-----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,
 Hel7ZLlHXBKlOyipz4lhoCZzOaVdBtFNS65rRO6lurkm9Yy9yw1zVVz6jdfsrQm/
 AvRB6xtxqsZZm4pB9n5FaQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001440766-09-000001.txt : 20090220
<SEC-HEADER>0001440766-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090220
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090220141042
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001440766-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090220
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090220

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Dingivan Christine A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001440766

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27570
		FILM NUMBER:		09624557

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		910-251-0081

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INC.
		STREET 2:		929 NORTH FRONT STREET
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28401

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-18</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001440766</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Dingivan Christine A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>929 NORTH FRONT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP/Chief Medical Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-18</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>2010-02-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-11-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-11-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</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>39.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-10-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-10-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</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>37.93</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-07-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-07-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>90000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>90000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options will vest in equal increments of 1/3 on February 18, 2010, February 18, 2011 and February 18, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options will vest in equal increments of 1/3 on November 20, 2009, November 20, 2010 and November 20, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The options will vest in equal increments of 1/3 on October 3, 2009, October 3, 2010 and October 3, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The options vest in equal increments of 1/3 on July 28, 2009, July 28, 2010 and July 28, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa C. Noecker attorney-in-fact for Christine A. Dingivan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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