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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,
 M76vl8phKXVNHAGRa2TF9IC3Xx20VIKKPFLdPfTh6rzDMubGDposX3UZ3Q7DFeOh
 eV0FtXGmGvaa8hroLtKDnw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001275442-04-000001.txt : 20040108
<SEC-HEADER>0001275442-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040108145425
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001275442-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUBINFELD ALAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275442

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15313
		FILM NUMBER:		04515285

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		STREET 2:		ONE TOWER CENTER BLVD.
		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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000722104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVNT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275442</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUBINFELD ALAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE TOWER CENTER BLVD., 14TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EAST BRUNSWICK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08816</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Acting Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01 par value per share</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options to purchase common stock, $.01 par value per share</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingS
ecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Options to purchase common stock, $.01 par value per share/</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">No options to purchase common stock, $.01 par value per share, were granted or issued at this time.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Beata Smith as Attorney-in-Fact for Alan Rubinfeld</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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