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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,
 I2f8qCjVyp+xClurY46n5by56buhH4PpJ80D3QVJTyaepMBuBEahuO3tmWMWfcyc
 lLfhD8ZH/BelYdNBUNrgow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000815838-03-000009.txt : 20030515
<SEC-HEADER>0000815838-03-000009.hdr.sgml : 20030515
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030515144831
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000815838-03-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030514
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030515

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YETTER WAYNE P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215120

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17254
		FILM NUMBER:		03703977

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SYNAVANT INC
		STREET 2:		3445 PEACHTREE ROAD NE SUITE 1400
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30326

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVEN PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000815838
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				592767632
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11960 SW 144TH ST
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33186
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3052535099

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11960 SW 144TH STREET
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33185
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-14</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000815838</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVEN PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>NOVN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001215120</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>YETTER WAYNE P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right To Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.74</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-14</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5
000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Wayne P. Yetter</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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