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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
</B>Washington, D.C. 20549</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B></B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>CURRENT REPORT</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Date of Report: October 11, 2012<BR>
(<I>Date of earliest event reported</I>)</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.<BR>
</B>(<I>Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter</I>)</P>

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<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" ALIGN="CENTER" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 90%; border-collapse: collapse">
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    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 0.2in; padding-left: 0.2in; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">Delaware</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 0.2in; padding-left: 0.2in; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">333-119366</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 0.2in; padding-left: 0.2in; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">04-3321804</TD></TR>
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    <TD>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(State or other jurisdiction</I></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>of incorporation)</I></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(Commission</I></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>File Number)</I></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(IRS Employer</I></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>Identification Number)</I></P></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>One Gateway Center, Suite 504<BR>
Newton, MA 02458<BR>
</B>(<I>Address of principal executive offices</I>)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(617) 244-1616<BR>
</B>(<I>Registrant's telephone number, including area code</I>)</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction
A.2. below):</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Wingdings">&uml;</FONT></TD><TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD></TR></TABLE>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Wingdings">&uml;</FONT></TD><TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD></TR></TABLE>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Wingdings">&uml;</FONT></TD><TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD></TR></TABLE>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Wingdings">&uml;</FONT></TD><TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD></TR></TABLE>



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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>ITEM 8.01&#9;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;OTHER MATTERS</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">On June 13, 2012, we issued warrants to
purchase an aggregate of 5,420,800 shares of our common stock having an exercise price of $1.00 per share and expiring on September
11, 2012 (the &ldquo;Class B Warrants&rdquo;). The Class B Warrants were issued as part of an offering of units consisting of an aggregate
of 5,420,800 shares of our common stock, five-year warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,710,400 shares of our common stock
at an exercise price of $1.25 per share (the &ldquo;Class A Warrants&rdquo;), and the Class B Warrants, for gross proceeds of $5,420,800.
The shares of common stock issued on June 13, 2012 and issuable upon exercise of the Class A Warrants and the Class B Warrants
were registered under the Securities Act of 1933. (Registration No. 333-180631). On September 10, 2012, as previously reported,
we amended the terms of the Class B Warrants to extend the expiration date for the exercise of such warrants until October 11,
2012.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">On or before the expiration of the Class
B Warrants on October 11, 2012, we received warrant exercises with respect to 1,088,300 shares of common stock underlying the Class
B Warrants, and received aggregate cash proceeds of $1,088,300 in respect of those exercises. The balance of the Class B Warrants,
exercisable for up to 4,332,500 shares of common stock, expired. We intend to use the proceeds from the exercise of the Class B
Warrants, for general corporate purposes.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">At September 30, 2012, we had approximately
$5.6 million in cash and cash equivalents which, when added to the proceeds of exercises of Class B Warrants received in October
2012, we estimate will provide sufficient funds to operate our business at budgeted levels through May 2013.</P>

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<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center">SIGNATURE</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</P>

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>Dated:&nbsp; October 15, 2012</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font-weight: bold">NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 47%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; font-style: italic">/s/&nbsp; Harry S. Palmin</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Name:&nbsp; Harry S. Palmin</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Title:&nbsp; President and Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v325704_8k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14150}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.", "cik": "0001279704", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "043321804", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "333-119366", "film-number": "121144331"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ONE GATEWAY CENTER, SUITE 504", "city": "NEWTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02458", "phone": "617-244-1616"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONE GATEWAY CENTER, SUITE 504", "city": "NEWTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02458"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "COMMON HORIZONS INC", "date-changed": "20040211"}}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report: October 11, 2012
(
Date of earliest event reported
)
NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(
Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter
)
Delaware
333-119366
04-3321804
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
One Gateway Center, Suite 504
Newton, MA 02458
(
Address of principal executive offices
)
(617) 244-1616
(
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction
A.2. below):
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 8.01	           OTHER MATTERS
On June 13, 2012, we issued warrants to
purchase an aggregate of 5,420,800 shares of our common stock having an exercise price of $1.00 per share and expiring on September
11, 2012 (the "Class B Warrants"). The Class B Warrants were issued as part of an offering of units consisting of an aggregate
of 5,420,800 shares of our common stock, five-year warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,710,400 shares of our common stock
at an exercise price of $1.25 per share (the "Class A Warrants"), and the Class B Warrants, for gross proceeds of $5,420,800.
The shares of common stock issued on June 13, 2012 and issuable upon exercise of the Class A Warrants and the Class B Warrants
were registered under the Securities Act of 1933. (Registration No. 333-180631). On September 10, 2012, as previously reported,
we amended the terms of the Class B Warrants to extend the expiration date for the exercise of such warrants until October 11,
2012.
On or before the expiration of the Class
B Warrants on October 11, 2012, we received warrant exercises with respect to 1,088,300 shares of common stock underlying the Class
B Warrants, and received aggregate cash proceeds of $1,088,300 in respect of those exercises. The balance of the Class B Warrants,
exercisable for up to 4,332,500 shares of common stock, expired. We intend to use the proceeds from the exercise of the Class B
Warrants, for general corporate purposes.
At September 30, 2012, we had approximately
$5.6 million in cash and cash equivalents which, when added to the proceeds of exercises of Class B Warrants received in October
2012, we estimate will provide sufficient funds to operate our business at budgeted levels through May 2013.
2
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated:  October 15, 2012
NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:
/s/  Harry S. Palmin
Name:  Harry S. Palmin
Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer
3