<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001613377-16-000029.txt : 20160630
<SEC-HEADER>0001613377-16-000029.hdr.sgml : 20160630
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160630164637
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001613377-16-000029
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160630
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160630

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:			Pascale Adam
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001613377

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27072
		FILM NUMBER:		161743653

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		924 EDGEMOOR ROAD
		CITY:			CHERRY HILL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08034
</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>2016-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001613377</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pascale Adam</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>924 EDGEMOOR ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHERRY HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08034</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Rights</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14167</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14167</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14167</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 incentive stock award plan. Pursuant to the plan, the reporting person has elected to withhold a portion of their salary 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 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>Adam Pascale</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
