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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,
 P1Sw2PSazPTpdbzYuxl9BJR0vvkkTE7+h7FOAn3uHk5CmHs9seOs9sk4s/ZwGF5y
 Q4A9ujo3z85+q4kJpHHiMg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-006928.txt : 20030904
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-006928.hdr.sgml : 20030904
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030904184222
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-006928
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030902
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030904

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCCUDDEN BRIAN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228222

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24320
		FILM NUMBER:		03882363

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6304 SPINE RD
		STREET 2:		UNIT A
		CITY:			BOULDERS
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80301

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NAPRO BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891504
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEDICINAL CHEMICALS & BOTANICAL PRODUCTS [2833]
		IRS NUMBER:				841187753
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6304 SPINE RD
		STREET 2:		UNIT A
		CITY:			BOULDER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3035303891

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6304 SPINE RD
		STREET 2:		UNIT A
		CITY:			BOULDER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4/A -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-02</periodOfReport>
<dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-09-04</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891504</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NAPRO BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NPRO</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228222</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCCUDDEN BRIAN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4840 PEARL EAST CIRCLE, SUITE 300W</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOULDER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80301</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>VP, Operations</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>1.55</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>80000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>1.55</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-09-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>80000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>80000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Such options fully vest and become exercisable on September 2, 2008. Such options may vest earlier if the issuer's stock price, on a rolling 20 day average, exceeds $1.55 (the issuer's stock price on September 2, 2003, the grant date). If the issuer's 20-day rolling average stock price exceeds $1.55 by 30%, then 16.67% of the options vest.  Likewise, if the 20-day rolling average stock price exceeds $1.55 by 60%, 90%, 120%, 150% and 200%, then in each case an additional 16.67% of the options vest.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Brian J. McCudden</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-04</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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