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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,
 TQ+GDAzAjO2Vl3q9E8zd/vmT6475vbT1SweXDoJm3rirD6JjQSueh2JUKNiDFgtA
 l0jgGVosTZeqAlqVLxjJLQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-036807.txt : 20031219
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-036807.hdr.sgml : 20031219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031219140536
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-036807
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031219

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VIROPHARMA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000946840
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				232789550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		405 EAGLEVIEW BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 5000
		CITY:			EXTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19341
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6104587300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		405 EAGLEVIEW BOULEVARD
		CITY:			EXTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19341

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLAYPOOL WILLIAM D MD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001273313

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21699
		FILM NUMBER:		031064620

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PHOENIX DATA SYSTEMS
		STREET 2:		1288 VALLEY FORGE RD
		CITY:			VALLEY FORGE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19482
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6109173346

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PHOENIX DATA SYSTEMS
		STREET 2:		1288 VALLEY FORGE RD
		CITY:			VALLEY FORGE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19482
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd26143.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 CLAYPOOL
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-18</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000946840</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VIROPHARMA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VPHM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001273313</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CLAYPOOL WILLIAM D MD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>405 EAGLEVIEW BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EXTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19341</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.94</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>2.94</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-12-18</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Commo
n Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the anniversary date from time of grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas F. Doyle</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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