<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-16</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001486672</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Myszkowski Kenneth Allen</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ARROWHEAD RESEARCH CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>201 S. LAKE AVE., SUITE 703</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-05-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-11-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-04-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-03-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>80000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vesting of 125,000 shares begins on May 16, 2010, at which time 15,632 shares vest; the balance vests on the first of each month thereafter in equal monthly installments of 2,604 shares.  Vesting of the remaining 125,000 shares begins on August 1, 2010, at which time 15,632 shares vest; the balance vests on the first of each month thereafter in equal monthly installments of 2,604 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Vesting in 24 equal monthly installments beginning on 4/01/10.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kenneth Allen Myszkowski</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

