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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,
 Hy63qMx+J/FXk0CXq1HjnJCJneyTHIjfS1aD4vM/LsWpjb9+xcCJ69/IXROnOL8U
 EpVEGP/fsHLM2waZM6/ifA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001014156-03-000003.txt : 20030804
<SEC-HEADER>0001014156-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030804093135
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001014156-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030804

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KANNER DOV
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218810

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15313
		FILM NUMBER:		03819228

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BIOTECHNOLOGY GENERAL ISREAL LTD
		STREET 2:		KIRYAT WEIZMANN
		CITY:			REHOVOT
		STATE:			L3
		ZIP:			76326

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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000722104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVNT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218810</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KANNER DOV</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BIO-TECHNOLOGY GENERAL (ISRAEL) LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>KIRYAT WEIZMANN</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REHOVOT, ISRAEL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>76326</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ISRAEL</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock, $.01 par value per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2897</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.4571</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5397</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTr
ansactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock, $.01 par value per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>D</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2897</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.4571</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnersh
ip><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Consists of shares acquired pursuant to Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Dov Kanner</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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