechanism  of action,  the  Company
believes that its anti-gastrin immunotherapy should be effective in treatment of
GERD, either as a stand-alone product or in conjunction with PPIs.

     In this  connection (see the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 29, 2002), in
his recent testimony before the FDA's Advisory Board on Gastrointestinal  Drugs,
its Chairman,  Dr. M. Michael Wolfe noted that "...the fastest growing cancer is
adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, and its precursor,  Barrett's Esophagus...." He
concluded,  based in part on the studies he  presented  showing the  presence of
functional gastrin receptors in esophageal adenocarcinomas:  "...this raises the
possibility  hypergastrinemia  associated with proton pump inhibitor therapy may
stimulate the proliferation of preexisting esophageal adenocarcinoma...."

     This warning on the potential risks of treating patients with PPIs was also
the subject of a talk at the Mayo Clinic in September,  2002 by Sir James Black,
who received the Nobel Prize for his invention and  development of Tagamet,  the
pioneer drug for treating GERD and ulcerations.

     Aphton Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company developing products using
its innovative targeted immunotherapy  technology for neutralizing hormones that
participate  in  gastrointestinal  system  and  reproductive  system  cancer and
non-cancer diseases; and the prevention of pregnancy.  The Company has strategic
alliances  with Aventis  (NYSE:  AVE) for treating  gastrointestinal  system and
other  cancers with G17DT in North  America and Europe;  GlaxoSmithKline  (NYSE:
GSK) for  reproductive  system cancer and  non-cancer  diseases  worldwide;  and
others.



ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.


          (c)  Exhibits.

               99.1 Text of Press Release of the Company dated November 6, 2002.




                                      -3-


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

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



                                     APHTON CORPORATION
                                     (Registrant)


                                     By:  /s/ Frederick W. Jacobs
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Name:  Frederick W. Jacobs
                                        Title: Vice President, Chief Financial
                                               Officer, Treasurer and
                                               Chief Accounting Officer



Dated: November 6, 2002


                                      -4-


<PAGE>



                                                                    Exhibit 99.1



                              N E W S R E L E A S E

     Miami, FL - Aphton  Corporation  (NASDAQ NMS: APHT) - Aphton announced that
it has received  approval  and plans to initiate a clinical  trial in Europe for
patients  suffering from  Gastroesophageal  Reflux Disease (GERD).  The clinical
trial will examine,  among other endpoints,  whether G17DT may be efficacious in
providing  symptomatic  relief to patients suffering from GERD. In parallel with
the clinical trial in Europe,  Aphton has agreed with the FDA to conduct certain
toxicology  and other  preclinical  studies prior to initiation of this trial in
the US. Aphton is in discussions with current and potential  strategic  partners
to license the GERD product worldwide,  in return for an up-front fee, milestone
payments, payments for conducting clinical trials and royalties. Aphton plans to
recruit the first patients in Europe by mid-January, 2003.

     Aphton  announced in July,  2002 that it has  concluded a phase II clinical
trial  with  G17DT  which  showed,  among  other  findings,   the  reduction  of
post-prandial  (post-meal)  levels of gastrin to pre-meal levels of gastrin,  in
patients immunized with G17DT.  Furthermore,  for patients also treated with the
proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) drug omeprazole,  Aphton showed the reduction of the
many-fold increase in gastrin levels induced by omeprazole, a condition known as
hypergastrinemia, to pre-meal levels of gastrin.

     Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a clinical disorder characterized by the
retrograde  flow of  gastric  contents  across an  incompetent  gastroesophageal
junction into the esophagus. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn.  GERD
is the most  common  gastrointestinal  pathology.  In the United  States  alone,
industry  sources  have  estimated  that 21  million  people,  or over 7% of the
population,  suffer  from GERD.  About 40% of the  adults in the  United  States
experience  GERD at  least  once a month  (most  frequently  heartburn).  In the
European  Union,  the  incidence  of GERD is  comparable  to that in the  United
States.  In Asia, in particular in Japan,  the prevalence of GERD is approaching
that of Western nations.

     The most  commonly  used  therapies  for the treatment of GERD are based on
reducing acid  secretion.  PPIs such as Prilosec and Prevacid are among the most
widely used drugs. Industry sources have estimated that the worldwide market for
medications to treat for GERD was approximately $14 billion in 2001. Episodes of
GERD occur most  frequently  after a meal and are associated  with  postprandial
acid secretion.  While some patients have excess acid production,  it is not the
quantity of acid  produced but rather the quantity  that reaches the  esophageal
mucosa and frequency  with which that occurs that result in damage and symptoms.
PPIs, while generally effective,  treat the symptoms of GERD, not the underlying
physiological  mechanisms.  The fundamental  underlying mechanism of GERD is now
widely accepted to be Transient Lower Esophageal Sphincter  Relaxations (TLESRs)
occurring in  conjunction  with acid  reflux.  PPIs do not address  TLESRs,  the
neuromuscular  component  of GERD.  As a result,





<PAGE>

PPIs  do not  provide  complete  efficacy,  as  approximately  40% to 50% of the
patients do not achieve  symptomatic  relief,  which is the principal reason for
their seeking  medical help.  Further,  relapses often occur,  especially due to
lack of patient compliance with the therapy by those who do feel relief. GERD is
a symptom-driven disorder.

     Human data has been obtained that postprandial levels of gastrin 17 provoke
approximately a three hundred percent  increase in episodes of TLESRs  occurring
in conjunction with gastroesophageal  reflux (GER). Given gastrin 17's effect of
increased  episodes  of TLESRs with GER,  Aphton  believes  that a reduction  of
gastrin 17 should  also lead to a reduction  of these  episodes,  in  particular
postprandially  (i.e.,  following a meal); thereby the fundamental cause of GERD
symptoms and the ensuing acid (and bile) increase should be reduced, rather than
the acid only, as in the case of PPIs.  Based on this dual  mechanism of action,
Aphton  believes  that its  anti-gastrin  immunotherapy  should be  effective in
treatment of GERD, either as a stand-alone product or in conjunction with PPIs.

     In this  connection  (see Aphton's Form 8-K filed on July 29, 2002), in his
recent testimony before the FDA's Advisory Board on Gastrointestinal  Drugs, its
Chairman,  Dr. M. Michael  Wolfe noted that "...the  fastest  growing  cancer is
adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, and its precursor,  Barrett's Esophagus...." He
concluded,  based in part on the studies he  presented  showing the  presence of
functional gastrin receptors in esophageal adenocarcinomas:  "...this raises the
possibility  hypergastrinemia  associated with proton pump inhibitor therapy may
stimulate the proliferation of preexisting esophageal adenocarcinoma...."

     This warning on the potential risks of treating patients with PPIs was also
the subject of a talk at the Mayo Clinic in September,  2002 by Sir James Black,
who received the Nobel Prize for his invention and  development of Tagamet,  the
pioneer drug for treating GERD and ulcerations.

     Aphton Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company developing products using
its innovative targeted immunotherapy  technology for neutralizing hormones that
participate  in  gastrointestinal  system  and  reproductive  system  cancer and
non-cancer  diseases;  and the  prevention  of  pregnancy.  Aphton has strategic
alliances  with Aventis  (NYSE:  AVE) for treating  gastrointestinal  system and
other  cancers with G17DT in North  America and Europe;  GlaxoSmithKline  (NYSE:
GSK) for  reproductive  system cancer and  non-cancer  diseases  worldwide;  and
others.

     Except for the historical  information herein, the matters discussed herein
are forward-looking  statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties
and  are  not a  guarantee  of  future  performance.  Future  results  may  vary
significantly  based on a number  of  factors  including,  but not  limited  to,
intellectual  property risks,  risks in regulatory and market  acceptance of new
products and continuing demand for same, the impact of competitive  products and
pricing,  changing economic  conditions and other risk factors that are inherent
in the drug development  process and the company's  business including those set
forth in Aphton's  most recent 10-K and other  filings with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission.  It is not  possible to predict or identify  all such risk
factors that could cause actual  results to differ from  expected or  historical
results.  The company's  actual results could differ from these  forward-looking



                                      -2-



<PAGE>



statements  and the company  undertakes  no  obligation  to update  publicly any
forward-looking statement.

Contact: Aphton Corporation; Investor Relations, J.L. Whitmore, 305-374-7338.





                                      -3-