-----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,
 K5l0fVwPepw5toxLGRZgB4YwAhll130aLNmJbfEN9YcCejoTu0QAcuAIsD12OZJY
 jluqkrUx/w5dp9uH0kqmRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-06-016411.txt : 20061114
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-06-016411.hdr.sgml : 20061114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061114173741
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-06-016411
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061114

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADVANCED MAGNETICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000792977
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				042742593
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 CAMBRIDGEPARK DRIVE, 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02140
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6174972070

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 CAMBRIDGEPARK DRIVE, 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02140

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOLDSTEIN JEROME
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903448

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14732
		FILM NUMBER:		061217200

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ADVANCED, MAGNETICS, INC.
		STREET 2:		61 MOONEY STREET
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02138
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6174972070

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ADVANCES MAGNETICS INC
		STREET 2:		725 CONCORD AVE
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02138
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000792977</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADVANCED MAGNETICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMAG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903448</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOLDSTEIN JEROME</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADVANCED MAGNETICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>125 CAMBRIDGEPARK DRIVE, 6TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02140</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. Chairman &amp;  Treasurer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>59489</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>640033</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 269,473 shares held in Mr. Goldstein's grantor retained annuity trusts for which Mr. Goldstein's spouse is one of the trustees and another 269,473 shares held in Mr. Goldstein's spouse's grantor retained annuity trusts, for which Mr. Goldstein is one of the trustees and has shared voting and investment power. Includes 101,087 shares held directly by Mr. Goldstein's spouse.  Excludes 30,400 shares held by the Kaplan Goldstein Family Foundation, a charitable foundation whose trustees are Jerome Goldstein, Marlene Kaplan Goldstein, and Mr. and Ms. Goldstein's adult children, each of whom share voting and investment power.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph L. Farmer, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----