-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KGac68CLwyEBAl4G14m6SU3jjedbP7qxaheZX5zlwSY+5BiYOOadg+dx4wI+8Tf0
 9N/ed+OG1TJJXkZEO+UY6A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001323704-05-000001.txt : 20050613
<SEC-HEADER>0001323704-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050613163711
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001323704-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050320
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050613
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050613

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000946644
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				520845822
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1617 JFK BLVD #660
		STREET 2:		ONE PENN CENTER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2159880080

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1617 JFK BLVD
		STREET 2:		ONE PENN CENTER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPENCE STEVEN D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001323704

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13441
		FILM NUMBER:		05892727

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129358869

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 EAST 54TH STREET APARTMENT 36C
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-20</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000946644</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HEB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323704</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPENCE STEVEN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>250 EAST 54TH STREET APARTMENT 36C</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven D. Spence</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----