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<TITLE>Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance</TITLE>
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<P style="font-size: 14pt" align="center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549
</FONT></B>

<P style="font-size: 18pt" align="center"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P style="font-size: 12pt" align="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): December 23, 2008</B>



<P style="font-size: 24pt" align="center"><B>EPICEPT CORPORATION<BR>
</B><FONT
style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
</FONT>
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

 <TR>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>000-51290</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>52-1841431</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
 </TR>

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cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

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  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>777 Old Saw Mill River
Road<BR>
Tarrytown, NY<BR>
</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>10591</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number,
including area code: <B>(914) 606-3500</B>
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cellpadding="0" width="30%" border="0">

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  <TD width="100%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap><B>Not
Applicable<BR>
</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">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 style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<BR>



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

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style="margin-left: 0.25in; width: 7.2in; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;1.01. Entry into a
Material Definitive Agreement.</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">On December&nbsp;19, 2008, the Board of
Directors of EpiCept Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) approved the
Company&#8217;s 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the &#8220;2009
Plan&#8221;), including the reservation of 1,000,000 shares of the
Company&#8217;s common stock, par value $0.0001 (the &#8220;Common
Stock&#8221;), for issuance thereunder. A registration statement on Form S-8
with respect to the plan was filed on December&nbsp;23, 2008. The 2009 Plan is
intended to comply with the provisions of Section 423 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended. The 2009 Plan will become effective on
January&nbsp;1, 2009, and is subject to stockholder approval.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">The foregoing description of the 2009
Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2009
Plan, which is filed as Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by
reference.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;3.01 Notice of Delisting
or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule&nbsp;or Standard; Transfer of
Listing.</B>

<DIV style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01 Other Events.</B>
</DIV>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">On December&nbsp;23, 2008, the Company
received a letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department stating
that Nasdaq determined to extend its suspension of the bid price and market
value of publicly held shares requirements through Monday, April&nbsp;20, 2009.
As a result, all companies presently in a bid price or market value of publicly
held shares compliance period will remain at that same stage of the process and
will not be subject to being delisted for these concerns.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">As previously disclosed, Nasdaq Listing
Qualifications Department notified the Company in April&nbsp;2008 that the
Company was not in compliance with certain continued listing requirements
because (i)&nbsp;the market value of the Company&#8217;s listed securities fell
below $35&nbsp;million for ten consecutive business days (pursuant to
Rule&nbsp;4310(c)(3)(B) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules), and (ii)&nbsp;the bid
price of the Company&#8217;s common stock closed below the minimum $1.00 per
share requirement for 30 consecutive business days (pursuant to Marketplace
Rule&nbsp;4310(c)(4)). On May&nbsp;7, 2008, the Company was notified by the
Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department that the Company had not regained
compliance with the continued listing requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market
and that the Company&#8217;s securities were subject to delisting from The
Nasdaq Capital Market. On May&nbsp;14, 2008, the Company requested a hearing to
review this determination, which was held on June&nbsp;12, 2008. On
August&nbsp;6, 2008, the Company received a letter from the Nasdaq Office of
the General Counsel stating that the Nasdaq Hearings Panel had granted the
Company&#8217;s request for continued listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market,
subject to the Company&#8217;s ability to (i)&nbsp;maintain a market value of
listed securities above $35&nbsp;million for ten (10)&nbsp;consecutive trading
days, on or before August&nbsp;29, 2008, and (ii)&nbsp;comply with all
requirements for continued listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market. The market value
of the Company&#8217;s listed securities exceeded $35&nbsp;million for the five
trading days ending August&nbsp;7, 2008.


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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">On October&nbsp;22, 2008, the Company
received a letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department stating
that given the extraordinary market conditions, Nasdaq determined on October 16, 2008 to suspend enforcement of the
bid price and market value of publicly held shares requirements through Friday,
January&nbsp;16, 2009. As a result, all companies presently in a bid price or
market value of publicly held shares compliance period will remain at that same
stage of the process and will not be subject to being delisted for these
concerns. However, since the Company had no calendar days remaining in its
compliance period as of October&nbsp;16th, Nasdaq stated it would determine,
upon reinstatement of the rules, whether (i)&nbsp;the Company maintains a
minimum bid price of $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive trading
days, in which case the Company will regain compliance, or (ii) the Company
meets The Nasdaq Capital Market initial listing criteria, except for the bid
price requirement, in which case the Company will be granted an additional 180
calendar day compliance period. If the Company does not regain compliance
during the specified period, it may be delisted.


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01. Financial Statements
and Exhibits.</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">(d)&nbsp;Exhibits

<P>
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style="font-size: 10pt; background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: #000000"
valign="top">
  <TD nowrap align="left" width="3%">10.1</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>EpiCept Corporation 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to EpiCept Corporation&#8217;s S-8 filed
December&nbsp;23, 2008).</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>SIGNATURES</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">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 style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 45%" align="left">EPICEPT CORPORATION

<P style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 45%" align="left">By: <U>/s/ Robert W.
Cook&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>
Name:
Robert W. Cook<BR>
Title: Chief Financial Officer<BR>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Date: December&nbsp;23, 2008

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">4

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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"
border="0">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="87%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
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<!-- Begin Table Body -->
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top">
<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">No. </DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Description</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR style="font-size: 1px">
  <TD style="border-top: #000000 1px solid" valign="top">
<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-top: #000000 1px solid" valign="top"
align="left">&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 valign="top" align="left">EpiCept Corporation 2009 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 to EpiCept
Corporation&#8217;s S-8 filed December 23, 2008).</TD>
 </TR>
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</DIV>

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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "EPICEPT CORP", "cik": "0001208261", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "000000000", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-51290", "film-number": "081269468"}, "business-address": {"street1": "777 OLD SAW MILL RIVER RD.", "city": "TARRYTOWN", "state": "NY", "zip": "10591", "phone": "914-606-3500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "777 OLD SAW MILL RIVER RD.", "city": "TARRYTOWN", "state": "NY", "zip": "10591"}}
Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
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): December 23, 2008
EPICEPT CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
000-51290
52-1841431
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
777 Old Saw Mill River
Road
Tarrytown, NY
10591
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code:
(914) 606-3500
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:
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 1.01. Entry into a
Material Definitive Agreement.
On December 19, 2008, the Board of
Directors of EpiCept Corporation (the "Company") approved the
Company's 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "2009
Plan"), including the reservation of 1,000,000 shares of the
Company's common stock, par value $0.0001 (the "Common
Stock"), for issuance thereunder. A registration statement on Form S-8
with respect to the plan was filed on December 23, 2008. The 2009 Plan is
intended to comply with the provisions of Section 423 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended. The 2009 Plan will become effective on
January 1, 2009, and is subject to stockholder approval.
The foregoing description of the 2009
Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2009
Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting
or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of
Listing.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On December 23, 2008, the Company
received a letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department stating
that Nasdaq determined to extend its suspension of the bid price and market
value of publicly held shares requirements through Monday, April 20, 2009.
As a result, all companies presently in a bid price or market value of publicly
held shares compliance period will remain at that same stage of the process and
will not be subject to being delisted for these concerns.
As previously disclosed, Nasdaq Listing
Qualifications Department notified the Company in April 2008 that the
Company was not in compliance with certain continued listing requirements
because (i) the market value of the Company's listed securities fell
below $35 million for ten consecutive business days (pursuant to
Rule 4310(c)(3)(B) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules), and (ii) the bid
price of the Company's common stock closed below the minimum $1.00 per
share requirement for 30 consecutive business days (pursuant to Marketplace
Rule 4310(c)(4)). On May 7, 2008, the Company was notified by the
Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department that the Company had not regained
compliance with the continued listing requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market
and that the Company's securities were subject to delisting from The
Nasdaq Capital Market. On May 14, 2008, the Company requested a hearing to
review this determination, which was held on June 12, 2008. On
August 6, 2008, the Company received a letter from the Nasdaq Office of
the General Counsel stating that the Nasdaq Hearings Panel had granted the
Company's request for continued listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market,
subject to the Company's ability to (i) maintain a market value of
listed securities above $35 million for ten (10) consecutive trading
days, on or before August 29, 2008, and (ii) comply with all
requirements for continued listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market. The market value
of the Company's listed securities exceeded $35 million for the five
trading days ending August 7, 2008.
2
On October 22, 2008, the Company
received a letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department stating
that given the extraordinary market conditions, Nasdaq determined on October 16, 2008 to suspend enforcement of the
bid price and market value of publicly held shares requirements through Friday,
January 16, 2009. As a result, all companies presently in a bid price or
market value of publicly held shares compliance period will remain at that same
stage of the process and will not be subject to being delisted for these
concerns. However, since the Company had no calendar days remaining in its
compliance period as of October 16th, Nasdaq stated it would determine,
upon reinstatement of the rules, whether (i) the Company maintains a
minimum bid price of $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive trading
days, in which case the Company will regain compliance, or (ii) the Company
meets The Nasdaq Capital Market initial listing criteria, except for the bid
price requirement, in which case the Company will be granted an additional 180
calendar day compliance period. If the Company does not regain compliance
during the specified period, it may be delisted.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements
and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
10.1
EpiCept Corporation 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to EpiCept Corporation's S-8 filed
December 23, 2008).
3
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.
EPICEPT CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Robert W.
Cook
Name:
Robert W. Cook
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date: December 23, 2008
4
EXHIBIT INDEX
No.
Description
10.1
EpiCept Corporation 2009 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to EpiCept
Corporation's S-8 filed December 23, 2008).
5