-----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>0001236390-07-000003.txt : 20070731
<SEC-HEADER>0001236390-07-000003.hdr.sgml : 20070731
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070731210714
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001236390-07-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070727
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070731
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070731

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:			0107

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH JAMES ANGUS DUNCAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236390

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19222
		FILM NUMBER:		071014103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		423 CHESTNUT
		CITY:			SAN CARLOS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94070
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6505621430

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-07-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236390</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH JAMES ANGUS DUNCAN</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option Grant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2007-07-27</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-07-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>commmon stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>33500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option Grant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2007-07-27</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>76901</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-07-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>76901</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>110401</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% of the shares are exercisable 6 moths from the grant date and the remainder vest prorata on a monthly basis over the following 36 month period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options become 25% exercisable one year from grant date and the remainder prorata monthly over the next three years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James A.D. Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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