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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,
 MjZaaqq46qJJuXtwfJWb2p4+VOfb7y0GzQo8ftFJzwu2Ec2VRccilpjZG443x+ta
 Tso8te3KfRFKooaGcATzlg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-003287.txt : 20040120
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-003287.hdr.sgml : 20040119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040120154306
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-003287
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOYLE THOMAS F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21699
		FILM NUMBER:		04532602

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O VIROPHARMA INC
		STREET 2:		405 EAGLEVIEW BLVD
		CITY:			EXTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19341

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd29478.xml
<DESCRIPTION>DOYLE F4 JANUARY 04
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000946840</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VIROPHARMA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VPHM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOYLE THOMAS F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>405 EAGLEVIEW BOULEVARD</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, General Counsel</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.55</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.55</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-01-15</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-15</value></expirationDate><underly
ingSecurity><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 anniversary date from time of grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas F. Doyle</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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