<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-12-045576.txt : 20121105
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-12-045576.hdr.sgml : 20121105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121105133840
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-12-045576
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20121102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20121105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THERAVANCE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001080014
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				943265960
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 GATEWAY BLVD
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6508086000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 GATEWAY BLVD
		CITY:			S. SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ADVANCED MEDICINE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000302

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001131399
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30319
		FILM NUMBER:		121179411

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		980 GREAT WEST ROAD
		CITY:			BRENTFORD MIDDLESEX
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			TW8 9GS
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011442080475000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		980 GREAT WEST ROAD
		CITY:			BRENTFORD MIDDLESEX
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			TW8 9GS
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001131399</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>980 GREAT WEST ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRENTFORD MIDDLESEX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>TW8 9GS</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</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>2012-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>280348</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6265777.80</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26411103</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Corporation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Common stock purchased pursuant to the right of GlaxoSmithKline LLC (&quot;GSK LLC&quot;) under Section 2.1(d)(ii) of the Amended and Restated Governance Agreement by and among Theravance, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;), GSK LLC, Glaxo Group Limited and GlaxoSmithKline plc dated as of June 4, 2004, as amended.  Pursuant to Section 2.1(d)(ii), GSK LLC has the right to purchase from the Issuer, on a quarterly basis, sufficient shares of common stock to maintain its ownership percentage in the Issuer taking into account the preceding quarter's option exercise and equity vesting activity.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares of Common Stock are held of record by Glaxo Group Limited, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline plc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Simon Dingemans, Chief Financial Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-11-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
