-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ErNAsyOWRQWpbBDfePDG6NdCpBxIQQf8eNYICdggBEznpyN1VXjtt7d/Y+FknU8y
 Jux7dHErlhcW+le1p6gB5g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001285101-04-000010.txt : 20040719
<SEC-HEADER>0001285101-04-000010.hdr.sgml : 20040719
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040719105806
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001285101-04-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040716
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040719

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHANNON COLIN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001285101

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27570
		FILM NUMBER:		04919366

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3151 SOUTH 17TH ST.
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28412

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>2004-07-16</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001285101</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHANNON COLIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7 FOREST END KENNETT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW MARKET UK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>CB8 7RG</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Global Clinical Ops.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75128</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options awareded vest in 1/3  increments annually.  10,000 options are exercisable as of 7/16/05; an additional 10,000 options are exercisable as of 7/16/06; and another 10,000 options are exercisable as of 7/16/07.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa C. Noecker for Colin Shannon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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