<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-08-007922
<TYPE>4/A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080117
<FILING-DATE>20080205
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080205
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>THERAVANCE INC
<CIK>0001080014
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2834
<IRS-NUMBER>943265960
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>901 GATEWAY BLVD
<CITY>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94080
<PHONE>6508086000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>901 GATEWAY BLVD
<CITY>S. SAN FRANCISCO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94080
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ADVANCED MEDICINE INC
<DATE-CHANGED>20000302
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DRAZAN JEFFREY M
<CIK>0001032623
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>CA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4/A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-30319
<FILM-NUMBER>08578748
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2884 SAND HILL RD
<STREET2>STE 100
<CITY>MENLO PARK
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94025
<PHONE>4158541000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2884 SAND HILL RD STE 100
<CITY>MENLO PARK
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94025
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4a.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4/A SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-01-17</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-01-17</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001080014</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THERAVANCE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>THRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001032623</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DRAZAN JEFFREY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SIERRA VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2884 SAND HILL ROAD STE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>3% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2015</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2008-01-17</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>3193000.00</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3193000.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>123424</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3193000.00</value>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Sierra Ventures VI, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>3% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2015</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2008-01-17</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>307000.00</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>307000.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11867</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3500000.00</value>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By SV Associates VI, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Convertible notes are exercisable at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the Expiration Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reporting Person is a general partner of SV Associates VI, L.P., which is the general partner of Sierra Ventures VI, L.P.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership in these reported securities, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Convertible notes held in the name of SV Associates VI, L.P. as nominee, of which $69,906.20 represents convertible notes held in the name of SV Associates VI, L.P. as nominee on behalf of the Reporting Person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey M. Drazan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
