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): March 20, 2017

Novan, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

4105 Hopson Road, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(919) 485-8080

(Registrant’s telephone number, include area code)

N/A

(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:

On March 20, 2017, Novan, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarterly and annual periods ended December 31, 2016. The full text of this press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the information contained in, or incorporated into, this Item 2.02, including the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any of the Company’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

See the Exhibit Index which follows the signature page of this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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.

EXHIBIT INDEX