-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-08-049255.txt : 20080801
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-08-049255.hdr.sgml : 20080801
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080801155457
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-08-049255
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080731
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080801
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080801

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CROWLEY Richard
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001352961

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19612
		FILM NUMBER:		08985194

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		646-638-5078

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		IMCLONE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
		STREET 2:		180 VARICK STREET, 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10014

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IMCLONE SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000765258
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				042834797
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		180 VARICK STREET - 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		646-638-5078

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		180 VARICK STREET - 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10014

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	IMCLONE SYSTEMS INC/DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940211
</SEC-HEADER>
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<SEQUENCE>1
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2008-07-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000765258</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IMCLONE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IMCL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001352961</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CROWLEY Richard</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>IMCLONE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>180 VARICK STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10014</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Biopharmaceutical Ops</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-19</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.8125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-12-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.8125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-12-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-31</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11957</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
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                <value>2010-01-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47828</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were sold pursuant to a trading plan dated October 20, 2007, qualified under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options were part of an award of 100,000 options on January 31, 2000 that vested in equal installments over four years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GREGORY T. MAYES, BY POWER OF ATTORNEY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----