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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NzM6WlMOp5S/wcJM3zUfYrz1IgtnihP3c12Nmt1EpLqNvrOjj+B7BCB6t6k2bSxZ
 I3bpyzdMiMMIpDDsf9bj+Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001030653-09-000003.txt : 20090122
<SEC-HEADER>0001030653-09-000003.hdr.sgml : 20090122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090122165413
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001030653-09-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHANNON TIMOTHY M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207114

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23223
		FILM NUMBER:		09539673

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2034013330

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CURAGEN CORP
		STREET 2:		555LONG WHARF DR. 11TH FL.
		CITY:			NEW HAVEN
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06511

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CURAGEN CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001030653
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		IRS NUMBER:				061331400
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		322 EAST MAIN STREET
		CITY:			BRANFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06405
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203 481 1104

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		322 EAST MAIN STREET
		CITY:			BRANFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06405
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001030653</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CURAGEN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRGN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207114</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHANNON TIMOTHY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>322 EAST MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRANFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06405</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.68</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>569500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-01-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>569500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>569500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests 25% on January 20, 2010 and 6.25% quarterly thereafter until January 20, 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Timothy M. Shannon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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