FORM 8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 27, 2002



                           DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




                                                            
   NEW JERSEY                        0-19777                        22-3103129
(State or other                                                   (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                    (Commission                    Identification
incorporation)                     File Number)                      Number)


                                 25 UPTON DRIVE
                         WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01887

          (Address of principal executive offices, including ZIP code)

                                 (978) 657-7500

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

         On September 27, 2002, the Board of Directors of DUSA Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend of
distribution of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each
outstanding share of Common Stock (the "Rights Dividend"). The Rights Dividend
is payable on October 10, 2002 (the "Record Date") to shareholders of record at
the close of business on the Record Date, and with respect to all shares of
Common Stock that become outstanding after the Record Date and prior to the
earliest of the Distribution Date (as defined below), the redemption of the
Rights or the expiration of the Rights. As of September 27, 2002, the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding was 13,887,612.

         Except as set forth below and subject to adjustment as provided in the
Rights Agreement (as defined below), each Right entitles the registered holder
to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth (1/1000th) of a share of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), at an
exercise price of $37.00 per Right (the "Purchase Price"). The description and
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of September
27, 2002 (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). The Rights are
issuable under, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Rights Agreement
between the Company and the Rights Agent.

         The Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and not
by separate certificates until the tenth day following the earliest of (i) the
date of public disclosure that a person or group (an "Acquiring Person"),
together with persons affiliated or associated with it, has acquired, or
obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or in the
case of a shareholder or group who own in excess of 15% of the outstanding
Common Stock on the Record Date, or any of the affiliates or associates of such
15% shareholder or group (each being a "Grandfathered Holder") beneficial
ownership of 20% or more) of the outstanding Common Stock (the "Stock
Acquisition Date") and (ii) the commencement, or disclosure of an intention to
commence, a tender offer or exchange offer by a person other than the Company
and certain related entities if upon consummation of the offer, such person or
group together with persons affiliated or associated with it, could acquire
beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or in the case of a Grandfathered Holder
20% or more) of the outstanding Common Stock, (the earlier of such dates being
called the "Distribution Date"), and (iii) the date a majority of the
independent directors, as defined in the Rights Agreement (the "Independent
Directors") declare a person an "Adverse Person" upon a determination that such
person, alone or together with its affiliates or associates, has become the
beneficial owner of an amount of Common Stock which the Independent Directors
determine to be substantial (which amount shall in no event be less than 10% of
the shares of Common Stock then outstanding) and a determination by a majority
of the Independent Directors, after reasonable inquiry and investigation,
including consultations with such persons as such directors shall deem
appropriate that (a) such ownership is detrimental to the maintenance, renewal,
or acquisition of the Company's governmental or regulatory approvals,
agreements, permits, licenses or registrations, or (b) such persons were
convicted in criminal proceedings or are named defendants of pending criminal
proceedings (excluding minor offenses) relating to the pharmaceutical industry
or any other business regulated by any federal, state or local governmental
agency, or (c) such persons are currently subject to any order, judgment, decree
or debarment of any court of competent jurisdiction or governmental or
regulatory authority permanently or temporarily enjoining them from any type of
business


practice relating to the pharmaceutical industry or any other business regulated
by any state or local governmental agency.

         Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the
Rights), the Rights will be transferable with and only with the Common Stock
(except in connection with redemption of the Rights). Until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer, replacement or new issuance of Common Stock
will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until
the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock will also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate.

         As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date. From and after the Distribution Date, such separate Rights
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

         The Rights will first become exercisable on the Distribution Date
(unless sooner redeemed). The Rights will expire at the close of business on
October 10, 2012 (the "Expiration Date"), unless earlier redeemed by the Company
as described below.

         The Purchase Price is subject to adjustment from time to time to
prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend or distribution on, or a
subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Common Stock, (ii) upon the
grant to holders of the Common Stock of certain rights, options, or warrants to
subscribe for Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock at less
than the current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Stock or other securities, cash, property,
evidences of indebtedness, or assets.

         In the event that a majority of the Independent Directors declare that
a person is an Adverse Person (an "Adverse Person Event"), or a person acquires
beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or in the case a Grandfathered Holder,
beneficial ownership of 20% or more), of the Common Stock (and the Independent
Directors do not thereafter redeem the Rights in the time and manner permitted,
such event referred to herein as a "Triggering Event"), then the Rights will
"flip-in" and entitle such holder of a Right, except as provided below, to
purchase, upon exercise at the then-current Purchase Price, that number of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock having a market value of two times such
Purchase Price.

         Any Rights beneficially owned at any time on or after the earlier of
the Distribution Date and the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person or
Adverse Person, or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person or Adverse
Person (whether or not such ownership is subsequently transferred) will become
null and void upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event or an Adverse Person
Event, and any holder of such Rights will have no right to exercise such Rights.

         In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company is
acquired in a

merger or other business combination in which the Common Stock does not remain
outstanding or is changed or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning
power is sold, leased, exchanged, mortgaged, pledged or otherwise transferred or
disposed of (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) the Rights
will "flip-over" and entitle each holder of a Right (except those Rights which
have been voided as set forth above) to purchase, upon the exercise of the Right
at the then-current Purchase Price, that number of shares of common stock of the
acquiring company (or, in certain circumstances, one of its affiliates) which at
the time of such transaction would have a market value of two times such
Purchase Price.

         With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be
required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at
least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any
adjustments not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations with respect to this
adjustment shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one
one-thousandth of a Series A Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other
share or security, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of
these adjustment conditions, any adjustment required shall be made no later
than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which
mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.

         At any time prior to the earlier of (i) ten days following the Stock
Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Company may redeem the Rights
in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right, subject to adjustment.
Under certain circumstances the decision to redeem shall require the concurrence
of a majority of the Independent Directors. The Company may not redeem the
Rights if the Independent Directors have declared a person an Adverse Person.
Immediately upon the action of the Company's Board of Directors electing to
redeem the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right of the holders of Rights thereafter will be to receive the applicable
redemption price. The term "Independent Directors" includes any member of the
Board, while such Person is a member of the Board, who (i) is not an employee of
the Company or (ii) does not receive compensation from the Company for services,
other than services as a director or as a member of a committee of the Board of
Directors.

         Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends or distributions of payments of principal or
interest.

         At any time prior to ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the
Company may, without the approval of any holder of the Rights, supplement or
amend certain provisions of the Rights Agreement (including the date on which
the Distribution Date will occur). Thereafter, the Rights Agreement may be
amended only to cure ambiguities, to correct inconsistent provisions, or in ways
that do not adversely affect the Rights holders. The Rights Agreement may not be
amended to change the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Common Stock,
other securities, cash or other property obtainable upon exercise of a Right,
the redemption price (other than as may be adjusted by operation of the Rights
Agreement), or the Expiration Date, except that, prior to ten days following the
Triggering Event, the Rights Agreement may be amended to substitute other
securities for the Series A Preferred Stock otherwise obtainable upon exercise
of a Right,

provided the value of such securities is equal to the then current
market price of one one-thousandth (1/1000th) of a share of Series A Preferred
Stock.

         The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights may cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
on terms not approved by the Company's Board of Directors. The Rights should not
interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the
Company's Board of Directors prior to the time a person or group has acquired
beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or in the case of a Grandfathered Holder,
beneficial ownership of 20% or more) of the Common Stock, because until such
time the Rights may be redeemed by the Company.

         The foregoing summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.0, and is incorporated herein by
reference. Copies of the Rights Agreement will be available to shareholders free
of charge from the Company.

         Also on September 27, 2002, the Board of Directors approved certain
amendments to its Certificate of Incorporation. The Board approved an amendment
to Article Third of its Certificate of Incorporation to designate 40,000 shares
of its preferred stock as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The
Board also further provided that it shall have the right to further change the
designation and relative rights, preferences and limitations of the Series A
Preferred Stock so long as no Series A Preferred Stock is issued.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.

4.0      Rights Agreement dated September 27, 2002 between DUSA Pharmaceuticals,
         Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as Rights Agent, which
         includes the form of Amended Certificate of Incorporation for the
         Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

20.1     Press Release dated September 30, 2002.

20.2     Letter to Shareholders.

                                   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.


                                         DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.



Dated: October 10, 2002                    By: /s/ D. Geoffrey Shulman
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             D. Geoffrey Shulman, MD, FRCPC
                                             President, Chief Executive Officer

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

4.0      Rights Agreement dated September 27, 2002 between DUSA Pharmaceuticals,
         Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as Rights Agent, which
         includes the form of Amended Certificate of Incorporation for the
         Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

20.1     Press Release dated September 30, 2002.

20.2     Letter to Shareholders.