-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MCpUVxc7J6p3kisIMsZaWpztTt5NtD1u/xKKTDUf/9qQeQsKRbdeDhlgv0v6oS4C
 cAOI5By/UarP7/5JUYgMCQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-011855.txt : 20090810
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-011855.hdr.sgml : 20090810
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090810174000
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-011855
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090806
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090810
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090810

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Allison Elisabeth
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001293132

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33484
		FILM NUMBER:		091001219

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		69 PINEHURST RD
		CITY:			BELMONT
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02478

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HELICOS BIOSCIENCES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001274563
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				050587367

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE KENDALL SQUARE
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 700
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-649-0540

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE KENDALL SQUARE
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 700
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001274563</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HELICOS BIOSCIENCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HLCS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001293132</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Allison Elisabeth</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HELICOS BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE KENDALL SQUARE, BUILDING 700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02139</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.79</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5555</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-08-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-08-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5555</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5555</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mark C. Solakian, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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