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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CflRR1xFv2MJIdmnOZ+JrevyGKycBMH3EIyXvnp137NoGy853WMtTqNgnNzRxgAy
 Vv64Fc8awHko3jpkxGQwZw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000815838-04-000009.txt : 20040116
<SEC-HEADER>0000815838-04-000009.hdr.sgml : 20040116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040116113522
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000815838-04-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MANTELLE JUAN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224098

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17254
		FILM NUMBER:		04528929

	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>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <form3HoldingsReported>1</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000815838</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVEN PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NOVN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224098</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MANTELLE JUAN A</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 Technical Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock($.0001 Par Value)</value></securityTitle><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>3</transactionFormType><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>18767</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person owned a total of 98,039 shares of common stock on June 6, 2000, the date on which the reporting person became an officer of Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and presently owns 18,767 shares of common stock.
</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Juan A. Mantelle</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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