-----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>0001104659-05-035141.txt : 20050729
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-05-035141.hdr.sgml : 20050729
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050729164610
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-05-035141
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:			PERRY GREGORY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236371

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21481
		FILM NUMBER:		05985459

	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>0001236371</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PERRY GREGORY D</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP - Finance &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.79</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-24</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-27</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3816</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3816</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.05</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>14184</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-27</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1080</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.05</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>70920</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option, which was granted on March 24, 2005 and provided for vesting in three equal annual installments beginning on March 24, 2006, 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 $198,150, 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 11, 2004 and provided for vesting in three approximately equal annual installments beginning on November 11, 2005, was cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $495,950, 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="F3">This option, which was granted on March 24, 2004 and provided for vesting in three approximately equal annual installments beginning on March 24, 2005, was cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $236,338.42, 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="F4">This option, which was granted on May 27, 2003 and provided for immediate vesting, was cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $114,289.20, 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="F5">This option, which was granted on May 27, 2003 and provided for immediate vesting, was cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $424,810.80, 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="F6">This option, which was granted on May 27, 2003 and provided for vesting in five equal annual installments beginning on March 24, 2006, was cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $32,346, 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="F7">This option, which was granted on May 27, 2003 and provided for vesting in five equal annual installments beginning on March 24, 2006, was cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $2,124,054, 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/ Gregory D. Perry</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----