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

September 15, 2009

Date of Report (Date of
earliest event reported)

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Washington (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	0-16614 (Commission File No.)	91-1261311 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

7000 Shoreline Court, Suite 270, South San Francisco, California		94080
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(650) 583-3774

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 communication 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))

Section 8 — Other Events

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On September 15, 2009, the Company issued a press release announcing that 320 evaluable events (patient deaths) have occurred in its pivotal Phase 3 SPEAR (Study of Picoplatin Efficacy After Relapse) trial, which is being conducted in accordance with a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, evaluating picoplatin in the treatment of small cell lung cancer. The 320th event is defined in the SPA to enable the Company to begin final analysis of data.

The full text of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1 — Press release dated September 15, 2009

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.

	Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dated: September 16, 2009	By:	/s/Anna Lewak Wight
		Name: Anna Lewak Wight
		Title: Vice President, Legal

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release dated September 15, 2009