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<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2008

</DIV>

<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt">Registration No.&nbsp;333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S&#150;8</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>EpiCept Corporation</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware</B><BR>
<FONT style="white-space: nowrap">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>52-1841431</B><BR>
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>777 Old Saw Mill River Road<BR>
Tarrytown, NY 10591<BR>
914-606-3500</B><BR>
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>EpiCept Corporation<BR>
2009 Equity Incentive Plan</B><BR>
(Full Title of Plan)<BR>
<B>John V. Talley<BR>
President and Chief Executive Officer<BR>
EpiCept Corporation<BR>
777 Old Saw Mill River Road<BR>
Tarrytown, NY 10591<BR>
914-606-3500</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">(Name and Address, Including Zip Code,<BR>
and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B><I>With a copy to:</I></B><BR>
Alexander D. Lynch, Esq.<BR>
Weil, Gotshal &#038; Manges LLP<BR>
767 Fifth Avenue<BR>
New York, NY 10153<BR>
(212)&nbsp;310-8000</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer,
a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.
See the definitions of &#147;large
accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):</DIV>



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<TR style="font-size: 6pt">
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="center" valign="top">Large accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" valign="top">Accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Non-accelerated filer &nbsp; <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT><BR>
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</TD>
    <TD align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" valign="top">Smaller reporting company <FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="53%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="19%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="6%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="15" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Proposed</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Proposed</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Amount to be</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Maximum Offering</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Maximum Aggregate</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Amount of</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff">Title of Securities to be Registered</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff">Registered (1)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Price Per Share (2)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Offering Price (2)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff">Registration Fee</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">1,000,000 shares</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$0.70</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$700,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$27.51</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="15" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 2pt; width: 18%; border-top: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement also
covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee
benefit plans described herein.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h)
and Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based upon the average of the high and low
sales prices for the Registrant&#146;s Common Stock, as quoted on The Nasdaq Capital Market on
December&nbsp;17, 2008, of $0.70 per share.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>





<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<!-- link1 "PART I" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART I</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</B>

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The documents containing the information specified in Part&nbsp;I of this Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (this &#147;Registration Statement&#148;) will be sent or given to participants in the EpiCept
Corporation 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as specified by Rule&nbsp;428(b)(i) under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;). Such documents are not required to be, and are not being, filed
by EpiCept Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;), either as
part of this Registration Statement or as a prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule
424 under the Securities Act. Such documents, together with the documents incorporated by
reference herein pursuant to Item&nbsp;3 of Part&nbsp;II of this Registration Statement, constitute a
prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Throughout this Registration Statement, the words &#147;EpiCept,&#148; &#147;we,&#148; &#147;us,&#148; the &#147;Company,&#148; the
&#147;Registrant,&#148; and &#147;our&#148; refer to EpiCept Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
</DIV>

<!-- link1 "PART II" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following
documents previously filed with the Commission:
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December&nbsp;31, 2007, filed on March&nbsp;18, 2008; and</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), since
January&nbsp;1, 2008 (other than portions of those documents not deemed to be filed).</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that
all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the
date of the filing of such documents.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><U>General </U>

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the &#147;Certificate of
Incorporation&#148;) authorizes 175,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value, and 5,000,000
shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value. The foregoing and the following
description of capital stock give effect to the restated certificate of incorporation and by the
provisions of the applicable Delaware law.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U>Common Stock</U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon
by the stockholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred
stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be
declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that
purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common
stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject
to prior distribution rights of preferred stock then outstanding. The common stock has no
preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking
fund provisions applicable to the common stock.
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U>Preferred Stock</U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our board of directors has the authority, without action by its stockholders, to designate and
issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. The board of directors may
also designate the rights, preferences and privileges of each series of preferred stock; any or all
of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. It is not possible to state the actual
effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock upon the rights of holders of the common
stock until the board of directors determines the specific rights of the holders of the preferred
stock. However, these effects might include:
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>restricting dividends on the common stock;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>diluting the voting power of the common stock;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>impairing the liquidation rights of the common stock; and</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>delaying or preventing a change in control of our company without further
action by the stockholders.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U>Warrants</U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As of December&nbsp;17, 2008, warrants to purchase approximately 34,889,298 shares of our common
stock at a weighted exercise price of $1.32 per share were outstanding.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U>Registration Rights</U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In connection with the each of the private placements conducted on February&nbsp;9, 2006, December
21, 2006 and June&nbsp;28, 2007, we entered into customary registration rights agreements granting the
holders of common stock purchase warrants representing an aggregate of 7,026,105 shares of common
stock the right to require us to register the common stock issuable upon exercise of their
warrants. The shares underlying the warrants sold in February&nbsp;2006, December&nbsp;2006 and June&nbsp;2007
have already been registered with the SEC. We are also required to file a registration statement
for the common stock issuable to YA Global Investments, L.P. pursuant to a standby equity
distribution agreement on or prior to the first sale of common stock thereunder to YA Global
Investments, L.P. We have filed a registration statement to register up to 1,000,000 shares upon
issuance to YA Global Investments, L.P.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U>Anti-Takeover Provisions</U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Provisions of Delaware law and our Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated
By-Laws (our &#147;By-Laws&#148;) could make the acquisition of EpiCept through a tender offer, a proxy
contest or other means more difficult and could make the removal of incumbent officers and
directors more difficult. We expect these provisions to discourage coercive takeover practices and
inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first
negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits provided its ability to
negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal outweigh the disadvantages of
discouraging these proposals. We believe the negotiation of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal
could result in an improvement of its terms.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<I>Effects of Some Provisions of Delaware Law. </I>We are subject to Section&nbsp;203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section&nbsp;203 prohibits a publicly held
Delaware corporation from engaging in a &#147;business combination&#148; with an &#147;interested stockholder&#148; for
a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the
corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which
resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation
outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of
determining the number of shares outstanding (a)&nbsp;shares owned by persons who are
directors and also officers, and (b)&nbsp;shares owned by employee stock plans in which
employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether
shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination
is approved by the board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of
stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66% of
the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
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<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">



</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Generally, a &#147;business combination&#148; for these purposes includes a merger, asset or stock sale,
or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An &#147;interested
stockholder&#148; for these purposes is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or,
within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more
of a corporation&#146;s outstanding voting securities. We expect the existence of this provision to have
an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions the board of directors does not approve in
advance. We also anticipate that Section&nbsp;203 may discourage takeover attempts that might result in
a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<I>Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Charter Documents. </I>Our Certificate of
Incorporation provides for our board of directors to be divided into three classes serving
staggered terms. Approximately one-third of the board of directors will be elected each year. The
provision for a classified board could prevent a party who acquires control of a majority of the
outstanding voting stock from obtaining control of the board of directors until the second annual
stockholders meeting following the date the acquiring party obtains the controlling stock interest.
The classified board provision could discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or
otherwise attempting to obtain control of us and could increase the likelihood that incumbent
directors will retain their positions. Our Certificate of Incorporation also provides that
directors may be removed with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of 75% of the
outstanding shares of common stock.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our By-Laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought
before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for
election to the board of directors. At an annual meeting, stockholders may only consider proposals
or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the
direction of the board of directors. Stockholders may also consider a proposal or nomination by a
person who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote
at the meeting and who has given to the Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of his or
her intention to bring that business before the meeting. Our By-Laws do not give the board of
directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals
regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting of the stockholders.
However, our By-Laws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of business at a meeting if the
proper procedures are not followed. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential
acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer&#146;s own slate of directors
or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Under Delaware law, a special meeting of stockholders may be called by the board of directors
or by any other person authorized to do so in our Certificate of Incorporation or our By-Laws. Our
By-Laws authorize a majority of our board of directors, the chairman of the board or the chief
executive officer to call a special meeting of stockholders. Because our stockholders do not have
the right to call a special meeting, a stockholder could not force stockholder consideration of a
proposal over the opposition of the board of directors by calling a special meeting of stockholders
prior to such time as a majority of the board of directors believed or the chief executive officer
believed the matter should be considered or until the next annual meeting provided that the
requestor met the notice requirements. The restriction on the ability of stockholders to call a
special meeting means that a proposal to replace the board also could be delayed until the next
annual meeting.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Delaware law provides that stockholders may execute an action by written consent in lieu of a
stockholder meeting. However, Delaware law also allows us to eliminate stockholder actions by
written consent. Elimination of written consents of stockholders may lengthen the amount of time
required to take stockholder actions since actions by written consent are not subject to the
minimum notice requirement of a stockholder&#146;s meeting. However, we believe that the elimination of
stockholder written consents may deter hostile takeover attempts. Without the availability of
stockholder actions by written consent, a holder controlling a majority of our capital stock would
not be able to amend its bylaws or remove directors without holding a stockholders meeting. The
holder would have to obtain the consent of a majority of the board of directors, the chairman of
the board or the chief executive officer to call a stockholders meeting and satisfy the notice
periods determined by the board of directors. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides for the
elimination of actions by written consent of stockholders.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><U>Transfer Agent and Registrar</U>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust
Company, 59 Maiden Lane, Plaza Level, New York, NY 10038.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (&#147;Section&nbsp;145&#148;) permits indemnification of
officers and directors of a corporation under certain conditions and subject to certain
limitations. Section&nbsp;145 also provides that a corporation has the power to maintain insurance on
behalf of its officers and directors against any liability asserted against such person and
incurred by him or her in such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or
not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the
provisions of Section&nbsp;145.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;6, Section&nbsp;1, of EpiCept&#146;s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
(the &#147;Certificate of Incorporation&#148;) provides for mandatory indemnification of its directors and
officers and permissible indemnification of employees and other agents to the maximum extent not
prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The rights to indemnity thereunder continue as
to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and inure to the benefit of
the heirs, executors and administrators of the person. In addition, expenses incurred by a director
or executive officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit
or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of EpiCept (or
was serving at EpiCept&#146;s request as a director or officer of another corporation) shall be paid by
EpiCept in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately
be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by EpiCept as authorized by the
relevant section of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As permitted by Section&nbsp;102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, EpiCept&#146;s
Certificate of Incorporation provides that, pursuant to Delaware law, its directors shall not be
personally liable for monetary damages for breach of the directors&#146; fiduciary duty as directors to
EpiCept and its stockholders. This provision in the Certificate of Incorporation does not eliminate
the directors&#146; fiduciary duty, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as
injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In
addition, each director will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director&#146;s duty
of loyalty to EpiCept for acts or omission not in good faith or involving international misconduct,
for knowing violations of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director,
and for payment of dividends or approval of Stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful
under Section&nbsp;174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The provision also does not affect a
director&#146;s responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or state or
federal environmental laws.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;EpiCept intends to enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and
executive officers and to purchase directors&#146; and officers&#146; liability insurance. Generally, the
indemnification agreements attempt to provide the maximum protection permitted by Delaware law as
it may be amended from time to time. Moreover, the indemnification agreements provide for certain
additional indemnification. Under such additional indemnification provisions, an individual will
receive indemnification for expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement if he or she
is found to have acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of EpiCept, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in the indemnification agreement, EpiCept shall not indemnify any such director or
executive officer seeking indemnification in connection with any action, suit, proceeding, claim or
counterclaim, or part thereof, initiated by such person unless the initiation thereof was
authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of EpiCept. The indemnification
agreements provide for EpiCept to advance to the individual any and all expenses (including
attorneys&#146; fees) incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of the final disposition thereof.
In order to receive an
advance of expenses, the individual must submit to EpiCept copies of invoices presented to him or
her for such expenses. Also, the individual must repay such advances upon a final judicial decision
that he or she is not entitled to indemnification.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer,
employee or other agent of EpiCept in which indemnification is being sought, nor is EpiCept aware
of any threatened litigation that may result in a claim for indemnification by any director,
officer, employee or other agent of EpiCept.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">-
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Legal Opinion of Weil, Gotshal &#038; Manges LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-0px">10.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">-
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">EpiCept Corporation 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->4<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">-
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Weil, Gotshal &#038; Manges LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;No.&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">-
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">-
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page to this
Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(i)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#147;Calculation of
Registration Fee&#148; table in the effective registration statement; and</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>to include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration
Statement;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><U>provided</U>, <U>however</U>, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do
not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to
be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports
filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(ii)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
<U>bona</U> <U>fide</U> offering thereof.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(iii)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="6%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(iv)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant
under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of
the securities: The undersigned hereby undertakes that in a primary offering of
securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement,
regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the
purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of
any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller
to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such
purchaser:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the
undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed
pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering
prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred
to by the undersigned registrant;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->5<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">



</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The portion of any other free writing prospectus
relating to the offering containing material information about the
undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the
undersigned registrant; and</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(4)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Any other communication that is an offer in the
offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant&#146;s annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <U>bona</U>
<U>fide</U> offering thereof.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that
in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
(other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->6<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt"><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">



</TABLE>
</DIV>
<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tarrytown, State of New
York, on December&nbsp;23, 2008.
</DIV>


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left"><B>EPICEPT CORPORATION</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ JOHN V. TALLEY
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;John V. Talley&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chief Executive Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned directors and officers hereby constitute and appoint Robert W. Cook with full
power to act and with full power of substitution and resubstitution, our true and lawful
attorney-in-fact with full power to execute in our name and behalf in the capacities indicated
below this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto, including
post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to sign any and all
additional registration statements relating to the same offering of securities as this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 that are filed pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and hereby ratify and confirm that such attorney-in fact or
his substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ JOHN V. TALLEY
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
John V. Talley
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director, Chief Executive Officer<BR>
<I>(Principal Executive Officer)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">December&nbsp;23, 2008</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ ROBERT W. COOK
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Robert W. Cook
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Financial Officer
<BR>
<I>(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">December&nbsp;23, 2008</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ ROBERT G. SAVAGE
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Robert G. Savage
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">December&nbsp;23, 2008</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ GERHARD WALDHEIM
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Gerhard Waldheim
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">December&nbsp;23, 2008</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ JOHN BEDARD
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
John Bedard
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">December&nbsp;23, 2008</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ WAYNE YETTER
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Wayne Yetter
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">December&nbsp;23, 2008</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ GUY C. JACKSON
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Guy C. Jackson
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">December&nbsp;23, 2008</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->7<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT INDEX" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Legal Opinion of Weil, Gotshal &#038; Manges LLP (filed herewith).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">EpiCept Corporation 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Weil, Gotshal &#038; Manges LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;No.&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP (filed herewith).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page to
this Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference).</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->8<!-- /Folio -->
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sv8
As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2008
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S–8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
EpiCept Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
52-1841431
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
777 Old Saw Mill River Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591
914-606-3500
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)
EpiCept Corporation
2009 Equity Incentive Plan
(Full Title of Plan)
John V. Talley
President and Chief Executive Officer
EpiCept Corporation
777 Old Saw Mill River Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591
914-606-3500
(Name and Address, Including Zip Code,
and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
With a copy to:
Alexander D. Lynch, Esq.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
(212) 310-8000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer,
a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.
See the definitions of "large
accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
o
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
þ
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed
Proposed
Amount to be
Maximum Offering
Maximum Aggregate
Amount of
Title of Securities to be Registered
Registered (1)
Price Per Share (2)
Offering Price (2)
Registration Fee
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
1,000,000 shares
$0.70
$700,000
$27.51
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement also
covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee
benefit plans described herein.
(2)
Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h)
and Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based upon the average of the high and low
sales prices for the Registrant's Common Stock, as quoted on The Nasdaq Capital Market on
December 17, 2008, of $0.70 per share.
PART I
SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The documents containing the information specified in Part I of this Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (this "Registration Statement") will be sent or given to participants in the EpiCept
Corporation 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(i) under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"). Such documents are not required to be, and are not being, filed
by EpiCept Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), either as
part of this Registration Statement or as a prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule
424 under the Securities Act. Such documents, together with the documents incorporated by
reference herein pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, constitute a
prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
Throughout this Registration Statement, the words "EpiCept," "we," "us," the "Company," the
"Registrant," and "our" refer to EpiCept Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The Company hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following
documents previously filed with the Commission:
a)
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007, filed on March 18, 2008; and
b)
All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), since
January 1, 2008 (other than portions of those documents not deemed to be filed).
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that
all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the
date of the filing of such documents.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
General
Our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate of
Incorporation") authorizes 175,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value, and 5,000,000
shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value. The foregoing and the following
description of capital stock give effect to the restated certificate of incorporation and by the
provisions of the applicable Delaware law.
Common Stock
The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon
by the stockholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred
stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be
declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that
purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common
stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject
to prior distribution rights of preferred stock then outstanding. The common stock has no
preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking
fund provisions applicable to the common stock.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, without action by its stockholders, to designate and
issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. The board of directors may
also designate the rights, preferences and privileges of each series of preferred stock; any or all
of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. It is not possible to state the actual
effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock upon the rights of holders of the common
stock until the board of directors determines the specific rights of the holders of the preferred
stock. However, these effects might include:
a)
restricting dividends on the common stock;
b)
diluting the voting power of the common stock;
c)
impairing the liquidation rights of the common stock; and
d)
delaying or preventing a change in control of our company without further
action by the stockholders.
Warrants
As of December 17, 2008, warrants to purchase approximately 34,889,298 shares of our common
stock at a weighted exercise price of $1.32 per share were outstanding.
Registration Rights
In connection with the each of the private placements conducted on February 9, 2006, December
21, 2006 and June 28, 2007, we entered into customary registration rights agreements granting the
holders of common stock purchase warrants representing an aggregate of 7,026,105 shares of common
stock the right to require us to register the common stock issuable upon exercise of their
warrants. The shares underlying the warrants sold in February 2006, December 2006 and June 2007
have already been registered with the SEC. We are also required to file a registration statement
for the common stock issuable to YA Global Investments, L.P. pursuant to a standby equity
distribution agreement on or prior to the first sale of common stock thereunder to YA Global
Investments, L.P. We have filed a registration statement to register up to 1,000,000 shares upon
issuance to YA Global Investments, L.P.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Provisions of Delaware law and our Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated
By-Laws (our "By-Laws") could make the acquisition of EpiCept through a tender offer, a proxy
contest or other means more difficult and could make the removal of incumbent officers and
directors more difficult. We expect these provisions to discourage coercive takeover practices and
inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first
negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits provided its ability to
negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal outweigh the disadvantages of
discouraging these proposals. We believe the negotiation of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal
could result in an improvement of its terms.
Effects of Some Provisions of Delaware Law.
We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held
Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested stockholder" for
a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
(a)
prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the
corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which
resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
(b)
the stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation
outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of
determining the number of shares outstanding (a) shares owned by persons who are
directors and also officers, and (b) shares owned by employee stock plans in which
employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether
shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
(c)
on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination
is approved by the board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of
stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66% of
the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
2
Generally, a "business combination" for these purposes includes a merger, asset or stock sale,
or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An "interested
stockholder" for these purposes is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or,
within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more
of a corporation's outstanding voting securities. We expect the existence of this provision to have
an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions the board of directors does not approve in
advance. We also anticipate that Section 203 may discourage takeover attempts that might result in
a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Charter Documents.
Our Certificate of
Incorporation provides for our board of directors to be divided into three classes serving
staggered terms. Approximately one-third of the board of directors will be elected each year. The
provision for a classified board could prevent a party who acquires control of a majority of the
outstanding voting stock from obtaining control of the board of directors until the second annual
stockholders meeting following the date the acquiring party obtains the controlling stock interest.
The classified board provision could discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or
otherwise attempting to obtain control of us and could increase the likelihood that incumbent
directors will retain their positions. Our Certificate of Incorporation also provides that
directors may be removed with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of 75% of the
outstanding shares of common stock.
Our By-Laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought
before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for
election to the board of directors. At an annual meeting, stockholders may only consider proposals
or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the
direction of the board of directors. Stockholders may also consider a proposal or nomination by a
person who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote
at the meeting and who has given to the Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of his or
her intention to bring that business before the meeting. Our By-Laws do not give the board of
directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals
regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting of the stockholders.
However, our By-Laws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of business at a meeting if the
proper procedures are not followed. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential
acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer's own slate of directors
or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.
Under Delaware law, a special meeting of stockholders may be called by the board of directors
or by any other person authorized to do so in our Certificate of Incorporation or our By-Laws. Our
By-Laws authorize a majority of our board of directors, the chairman of the board or the chief
executive officer to call a special meeting of stockholders. Because our stockholders do not have
the right to call a special meeting, a stockholder could not force stockholder consideration of a
proposal over the opposition of the board of directors by calling a special meeting of stockholders
prior to such time as a majority of the board of directors believed or the chief executive officer
believed the matter should be considered or until the next annual meeting provided that the
requestor met the notice requirements. The restriction on the ability of stockholders to call a
special meeting means that a proposal to replace the board also could be delayed until the next
annual meeting.
Delaware law provides that stockholders may execute an action by written consent in lieu of a
stockholder meeting. However, Delaware law also allows us to eliminate stockholder actions by
written consent. Elimination of written consents of stockholders may lengthen the amount of time
required to take stockholder actions since actions by written consent are not subject to the
minimum notice requirement of a stockholder's meeting. However, we believe that the elimination of
stockholder written consents may deter hostile takeover attempts. Without the availability of
stockholder actions by written consent, a holder controlling a majority of our capital stock would
not be able to amend its bylaws or remove directors without holding a stockholders meeting. The
holder would have to obtain the consent of a majority of the board of directors, the chairman of
the board or the chief executive officer to call a stockholders meeting and satisfy the notice
periods determined by the board of directors. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides for the
elimination of actions by written consent of stockholders.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust
Company, 59 Maiden Lane, Plaza Level, New York, NY 10038.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
3
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("Section 145") permits indemnification of
officers and directors of a corporation under certain conditions and subject to certain
limitations. Section 145 also provides that a corporation has the power to maintain insurance on
behalf of its officers and directors against any liability asserted against such person and
incurred by him or her in such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or
not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the
provisions of Section 145.
Article 6, Section 1, of EpiCept's Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
(the "Certificate of Incorporation") provides for mandatory indemnification of its directors and
officers and permissible indemnification of employees and other agents to the maximum extent not
prohibited by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The rights to indemnity thereunder continue as
to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and inure to the benefit of
the heirs, executors and administrators of the person. In addition, expenses incurred by a director
or executive officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit
or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of EpiCept (or
was serving at EpiCept's request as a director or officer of another corporation) shall be paid by
EpiCept in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately
be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by EpiCept as authorized by the
relevant section of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, EpiCept's
Certificate of Incorporation provides that, pursuant to Delaware law, its directors shall not be
personally liable for monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty as directors to
EpiCept and its stockholders. This provision in the Certificate of Incorporation does not eliminate
the directors' fiduciary duty, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as
injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In
addition, each director will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director's duty
of loyalty to EpiCept for acts or omission not in good faith or involving international misconduct,
for knowing violations of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director,
and for payment of dividends or approval of Stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful
under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The provision also does not affect a
director's responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or state or
federal environmental laws.
EpiCept intends to enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and
executive officers and to purchase directors' and officers' liability insurance. Generally, the
indemnification agreements attempt to provide the maximum protection permitted by Delaware law as
it may be amended from time to time. Moreover, the indemnification agreements provide for certain
additional indemnification. Under such additional indemnification provisions, an individual will
receive indemnification for expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement if he or she
is found to have acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of EpiCept, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in the indemnification agreement, EpiCept shall not indemnify any such director or
executive officer seeking indemnification in connection with any action, suit, proceeding, claim or
counterclaim, or part thereof, initiated by such person unless the initiation thereof was
authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of EpiCept. The indemnification
agreements provide for EpiCept to advance to the individual any and all expenses (including
attorneys' fees) incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of the final disposition thereof.
In order to receive an
advance of expenses, the individual must submit to EpiCept copies of invoices presented to him or
her for such expenses. Also, the individual must repay such advances upon a final judicial decision
that he or she is not entitled to indemnification.
At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director, officer,
employee or other agent of EpiCept in which indemnification is being sought, nor is EpiCept aware
of any threatened litigation that may result in a claim for indemnification by any director,
officer, employee or other agent of EpiCept.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Description
5.1
-
Legal Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
10.1
-
EpiCept Corporation 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
4
Exhibit No.
Description
23.1
-
Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (included in Exhibit No. 5.1).
23.2
-
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
24.1
-
Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page to this
Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference).
Item 9. Undertakings.
(1)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(i)
to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;
(1)
to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(2)
to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
(3)
to include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration
Statement;
provided
,
however
, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do
not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to
be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports
filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.
(ii)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona
fide
offering thereof.
(iii)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.
(iv)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant
under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of
the securities: The undersigned hereby undertakes that in a primary offering of
securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement,
regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the
purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of
any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller
to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such
purchaser:
(1)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the
undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424;
(2)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering
prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred
to by the undersigned registrant;
5
(3)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus
relating to the offering containing material information about the
undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the
undersigned registrant; and
(4)
Any other communication that is an offer in the
offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(2)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona
fide
offering thereof.
(3)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that
in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
(other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tarrytown, State of New
York, on December 23, 2008.
EPICEPT CORPORATION
By:
/s/ JOHN V. TALLEY
John V. Talley
Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned directors and officers hereby constitute and appoint Robert W. Cook with full
power to act and with full power of substitution and resubstitution, our true and lawful
attorney-in-fact with full power to execute in our name and behalf in the capacities indicated
below this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto, including
post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to sign any and all
additional registration statements relating to the same offering of securities as this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 that are filed pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and hereby ratify and confirm that such attorney-in fact or
his substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ JOHN V. TALLEY
John V. Talley
Director, Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
December 23, 2008
/s/ ROBERT W. COOK
Robert W. Cook
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
December 23, 2008
/s/ ROBERT G. SAVAGE
Robert G. Savage
Director
December 23, 2008
/s/ GERHARD WALDHEIM
Gerhard Waldheim
Director
December 23, 2008
/s/ JOHN BEDARD
John Bedard
Director
December 23, 2008
/s/ WAYNE YETTER
Wayne Yetter
Director
December 23, 2008
/s/ GUY C. JACKSON
Guy C. Jackson
Director
December 23, 2008
7
EXHIBIT INDEX
No.
Description
5.1
Legal Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (filed herewith).
10.1
EpiCept Corporation 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
23.1
Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (included in Exhibit No. 5.1).
23.2
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP (filed herewith).
24.1
Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page to
this Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference).
8