-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QBwYT3PSsLT0HymhXe+j+ep+SqQXOE40FfwXKqlUxisgDsqr9S81OrLZ7uYqh58M
 MO7IMTil6s61qlRRTE/rew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-03-004485.txt : 20031126
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-03-004485.hdr.sgml : 20031126
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031126113136
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-03-004485
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031124
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031126

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROTEIN DESIGN LABS INC/DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000882104
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				943023969
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		34801 CAMPUS DR
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94555
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5105741400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		34801 CAMPUS DR
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94555

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GAGE L PATRICK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001196903

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19756
		FILM NUMBER:		031025188

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEOSE TECHNOLOGIES INC
		STREET 2:		102 WITMER RD
		CITY:			HORSHAM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19044
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2153159000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEOSE TECHNOLOGIES
		STREET 2:		102 WITMER RD
		CITY:			HORSHAM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19044
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-11-24</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROTEIN DESIGN LABS INC/DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PDLI</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196903</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAGE L PATRICK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PROTEIN DESIGN LABS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>34801 CAMPUS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94555</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeTable>
<derivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>13.55</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-11-24</value>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>3000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>0.0</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2003-11-30</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2013-11-24</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>3000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>3000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
<derivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>13.55</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-11-24</value>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>3000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>0.0</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2003-11-30</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2013-11-24</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>3000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>3000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">This option will be 5/12 vested as of the stated date and will continue to vest 1/12 per month over the next 7 months.  Only vested options are exercisable.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Column 8 is not a required reportable field.  New SEC software requires a dollar amount; use zeros per SEC.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>/s/ L. Patrick Gage</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-11-24</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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