<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-16</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000704384</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOVEST INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XXXX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001066040</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ODONNELL FRANCIS E JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>27891037</value>
            </transactionShares>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Dr. O'Donnell, Jr.  is a beneficial owner of Hopkins Capital Group, LLC.</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Preferred Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>8021886</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionShares>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Dr. O'Donnell, Jr. is a beneficial owner of Hopkins Capital Group LLC</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dr. O'Donnell is an officer and director of the Issuer.  Dr. O'Donnell, Jr.,  is, through various family trusts, a beneficial owner of Hopkins Capital Group, LLC.  Dr. O'Donnell is a manager of Hopkins Capital Group, LLC. Hopkins Capital Group, LLC is the controlling stockholder of Accentia, Inc.  Accentia, Inc. is the direct stockholder of the shares reported herein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Preferred Stock converts on a two shares of common for one share of preferred basis.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Francis E. O'Donnell, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

