UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934*

                         UNITED THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value Per Share
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    91307C102
                                 --------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                October 15, 2001
                                ----------------
                      (Date of Event which Requires Filing
                               of this Statement)



Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
                                    is filed:

                                [ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
                                [X] Rule 13d-1(c)
                                [ ] Rule 13d-1(d)



*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).


                               Page 1 of 8 pages




-------------------                                            -----------------
CUSIP No. 91307C102                    13G                     Page 2 of 8 Pages
-------------------                                            -----------------

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

           S.A.C. Capital Advisors, LLC
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                         (a) [ ]

                                                                         (b) [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        3  SEC USE ONLY

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

           Delaware
--------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------------------
                         5  SOLE VOTING POWER

                                        0
                      ----- ----------------------------------------------------
     NUMBER OF           6  SHARED VOTING POWER
       SHARES
    BENEFICIALLY            1,115,900
      OWNED BY
        EACH          ----- ----------------------------------------------------
     REPORTING           7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
       PERSON
        WITH                0

                      ----- ----------------------------------------------------
                         8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                    1,115,900
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        9  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

           1,115,900
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
           SHARES                                                            [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

           5.5%
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

           00
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                       *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT


                               Page 2 of 8 pages




-------------------                                            -----------------
CUSIP No. 91307C102                    13G                     Page 3 of 8 Pages
-------------------                                            -----------------

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

           S.A.C. Capital Management, LLC
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                         (a) [ ]

                                                                         (b) [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        3  SEC USE ONLY

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

           Delaware
--------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------------------
                         5  SOLE VOTING POWER

                                        0
                      ----- ----------------------------------------------------
     NUMBER OF           6  SHARED VOTING POWER
       SHARES
    BENEFICIALLY            1,115,900
      OWNED BY
        EACH          ----- ----------------------------------------------------
     REPORTING           7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
       PERSON
        WITH                0

                      ----- ----------------------------------------------------
                         8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                    1,115,900
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        9  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

           1,115,900
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
           SHARES                                                            [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

           5.5%
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

           00
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                       *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT


                               Page 3 of 8 pages




-------------------                                            -----------------
CUSIP No. 91307C102                    13G                     Page 4 of 8 Pages
-------------------                                            -----------------

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

           Steven A. Cohen
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                                         (a) [ ]

                                                                         (b) [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        3  SEC USE ONLY

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

           United States
--------------------- ----- ----------------------------------------------------
                         5  SOLE VOTING POWER

                                        0
                      ----- ----------------------------------------------------
     NUMBER OF           6  SHARED VOTING POWER
       SHARES
    BENEFICIALLY            1,115,900
      OWNED BY
        EACH          ----- ----------------------------------------------------
     REPORTING           7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
       PERSON
        WITH                0

                      ----- ----------------------------------------------------
                         8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                    1,115,900
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        9  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

           1,115,900
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
           SHARES                                                            [ ]

---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

           5.5%
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

           IN
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                       *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT


                               Page 4 of 8 pages




Item 1(a)           Name of Issuer:
                    --------------

                    United Therapeutics Corporation

Item 1(b)           Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
                    -----------------------------------------------

                    1110 Spring Street
                    Silver Spring, MD 20910

Items 2(a)          Name of Person Filing:
                    ---------------------

                    This statement is being filed by (i) S.A.C. Capital
                    Advisors, LLC ("SAC Capital Advisors"), (ii) S.A.C. Capital
                    Management, LLC ("SAC Capital Management") and (iii) Steven
                    A. Cohen.

Item 2(b)           Address of Principal Business Office:
                    ------------------------------------

                    (i), (ii) and (iii):
                    777 Long Ridge Road
                    Stamford, Connecticut 06902

Item 2(c)           Citizenship:
                    -----------

                    (i): Delaware
                    (ii): Delaware
                    (iii): United States

Item 2(d)           Title of Class of Securities:
                    ----------------------------

                    Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

Item 2(e)           CUSIP Number:
                    ------------

                    91307C102

Item 3              Not Applicable

Item 4.             Ownership:
                    ---------

Of the securities reported on herein, 700,100 shares are held by S.A.C. Capital
Associates, LLC, an Anguillan limited liability company ("SAC Capital
Associates") and 415,800 shares are held by S.A.C. Healthco Fund, LLC, an
Anguillan limited liability company ("SAC Healthco"). Pursuant to investment
agreements, each of SAC Capital Advisors and SAC Capital Management share all
investment and voting power with respect to the securities held by SAC Capital
Associates and SAC Healthco. Accordingly, each of SAC Capital Advisors and SAC
Capital Management may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities
covered by this statement for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").


                               Page 5 of 8 pages




Steven A. Cohen is the Managing Member, President and Chief Executive Officer of
SAC Capital Advisors and the owner, directly and through a wholly owned
subsidiary, of 100% of the membership interests of SAC Capital Management.
Accordingly, Mr. Cohen may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the
securities covered by this statement for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act. Mr. Cohen disclaims beneficial ownership of any of the securities
covered by this statement.

Item 4(a)           Amount Beneficially Owned:
                    -------------------------

                    1,115,900

Item 4(b)           Percent of Class:
                    ----------------

                    5.5%

Item 4(c)           Number of shares as to which such person has:
                    --------------------------------------------

                    (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the
                          vote: 0

                    (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:  1,115,900

                    (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the
                          disposition of:  0

                    (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                          of:  1,115,900

Item 5              Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
                    --------------------------------------------

                    If this statement is being filed to report
                    the fact that as of the date hereof the
                    reporting person has ceased to be the
                    beneficial owner of more than five percent
                    of the class of securities, check the
                    following. [ ]


Item 6              Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    Person:
                    ------

                    SAC Capital Associates and SAC Healthco have
                    the right to receive dividends on, and
                    proceeds from the sale of, their respective
                    portion of the shares reported on this
                    statement as beneficially owned by SAC
                    Capital Advisors, SAC Capital Management and
                    Mr. Cohen.

Item 7              Identification and Classification of the
                    ----------------------------------------


                               Page 6 of 8 pages




                    Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being
                    --------------------------------------------
                    Reported on By the Parent Holding Company:
                    -----------------------------------------

                    Not Applicable

Item 8              Identification and Classification of Members
                    --------------------------------------------
                    of the Group:
                    ------------

                    Not Applicable

Item 9              Notice of Dissolution of Group:
                    ------------------------------

                    Not Applicable

Item 10             Certification:
                    -------------

     By signing below the signatory certifies that, to the best of his knowledge
and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held
for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of
the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or
effect.


                               Page 7 of 8 pages




                                    SIGNATURE

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.


Dated: October 24, 2001

S.A.C. CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC

By: /s/ Peter Nussbaum
    ------------------------------
Name:  Peter Nussbaum
Title: Authorized Person


S.A.C. CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

By: /s/ Peter Nussbaum
    ------------------------------
Name:  Peter Nussbaum
Title: Authorized Person


STEVEN A. COHEN

By: /s/ Peter Nussbaum
    ------------------------------
Name:  Peter Nussbaum
Title: Authorized Person


                               Page 8 of 8 pages