-----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,
 QcPSjRNqC16zuXghiF7kdAWADGBVma7zLbCwAsjcSZEQ/B8UyEEgmjZBfQR60KTy
 Vny1CwDNouLxF8noL7XZJA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000907654-08-000014.txt : 20080605
<SEC-HEADER>0000907654-08-000014.hdr.sgml : 20080605
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080605104206
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000907654-08-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080604
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080605
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080605

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PERRY MARK L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001190270

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22873
		FILM NUMBER:		08882175

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 LAKDSIDE DR
		STREET 2:		C/O GILEAD
		CITY:			FOSTER CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94404
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6505743000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		176 WEST BLITHEDALE AVE
		CITY:			MILL VALLEY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94941
</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>2008-06-04</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190270</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PERRY MARK L</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-06-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-06-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option is 100% exercisable as of the date of grant</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lee Bendekgey Attorney-In-Fact for                 Mark L. Perry</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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