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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </B></P>

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

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<P STYLE="font: 18pt 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">&nbsp;</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>PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 </B></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; text-align: center">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
June 18, 2012</P>

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

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<P STYLE="font: 24pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>NILE THERAPEUTICS, INC. </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Exact name of Registrant as Specified
in its Charter) </B></P>

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

<TABLE ALIGN="CENTER" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 34%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">Delaware</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">001-34058</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">88-0363465</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">(State or other jurisdiction<BR> of incorporation)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Commission</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>File Number)</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">(I.R.S. Employer<BR> Identification No.)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>4 West 4th Ave., Suite 400 </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>San Mateo, California 94402</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
</B></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; text-align: center"><B>(650) 458-2670 </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number,
including area code) </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>Not Applicable </B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Former name or former address, if changed
since last 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></B></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:</P>

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

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</TD>
    <TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</TD>
    <TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 4%; font-family: Wingdings">&uml;</TD>
    <TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 48.25pt"><B>Item 5.02.</B></TD><TD><B>Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements
of Certain Officers.</B></TD></TR></TABLE>

<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: 24pt">On June 18, 2012 (the &ldquo;Effective Date&rdquo;),
Nile Therapeutics, Inc. (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;) appointed Darlene Horton, M.D. to serve as its Chief Medical Officer, effective
immediately. Dr. Horton, age 50,was previously Chief Medical Officer of Itero Biopharmaceuticals, LLC (&ldquo;Itero&rdquo;), a
venture-backed company that developed and out-licensed a biosimilar protein therapeutic. Prior to joining Itero in 2007, Dr. Horton
served as Senior Vice President, Clinical Research at Scios, Inc. (&ldquo;Scios&rdquo;), a Johnson &amp; Johnson (&ldquo;J&amp;J&rdquo;)
company. During her 12-year tenure at Scios, she was the clinical lead for Natrecor<SUP>&reg;</SUP>, a commercial product indicated
for the treatment of acute heart failure. Dr. Horton led the program from late-stage development through approval and commercialization.
She presented the program to the FDA&rsquo;s Cardiovascular and Renal Advisory Committee prior to successful approval. Following
the acquisition of Scios by J&amp;J in 2003, Dr. Horton also served as the Head of J&amp;J&rsquo;s Cardiovascular Therapeutic Area
Center of Excellence. Dr. Horton completed her Pediatric residency and Pediatric Cardiology fellowship at the Cardiovascular Research
Institute at the University of California, San Francisco (&ldquo;UCSF&rdquo;), and continues to serve on the clinical faculty at
UCSF. Dr. Horton received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Medical Doctor degrees from the University of Florida. Dr.
Horton does not have a family relationship with any member of the Board or any executive officer of the Company.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 24pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 24pt">The terms of Dr. Horton&rsquo;s appointment
are set forth in a Consulting Agreement dated as of the Effective Date (the &ldquo;Agreement&rdquo;). The Agreement provides for
a month-to-month term until terminated by either party upon 30 days&rsquo; written notice. Pursuant to the Agreement, Dr. Horton
will serve as an independent contractor and will receive a monthly fee of $30,000 for her services as the Company&rsquo;s Chief
Medical Officer. The Agreement also provides that the Company will reimburse Dr. Horton for all reasonable, pre-approved expenses
incurred in connection with her services to the Company. The Agreement includes customary confidentiality, assignment of inventions,
and non-solicitation provisions.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 24pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 24pt">The foregoing description of the Agreement
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement that will be filed as an exhibit to the Company&rsquo;s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2012.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 24pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 24pt">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 27.35pt">&nbsp;</P>

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 24pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto
duly authorized.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 24pt">&nbsp;</P>

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

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

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="text-indent: 0in"><B>NILE THERAPEUTICS, INC.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in; width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in; width: 5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in; width: 30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 15%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in">Date: June 21, 2012</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in">By:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">/s/ Daron Evans</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in">Daron Evans</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 0in">Chief Financial Officer</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 3in; text-indent: 0in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 3in; text-indent: 0in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 3in; text-indent: 0in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 3in; text-indent: 0in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 3in; text-indent: -3in"></P>

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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v316549_8-k.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14510}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "Nile Therapeutics, Inc.", "cik": "0001133869", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "000000000", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-34058", "film-number": "12918459"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4 WEST 4TH AVE", "street2": "SUITE 400", "city": "SAN MATEO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94402", "phone": "650-458-2678"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "4 WEST 4TH AVE", "street2": "SUITE 400", "city": "SAN MATEO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94402"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "SMI PRODUCTS INC", "date-changed": "20010206"}}
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 (Date of earliest event reported):
June 18, 2012
NILE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified
in its Charter)
Delaware
001-34058
88-0363465
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
4 West 4th Ave., Suite 400
San Mateo, California 94402
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(650) 458-2670
(Registrant's telephone number,
including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed
since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements
of Certain Officers.
On June 18, 2012 (the "Effective Date"),
Nile Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") appointed Darlene Horton, M.D. to serve as its Chief Medical Officer, effective
immediately. Dr. Horton, age 50,was previously Chief Medical Officer of Itero Biopharmaceuticals, LLC ("Itero"), a
venture-backed company that developed and out-licensed a biosimilar protein therapeutic. Prior to joining Itero in 2007, Dr. Horton
served as Senior Vice President, Clinical Research at Scios, Inc. ("Scios"), a Johnson & Johnson ("J&J")
company. During her 12-year tenure at Scios, she was the clinical lead for Natrecor
®
, a commercial product indicated
for the treatment of acute heart failure. Dr. Horton led the program from late-stage development through approval and commercialization.
She presented the program to the FDA's Cardiovascular and Renal Advisory Committee prior to successful approval. Following
the acquisition of Scios by J&J in 2003, Dr. Horton also served as the Head of J&J's Cardiovascular Therapeutic Area
Center of Excellence. Dr. Horton completed her Pediatric residency and Pediatric Cardiology fellowship at the Cardiovascular Research
Institute at the University of California, San Francisco ("UCSF"), and continues to serve on the clinical faculty at
UCSF. Dr. Horton received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Medical Doctor degrees from the University of Florida. Dr.
Horton does not have a family relationship with any member of the Board or any executive officer of the Company.
The terms of Dr. Horton's appointment
are set forth in a Consulting Agreement dated as of the Effective Date (the "Agreement"). The Agreement provides for
a month-to-month term until terminated by either party upon 30 days' written notice. Pursuant to the Agreement, Dr. Horton
will serve as an independent contractor and will receive a monthly fee of $30,000 for her services as the Company's Chief
Medical Officer. The Agreement also provides that the Company will reimburse Dr. Horton for all reasonable, pre-approved expenses
incurred in connection with her services to the Company. The Agreement includes customary confidentiality, assignment of inventions,
and non-solicitation provisions.
The foregoing description of the Agreement
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement that will be filed as an exhibit to the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2012.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto
duly authorized.
NILE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Date: June 21, 2012
By:
/s/ Daron Evans
Daron Evans
Chief Financial Officer