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)

April 14, 2016

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CAPRICOR THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	001-34058	88-0363465
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

8840 Wilshire Blvd., 2nd Floor, Beverly Hills, CA (Address of principal executive offices) 90211 (Zip Code)

(310) 358-3200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Gregory W. Schafer, a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), has notified the Company that he will not stand for re-election when his term on the Board expires at the Company’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is scheduled for June 2, 2016 (the “Annual Meeting”). Mr. Schafer will continue to serve as a member of the Board, as the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) and as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”) until the Annual Meeting. Mr. Schafer’s decision not to stand for re-election is not due to any disagreement with the Company on any of the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

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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.

	CAPRICOR THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Date:  April 15, 2016	By:	/s/ Linda Marbán, Ph.D.
		Linda Marbán, Ph.D.
		Chief Executive Officer