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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,
 V8iL7l9jo1c6ZiHYwC5usH+RGmI4g1f6R3JAPybpmrixrAqWUxmD/ZvkAunt5PnQ
 1uKbLfRuwTFvfq/nVgR6FQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-017271.txt : 20040830
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-017271.hdr.sgml : 20040830
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040830113741
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-017271
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040830
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040830

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KING CHARLES RICHTER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240006

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24469
		FILM NUMBER:		041004298

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1840 PARK RD
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20010

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENVEC INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000934473
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				232705690
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		65 W WATKINS MILL RD
		CITY:			GAITHERSBURG
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20878
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2406320740

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		65 W WATKINS MILL RD
		CITY:			GAITHERSBURG
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20878
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000934473</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENVEC INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GNVC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240006</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KING CHARLES RICHTER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GENVEC, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>65 WEST WATKINS MILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GAITHERSBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20878</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Research</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.21</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">6/48ths of the options vest on 7/15/2004, the balance vest on a monthly basis at 1/48 per month</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Jeffrey W. Church, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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