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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-07-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000901219</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HGSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241221</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HA NGOC TUAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14200 SHADY GROVE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20850</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4166.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.2500</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16807.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16807.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.2500</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.3300</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.2500</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.7000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.2500</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-05-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.0900</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.2500</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-05-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.9700</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.2500</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-05-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.2300</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.2500</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-05-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.3800</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.2500</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one (1) share of Human Genome Sciences, Inc. common stock. These restricted stock units were cancelled in the tender offer that expired on July 27, 2012 in exchange for a cash payment of $59,365.50, ($14.25 per share) pursuant to the Merger Agreement between the issuer and GlaxoSmithKline plc. These restricted stock units vested automatically upon consummation of the tender offer on July 30, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option was cancelled in the tender offer that expired on July 27, 2012 in exchange for a cash payment of $46,720.00, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the offer price ($14.25 per share) pursuant to the Merger Agreement between the issuer and GlaxoSmithKline plc. These options vested automatically upon consummation of the tender offer on July 30, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option was cancelled in the tender offer that expired on July 27, 2012 in exchange for a cash payment of $56,800.00, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the offer price ($14.25 per share) pursuant to the Merger Agreement between the issuer and GlaxoSmithKline plc. These options vested automatically upon consummation of the tender offer on July 30, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option was cancelled in the tender offer that expired on July 27, 2012 in exchange for a cash payment of $194,560.00, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the offer price ($14.25 per share) pursuant to the Merger Agreement between the issuer and GlaxoSmithKline plc. These options vested automatically upon consummation of the tender offer on July 30, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option was cancelled in the tender offer that expired on July 27, 2012 in exchange for a cash payment of $132,480.00, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the offer price ($14.25 per share) pursuant to the Merger Agreement between the issuer and GlaxoSmithKline plc. These options vested automatically upon consummation of the tender offer on July 30, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This option was cancelled in the tender offer that expired on July 27, 2012 in exchange for a cash payment of $320.00, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the offer price ($14.25 per share) pursuant to the Merger Agreement between the issuer and GlaxoSmithKline plc. These options vested automatically upon consummation of the tender offer on July 30, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">This option was cancelled in the tender offer that expired on July 27, 2012 in exchange for a cash payment of $121,750.00, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the offer price ($14.25 per share) pursuant to the Merger Agreement between the issuer and GlaxoSmithKline plc. These options vested automatically upon consummation of the tender offer on July 30, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/James H. Davis (Power of Attorney) on behalf of</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-08-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
