<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-12-010917.txt : 20120702
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-12-010917.hdr.sgml : 20120702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120702085318
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-12-010917
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120629
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120702
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120702

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYNTA PHARMACEUTICALS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001157601
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		45 HARTWELL AVE
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02421
		BUSINESS PHONE:		781-274-8200

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bahcall Safi R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001325719

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33277
		FILM NUMBER:		12938583

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SYNTA PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.
		STREET 2:		45 HARTWELL AVENUE
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02421
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-06-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001157601</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYNTA PHARMACEUTICALS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SNTA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001325719</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bahcall Safi R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SYNTA PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>45 HARTWELL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LEXINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02421</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.337</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2343135</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Safi R. Bahcall Irrevocable Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $5.33 to $5.34 per share. The price reported above is the weighted average purchase price. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the staff of the SEC, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the range set forth above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of these shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of the beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ann Margaret Eames, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
