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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>0001217624-09-000005.txt : 20090107
<SEC-HEADER>0001217624-09-000005.hdr.sgml : 20090107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090107170526
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001217624-09-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PFEFFER MATTHEW J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192063

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19222
		FILM NUMBER:		09513729

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CELL GENESYS
		STREET 2:		342 LAKESIDE DRIVE
		CITY:			FOSTER CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94404

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENELABS TECHNOLOGIES INC /CA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874443
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				943010150
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		505 PENOBSCOT DR
		CITY:			REDWOOD CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94063
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6503969500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		505 PENOBSCOT DR
		CITY:			REDWOOD CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94063
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874443</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENELABS TECHNOLOGIES INC /CA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWTX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192063</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PFEFFER MATTHEW J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>505 PENOBSCOT DR.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDWOOD CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94063</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2009-01-06</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">* Reflects issuer's purchase of unexercised stock options having a strike price &lt; $1.30/share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Frederick Driscoll</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Matthew Pfeffer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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