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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-08-04</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001113148</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DISCOVERY PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DPII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258678</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NEALE RICHARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DISCOVERY PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9640 TOWNE CENTRE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
        <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1542</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>9.25</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-01-12</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2011-01-11</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>45000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>5.95</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-04-05</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2012-03-04</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>10000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>
    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option is immediately exercisable, but shares purchased under such option are subject to repurchase by the Issuer at the option exercise price, upon the reporting person's termination as an employee prior to vesting in these shares.  25% of the option shares vest on the exercise date provided above with the remaining shares vesting in 36 consecutive monthly installments thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option is immediately exercisable, but shares purchased under such option are subject to repurchase by the Issuer at the optin exercise price, upon the reporting person's termination as an employee prior to vesting in these shares.  The option shares vest in 48 consecutive monthly installments beginning on the exercise date provided above.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Craig Kussman for Richard Neale</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

