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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Fu3OwL6NJr0580bnZOsPhA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-09-047590.txt : 20091013
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-09-047590.hdr.sgml : 20091012
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091013162742
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-09-047590
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091008
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091013
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091013

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RAHN LEROY T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001279601

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21898
		FILM NUMBER:		091117191

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 7068
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91109-7068

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARROWHEAD RESEARCH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000879407
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		IRS NUMBER:				460408024
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 SOUTH LAKE AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 703
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		626-304-3400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 SOUTH LAKE AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 703
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INTERACTIVE GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020509

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INTERACTIVE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940224
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd254768.xml
<DESCRIPTION>L. RAHN STOCK OPTION GRANT 10/2009
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000879407</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARROWHEAD RESEARCH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARWR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001279601</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAHN LEROY T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>201 SOUTH LAKE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 703</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.51</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-10-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-10-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>70000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>170000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">11% of the option award would be vested at the time of grant and the remaining 89% would vest ratably on a quarterly basis over the next two years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>LeRoy T. Rahn</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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