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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,
 SXSKmvd5mBMynn3ofkrhMbyWlf8ol5+tHBWgCrh2V0z17GgXiwH6JjW8xf1lTUne
 yrUskg4US8iBY9U3uR/iuQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-10-002361.txt : 20100108
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-10-002361.hdr.sgml : 20100108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100108170903
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-10-002361
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Rowland Charles A Jr
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001383292

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21699
		FILM NUMBER:		10518220

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ENDO BOULEVARD
		CITY:			CHADDS FORD
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19317

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:		397 EAGLEVIEW BLVD
		CITY:			EXTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19341
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6104587300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		397 EAGLEVIEW BOULEVARD
		CITY:			EXTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19341
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd262538.xml
<DESCRIPTION>ROWLAND - FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000946840</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VIROPHARMA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VPHM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001383292</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Rowland Charles A Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>730 STOCKTON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EXTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19341</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.86</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-01-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-01-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</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 first anniversary date from time of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This is an option grant for which there is no purchase price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Peter Wolf, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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