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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 c8BWoM7MAMp2uBlPQ5GJ3Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-11-007028.txt : 20110208
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-11-007028.hdr.sgml : 20110208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110208153836
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-11-007028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110208

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCGRANE MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240145

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10352
		FILM NUMBER:		11582519

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 TWIN OAK ROAD
		CITY:			LIVINGSTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07039

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLUMBIA LABORATORIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000821995
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				592758596
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		354 EISENHOWER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LIVINGSTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07039
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9739943999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		354 EISENHOWER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LIVINGSTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07039
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000821995</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COLUMBIA LABORATORIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240145</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGRANE MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>354 EISENHOWER PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PLAZA I - SECOND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LIVINGSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07039</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior VP &amp; General Counsel</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>135000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-02-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>$0.01 par value common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>135000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>135000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% of the grant vests on each of the following four anniversaries of February 7, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ Michael McGrane</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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