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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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 KNTjlhpmFET6qMEWnDOLuA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001238245-03-000007.txt : 20030618
<SEC-HEADER>0001238245-03-000007.hdr.sgml : 20030618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030618141101
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001238245-03-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030616
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030618

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:		10555 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8586587600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10555 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LITTLE ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001238245

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22705
		FILM NUMBER:		03748567

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10555 SCIENCE CENTER DR
		STREET 2:		C/O NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8586587600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10555 SCIENCE CENTER DR
		STREET 2:		C/O NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914475</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBIX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238245</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LITTLE ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP, Commercial Operations</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>57.64</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value><
/value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>57.64</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>75000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>57.64</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>75000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyin
gSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>75000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents option of which 25% of the shares underlying the option becomes vested and exercisable on July 16, 2003 and an additional 1/48th of the shares underlying the option becomes vested and exercisable each month thereafter.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Represents restricted common stock of which 1/36th of the shares becomes vested on July 16, 2003 and an additional 1/36th of the shares becomes vested each month thereafter.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Margaret E. Valeur-Jensen</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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