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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-10-06</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001070336</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACHILLION PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACHN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001013425</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TREU JESSE I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DOMAIN ASSOCIATES, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE PALMER SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PRINCETON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08542</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Domain Associates, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Transfer of shares to Domain Associates, LLC, from one of its Managing Members.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person is a Managing Member of Domain Associates, LLC. Pursuant to Instruction (4)(b)(iv) of Form 4, the Reporting Person has elected to report as indirectly beneficially owned the entire number of securities beneficially owned by such entity. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities, and any proceeds thereof, that exceed his or her pecuniary interest therein and/or that are not actually distributed to him or her.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Reporting Person also indirectly beneficially owns (i) 7,972,968 shares held by Domain Partners VIII, L.P. and (ii) 59,161 shares held by DP VIII Associates, L.P. The Reporting Person is a Managing Member of One Palmer Square Associates VIII, LLC, which is the sole general partner of Domain Partners VIII, L.P. and DP VIII Associates, L.P. Pursuant to Instruction (4)(b)(iv) of Form 4, the Reporting Person has elected to report as indirectly beneficially owned the entire number of securities beneficially owned by each such entity. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities, and any proceeds thereof, that exceed his or her pecuniary interest therein and/or that are not actually distributed to him or her.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Kathleen K. Schoemaker, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
