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

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): December 3, 2012

Cardium Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (858) 436-1000

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

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):

Cardium Therapeutics, Inc. (“Cardium”) received a communication dated November 30, 2012 from the staff of the NYSE MKT LLC (the “Exchange”) that, based on the Exchange staff’s review of publicly available information, Cardium was deemed to be noncompliant with certain continued listing standards of the Exchange as set forth in Part 10 of the NYSE MKT Company Guide (the “Company Guide”). In particular, based on the company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2012, noncompliance was noted with respect to the requirement of section 1003(a)(iv) of the company guide for NYSE MKT issuers. The exchange indicated that in order to maintain its NYSE MKT listing, a plan should be submitted by December 31, 2012 addressing regaining compliance with Section 1003(a)(iv) of the exchange’s company guide by March 31, 2013. Additional information and provisions regarding the NYSE MKT requirements are found in Part 10 of its company guide. The company has disputed the staff’s basis for its determination of deemed noncompliance, but it has also already submitted a plan designed to reestablish compliance with the listing requirement in advance of the timeline requested.

In order to maintain listing of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE MKT, the Company was required to submit a plan by December 31, 2012, advising the Exchange of the actions the Company has taken, or will take, that would bring it into compliance with Section 1003(a)(iv) of the Company Guide by March 31, 2013. The Company reported that it had already submitted its plan to the Exchange on December 6, 2012. If the Exchange accepts the plan, then the Company may be able to continue its listing during the plan period, up to March 31, 2013, during which time the Company will be subject to periodic review to determine whether it is making progress consistent with the plan. If the plan is not acceptable to the Exchange, or even if accepted, if the Company is not in compliance with the continued listing standards at the end of the plan period or the Company does not make progress consistent with the plan during such period, then staff of the Exchange would be expected to initiate delisting proceedings. The Company may then appeal such a determination by staff of the Exchange in accordance with the provisions of section 1010 and Part 12 of the Company Guide.

The Company’s common stock continues to trade on the Exchange. The Exchange has advised the Company that the Exchange is utilizing the financial status indicator fields in the Consolidate Tape Association’s Consolidated Tape System and Consolidated Quote System High Speed Tape to identify companies that are noncompliant with the Exchange’s continued listing standards. Accordingly, the Company will become subject to the trading symbol extension “.BC” to denote such noncompliance.

On December 6, 2012, the Company issued a press release announcing its receipt from the Exchange of a notice of the Company’s failure to satisfy a continued listing standard. The full text of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

-3-

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 6, 2012

-4-