<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001018710</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTROGEN THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>INGN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001356774</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Aventis Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3711 KENNETT PIKE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19807</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>10% owner and beneficial owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267075</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AVENTIS HOLDINGS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3711 KENNETT PIKE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19807</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>10% owner and beneficial owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9526</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.31</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4178884</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>SFN</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">For reporting person Aventis Holdings Inc., reflects ownership of (i) 1,835,163 shares of common stock owned directly by Aventis Holdings Inc., and (ii) 2,343,721 shares of common stock owned by its subsidiary Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc.

For reporting person Aventis Inc., reflects ownership of shares owned directly by Aventis Holdings Inc. and Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathleen A. Winter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathleen A. Winter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
