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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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 5V/0q7gPRyq8Vt4fpTbXFA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914475-09-000018.txt : 20090115
<SEC-HEADER>0000914475-09-000018.hdr.sgml : 20090115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090115174339
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914475-09-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090115
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090115

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000914475
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				330525145
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12790 EL CAMINO REAL
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92130
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(858) 617-7600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12790 EL CAMINO REAL
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92130

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GORMAN KEVIN CHARLES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201096

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22705
		FILM NUMBER:		09529319

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10555 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8586177656

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12790 EL CAMINO REAL
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92130
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-13</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914475</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBIX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201096</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GORMAN KEVIN CHARLES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>12780 EL CAMINO REAL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92130</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9195</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.3729</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>82802</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sale of 9,195 shares of common stock issued upon vesting of 21,000 restricted stock units on January 11, 2009 to cover payroll and withholding taxes, with the balance of the shares (11,805) maintained by the Reporting Person; the sale was effected by a broker pursuant to instructions set forth in a Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted by the Reporting Person and delivered to the broker on March 22, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents a weighted average sales price per share.  The prices actually received ranged from $3.29 to $3.49.  The Reporting Person has provided to the issuer, and will provide to any security holder of the issuer or the staff, upon request, information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the range.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">68,140 non-derivative securities are held directly by Reporting Person; 14,662 non-derivative securities are held indirectly by the KCG Limited Liability Company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Margaret E. Valeur-Jensen, By Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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