-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 S0fKl1r7wMwhnjgSIxqfrDcFzVhQY+Odf2a4Ozu2T2ec/XJjpdC8ee34v8DogZCG
 +46MsC4fqwLyaRu1+aNl+A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000882796-05-000020.txt : 20050513
<SEC-HEADER>0000882796-05-000020.hdr.sgml : 20050513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050513141913
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000882796-05-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050511
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050513
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050513

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHERRILL JOSEPH H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001095864

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23186
		FILM NUMBER:		05828310

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9419268223

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1510 STICKNEY POINT RD
		CITY:			SARASOTA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34231

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000882796
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				621413174
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2190 PARKWAY LAKE DR
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35244
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2054444600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2190 PARKWAY LAKE DR
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35244
</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>2005-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882796</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BCRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001095864</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHERRILL JOSEPH H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2190 PARKWAY LAKE DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35244</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-05-11</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>102500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vest at 1/12 of total grant from grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael Richardson by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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