-----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,
 KKspEv6i5xSe+lKg0AXjypSd0CN9jWkW7iX9RpWr1vkSaC5b/PHq37t+9lW6F+aZ
 YOZzYODjBTRzDqNlwDhhhw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-11-000030.txt : 20110104
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-11-000030.hdr.sgml : 20110104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110104192812
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-11-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Fussey Shelley PM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001457835

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32839
		FILM NUMBER:		11508366

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14282 FRANKLIN AVENUE
		CITY:			TUSTIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92780

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PEREGRINE PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000704562
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				953698422
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14282 FRANKLIN AVE
		CITY:			TUSTIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92780
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7145086000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14282 FRANKLIN AVE
		CITY:			TUSTIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92780

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TECHNICLONE CORP/DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970924

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TECHNICLONE INTERNATIONAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000704562</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEREGRINE PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PPHM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001457835</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fussey Shelley PM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PEREGRINE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>14282 FRANKLIN AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92780</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>V.P., Intellectual Property</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24028</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>127500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposition represents the forfeiture of 5,000 unearned restricted shares pursuant with the terms of a Stock Issuance Agreement dated February 1, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes restricted shares issued pursuant to a Stock Issuance Agreement dated February 1, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Shelley P.M. Fussey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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