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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,
 QgPdgNnv52NOfhWYhMgZoEY7sgLOXgFf+Jt5vtsPnU0hfkbZxJnszKy7rMhDDVjd
 qMqmZX33EvtYghTchY1K8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000815838-03-000053.txt : 20031106
<SEC-HEADER>0000815838-03-000053.hdr.sgml : 20031106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031106135532
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000815838-03-000053
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARRETT DIANE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224092

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17254
		FILM NUMBER:		03981854

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NOVEN PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		STREET 2:		11960 SW 144TH STREET
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33186
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3052535099

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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-05</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000815838</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVEN PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NOVN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224092</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARRETT DIANE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NOVEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11960 S.W. 144TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33186</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP &amp; Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.45</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-11-05</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-11-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingS
ecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>60000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option vests in five equal annual installments beginning on  November 5, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Diane M. Barrett</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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