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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BliNQlzujXVFeChLvq0oMih1RP8+i1GH3H7evxjomzM0ItacQ9HL96syKKzitQ8j
 DsiWpEihD+R/qRl4J7D06Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-013746.txt : 20030701
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-013746.hdr.sgml : 20030701
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030701173017
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-013746
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030627
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KUCHERLAPATI RAJU S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001079537

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24207
		FILM NUMBER:		03768985

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		917 THORN RESEARCH BUILDING
		STREET 2:		20 SHATTUCK STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02115
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6177326378

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABGENIX INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001052837
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				943248826
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6701 KAISER DRIVE
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94555
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5106086500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6701 KAISER DRIVE
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94555
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>j2684_4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-06-27</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001052837</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABGENIX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABGX</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001079537</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KUCHERLAPATI RAJU S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>10.990</value>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-06-27</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>15000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0.00</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>2003-06-27</value>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>2007-06-27</value>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>15000</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>15000</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Raju S. Kucherlapati</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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