-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001131399-10-000006.txt : 20101130
<SEC-HEADER>0001131399-10-000006.hdr.sgml : 20101130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101130121321
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001131399-10-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101129
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101130

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THERAVANCE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001080014
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				943265960
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 GATEWAY BLVD
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6508086000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 GATEWAY BLVD
		CITY:			S. SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ADVANCED MEDICINE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000302

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001131399
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30319
		FILM NUMBER:		101221119

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		980 GREAT WEST ROAD
		CITY:			BRENTFORD MIDDLESEX
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			TW8 9GS
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011442080475000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		980 GREAT WEST ROAD
		CITY:			BRENTFORD MIDDLESEX
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			TW8 9GS
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001080014</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THERAVANCE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>THRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001131399</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>980 GREAT WEST ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRENTFORD MIDDLESEX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>TW8 9GS</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5750000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5750000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Corporation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The amount of Common Stock reported as beneficially owned by the Reporting Person following the reported transaction does not include the Reporting Person's previously disclosed beneficial ownership of 9,401,499 shares of Class A Common Stock of Theravance,Inc. (the &quot;Class A Common Stock&quot;), which are held of record by GlaxoSmithKline LLC and Glaxo Group Limited (&quot;GGL&quot;), each of which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person.  Each share of Class A Common Stock may be converted into one share of Common Stock at any time.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares of Common Stock are held of record by GGL.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Victoria White</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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