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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">UNITED STATES</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CURRENT REPORT</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date of Report:&#160;&#160;December 16, 2011</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Date of earliest event reported</font>)</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter</font>)</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">04-3321804</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(IRS Employer</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">One Gateway Center, Suite 504</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Newton, MA&#160;&#160;02458</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(617) 244-1616</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">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):</font></div>

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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Written&#160;&#160;communications&#160;&#160;pursuant to Rule 425 under the&#160;&#160;Securities&#160;&#160;Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Soliciting&#160;&#160;material&#160;&#160;pursuant to Rule&#160;&#160;14a-12&#160;&#160;under the&#160;&#160;Exchange&#160;&#160;Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">ITEM 5.02</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On December 16, 2011, the Company&#8217;s board of directors granted options to purchase a total of 1,460,100 shares of the Company&#8217;s common stock under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company, including the following grants to the Company&#8217;s Named Executive Officers:</font></div>

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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">An option granted to Harry S. Palmin to purchase 335,100 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.45 per share, which option will vest in equal quarterly installments over a four-year period; and</font></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">An option granted to Christopher J. Pazoles to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.45 per share, which option will vest in equal quarterly installments over a three-year period.</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On December 16, 2011, the Company&#8217;s board of directors also approved an increase to Mr. Palmin&#8217;s base salary from $270,000 to $275,400 and an increase to Dr. Pazoles&#8217; base salary from $250,000 to $255,000.&#160;&#160;The salary increases will become effective January 1, 2012.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">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.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Dated:&#160;&#160;December 20, 2011</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">By:</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline">/s/&#160;&#160;Harry S. Palmin</font></font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Name:&#160;&#160;Harry S. Palmin</font></div>
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[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "v243605_8k.htm", "description": "CURRENT REPORT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 22678}]
{"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": "111272522"}, "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"}}
Unassociated Document
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:  December 16, 2011
(
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):
o
Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the  Securities  Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule  14a-12  under the  Exchange  Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 5.02
COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS
On December 16, 2011, the Company's board of directors granted options to purchase a total of 1,460,100 shares of the Company's common stock under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company, including the following grants to the Company's Named Executive Officers:
·
An option granted to Harry S. Palmin to purchase 335,100 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.45 per share, which option will vest in equal quarterly installments over a four-year period; and
·
An option granted to Christopher J. Pazoles to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.45 per share, which option will vest in equal quarterly installments over a three-year period.
On December 16, 2011, the Company's board of directors also approved an increase to Mr. Palmin's base salary from $270,000 to $275,400 and an increase to Dr. Pazoles' base salary from $250,000 to $255,000.  The salary increases will become effective January 1, 2012.
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:  December 20, 2011
NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:
/s/  Harry S. Palmin
Name:  Harry S. Palmin
Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer
3