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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-06-022277.txt : 20060404
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-06-022277.hdr.sgml : 20060404
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060404213617
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-06-022277
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060404
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060404

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BEHRENS M KATHLEEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211701

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24207
		FILM NUMBER:		06740364

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6701 KAISER DRIVE
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94555
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
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    <periodOfReport>2006-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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        <issuerCik>0001052837</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABGENIX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABGX</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerName>BEHRENS M KATHLEEN</rptOwnerName>
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            <rptOwnerStreet1>6701 KAISER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94555</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
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    <nonDerivativeTable>
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                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-01</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non- Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.50</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-01</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>120000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-02-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-02-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>120000</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>0</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non- Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.5937</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-01</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-06-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-06-02</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non- Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.49</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-06-04</value>
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                <value>2012-06-04</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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                <value>Non- Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-01</value>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-13</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share</value>
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                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>0</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares are owned by an administrative trust, of which Dr. Behrens is a trustee and beneficiary.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option was converted into an option to acquire 37,200 shares of Amgen Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $4.84 per share pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2005, among Abgenix, Inc., Amgen Inc. and Athletics Merger Sub, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option was converted into an option to acquire 9,300 shares of Amgen Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $11.60 per share pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2005, among Abgenix, Inc., Amgen Inc. and Athletics Merger Sub, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option was converted into an option to acquire 3,100 shares of Amgen Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $40.29 per share pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2005, among Abgenix, Inc., Amgen Inc. and Athletics Merger Sub, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option was converted into an option to acquire 4,650 shares of Amgen Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $35.46 per share pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2005, among Abgenix, Inc., Amgen Inc. and Athletics Merger Sub, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This option was converted into an option to acquire 4,650 shares of Amgen Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $43.10 per share pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2005, among Abgenix, Inc., Amgen Inc. and Athletics Merger Sub, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">This option was converted into an option to acquire 6,200 shares of Amgen Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $24.84 per share pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2005, among Abgenix, Inc., Amgen Inc. and Athletics Merger Sub, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ George F. Fraley (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----