<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-16-027919.txt : 20160726
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-16-027919.hdr.sgml : 20160726
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160726175548
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-16-027919
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160726
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160726

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYNTA PHARMACEUTICALS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001157601
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 OFFICE CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 400
		CITY:			FORT WASHINGTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19034
		BUSINESS PHONE:		610-527-6790

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 OFFICE CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 400
		CITY:			FORT WASHINGTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19034

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CRAVES FRED B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001014095

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33277
		FILM NUMBER:		161785248

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		750 BATTERY ST
		STREET 2:		STE 600
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
</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>2016-07-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001014095</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CRAVES FRED B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BAY CITY CAPITAL, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>750 BATTERY STREET, SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-07-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>296067</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>296067</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-07-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5538474</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5538474</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Bay City Capital Fund IV, L.P. (&quot;Fund IV&quot;)</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-07-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>119380</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>119380</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Bay City Capital Fund IV Co-Investment Fund, L.P. (&quot;Co-Investment&quot;)</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares issued relate to the exchange of shares of Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (as a private company) for shares of Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. per Synta's agreement to acquire Madrigal, dated April 13, 2016.  After the completion of the Merger, Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. changed its name to Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Dr. Craves disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities owned by Fund IV, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest, if any, in the securities by virtue of the limited liability company interests he owns in Bay City Capital LLC, which is the manager of Fund IV's general partner, Bay City Capital Management IV LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Dr. Craves disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities owned by Co-Investment, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest, if any, in the securities by virtue of the limited liability company interests he owns in Bay City Capital LLC, which is the manager of Co-Investment's general partner, Bay City Capital Management IV LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Fred B. Craves</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-07-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
