<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001745285-20-000048.txt : 20201221
<SEC-HEADER>0001745285-20-000048.hdr.sgml : 20201221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20201221141606
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001745285-20-000048
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20201217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20201221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20201221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hirsch Susan B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001827663

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29089
		FILM NUMBER:		201403634

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		280 OLD SOMERSET ROAD
		CITY:			WATCHUNG
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07069

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>2020-12-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001827663</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hirsch Susan B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O 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>Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2030-12-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock Option awarded in accordance with the Agenus Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.  The Stock Option vests in full on December 17, 2021 (provided Ms. Hirsch continues to serve on the board on such date).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Evan D. Kearns, as Attorney-in-Fact for Susan Hirsch</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
