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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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 8R0hhA9iWCOn1SeJPzkyyA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-040944.txt : 20040816
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-040944.hdr.sgml : 20040816
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040816163753
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-040944
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040816

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WORTZMAN MITCHELL S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001257586

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14471
		FILM NUMBER:		04979217

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8125 HAYDEN RD
		STREET 2:		C/O MEDICIS
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000859368
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				521574808
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8125 NORTH HAYDEN ROAD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125992000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8125 NORTH HAYDEN ROAD
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85258
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc5.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000859368</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257586</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WORTZMAN MITCHELL S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8125 N. HAYDEN RD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85258</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec VP, Chief Scientific Offr</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2001-07-24</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>20000</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>9100</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
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                <value>18.33</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-07-11</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5456</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.95</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-07-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-07-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3710</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3710</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.63</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-07-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3618</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3618</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.20</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-07-31</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-07-31</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3424</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3424</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-07-29</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-29</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9616</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.33</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-07-11</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>57544</value>
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                <value>26.95</value>
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                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-07-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-07-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>59290</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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                <value>27.63</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-07-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
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                <value>2010-07-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>86382</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>86382</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>29.20</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-07-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-07-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>59576</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>59576</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Award</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mitchell Wortzman, PhD</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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