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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JZcoJ1jJc65a/BDyNq7/60zAzDcJm8/zfmOi3Yw6+c4vLmL+nvOS/PS5GxTUnJem
 me8tOio/2jenxOulYwvCNQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001218821-04-000003.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0001218821-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114135413
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001218821-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMPSON VIRGIL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218821

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15313
		FILM NUMBER:		04524592

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		319 SOUTH NARDO
		CITY:			SOIANA BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92075

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

    <documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-01-05</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000722104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVNT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218821</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMPSON VIRGIL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>755 BARBARA AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOLANA BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92075</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock, $.01 par value per share</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>542</value><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.61</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19990</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnersh
ip><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options to purchase common stock, $.01 par value per share</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.61</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.61</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-12-31</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock, $01 par value p
er share</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>90000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These shares were granted pursuant to the Company's Stock Compensation Plan for Outside Directors, which provides for the grant to non-employee directors of that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value on the last business day of each quarter equal to $2,500, until he is no longer an Outside Director.  On December 31, 2003, the fair market value of the Common Stock, based on the closing price, was $4.61.</footnote><footnote id="F2">These options will become fully vested and immediately exerci
sable on 12/31/2004.</footnote><footnote id="F3">This stock grant was originally reported in Table 1 Columns 3 and 4 with the incorrect transaction codes.  The stock grant was originally reported in Column 3 as &quot;D&quot; instead of &quot;A&quot; and in Column 4 as &quot;D&quot; for securities disposed of instead of &quot;A&quot; for securities acquired.
</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Virgil Thompson</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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