<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001288123-15-000006.txt : 20150218
<SEC-HEADER>0001288123-15-000006.hdr.sgml : 20150216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150217180355
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001288123-15-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150217

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:			Baysal Ozer
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001579446

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29089
		FILM NUMBER:		15624847

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AGENUS INC.
		STREET 2:		3 FORBES ROAD
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02421
</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>2015-02-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001579446</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Baysal Ozer</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Business Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option, right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-02-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>27300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.04</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2015-05-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-02-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>27300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 12, 2015, the reporting person was granted an option to purchase 39,000 shares of the registrant's common stock, of which, 27,300 shares vest in 12 equal quarterly installments from the date of the grant, and the remaining 11,700 shares vest in two equal increments based on the registrant's achievement of certain performance criteria within 30 months from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christine M. Klaskin, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
