8-K

                                    FORM 8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       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): October 22, 2004

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

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

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12(b))

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





ITEM 8.01.        OTHER EVENTS.

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("DUSA") issued a press release on October 22, 2004
attached to and made part of this report, reporting the initiation of a new
multicenter Phase II clinical study using the Company's Levulan(R) Kerastick(R)
and BLU-U(R) photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of moderate to severe
acne vulgaris of the face.

Except for historical information, this report contains certain forward-looking
statements that involve known and unknown risk and uncertainties, which may
cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by the statements made. These
forward-looking statements relate to the number of clinical trial sites, the
protocol parameters including incubation times, number and time intervals of
treatments, efficacy endpoints, and safety and tolerability assessments, the
opportunity for a treatment alternative and other risks identified in DUSA's SEC
filings from time to time.

ITEM 9.01.        FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits

[99]     Press Release dated October 22, 2004.





                                   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 22, 2004                 By: /s/ D. Geoffrey Shulman
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           D. Geoffrey Shulman, MD, FRCPC
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer



                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



NO.        DESCRIPTION
- --------   ------------------------------------
        
99         Press Release dated October 22, 2004

EX-99

                                                                      EXHIBIT 99

(DUSA LOGO)
INNOVATION IN PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.(R)
FOR RELEASE AT 8:00 A.M.


                     DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS INITIATES PHASE II
                     LEVULAN(R) PDT CLINICAL TRIAL FOR ACNE

WILMINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS OCTOBER 22, 2004. DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. NASDAQ
NMS: DUSA), reported today the initiation of a new multicenter Phase II clinical
study using the Company's Levulan(R) Kerastick(R) (aminolevulinic acid HCL, ALA)
and BLU-U(R) photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of moderate to severe
acne vulgaris of the face.

Independent investigator studies have reported that a single topical ALA PDT
treatment can help to improve moderate and refractory acne vulgaris, and that
several treatments resulted in significant improvement, by both reducing the
bacteria at the site of lesions and by acting to reduce activity of sebaceous
glands. However, some of the early studies used ALA applied under occlusion for
several hours, which was associated with significant side effects such as pain
during treatment, a strong inflammatory reaction, and hyperpigmentation. More
recently, an independent investigator study used the Levulan(R) Kerastick(R)
applied for 15 minutes over the face without occlusion, followed by light
treatment with DUSA's BLU-U(R) for 6 minutes. Using this short drug incubation
time, the investigator reported improvement in acne, but without pain,
inflammation, or hyperpigmentation. (a)

Based on information from these anecdotal and independent investigator studies,
DUSA has decided to initiate a study examining the safety and efficacy of short
contact Levulan(R) Kerastick(R) combined with the BLU-U(R) for the treatment of
patients with moderate to severe facial acne vulgaris. The new study, with up to
80 patients, including a control group, will be carried out at 3 clinical trial
sites in the United States. It will examine the effect of varying drug
incubation times, followed by a standardized light dose using the BLU-U(R).
There will be up to four Levulan(R) PDT treatments given at 2-week intervals.
The primary efficacy parameters will be acne lesion count and acne severity
score, assessed 8 weeks following the final Levulan(R) PDT treatment. Safety and
tolerability will also be assessed throughout the study.

Dr. Diane Berson, a renowned dermatologist at New York-Presbyterian-Weill
Cornell Medical Center in New York, states "It has been a long time since we
have seen a novel therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris. A new and
effective treatment would be welcomed by the medical community. I am excited to
be a part of the clinical trials that will evaluate the potential of Levulan(R)
PDT for the treatment of acne."

Approximately 8 of every 10 persons worldwide have acne at some point during
their lives, and acne is the most common reason patients visit dermatologists in
the United States. Acne is also known to have a potentially profound impact on a
patient's outlook on life.





Current standard-of-care for moderate inflammatory acne includes topical or
systemic antibiotics, retinoids, cleansers, and blue light such as that provided
by DUSA's BLU-U(R) therapy. However, oral antibiotics for acne have been
associated with increased bacterial drug resistance, and a recent article in the
Journal of the American Medical Association showed an increased risk of breast
cancer.

Severe recalcitrant cystic acne is generally treated by orally administered
isotretinoin (Accutane(R), Isotrex(R)). Although highly effective, isotretinoin
continues to become more and more regulated by the federal government because of
its potentially serious side effects, including a high risk of birth defects in
the fetus if taken during pregnancy, and, in a small percentage of patients,
depression. While taking isotretinoin, patients must undergo regular blood
testing.

(a) Original Investigator Reports:

1.       Goldman M, Boyce S. A single-center study of aminolevulinic acid and
         417 nm photodynamic therapy in the treatment of moderate to severe acne
         vulgaris. J Drugs Dermatol 2003; 2: 393-6.

2.       Itoh Y, Ninomiya Y, Tajima S et al. Photodynamic therapy of acne
         vulgaris with topical [symbol]-aminolevulinic acid and incoherent light
         in Japanese patients. Brit J Dermatology 2001; 144: 575-9.

3.       Hongcharu W, Taylor C, Chang Y et al. Topical ALA-photodynamic therapy
         for the treatment of acne vulgaris. J Investigative Dermatology 2000;
         115: 183-92.

4.       Itoh Y, Ninomiya Y, Tajima S et al. Photodynamic therapy for acne
         vulgaris with topical aminolevulinic acid. Arch Dermatol 2000; 136:
         1093-5.

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged primarily in
the development and marketing of Levulan Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and
Photodetection (PD) for multiple medical conditions, with a primary focus on
dermatology. PDT and PD utilize light-activated compounds to induce a
therapeutic or detection effect. DUSA is a world leader in topically or locally
applied PDT and PD. DUSA maintains offices in Wilmington, MA, Valhalla, NY and
Toronto, Ontario.

Except for historical information, this news release contains certain
forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risk and
uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
statements made. These forward-looking statements relate to the number of
clinical trial sites, the protocol parameters including incubation times, number
and time intervals of treatments, efficacy endpoints, and safety and
tolerability assessments, the opportunity for a treatment alternative and other
risks identified in DUSA's SEC filings from time to time.


For further information contact: D. GEOFFREY SHULMAN, MD, President & CEO or
SHARI LOVELL, Director, Shareholder Services Tel: 416.363.5059 Fax 416.363.6602
or visit www.dusapharma.com