8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

_______________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 5, 2006

Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Delaware	0-15313	13-3033811
(State or other juris- diction of incorporation	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

One Tower Center, 14th Floor
East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (732) 418-9300

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

  Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

  Pre-commeYncement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2{b))

  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

(b)      Effective as of April 5, 2006, Carl E. Kaplan has retired from his position as a member of the Board of Directors of Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Kaplan’s letter of retirement is set forth in exhibit 17.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)      Exhibits

          See Exhibit Index attached hereto.

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Date: April 10, 2006	By:	/s/ Philip K. Yachmetz
		Philip K. Yachmetz Executive Vice President & Chief Business Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
17.1	Letter of Retirement from Carl E. Kaplan, dated April 5, 2006.

EX-17.1

April 5, 2006

To: The Board of Directors of Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

I have decided to retire as a Director of the Company, effective immediately.

As a member of the group that founded the Company, as a former Secretary, and as a member of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. which was outside counsel to the Company from 1982 through mid-2004, I have been gratified by my association with the Company.

The pharmaceutical industry presents a difficult environment for small companies and over the years there have been times when the Company has struggled. However, as illustrated by recent announcements, I believe the Company is proceeding on the right track. This is an excellent time for me to leave the Board as I wind down my legal practice and pursue new opportunities.

Sincerely,

cc: Philip K. Yachmetz, Esq.