<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001288123-15-000003.txt : 20150106
<SEC-HEADER>0001288123-15-000003.hdr.sgml : 20150106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150106160301
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001288123-15-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AGENUS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001098972
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				061562417
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		162 FIFTH AVENUE SUITE 900
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-994-8200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		162 FIFTH AVENUE SUITE 900
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10010

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ANTIGENICS INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991115

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JORDAN WADIH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001222090

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29089
		FILM NUMBER:		15510010

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ANTIGENICS INC.
		STREET 2:		162 FIFTH AVE., SUITE 900
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10010
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001098972</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AGENUS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AGEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222090</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JORDAN WADIH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AGENUS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3 FORBES ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LEXINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02421</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Shares</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.135</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3667.896</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.135</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3667.896</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3667.896</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired under the Agenus Inc. Director Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended.  Deferred shares represent an equal amount of the Company's common stock to be distributed with the terms of the Plan, typically once the director ceases to serve as a director of the Company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christine M. Klaskin, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
