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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
January 17, 2012</P>

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

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

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

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

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

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
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    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">Delaware</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">001-35005</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 33%; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">20-8729264</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(IRS Employer ID Number)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">99 Hudson Street, 5<SUP>th</SUP> Floor, New York, New York&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">10013</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left">(Address of principal executive offices)&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">(Zip Code)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number, including area code&#9;<U>(646)
706-5208</U></P>

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



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0.2in 0 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: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 17pt; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&#163;&nbsp;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="width: 5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 17pt; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&#163;&nbsp;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="width: 5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>

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<TD STYLE="width: 17pt; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&#163;&nbsp;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="width: 5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14d-2(b))&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">
<TD STYLE="width: 17pt; text-align: left"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&#163;&nbsp;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="width: 5pt"></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.13e-4(c))&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>



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

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 4.1pt 0 0"><B>Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers;
Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in">On January
17, 2012, the board of directors of Ventrus Biosciences, Inc. elected Anthony E. Altig as a director of the company, to serve until
the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Altig was also elected to the audit committee.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in">Upon
his election, Mr. Altig was granted an option to purchase 35,000 shares of Ventrus common stock, in accordance with the company&rsquo;s
director compensation program. The exercise price is $8.10, which was the closing price of Ventrus common stock on the trading
day before Mr. Altig&rsquo;s election. The option vests in three equal annual installments, beginning on the first anniversary
date after grant.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in">There
have been no financial or other transactions between Mr. Altig and Ventrus and there are no arrangements or understandings between
Mr. Altig and Ventrus pursuant to which he was selected as a director of the company.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in">On January
17, 2012, upon the election of Mr. Altig by the Ventrus board of directors, Thomas Rowland resigned as a director. Mr. Rowland
remains the company&rsquo;s Chief Business Officer.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in">A copy
of the press release announcing the election of Mr. Altig and the resignation of Mr. Rowland is attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1
and is incorporated herein by reference.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 12pt 0 0pt"><B>Item 9.01. Financial
Statements and Exhibits.</B></P>

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

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify">(d)&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

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

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 18%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-decoration: underline; text-align: left">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 82%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-decoration: underline">Description</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: left">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">Press release dated January 20, 2012.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 3in; text-indent: -2in">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><U>SIGNATURES</U></P></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in; text-align: justify">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.&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 16%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><B>VENTRUS BIOSCIENCES, INC.</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font-weight: bold">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">Date:&nbsp; January 20, 2012</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">/s/ David J. Barrett</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">David J. Barrett, Chief Financial Officer</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: left; text-indent: 0; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt">&nbsp;</P>

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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):
January 17, 2012
VENTRUS BIOSCIENCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
Delaware
001-35005
20-8729264
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer ID Number)
99 Hudson Street, 5
th
Floor, New York, New York
10013
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
(646)
706-5208
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 Principal Officers;
Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
On January
17, 2012, the board of directors of Ventrus Biosciences, Inc. elected Anthony E. Altig as a director of the company, to serve until
the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Altig was also elected to the audit committee.
Upon
his election, Mr. Altig was granted an option to purchase 35,000 shares of Ventrus common stock, in accordance with the company's
director compensation program. The exercise price is $8.10, which was the closing price of Ventrus common stock on the trading
day before Mr. Altig's election. The option vests in three equal annual installments, beginning on the first anniversary
date after grant.
There
have been no financial or other transactions between Mr. Altig and Ventrus and there are no arrangements or understandings between
Mr. Altig and Ventrus pursuant to which he was selected as a director of the company.
On January
17, 2012, upon the election of Mr. Altig by the Ventrus board of directors, Thomas Rowland resigned as a director. Mr. Rowland
remains the company's Chief Business Officer.
A copy
of the press release announcing the election of Mr. Altig and the resignation of Mr. Rowland is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1
and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial
Statements and Exhibits.
(d) 
   Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press release dated January 20, 2012.
SIGNATURES
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.
VENTRUS BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Date:  January 20, 2012
/s/ David J. Barrett
David J. Barrett, Chief Financial Officer