<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-12</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001018952</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KOS PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KOSP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001280201</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAHARIS KATHRYN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>STEVEN K ARONOFF PC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>475 PARK AVENUE SOUTH 23RD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3841649</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Wilson Point Holdings, LP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>97421</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are owned directly by Wilson Point Holdings, LP (&quot;Wilson Point&quot;), a ten percent owner of the Issuer.  Kathryn Jaharis, as one of two managers and members of Cubs Management, LLC (&quot;Cubs Management&quot;), a Delaware limited liability company that is the sole general partner of Wilson Point, has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to these shares.  Kathryn Jaharis disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities held or beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by Cubs Management and Wilson Point, except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein, and this report  should not be deemed an admission that Kathryn Jaharis is the beneficial owner of all of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lawrence B. Copperman, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

