-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QHfKApUi1YdaGy5ZofLd49PAMy1mMKkEMQf++3mQhIy2vqDzm9epfqwkLWR2VxWj
 mFNMeoM53XTli24TPnnvqQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001106578-03-000001.txt : 20030616
<SEC-HEADER>0001106578-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030616
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030616171922
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001106578-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030612
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030616

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROTHBLATT MARTINE A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001106578

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26301
		FILM NUMBER:		03746141

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

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>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-12</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106578</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROTHBLATT MARTINE A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-12</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-06-12</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5000</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>21.6562</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1032373</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sale of 5,000 shares pursuant to the 10b5-1 Plan adopted by the Reporting Person on August 19, 2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 371,173 shares held by the Reporting Person's spouse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Paul A. Mahon under Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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