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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,
 JO6Cn8r2/PBAZ+Uln52SAcgfgb+AQOztAzvk07LdjoK+rlDLttoXNkT2Cd5d4WZ8
 SUZ+ak0XDUtveqJbNRGPWg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001082554-06-000075.txt : 20060710
<SEC-HEADER>0001082554-06-000075.hdr.sgml : 20060710
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060710090503
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001082554-06-000075
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060626
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060710
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060710

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SULLIVAN LOUIS W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193522

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26301
		FILM NUMBER:		06952587

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
		STREET 2:		720 WESTVIEW DRIVE, S.W.
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30310

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SULLIVAN LOUIS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020927

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED THERAPEUTICS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001082554
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				521984749
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1110 SPRING ST
		CITY:			SILVER SPRING
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20910
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3016089292

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1110 SPRING ST
		CITY:			SILVER SPRING
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20910
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001082554</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED THERAPEUTICS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UTHR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193522</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SULLIVAN LOUIS W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Annual Non-Executive Director Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>55.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2006-06-26</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-06-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65854</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <remarks>Annual non-executive director stock option award for service on the Board of Directors, priced and issued each year on the date of the issuer's annual meeting of stockholders.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul A. Mahon under Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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