-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 I2DNGcS1S2veFgfLB/jGIv1CJlyt28RNqv0aj+2QE4LJEAoxY7a04CFwlL8DCj3C
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000722104-06-000001.txt : 20060224
<SEC-HEADER>0000722104-06-000001.hdr.sgml : 20060224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060224172907
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000722104-06-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060224
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060224

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lamm Robert
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001354440

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15313
		FILM NUMBER:		06644274

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		732-418-9300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE TOWER CENTER BLVD., 14TH FLOOR
		CITY:			EAST BRUNSWICK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08816

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000722104
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEDICINAL CHEMICALS & BOTANICAL PRODUCTS [2833]
		IRS NUMBER:				133033811
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TOWER CENTER
		CITY:			EAST BRUNSWICK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08816
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7324189300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TOWER CENTER
		CITY:			EAST BRUNSWICK
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08816

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BIO TECHNOLOGY GENERAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>lam42.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000722104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001354440</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lamm Robert</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE TOWER CENTER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EAST BRUNSWICK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08816</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, QA/QC, Regulatory Affairs</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>246</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Stock , $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.6200</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-02-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.6700</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-06-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.9700</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>27000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Consists of shares acquired pursuant to Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan prior to becoming an officer of the Company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restrictions lapse on 1/21/2007 as to 5,000 shares and on 1/21/2009 as to 5,000 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option is exercisable as to 25% of the shares on each of 02/15/2007, 02/15/2008, 02/15/2009 and 02/15/2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The option is vested as to 75% of the shares and vests as to 25% of the shares on 6/10/2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The option is vested as to 75% of the shares and vests as to 25% of the shares on 1/27/2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Beata A. Smith as Attorney-In-Fact for</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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