-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MnMzvD/68dHaPTl0VFVRao0Mz4rS0f8yfluAbqx2syu01KQQWrmE1039//Qf+P05
 GxIb/oGoWmUrFZwqZgmsbw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-007047.txt : 20030908
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-007047.hdr.sgml : 20030908
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030908134252
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-007047
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030904
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LACK WALTER J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207708

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27628
		FILM NUMBER:		03885632

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10100 SANTA MONICA BLVD
		STREET 2:		16TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067-4107
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3105523800

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUPERGEN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000919722
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				911841574
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4140 DUBLIN BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94568
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9255600100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4140 DUBLIN BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94568
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-04</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000919722</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERGEN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SUPG</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LACK WALTER J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ENGSTROM LIPSCOMB &amp; LACK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10100 SANTA MONICA BLVD. 16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90067-4107</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.69</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-04</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-09-04</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>7500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Grant to Reporting Person of an option to purchase 7,500 shares of Common Stock under the Issuer's 2003 Stock Plan.  The option vests and becomes exercisable as to 1/4th of the shares on the September 4, 2003 date of grant and on each three month anniversary thereafter.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Walter J. Lack</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-05</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----