<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001745285-20-000005.txt : 20200424
<SEC-HEADER>0001745285-20-000005.hdr.sgml : 20200424
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200424172400
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001745285-20-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190619
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200424
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200424

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARMEN GARO H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000935679

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29089
		FILM NUMBER:		20816209

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

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
</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>2019-06-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000935679</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARMEN GARO H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3 FORBES ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LEXINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02421</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-04-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5296</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.79</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1112282</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>163046</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-06-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>42500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2028-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>42500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>42500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As previously reported in Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2020, Garo H. Armen's salary is being paid in stock, in lieu of cash, for the balance of 2020.  The amount reported herein represents the net amount of Dr. Armen's salary for the pay period ending April 24, 2020.  Such shares are issued in accordance with the Agenus Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and are fully vested on the date of issuance.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">$2.79 is the closing price of our Common Stock on April 24, 2020, the payroll date for the pay period ending April 24, 2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Dr. Armen is trustee and has investment authority for the Garo Armen 2018 2 Year AG GRAT holder of 159,000 shares of Agenus common stock.  Dr. Armen is Chairman of the Board of Managers and a member of Antigenics, LLC (&quot;Antigenics&quot;) which as of the date of this report owns 4,046 of Agenus Inc. common stock.  Dr. Armen has a pecuniary interest in only a portion of the shares held by Antigenics and disclaims beneficial ownership to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Option granted on December 31, 2018, subject to shareholder approval, which was obtained at Agenus Inc.'s annual shareholder meeting on June 19, 2019.  Option awarded in accordance with Agenus Inc. 2009 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan and one third of the option vested on January 1, 2020 and the balance will vest in equal quarterly installments thereafter; provided, however, that the unvested portion of such option shall vest in full upon Dr. Armen's death, disability or retirement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Evan D. Kearns, as Attorney-in-Fact for Garo H. Armen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-04-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
