-----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,
 LejTFFR6NqtGrv5fiibJp6yXbxN2OirUl1OarHYl52rvjIY6sNozxoI1+A7xcVgr
 FRBt4Tg0mQv6fG3ynrl0GQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-002494.txt : 20040113
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-002494.hdr.sgml : 20040113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040113141809
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-002494
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040113

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:			BROOKE PAUL A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001175940

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21699
		FILM NUMBER:		04522424

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NOMOS CORP
		STREET 2:		2591 WEXFORD BAYNE RD
		CITY:			SEWICKLEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15143
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7249348200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NOMOS CORP
		STREET 2:		2591 WEXFORD BAYNE RD
		CITY:			SEWICKLEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15143
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd28958.xml
<DESCRIPTION>BROOKE/FORM4/01-04
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-12</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000946840</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VIROPHARMA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VPHM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001175940</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROOKE PAUL A</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>3.42</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.42</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-01-12</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Commo
n Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The grant shall not be exercisable if the director does not attend at least 75% of the combined number of Board meetings and meetings of Committees of which he is a member that are held during the year of grant.  Otherwise, the annual grant shall vest and be exercisable for the number of shares that is equal to 10,000 shares times the percentage of the combined number of Board and Committee meetings of which he is a member that the director actually attended in the year of grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas F. Doyle</signatureName><signa
tureDate>2004-01-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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