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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NcDSzm53Vk2X/hSlvsTbercm3UKMA/5Qf+M22fZ+hlepQ/3br9sTuBnhb0dH8ChP
 CtR9sMNxb6H7AgPWW7OWEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001235802-09-000119.txt : 20091015
<SEC-HEADER>0001235802-09-000119.hdr.sgml : 20091015
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091015185957
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001235802-09-000119
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091014
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091015
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091015

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POTTS JOHN T JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202447

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31812
		FILM NUMBER:		091122212

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CELL GENESYS, INC.
		STREET 2:		500 FORBES BLVD.
		CITY:			S. SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIOSANTE PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001023024
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				582301143
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 BARCLAY BLVD STE 280
		CITY:			LINCOLNSHIRE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60069
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8474780500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 BARCLAY BLVD STE 280
		CITY:			LINCOLNSHIRE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60069

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BEN ABRAHAM TECHNOLOGIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991027
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001023024</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOSANTE PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>bpax</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202447</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POTTS JOHN T JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BIOSANTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>111 BARCLAY BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LINCOLNSHIRE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60069</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5581</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5581</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.82</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-10-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received in exchange for 30,536 shares of Cell Genesys, Inc. (&quot;Cell Genesys&quot;) common stock in connection with the merger of Cell Genesys with and into BioSante (the &quot;Merger&quot;).  Each share of the reporting person's Cell Genesys shares was exchanged for 0.1828 of a share of BioSante common stock in conenction with the Merger.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option granted on October 14, 2009. Vesting occurs in four equal yearly installments, with the first installment becoming exercisable on the one-year anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Phillip B. Donenberg, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----