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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,
 Gl+OcM+qGr3PfxjS++kFdriilWzj76RtwuNPPIXaCfpQTYP8fFY1DH9/BCgCqXjl
 9g1JQAgWIezzjdVe9xRekA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000815838-04-000061.txt : 20041112
<SEC-HEADER>0000815838-04-000061.hdr.sgml : 20041111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041112120227
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000815838-04-000061
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JONES W NEIL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224097

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17254
		FILM NUMBER:		041137064

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000815838</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVEN PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NOVN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224097</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JONES W NEIL</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 - Marketing &amp; Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.60</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-11-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock ($.0001 Par Value)</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% exercisable after 11/11/2005; 25% exercisable after 11/11/2006; 25% exercisable after 11/11/2007; and 25% after 11/11/2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>W. Neil Jones</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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