-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 T6srV5W92r2TPrqWP7XYHBiVFStOHYXhH9yexHA2ypJlJcjTciCFX27WoptYGYgW
 Tpi2xPCRhUhzmHxuR6+P4g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000907654-06-000033.txt : 20060830
<SEC-HEADER>0000907654-06-000033.hdr.sgml : 20060830
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060830170349
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000907654-06-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060829
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060830
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060830

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Titus Gary
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001298900

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22873
		FILM NUMBER:		061065999

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408-215-4375

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NUVELO, INC.
		STREET 2:		675 ALMANOR AVENUE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94085

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NUVELO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000907654
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				363855489
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 INDUSTRIAL ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 310
		CITY:			SAN CARLOS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94070-6211
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-517-8000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 INDUSTRIAL ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 310
		CITY:			SAN CARLOS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94070-6211

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HYSEQ INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970610
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-08-29</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000907654</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NUVELO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NUVO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001298900</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Titus Gary</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NUVELO, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>201 INDUSTRIAL ROAD, SUITE #310</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN CARLOS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94070</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Acct.Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6831</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.165</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9464</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6831</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2633</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lee Bendekgey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-08-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----