-----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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 fWsQa5TIGahatW2ITACGUA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-04-004244.txt : 20040727
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-04-004244.hdr.sgml : 20040727
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040726140140
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-04-004244
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040723
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040726

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:			SAXE JON S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001114914

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19756
		FILM NUMBER:		04930636

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST HORIZON PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
		STREET 2:		660 HEMBREE PKWY STE 106
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7704429707

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST HORIZON PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
		STREET 2:		660 HEMBREE PKWY STE 106
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROTEIN DESIGN LABS INC/DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PDLI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001114914</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SAXE JON S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PROTEIN DESIGN LABS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>34801 CAMPUS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREMONT, CA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X1</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>15.3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-23</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</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-23</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">Options vest 1/12 per month over one (1) year from June 30, 2004.  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/ Jon Saxe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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