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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SBZykQkAey0E20Qs6CSzhsfCLt0I0oOk6926ZUY/56V1ud0VmFH2p3zdcylSnCYA
 tR2Zw46b02TBCgnZroIr5A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-014245.txt : 20040304
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-014245.hdr.sgml : 20040304
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040304134839
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-014245
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040302
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RENTON HOLLINGS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187333

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28298
		FILM NUMBER:		04648316

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONYX PHARMACEUTICALS
		STREET 2:		3031 RESEARCH DRIVE
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94806
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5102628769

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ONYX PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001012140
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				943154463
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3031 RESEARCH DR
		STREET 2:		BLDG A
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94806
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5102229700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3031 RESEARCH DRIVE
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94806
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001012140</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ONYX PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ONXX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187333</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RENTON HOLLINGS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ONYX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3031 RESEARCH DR., BLDG. A</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94806</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.0800</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-09-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-03-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares subject to the option become exercisable at a rate of 12.5% on the date 6 months following the date of grant and in equall monthly installments thereafter for the following 42 months.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Marilyn E. Wortzman, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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