-----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,
 IWWDUEOShTyu07393MgUriyRrgWNd0b6sn2ziq/TFWmY96JlV331QGw6COi+YxnN
 OWyLjpgn6I7LXgaw+6Wz0g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181162-04-000007.txt : 20040820
<SEC-HEADER>0001181162-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20040820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040820133257
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181162-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040820

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STAUB W RICHARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181162

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27570
		FILM NUMBER:		04988378

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INC
		STREET 2:		3151 S 17TH ST
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			28412
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9102510081

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:		3151 SOUTH 17TH ST
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28412
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9102510081

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3151 SOUTH 17TH ST
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28412
</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>2004-08-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181162</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STAUB W RICHARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3210 MERRIMAN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RALEIGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27607</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Former Sr. Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1042</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This report is being filed to note the Reporting Person's termination of insider status.  The reported holdings reflect the insider's beneficial ownership as of the date the insider terminated his service with the Company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As of the date the Reporting Person terminated his service with the Company, the Reporting Person also owned 35,834 options to purchase Company stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa C. Noecker for W. Richard Staub</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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