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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-04-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000818033</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AP PHARMA INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APPA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001178579</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TANG KEVIN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4401 EASTGATE MALL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TANG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4401 EASTGATE MALL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191935</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TANG CAPITAL PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4401 EASTGATE MALL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-04-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>1200000.00</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1200000.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1200000.00</value>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By LP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Rights to Purchase Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1000.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-04-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>2400000.00</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityValue>
                    <value>2400000.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityValue>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2400000.00</value>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By LP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Closing Date of the purchase of the Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The date that is 10 years following the Closing Date of the purchase of the Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Tang Capital Partners, LP does not have the right to convert any portion of this Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021, to the extent that after giving effect to such conversion, Tang Capital Partners, LP (together with the its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% (subject to change as described in the note) of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The securities are held by Tang Capital Partners, LP. Kevin C. Tang is the sole manager of Tang Capital Management, LLC, which is the general partner of Tang Capital Partners, LP. Mr. Tang disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The exercise price to purchase Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021 represented by this Right is $1,000 for each $1,000 principal amount of Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021 purchased upon exercise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The date that is 2 years following the Closing Date of the purchase of the Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2021.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin C. Tang</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin C. Tang, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin C. Tang, as Managing Member of Tang Capital Management, LLC, General Partner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
