-----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,
 GDNNvuy8CBh897Dn73cK0iYjkoiNxkPlaKrL+VfCEOHQAUFqrkc3jjZjMRKVwbXO
 rjcG/1tVD+G6nkQzrQxvRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-003240.txt : 20050214
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-003240.hdr.sgml : 20050214
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050214145639
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-003240
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050214
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050214

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:			Shafer Bradford J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001302448

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30319
		FILM NUMBER:		05608387

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(650) 808-6000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 GATEWAY BOULEVARD
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001302448</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shafer Bradford J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THERAVANCE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>901 GATEWAY BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94080</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP, Gen. Counsel, Secretary</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26629</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>26629</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26629</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option may be exercised for the first time on the earlier of the Put Date or January 1, 2008, (as applicable, the &quot;First Exercise Date&quot;) provided optionee has remained in continuous service from the Grant Date through the First Exercise Date.  On the First Exercise Date, the option becomes exercisable and vested as to that number of shares subject to the option equal to 1/48 times the number of months that have elapsed from the Grant Date through the First Exercise Date.  Thereafter, the option becomes exercisable and vested for an additional 1/48 of the shares subject to the option when optionee completes each month of continuous service following the First Exercise Date.  The option shall be fully vested and exercisable on the 4-year anniversary of the Grant Date provided optionee remains in continuous service through such date. &quot;Put Date&quot; shall mean the day after the final day of the Put Period, as such term is defined in the Restated Certificate of Incorp
oration of the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bradford J. Shafer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----