Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 13, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	SVNT
Entity Registrant Name	SAVIENT PHARMACEUTICALS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000722104
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		73,606,386