SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): January 16, 2004 (January 15,
2004)

                            DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

          Delaware                      000-49730                 22-3374365
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission file number)        (IRS employer
     of incorporation)                                       identification no.)

                   433 Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

                                 (201) 968-0980
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Item 5. Other Events.

On January 15, 2004, the registrant issued a press release, a copy of which is
included as an exhibit to this filing.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)   Exhibits. The following exhibit is furnished herewith:

Exhibit
Number      Title
- -------     -----

99.1        Press release dated January 15, 2004, issued by registrant



                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                        DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc.


Date: January 16, 2004                  /s/ Arnold Lippa
                                        ----------------
                                        Arnold Lippa
                                        Chief Executive Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number      Title
- -------     -----

99.1        Press release dated January 15, 2004, issued by registrant