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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RCaFSOpujaiKDmuc3w4YxqEPSz7u2grkbv/B9yOjeq1NVKXNVpGXIRrqShgrjAQf
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001255224-04-000095.txt : 20040308
<SEC-HEADER>0001255224-04-000095.hdr.sgml : 20040308
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040308194025
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001255224-04-000095
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040304
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040308

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PERRY MARK W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001062466

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-72037
		FILM NUMBER:		04655835

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1119 ST PAUL STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		410244-0115

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARADIGM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001013238
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845]
		IRS NUMBER:				943133088
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3929 POINT EDEN WAY
		CITY:			HAYWARD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94545
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5102659000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3929 POINT EDEN WAY
		CITY:			HAYWARD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94545
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f4100101040308_200658373.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001013238</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARADIGM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARDM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001062466</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PERRY MARK W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1119 ST. PAUL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></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>2004-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2941</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.71</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note 1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Held by Mark W. &amp; Mauree Jane Perry, trustees of the Perry Residential Trust u/a 3/27/99 as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>In addition to the holdings reported herein, the Reporting Person is a member of New Enterprise Associates, LLC (&quot;NEA LLC&quot;) and a general partner of NEA Partners 10, Limited Partnership which is the sole general partner of New Enterprise Associates 10, Limited Partnership (&quot;NEA 10&quot;).  NEA 10 directly holds (i) 2,489,585 common shares of the issuer, (ii) 1,033,057 Series A Preferred shares of the issuer, and (iii) warrants for 2,447,563 common shares of the issuer.  NEA LLC directly holds 5,552 common shares of the issuer.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership, within the meaning of section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise of such portion of the NEA 10 shares and NEA LLC shares, in which the reporting person has no actual pecuniary interest.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Louis S. Citron, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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