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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,
 LugR1gLt2VHS2UwEWoVUGU73oX3Rwa4fhXL4SCLiB6xjwMArLrDngTgnO+KI0Q/W
 o3liAr+OeqgpUEE4mxGplQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001082504-04-000040.txt : 20040727
<SEC-HEADER>0001082504-04-000040.hdr.sgml : 20040727
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040723145612
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001082504-04-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040723

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hariharan Shankar
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001298087

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10827
		FILM NUMBER:		04928878

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		845-425-7100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RAM RIDGE ROAD
		CITY:			SPRING VALLEY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10977

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, INC.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000878088
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				223122182
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 TICE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			WOODCLIFF LAKE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07677
		BUSINESS PHONE:		845-425-7100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 TICE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			WOODCLIFF LAKE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07677

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PHARMACEUTICAL RESOURCES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940526
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000878088</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PAR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, INC.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001298087</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hariharan Shankar</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE RAM RIDGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPRING VALLEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10977</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>POWER OF ATTORNEY:  KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned does hereby constitute and appoint MARIAN E. GUSTAFSON with full power to act, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, and to do any and all acts and things in his name and on his behalf, to execute any and all documents and instruments, which said attoney-in-fact may deem necessary or advisable to enable him to comply with the reporting requirements pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including but not limited to Form 3 - Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership, Form 4 - Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership and Form 5 - Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership, relating to his ownership in Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) for the period July 23, 2004 through and including July 22, 2005; and to file the same
, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Company, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and preform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the said attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.  /s/ Shankar Hariharan
Dated:  July 23, 2004</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Marian E. Gustafson for Shankar Hariharan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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