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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-07-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000911216</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PALATIN TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PTN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001042019</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PRENDERGAST JOHN K A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ROBERTS SHERIDAN &amp; KOTEL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>12 EAST 49TH STREET 30TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.72</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-07-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-07-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options vest at the rate of 1/12 per month on the last day of each month, starting on July 31, 2012, provided, however, that no options shall become exercisable prior to the Issuance Period End Date, as such term is defined in the securities purchase agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 to a Current Report on Form 8-K, filed by Palatin Technologies, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John K.A. Prendergast, by Stephen A. Slusher, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-07-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
