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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OSJA4j6Q4Cm/u2kigJc2ZmfxeEXydPb+O55N/tj71pjxrfpl/xSEUGG3DHmiiGvQ
 WsFFoHhIBUHqOp1B5/t0DA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001218809-03-000001.txt : 20031119
<SEC-HEADER>0001218809-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20031119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031119135615
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001218809-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031119

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FASS SIMCHA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218809

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15313
		FILM NUMBER:		031012413

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BIOTECHNOLOGY GENERAL CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE TOWER CENTER BLVD 14TH FLR
		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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-18</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000722104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVNT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218809</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FASS SIMCHA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8 HAMLIN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDISON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08817</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman of the Board and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>50000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>5.0211</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>223003</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></di
rectOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Simcha Fass</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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