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                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.2

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                   SIXTH RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                                 NITROMED, INC.

                         Pursuant to Section 242 of the
                General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

                            ------------------------

     NitroMed, Inc. (hereinafter called the "Corporation"), organized and
existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Laws of the State of
Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:

     At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation a resolution was
duly adopted, pursuant to Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, setting forth amendments to the Sixth Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation and declaring said amendments to be advisable.
The stockholders of the Corporation duly adopted said amendments by written
consent in accordance with Sections 228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware. Said amendments have been duly adopted in accordance
with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The
resolution setting forth the amendments is as follows:

     RESOLVED: That the Sixth Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation (the "Restated Certificate") be amended as follows:

     (1)  Article III(a) of the Restated Certificate is deleted in its entirety
          and the following new paragraph is inserted in lieu thereof:

               "(a) AUTHORIZATION. The total number of shares of all classes of
          stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is
          69,688,320 consisting of:

                    (i)   34,688,320 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01
          per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of which:

                          (A)  5,000,000 shares shall be designated "Series A
          Convertible Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Stock");

                          (B)  17,005,330 shares shall be designated "Series B
          Convertible Preferred Stock" (the "Series B Stock");

                          (C)  3,157,895 shares shall have been designated
          "Series C Convertible Preferred Stock" (the "Series C Stock");

                          (D)  2,137,791 shares shall have been designated
          "Series D Convertible Preferred Stock" (the "Series D Stock");

                          (E)  7,137,304 shares shall have been designated
          "Series E Convertible Preferred Stock" (the "Series E Stock");

                          (F)  250,000 shares shall have been designated
          "Series F Junior Convertible Preferred Stock" (the "Series F Junior
          Stock"); and

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               (ii)  35,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
          share (the "Common Stock")."

     (2)  Article III, Section A.7, of the Restated Certificate shall be amended
          by adding the following new Section A.7(k):

               "A.7(k)   All holders of record of shares of Series Preferred
          Stock shall be given written notice of the mandatory conversion of
          Series Preferred Stock pursuant to Section A.7(j) above and such
          notice shall designate the place for such mandatory conversion. Such
          notice need not be given in advance of the mandatory conversion date.
          Such notice shall be sent by first class or registered mail, postage
          prepaid, or given by electronic communication in compliance with the
          provisions of the General Corporation Law, to each record holder of
          Series Preferred Stock. Upon receipt of such notice, each holder of
          shares of Series Preferred Stock shall surrender his or its
          certificate or certificates for all such shares to the Corporation at
          the place designated in such notice, and shall thereafter receive
          certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such
          holder is entitled pursuant to Section A.7(j) above. As of the
          conversion date of the Series Preferred Stock, all outstanding shares
          of Series Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have been converted into
          shares of Common Stock, which shall be deemed to be outstanding of
          record, and all rights with respect to the Series Preferred Stock so
          converted, including the rights, if any, to receive notices and vote
          (other than as a holder of Common Stock), will terminate, except only
          the rights of the holders thereof, upon surrender of their certificate
          or certificates therefor, to receive certificates for the number of
          shares of Common Stock into which such Series Preferred Stock has been
          converted. All certificates evidencing shares of Series Preferred
          Stock converted into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section A.7(j)
          above shall, from and after such conversion date, be deemed to have
          been retired and canceled, notwithstanding the failure of the holder
          or holders thereof to surrender such certificates to the Corporation
          in accordance with the provisions hereof. Upon the closing of the sale
          of shares of Common Stock in a firm commitment underwriting meeting
          the requirements of Section A.7(j) above, the number of authorized
          shares of Series A Stock, Series B Stock, Series C Stock, Series D
          Stock, Series E Stock and Series F Junior Stock shall be automatically
          reduced by the number of shares of Series A Stock, Series B Stock,
          Series C Stock, Series D Stock, Series E Stock and Series F Junior
          Stock that had been designated as Series A Stock, Series B Stock,
          Series C Stock, Series D Stock, Series E Stock and Series F Junior
          Stock and all provisions included under Article III(a)(i)(A)-(F) and
          all references to the Series A Stock, Series B Stock, Series C Stock,
          Series D Stock, Series E Stock and Series F Junior Stock in this Sixth
          Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deleted and of no
          further force or effect.

     (3)  Article V of the Restated Certificate is deleted in its entirely and
          the following is inserted in lieu thereof:

                                    ARTICLE V

                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS

               (a)       Subject to paragraph (b) below of this Article V, and
          subject to the provisions of Section A.6(c) of Article III hereof, the
          number of directors of the Board of Directors shall not be in excess
          of seven (7) persons, five (5) of whom shall be Preferred Directors,
          as defined in Section A.6(b)(i) of Article III hereof. Unless and
          except to the extent that the By-laws of the Corporation otherwise
          require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by
          written ballot.

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               (b)       Upon the closing of the sale of shares of Common Stock
          in a firm commitment underwriting meeting the requirements of Section
          A.7(j), Article V(a) shall terminate and be of no further force or
          effect and the following provisions shall apply from and after such
          date:

                         (i)    NUMBER OF DIRECTORS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
          Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to
          elect directors, the number of directors of the Corporation shall not
          be less than three. The exact number of directors within the
          limitations specified in the preceding sentence shall be determined
          from time to time by, or in the manner provided in, the By-laws of the
          Corporation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot,
          except as and to the extent provided in the By-laws of the
          Corporation.

                         (ii)   CLASSES OF DIRECTORS. Subject to the rights of
          holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board
          of Directors shall be and is divided into three classes: Class I,
          Class II and Class III. No one class shall have more than one director
          more than any other class. If a fraction is contained in the quotient
          arrived at by dividing the authorized number of directors by three,
          then, if such fraction is one-third, the extra director shall be a
          member of Class I, and if such fraction is two-thirds, one of the
          extra directors shall be a member of Class I and one of the extra
          directors shall be a member of Class II, unless otherwise provided by
          resolution of the Board of Directors.

                         (iii)  TERMS OF OFFICE. Subject to the rights of
          holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, each
          director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual
          meeting following the annual meeting at which such director was
          elected; provided, that each director initially appointed to Class I
          shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation's annual meeting of
          stockholders held in 2004; each director initially appointed to Class
          II shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation's annual meeting
          of stockholders held in 2005; and each director initially appointed to
          Class III shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation's annual
          meeting of stockholders held in 2006; provided further, that the term
          of each director shall continue until the election and qualification
          of his successor and be subject to his earlier death, resignation or
          removal.

                         (iv)   ALLOCATION OF DIRECTORS AMONG CLASSES IN THE
          EVENT OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN THE AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF DIRECTORS.
          In the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized number of
          directors, (i) each director then serving as such shall nevertheless
          continue as a director of the class of which he is a member until the
          expiration of his current term, subject to his earlier death,
          resignation or removal and (ii) the newly created or eliminated
          directorships resulting from such increase or decrease shall be
          apportioned by the Board of Directors among the three classes of
          directors in accordance with the provisions of Subsection b(ii) of
          this Article V. To the extent possible, consistent with the provisions
          of Subsection b(ii) of this Article V, any newly created directorships
          shall be added to those classes whose terms of office are to expire at
          the latest dates following such allocation, and any newly eliminated
          directorships shall be subtracted from those classes whose terms of
          offices are to expire at the earliest dates following such allocation,
          unless otherwise provided from time to time by resolution of the Board
          of Directors.

                         (v)    QUORUM. A majority of the directors at any time
          in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
          In the event one or more of the directors shall be disqualified to
          vote at any meeting, then the required quorum shall be reduced by one
          for each director so disqualified. In no case, however, shall less
          than

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          one-third of the number of directors fixed pursuant to
          Subsection(b)(i) of this Article V constitute a quorum. If at any
          meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than such a
          quorum, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting
          from time to time without further notice other than announcement at
          the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

                         (vi)   ACTION AT MEETING. Every act or decision done or
          made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at
          which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board of
          Directors unless a greater number is required by law, by this
          Certificate of Incorporation, or by the By-laws of the Corporation.

                         (vii)  REMOVAL. Subject to the rights of holders of any
          series of Preferred Stock, directors of the Corporation may be removed
          only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
          seventy-five percent (75%) of the votes which all the stockholders
          would be entitled to cast in any annual election of directors or class
          of directors.

                         (viii) VACANCIES. Subject to the rights of holders of
          any series of Preferred Stock, any vacancy or newly created
          directorships in the Board of Directors, however occurring, shall be
          filled only by vote of a majority of the directors then in office,
          although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and shall
          not be filled by the stockholders. A director elected to fill a
          vacancy shall be elected to hold office until the next election of the
          class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the
          election and qualification of his successor and to his earlier death,
          resignation or removal.

                         (ix)   STOCKHOLDER NOMINATIONS AND INTRODUCTION OF
          BUSINESS, ETC. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election
          of directors and other business to be brought by stockholders before a
          meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided by the
          By-laws of the Corporation.

                         (x)    AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE V. Notwithstanding any
          other provisions of law, this Sixth Restated Certificate of
          Incorporation or the By-laws of the Corporation, and notwithstanding
          the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, the
          affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%)
          of the votes which all the stockholders would be entitled to cast in
          any annual election of directors or class of directors shall be
          required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent
          with, this Article V."

     (4)  Article X of the Restated Certificate is deleted in its entirely and
          the following is inserted in lieu thereof:

                                   "ARTICLE X

                             LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

               Except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of Delaware
          prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for
          breaches of fiduciary duty, no director of the Corporation shall be
          personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary
          damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
          notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability. No
          amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any
          effect on the liability or alleged liability

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          of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or
          omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or
          repeal."

     (5)  Article XI of the Restated Certificate is deleted in its entirely and
          the following is inserted in lieu thereof:

                                   "ARTICLE XI

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

          The Corporation shall provide indemnification as follows:

               1.   ACTIONS, SUITS AND PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN BY OR IN THE RIGHT
          OF THE CORPORATION. The Corporation shall indemnify each person who
          was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
          pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
          criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or
          in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she
          is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the
          Corporation, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the
          request of the Corporation, as a director, officer, partner, employee
          or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation,
          partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including any
          employee benefit plan) (all such persons being referred to hereafter
          as an "Indemnitee"), or by reason of any action alleged to have been
          taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including
          attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
          actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in
          connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal
          therefrom, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner which
          Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
          interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
          or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct
          was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
          judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo
          contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
          presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner
          which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the
          best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal
          action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her
          conduct was unlawful.

               2.   ACTIONS OR SUITS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. The
          Corporation shall indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to or
          threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
          action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a
          judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was,
          or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Corporation, or
          is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the request of the
          Corporation, as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of,
          or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint
          venture, trust or other enterprise (including any employee benefit
          plan), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or
          omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys'
          fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement
          actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in
          connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal
          therefrom, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner which
          Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
          interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be
          made under this Section 2 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as
          to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
          Corporation, unless, and only to the extent, that the Court of
          Chancery of Delaware shall determine upon application that, despite
          the adjudication of such liability but in view of all the
          circumstances of the case, Indemnitee

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          is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
          (including attorneys' fees) which the Court of Chancery of Delaware
          shall deem proper.

               3.   INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF SUCCESSFUL PARTY.
          Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article XI, to the extent
          that an Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in
          defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 1
          and 2 of this Article XI, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
          therein, or on appeal from any such action, suit or proceeding,
          Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all expenses (including
          attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of
          Indemnitee in connection therewith. Without limiting the foregoing, if
          any action, suit or proceeding is disposed of, on the merits or
          otherwise (including a disposition without prejudice), without (i) the
          disposition being adverse to Indemnitee, (ii) an adjudication that
          Indemnitee was liable to the Corporation, (iii) a plea of guilty or
          nolo contendere by Indemnitee, (iv) an adjudication that Indemnitee
          did not act in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be
          in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and (v)
          with respect to any criminal proceeding, an adjudication that
          Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful,
          Indemnitee shall be considered for the purposes hereof to have been
          wholly successful with respect thereto.

               4.   NOTIFICATION AND DEFENSE OF CLAIM. As a condition precedent
          to an Indemnitee's right to be indemnified, such Indemnitee must
          notify the Corporation in writing as soon as practicable of any
          action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnitee
          for which indemnity will or could be sought. With respect to any
          action, suit, proceeding or investigation of which the Corporation is
          so notified, the Corporation will be entitled to participate therein
          at its own expense and/or to assume the defense thereof at its own
          expense, with legal counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee. After
          notice from the Corporation to Indemnitee of its election so to assume
          such defense, the Corporation shall not be liable to Indemnitee for
          any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in
          connection with such action, suit, proceeding or investigation, other
          than as provided below in this Section 4. Indemnitee shall have the
          right to employ his or her own counsel in connection with such action,
          suit, proceeding or investigation, but the fees and expenses of such
          counsel incurred after notice from the Corporation of its assumption
          of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee unless
          (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been authorized by the
          Corporation, (ii) counsel to Indemnitee shall have reasonably
          concluded that there may be a conflict of interest or position on any
          significant issue between the Corporation and Indemnitee in the
          conduct of the defense of such action, suit, proceeding or
          investigation or (iii) the Corporation shall not in fact have employed
          counsel to assume the defense of such action, suit, proceeding or
          investigation, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel
          for Indemnitee shall be at the expense of the Corporation, except as
          otherwise expressly provided by this Article XI. The Corporation shall
          not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume the
          defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Corporation or
          as to which counsel for Indemnitee shall have reasonably made the
          conclusion provided for in clause (ii) above. The Corporation shall
          not be required to indemnify Indemnitee under this Article XI for any
          amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit, proceeding or
          investigation effected without its written consent. The Corporation
          shall not settle any action, suit, proceeding or investigation in any
          manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee
          without Indemnitee's written consent. Neither the Corporation nor
          Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to any
          proposed settlement.

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               5.   ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. Subject to the provisions of Section 6
          of this Article XI, in the event that the Corporation does not assume
          the defense pursuant to Section 4 of this Article XI of any action,
          suit, proceeding or investigation of which the Corporation receives
          notice under this Article XI, any expenses (including attorneys' fees)
          incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in defending an action, suit,
          proceeding or investigation or any appeal therefrom shall be paid by
          the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such matter;
          provided, however, that the payment of such expenses incurred by or on
          behalf of Indemnitee in advance of the final disposition of such
          matter shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
          behalf of Indemnitee to repay all amounts so advanced in the event
          that it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled
          to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article XI;
          and further provided that no such advancement of expenses shall be
          made under this Article XI if it is determined (in the manner
          described in Section 6) that (i) Indemnitee did not act in good faith
          and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to,
          the best interests of the Corporation, or (ii) with respect to any
          criminal action or proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to
          believe his conduct was unlawful. Such undertaking shall be accepted
          without reference to the financial ability of Indemnitee to make such
          repayment.

               6.   PROCEDURE FOR INDEMNIFICATION. In order to obtain
          indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to Section 1, 2, 3
          or 5 of this Article XI, an Indemnitee shall submit to the Corporation
          a written request. Any such advancement of expenses shall be made
          promptly, and in any event within 30 days after receipt by the
          Corporation of the written request of Indemnitee, unless the
          Corporation determines within such 30-day period that Indemnitee did
          not meet the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1, 2
          or 5 of this Article XI, as the case may be. Any such indemnification,
          unless ordered by a court, shall be made with respect to requests
          under Section 1 or 2 only as authorized in the specific case upon a
          determination by the Corporation that the indemnification of
          Indemnitee is proper because Indemnitee has met the applicable
          standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or 2, as the case may be.
          Such determination shall be made in each instance (a) by a majority
          vote of the directors of the Corporation consisting of persons who are
          not at that time parties to the action, suit or proceeding in question
          ("disinterested directors"), whether or not a quorum, (b) by a
          committee of disinterested directors designated by majority vote of
          disinterested directors, whether or not a quorum, (c) if there are no
          disinterested directors, or if the disinterested directors so direct,
          be independent legal counsel (who may, to the extent permitted by law,
          by regular legal counsel to the Corporation) in a written opinion, or
          (d) by the stockholders of the Corporation.

               7.   REMEDIES. The right to indemnification or advancement of
          expenses as granted by this Article XI shall be enforceable by
          Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction. Neither the failure
          of the Corporation to have made a determination prior to the
          commencement of such action that indemnification is proper in the
          circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of
          conduct, nor an actual determination by the Corporation pursuant to
          Section 6 of this Article XI that Indemnitee has not met such
          applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or
          create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable
          standard of conduct. Indemnitee's expenses (including attorneys' fees)
          reasonably incurred in connection with successfully establishing
          Indemnitee's right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any
          such proceeding shall also be indemnified by the Corporation.

               8.   LIMITATIONS. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
          this Article XI, except as set forth in Section 7 of the Article XI,
          the Corporation shall not indemnify an

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          Indemnitee pursuant to this Article XI in connection with a proceeding
          (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee unless the initiation
          thereof was approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XI, the
          Corporation shall not indemnify an Indemnitee to the extent such
          Indemnitee is reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, and in the
          event the Corporation makes any indemnification payments to an
          Indemnitee and such Indemnitee is subsequently reimbursed from the
          proceeds of insurance, such Indemnitee shall promptly refund
          indemnification payments to the Corporation to the extent of such
          insurance reimbursement.

               9.   SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT. No amendment, termination or repeal of
          this Article XI or of the relevant provisions of the General
          Corporation Law of Delaware or any other applicable laws shall affect
          or diminish in any way the rights of any Indemnitee to indemnification
          under the provisions hereof with respect to any action, suit,
          proceeding or investigation arising out of or relating to any actions,
          transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such
          amendment, termination or repeal.

               10.  OTHER RIGHTS. The indemnification and advancement of
          expenses provided by this Article XI shall not be deemed exclusive of
          any other rights to which an Indemnitee seeking indemnification or
          advancement of expenses may be entitled under any law (common or
          statutory), agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested
          directors or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee's official
          capacity and as to action in any other capacity while holding office
          for the Corporation, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has
          ceased to be a director or officer, and shall inure to the benefit of
          the estate, heirs, executors and administrators of Indemnitee. Nothing
          contained in this Article XI shall be deemed to prohibit, and the
          Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into, agreements with
          officers and directors providing indemnification rights and procedures
          different from those set forth in this Article XI. In addition, the
          Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by its
          Board of Directors, grant indemnification rights to other employees or
          agents of the Corporation or other persons serving the Corporation and
          such rights may be equivalent to, or greater or less than, those set
          forth in this Article XI.

               11.  PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION. If an Indemnitee is entitled under
          any provision of this Article to indemnification by the Corporation
          for some or a portion of the expenses (including attorneys' fees),
          judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
          incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action,
          suit, proceeding or investigation and any appeal therefrom but not,
          however, for the total amount thereof, the Corporation shall
          nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses
          (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid in
          settlement to which Indemnitee is entitled.

               12.  INSURANCE. The Corporation may purchase and maintain
          insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director,
          officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation,
          partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including any
          employee benefit plan) against any expense, liability or loss incurred
          by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such,
          whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such
          person against such expense, liability or loss under the General
          Corporation Law of Delaware.

               13.  SAVINGS CLAUSE. If this Article or any portion hereof shall
          be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction,
          then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Indemnitee as
          to any expenses (including attorneys' fees),

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          judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any
          action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or
          administrative, including an action by or in the right of the
          Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion
          of this Article that shall not have been invalidated and to the
          fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

               14.  DEFINITIONS. Terms used herein and defined in Section 145(h)
          and Section 145(i) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware shall
          have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in such Section
          145(h) and Section 145(i)."


     (6)  A new Article XII shall be inserted into the Restated Certificate as
          follows:

                                  "ARTICLE XII

                              STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS

          Upon the closing of the sale of shares of Common Stock in a firm
          commitment underwriting meeting the requirements of Section A.7(j),
          Stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written
          consent in lieu of a meeting. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
          law, this Sixth Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws
          of the Corporation, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser
          percentage may be specified by law, the affirmative vote of the
          holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the votes which all
          the stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual election of
          directors or class of directors shall be required to amend or repeal,
          or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article XII."

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of
Amendment to be signed by its Chief Executive Officer on this ___ day of
_________, 2003.

                                            NITROMED, INC.


                                            By:
                                               --------------------------
                                            Name:   Michael D. Loberg
                                            Title:  Chief Executive Officer

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