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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-09-055286.txt : 20090918
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-09-055286.hdr.sgml : 20090918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090918183231
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-09-055286
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090916
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090918
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090918

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APAX MANAGERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001259036
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33213
		FILM NUMBER:		091077718

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		445 PARK AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AFFYMAX INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001158223
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4001 MIRANDA AVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-812-8700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4001 MIRANDA AVE.
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001158223</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AFFYMAX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AFFY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259036</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>APAX MANAGERS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>53RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>43401</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.62</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>790871</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>SEE FOOTNOTE</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities were sold directly as follows: (i) 37,148 by Apax Excelsior VI, L.P. (&quot;Excelsior VI&quot;), (ii) 2,992 by Apax Excelsior VI-A C.V. (&quot;Excelsior VI-A&quot;), (iii) 1,993 by Apax Excelsior VI-B C.V. (&quot;Excelsior VI-B&quot;) and (iv) 1,268 by Patricof Private Investment Club III, L.P. (&quot;Patricof Private Investment Club III,&quot; and together with Excelsior VI, Excelsior VI-A and Excelsior VI-B, the &quot;Excelsior VI Funds&quot;).  Apax Excelsior VI Partners, L.P. (&quot;Apax Excelsior VI Partners&quot;) is the general partner of the Excelsior VI Funds.  Apax Managers, Inc. (the &quot;Reporting Person&quot;) is the general partner of Apax Excelsior VI Partners.  The securities beneficially owned following the reporting transaction are owned directly as follows: (i) 676,925 by Excelsior VI, (ii) 54,525 by Excelsior VI-A, (iii) 36,324 by  Excelsior VI-B and (iv) 23,097 by Patricof Private Investment Club III.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert Marsden</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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