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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,
 OtIWq4Bkmt8VzixLOqtRjROv8R5cCPmCSHkXkgZ+SXcMV8n1nj9u+7I+3i5Lp3w8
 f6NozzfRlyKZqvNsIg/hLQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001011240-03-000071.txt : 20030714
<SEC-HEADER>0001011240-03-000071.hdr.sgml : 20030714
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030714170342
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001011240-03-000071
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030714

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KV PHARMACEUTICAL CO /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000057055
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				430618919
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2503 S HANLEY RD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63144
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3146456600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2503 S HANLEY RD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63144

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARLIE KEVIN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001133692

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09601
		FILM NUMBER:		03785753

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2503 SOUTH HANLEY RD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63144
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147215800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2503 SOUTH HANLEY RD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63144
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>kvf4carl071003_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   04/22/03  TZ    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-04-01</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000057055</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KV PHARMACEUTICAL CO /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KVA, KVB</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
      <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001133692</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARLIE KEVIN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
       </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Option to Purchase</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>18.95</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-04-01</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionValue>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionValue>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-04-01</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2008-04-01</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1500</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <footnotes>
<footnote id="F1"> 20% immediately exercisable; additional 20% exercisable on each succeeding anniversary date of grant, pursuant to K-V Pharmaceutical Company 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Kevin S. Carlie</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-07-10</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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