-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001033409-07-000032.txt : 20071207
<SEC-HEADER>0001033409-07-000032.hdr.sgml : 20071207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071207145012
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001033409-07-000032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071205
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071207

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001003124
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		IRS NUMBER:				561640186
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		929 NORTH FRONT STREET
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9102510081

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		929 NORTH FRONT STREET
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESHELMAN FREDRIC N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001033409

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27570
		FILM NUMBER:		071292250

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9102510081

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PPD INC
		STREET 2:		929 NORTH FRONT STREET
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28401
</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>2007-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001003124</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PPDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001033409</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ESHELMAN FREDRIC N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6814 TOWLES ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28409</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8450636</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.95</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>120000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.19</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-11-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-02-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.61</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-02-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options were awarded on 12/3/03 and vest in three equal increments on 12/3/04, 12/3/05 and 12/3/06.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options were awarded on 11/16/04 and vest in four equal increments on 11/16/05, 11/16/06, 11/16/07 and 11/16/08.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The options were awarded on 2/22/06 and vest in three equal increments on 2/22/07, 2/22/08 and 2/22/09.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The options were awarded on 2/20/07 and vest as follows:  16,666 on 2/21/08, 16,667 on 2/21/09 and 16,667 on 2/21/10.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The Reporting Person was awarded 100,000 shares of restricted stock that will vest as follows:  33,333 on 1/5/08, 33,333 on  12/5/08 and 33,334 on 12/5/09 (unless the Reporting Person retires on or after May 1, 2010, in which case the 33,334 shares will vest on the date immediately preceding the date of retirement).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa C. Noecker attorney-in-fact for Fred N. Eshelman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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