-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 Rnq9Il1zDSQQsmsYF4juP3sj27/+ymXouGpE8ovVldZEG53GW3If/58fygD9qhPL
 4w6NsaZuMemcBvRRJyVyWQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001218810-04-000002.txt : 20040219
<SEC-HEADER>0001218810-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040219113619
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001218810-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040219

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:		04615030

	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>2004-02-17</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>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to purchase Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.31</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>85000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.31</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>85000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>564005</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These options will become exercisable as to 21250 shares on each of 2/17/05, 2/17/06, 2/17/07 and 2/17/08, provided that Mr. Kanner is employed by the Company on these dates.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Beata Smith as attorney-in-fact for Dov Kanner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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