-----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>0001461505-09-000003.txt : 20090604
<SEC-HEADER>0001461505-09-000003.hdr.sgml : 20090604
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090604175052
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001461505-09-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090604
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090604

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Savage Robert G.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001232506

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-51290
		FILM NUMBER:		09875050

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EPICEPT CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		777 OLD SAW MILL ROAD
		CITY:			TARRYTOWN
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10591

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SAVAGE ROBERT G
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030513

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EPICEPT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208261
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 OLD SAW MILL RIVER RD.
		CITY:			TARRYTOWN
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10591
		BUSINESS PHONE:		914-606-3500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		777 OLD SAW MILL RIVER RD.
		CITY:			TARRYTOWN
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10591
</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>2009-06-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001208261</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EPICEPT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EPCT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232506</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Savage Robert G.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EPICEPT CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>777 OLD SAW MILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TARRYTOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10591</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>0.81</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>52500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-06-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock, par value $0.0001</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>52500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>restricted stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13125</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-06-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock, par value $0.0001</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13125</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13125</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vests ratably in a series of twenty-four (24) successive equal monthly installments on the last day of each month (beginning with the month of the Grant Date).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">No consideration was given since option was granted pursuant to a stock option agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Only represents derivative securities of this class.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Restricted stock award expires upon reporting person's termination of employment, if that termination occurs within the two-year vesting period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Cook, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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