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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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 l4Fi+ULwetQ9bhYfFGa3KQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-08-032947.txt : 20080520
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-08-032947.hdr.sgml : 20080520
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080520164333
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-08-032947
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080520
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080520

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CV THERAPEUTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000921506
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				431570294
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3172 PORTER DR
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6503848500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3172 PORTER DRIVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GUTSHALL THOMAS L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187325

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21643
		FILM NUMBER:		08849171

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		904 CARIBBEAN DRIVE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94089
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4084008251
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd206855.xml
<DESCRIPTION>GUTSHALL 2008 ANNUAL REPLENISHMENT OPTION FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921506</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CV THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CVTX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187325</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GUTSHALL THOMAS L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CV THERAPEUTICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3172 PORTER DR.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonqualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-06-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-05-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vests as to 8.33% of the shares subject to the option per month over the 12 month period following the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ TRICIA BORGA SUVARI, ATTORNEY IN FACT FOR THOMAS L GUTSHALL</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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