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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-05-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000899866</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALXN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001263508</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAKER BROS. ADVISORS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>667 MADISON AVENUE, 21ST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001087940</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAKER FELIX</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>667 MADISON AVENUE, 21ST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001087939</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAKER JULIAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>667 MADISON AVENUE, 21ST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001580575</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Baker Bros. Advisors (GP) LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>667 MADISION AVENUE, 21ST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>New York</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001551139</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>667, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>667 MADISION AVENUE, 21ST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001363364</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Baker Brothers Life Sciences LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>667 MADISION AVENUE, 21ST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65810</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>66153</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>94410</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2030</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>509726</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2030</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6106592</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">65,810 shares of Common Stock of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) directly held by Felix J. Baker.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">66,153 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer directly held by Julian C. Baker.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Felix J. Baker and Julian C. Baker may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in 94,410 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer directly held by FBB Associates. Felix J. Baker and Julian C. Baker are the sole partners of FBB Associates. Felix J. Baker and Julian C. Baker each disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held directly by FBB Associates except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that Felix J. Baker or Julian C. Baker is a beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reflects 2,030 Restricted Stock Units (&quot;Restricted Stock Units&quot;) payable solely in common shares which vest on May 10, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Restricted Stock Units payable solely in common shares granted to Felix J. Baker on May 10, 2017 in his capacity as a director of the Issuer pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan (&quot;Stock Incentive Plan&quot;). Felix J. Baker serves on the Issuer's Board of Directors (the &quot;Board&quot;) as a representative of the Funds (as defined below). Pursuant to the policies of Baker Bros. Advisors LP (the &quot;Adviser&quot;), Felix J. Baker does not have any right to any of the Issuer's securities issued as part of his service on the Board, and the Funds (as defined below) are entitled to receive all the pecuniary interest in the securities issued. 667, L.P. (&quot;667&quot;) and Baker Brothers Life Sciences, L.P. (&quot;Life Sciences&quot;, and together with 667, the &quot;Funds&quot;) each own an indirect proportionate pecuniary interest in the Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Solely as a result of Julian C. Baker's and Felix J. Baker's ownership interest in the general partners of the general partners of the Funds, Felix J. Baker and Julian C. Baker may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in the Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">As a result of their ownership interest in Baker Biotech Capital (GP), LLC, Felix J. Baker and Julian C. Baker may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in 509,726 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer beneficially owned by 667, a limited partnership of which the sole general partner is Baker Biotech Capital, L.P., a limited partnership of which the sole general partner is Baker Biotech Capital (GP), LLC, due to Baker Biotech Capital, L.P.'s right to receive an allocation of a portion of the profits from 667. Includes beneficial ownership of 3,561 shares issued pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan in lieu of director retainer fees, of which the fund may be deemed to own a portion.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">As a result of their ownership interest in Baker Brothers Life Sciences Capital (GP), LLC, Felix J. Baker and Julian C. Baker may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest 6,106,592 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer beneficially owned by Life Sciences, a limited partnership of which the sole general partner is Baker Brothers Life Sciences Capital, L.P., a limited partnership of which the sole general partner is Baker Brothers Life Sciences Capital (GP), LLC, due to Baker Brothers Life Sciences Capital, L.P.'s right to receive an allocation of a portion of the profits from Life Sciences. Includes beneficial ownership of 3,561 shares issued pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan in lieu of director retainer fees, of which the fund may be deemed to own a portion.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Includes 12,763, 33,608 and 20,226 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer held directly, respectively by Julian C. Baker, Felix J. Baker and Stephen R. Biggar received from their service on the Board of Directors of Synageva Biopharma Corp. (&quot;Synageva Board&quot;), a company acquired by the Issuer pursuant to a merger agreement dated May 5, 2015 and its predecessor (&quot;Predecessor Board&quot;). Julian C. Baker, a principal of the Adviser, served on the Predecessor Board as a representative of the Funds. Felix J. Baker, a principal of the Adviser, and Stephen R. Biggar, an employee of the Adviser served on the Synageva Board. Felix J. Baker serves on the Board. Pursuant to the policies of the Adviser, Julian C. Baker, Felix J. Baker and Stephen R. Biggar do not have any right to any of Synageva's or the Issuer's securities issued as part of their service on the Board, the Synageva Board or the Predecessor Board and the Funds are entitled to receive all the pecuniary interest in the securities issued. The Funds each own an indirect proportionate pecuniary interest in the stock options or common shares received for service on the Board, the Synageva Board or the Predecessor Board. Solely as a result of Felix J. Baker's and Julian C. Baker's ownership interest in the general partners of the general partners of the Funds, Felix J. Baker and Julian C. Baker may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in the stock options and common shares received from their service on the Board, the Synageva Board or the Predecessor Board (i.e. no direct pecuniary interest).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">The Adviser serves as the Investment Adviser to the Funds. In connection with the services provided by the Adviser, the Adviser receives an asset-based management fee that does not confer any pecuniary interest in the securities held by the Funds. Baker Bros. Advisors (GP) LLC (the &quot;Adviser GP&quot;) is the Adviser's sole general partner. Julian C. Baker and Felix J. Baker are principals of the Adviser GP. The Adviser has complete and unlimited discretion and authority with respect to the investment and voting power of the securities held by the Funds. The general partners of the Funds relinquished to the Adviser all discretion and authority with respect to the investment and voting power of the securities held by the Funds. Julian C. Baker, Felix J. Baker, the Adviser GP and the Adviser disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities held directly by the Funds except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that any of Julian C. Baker, Felix J. Baker, the Adviser GP or the Adviser is a beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">The disclosure of the grant of Restricted Stock Units reported on this form is a single grant of 2,030 shares. The 2,030 shares are reported for each of the Funds as each has an indirect pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Felix J. Baker is a director of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;). By virtue of his representation on the Board of Directors of the Issuer, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the reporting persons other than Felix J. Baker are deemed directors by deputization of the Issuer. The same reporting persons had previously filed with Felix J. Baker as the lead reporting person; commencing with this filing, Baker Bros. Advisors LP will be listed as the lead reporting person to improve clarity. The change in lead reporting person does not reflect any change in pecuniary interest amongst the reporting persons.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Baker Bros. Advisors LP, Name: Scott L. Lessing, Title: President /s/ Scott L. Lessing</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Felix J. Baker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Julian C. Baker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Baker Bros. Advisors (GP), LLC, Name: Scott L Lessing, Title: President /s/ Scott L Lessing</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Baker Bros. Advisors LP, Mgmt. Co. and Inv. Adviser to 667, L.P., pursuant to authority granted by Baker Biotech Capital, L.P., GP to Baker Brothers 667, L.P. Name: Scott L. Lessing Title: President /s/ Scott L. Lessingg Title: President /s/</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Baker Bros. Advisors LP, Mgmt. Co. and Inv. Adviser to BAKER BROTHERS LIFE SCIENCES, L.P., pursuant to authority granted by Baker Brothers Life Sciences Capital, L.P., GP to Baker Brothers Life Sciences, L.P. Name: Scott L. Lessing Title: President /s/</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
