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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 OBusY8ZvrmbPocv8iOs+Zg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-023047.txt : 20051215
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-023047.hdr.sgml : 20051215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051215150537
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-023047
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051213
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051215

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:			BAKER JULIAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001087939

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30319
		FILM NUMBER:		051266357

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TISCH FAMILY INTERESTS
		STREET 2:		667 MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10021
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212 521 2418

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		667 MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10021
</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>2005-12-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001087939</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAKER JULIAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BAKER BROTHERS INVESTMENTS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>667 MADISON AVE, 17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10021</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33840</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.11</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The partnership of which Reporting Person owned 1/2 interest distributed for no consideration half of its 67,679 shares to Reporting Person in July 2005.  The distribution effected a change in the form of Reporting Person's beneficial ownership only without changing his pecuniary interest in the shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julian Baker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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