-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 K77fZXamirUDeYQqnsDmnjOQx3FYU0QRqfhBVz3CMQtZD36PZoEUExv4K7QR2YN7
 caro5GoI+YQxlA6IxlUfrg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-05-035131.txt : 20050729
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-05-035131.hdr.sgml : 20050729
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050729164121
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-05-035131
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050727
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050729
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050729

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRANSKARYOTIC THERAPIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000885259
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				043027191
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		195 ALBANY ST
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173490200

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VILLA KOMAROFF LYDIA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001274224

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21481
		FILM NUMBER:		05985407

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173490200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TRANSKARYOTIC THERAPIES INC
		STREET 2:		700 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000885259</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANSKARYOTIC THERAPIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TKTX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001274224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VILLA KOMAROFF LYDIA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TRANSKARYOTIC THERAPIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>700 MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02139</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.61</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.99</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-11-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option, which was granted on June 22, 2004 and provided for vesting in three approximately equal annual installments beginning on June 22, 2005, was cancelled pursuant to a merger agreement among the Issuer, Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc and Sparta Acquisition Corporation, dated April 21, 2005, in exchange for a cash payment of $223,900, representing the excess of $37.00 over the per share exercise price of the option multiplied by the number of shares subject to the option, whether vested or unvested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option, which was granted on November 30, 2003 and provided for vesting in three approximately equal annual installments beginning on November 30, 2004, was cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $240,100, representing the excess of $37.00 over the per share exercise price of the option multiplied by the number of shares subject to the option, whether vested or unvested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Lydia Villa-Komaroff</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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