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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ULAT0uClRM+rtQavBXzZukRd/6/rxNSsyGf62OIoU2HqTb65lDnKtlTSlLLXqDR9
 jx/Ck3wBJ8+KHB2PZ0isBA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-026905.txt : 20040903
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-026905.hdr.sgml : 20040903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040903192715
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-026905
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040830
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040903
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040903

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RINGO WILLIAM R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001238325

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24207
		FILM NUMBER:		041017673

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6455 NANCY RIDGE DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a3.xml
<DESCRIPTION>3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-30</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001052837</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABGENIX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABGX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238325</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RINGO WILLIAM R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6701 KAISER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94555</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.19</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-07-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1/4 of the total shares subject to the option shall become exercisable on 8/30/2005 and an additional 1/48 the total shares subject to the options shall become exercisable each full month thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William R. Ringo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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