<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-17-009341.txt : 20170214
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-17-009341.hdr.sgml : 20170214
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170214172600
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-17-009341
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170214
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170214

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:		3 FORBES ROAD
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02421
		BUSINESS PHONE:		781-674-4410

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 FORBES ROAD
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02421

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INCYTE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000879169
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29089
		FILM NUMBER:		17610564

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 AUGUSTINE CUT-OFF
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3024986700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 AUGUSTINE CUT-OFF
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19803

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INCYTE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030318

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INCYTE GENOMICS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000710

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INCYTE PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930902
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000879169</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>INCYTE CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1801 AUGUSTINE CUT-OFF</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19803</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17763968</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eric S. Siegel, EVP &amp; General Counsel, Incyte Corporation</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
