-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950138-10-000158.txt : 20100304
<SEC-HEADER>0000950138-10-000158.hdr.sgml : 20100304
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100304204026
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950138-10-000158
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100302
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100304
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100304

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TEKELEC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000790705
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				952746131
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5200 PARAMOUNT PARKWAY
		CITY:			MORRISVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27560
		BUSINESS PHONE:		919-460-5500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5200 PARAMOUNT PARKWAY
		CITY:			MORRISVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27560

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATINCO S A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214764
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			N4

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		10658858

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5, BOULEVARD DE LA FOIRE
		CITY:			L-1528 LUXEMBOURG
		STATE:			N4
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011 352 45 123 1

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5, BOULEVARD DE LA FOIRE
		CITY:			L-1528 LUXEMBOURG
		STATE:			N4
		ZIP:			00000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAPITA TRUSTEES LTD AS TRUSTEES OF THE NATINEC SETTLEMENT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001468248

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15135
		FILM NUMBER:		10658857

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12 CASTLE STREET
		CITY:			ST. HELIER, JERSEY CHANNEL ISL
		STATE:			XX
		ZIP:			JE2 3RT
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011-44-1534-847116

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 532
		CITY:			ST. HELIER, JERSEY CHANNEL ISL
		STATE:			XX
		ZIP:			JE4 5UW
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790705</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEKELEC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TKLC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214764</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NATINCO S A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2, AVENUE CHARLES DE GAULLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>L-1653 LUXEMBOURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>N4</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>LUXEMBOURG</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001468248</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAPITA TRUSTEES LTD AS TRUSTEES OF THE NATINEC SETTLEMENT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 532</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST HELIER, JERSEY CHANNEL ISL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>JE4 5UW</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4275651</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.26</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4275650</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4275650</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.26</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Shares were sold in a private transaction in exchange for non-cash consideration having this value.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities were owned (i) indirectly by Natinco, (ii) indirectly by Capita Trustees Limited as Trustees of The Natinec Settlement (the &quot;Trust&quot;) and (iii) indirectly by the Trust.  The Trust owns all or substantially all of the equity interest in Natinco.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Stirling Trustees Limited (formerly trustee of the Natinec Trust under The Natinec Settlement Trust dated January 9, 2003) was merged into Capita Trustees Limited (currently trustee of The Natinec Settlement).</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Pierre Lentz, as a Director of Natinco, S.A.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John Seil, as a Director of Natinco, S.A.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James Muir, as a Director of Capita Trustees Limited as Trustees of The Natinec Settlement</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Roger Colyer, as a Director of Capita Trustees Limited as Trustees of The Natinec Settlement</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----