<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001613377-16-000022.txt : 20160516
<SEC-HEADER>0001613377-16-000022.hdr.sgml : 20160516
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160516130905
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001613377-16-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160515
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160516
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160516

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000946644
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				520845822
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1617 JFK BLVD, SUITE #500
		STREET 2:		ONE PENN CENTER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		215-988-0080

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1617 JFK BLVD, SUITE #500
		STREET 2:		ONE PENN CENTER
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KIANI IRAJ EQHBAL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001285113

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27072
		FILM NUMBER:		161652327

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		18800 DELAWARE ST
		STREET 2:		9TH FLOOR
		CITY:			HUNTINGDON BEACH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92648

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KIANI IRAJ EGHBAL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20040329
</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>2016-05-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000946644</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HEB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001285113</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KIANI IRAJ EQHBAL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>18800 DELAWARE ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUNTINGDON BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92648</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Rights</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13823</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.11</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-11-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13823</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13823</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Issued pursuant to the Hemispherx Biopharma Inc 2016 voluntary stock award plan. Pursuant to the plan, the reporting person has elected to withhold a portion of their Director's fee in exchange for the incentive right. The incentive right grants the reporting person the right to receive a number of shares of common stock based upon the market price on the day prior to the election. The incentive right automatically converts into common stock on the date exercisable. The plan is described in the Issuer's annual 10K report for the year ended 12/31/15.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Iraj Eghbal Kiani</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-05-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
