<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001079973-04-000019
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040119
<FILING-DATE>20040121
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ASPENBIO INC
<CIK>0001167419
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2835
<IRS-NUMBER>841553387
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>CO
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1585 S. PERRY STREET
<STREET2>ASPENBIO INC.
<CITY>CASTLE ROCK
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>80104
<PHONE>(303) 794-2000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1585 S. PERRY STREET
<STREET2>ASPENBIO INC.
<CITY>CASTLE ROCK
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>80104
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MCGONEGAL JEFFEREY
<CIK>0001187604
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-50019
<FILM-NUMBER>04535208
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1905 W VALLEY VISTA DR
<CITY>CASTLE ROCK
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>80104
<PHONE>3036809583
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1905 W VALLEY VISTA DR
<CITY>CASTLE ROCK
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>80104
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-19</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001167419</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ASPENBIO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APNB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187604</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGONEGAL JEFFEREY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1905 W VALLEY VISTA DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CASTLE ROCK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-06-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-12-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.21</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>140000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>140000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>140000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The aggregate number of stock options acquired on January 19, 2004 was 140,000.  One quarter (35,000) of the options vest each year for four years following the date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey G. McGonegal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
