-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-09-058167.txt : 20091221
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-09-058167.hdr.sgml : 20091221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091221165451
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-09-058167
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DUGGAN ROBERT W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001055919

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26658
		FILM NUMBER:		091252827

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1933 CLIFF DRIVE #30
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93107

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHARMACYCLICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000949699
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				943148201
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PHARMACYCLICS INC
		STREET 2:		995 E ARQUES AVE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94085-4521
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408 774 0330

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PHARMACYCLICS INC
		STREET 2:		995 E ARQUES AVE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94085-4521
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000949699</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHARMACYCLICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCYC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001055919</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUGGAN ROBERT W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>277 SPOTTIS WOODE COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEARWATER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33756</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9829434</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1909676</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Through RWD Acquisition I LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>636214</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Managed Accounts</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares owned directly by RWD Acquisition LLC (&quot;RWD Acquisition&quot;).  As the sole member of RWD Acquisition, Robert W. Duggan may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned by RWD Acquisition.  Mr. Duggan disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">An individual took back custody of 12,900 Shares previously held in managed accounts pursuant to agreements with Robert W. Duggan &amp; Associates (&quot;RWD&amp;A&quot;).  Accordingly, the Reporting Person is no longer deemed to beneficially own such Shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares held in managed accounts pursuant to agreements with RWD&amp;A, of which Robert W. Duggan is a principal.  Mr. Duggan disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rainer M. Erdtmann, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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