-----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,
 EA3DwmnE2kyfx8GMFpxt/4FbP5ppG3ubxGkCMOjOifUi8QbiOn87WFENK5k3wI/C
 TjdIUdt7koAqmRV75hfO/w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001082038-03-000015.txt : 20030923
<SEC-HEADER>0001082038-03-000015.hdr.sgml : 20030923
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030923181431
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001082038-03-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030922
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030923

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DURECT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001082038
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				943297098
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10240 BUBB RD
		CITY:			CUPERTINO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087771417

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10240 BUBB ROAD
		CITY:			CUPERTINO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95014

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAXE JON S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001114914

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31615
		FILM NUMBER:		03906757

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST HORIZON PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
		STREET 2:		660 HEMBREE PKWY STE 106
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7704429707

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST HORIZON PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
		STREET 2:		660 HEMBREE PKWY STE 106
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001082038</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DURECT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DRRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001114914</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SAXE JON S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10240 BUBB ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CUPERTINO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95014</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Held by the Jon S. Saxe and Myrna G. Marshall 1997 Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jon S. Saxe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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