<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000729922</issuerCik><issuerName>OSI PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>OSIP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001238974</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GRANNER DARYL K</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O OSI PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>58 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, SUITE 110</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>MELVILLE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>5.25</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9993</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>32.35</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4993</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>D</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>416</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4577</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-06-18</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-06-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reflects a partial forfieture of restricted stock un the Stock Purchase Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Not Applicable.</footnote><footnote id="F3">One third of the stock option became exercisable one year after the date of the grant and the remainder vested ratably on a monthly basis over the succeeding 24 months.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The stock option was granted pursuant to one of the Issuer's incentive and non-qualified stock option plans and is exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Includes only options with the same termination date.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert L. Van Nostrand by Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

