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

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    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001454789</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CATABASIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CATB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001644160</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SVLSF V, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE BOSTON PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>201 WASHINGTON STREET SUITE 3900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001644146</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SV Life Sciences Fund V (GP), LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE BOSTON PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>201 WASHINGTON STREET SUITE 3900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001460732</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SV LIFE SCIENCES FUND V LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE BOSTON PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>201 WASHINGTON STREET SUITE 3900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001482194</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SV Life Sciences Fund V Strategic Partners, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE BOSTON PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>201 WASHINGTON STREET SUITE 3900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8094</value>
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                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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                <value>Series A Preferred Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-06-30</value>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1651223</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>34893</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9821385</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>764309</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>207558</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>16152</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>0</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Series A and Series B Preferred Stock converted into Common Stock on a 1-for-12.85 basis upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering without payment of consideration.  The Series A and B Preferred Stock were convertible at any time at the holder's election and automatically upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering. The shares had no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are owned directly by SV Life Sciences Fund V, L.P. (&quot;SVLS V LP&quot;). SV Life Sciences Fund V (GP), LP (&quot;SVLS V GP&quot;) is the general partner of SVLS V LP. The general partner of SVLS V GP is SVLSF V, LLC. The members of the investment committee of SVLSF V, LLC are Kate Bingham, James Garvey, Eugene D. Hill, III, David Milne and Michael Ross. SVLS V GP, SVLSF V, LLC and each of the individuals comprising the SVLSF V, LLC investment committee may be deemed to share voting, dispositive and investment power over the shares held of record by SVLS V LP and SVLS V SPP. Each of SVLS V GP, SVLSF V, LLC and the individual members of the SVLSF V, LLC investment committee disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares owned directly by SVLS V LP except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These shares are owned directly by SV Life Sciences Fund V Strategic Partners, L.P. (&quot;SVLS V SPP&quot;). SV Life Sciences Fund V (GP), LP (&quot;SVLS V GP&quot;) is the general partner of SVLS V SPP. The general partner of SVLS V GP is SVLSF V, LLC. The members of the investment committee of SVLSF V, LLC are Kate Bingham, James Garvey, Eugene D. Hill, III, David Milne and Michael Ross. SVLS V GP, SVLSF V, LLC and each of the individuals comprising the SVLSF V, LLC investment committee may be deemed to share voting, dispositive and investment power over the shares held of record by SVLS V LP and SVLS V SPP. Each of SVLS V GP, SVLSF V, LLC and the individual members of the SVLSF V, LLC investment committee disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares owned directly by SVLS V SPP except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">SVLS V LP and SVLS V SPP (each a &quot;Fund,&quot; or collectively the &quot;Funds&quot;) may be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by each other Fund because of certain contractual relationships among the Funds and their affiliates. The Funds disclaim beneficial ownership of shares held by any other Fund except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:/s/ Denise Marks, Member of SVLSF V, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:/s/ Denise Marks, Member of SVLSF V, LLC, general partner of SV Life Sciences Fund V (GP), L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:/s/ Denise Marks, Member of SVLSF V, LLC, general partner of SV Life Sciences Fund V (GP), L.P., general partner of SV Life Sciences Fund V, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:/s/ Denise Marks, Member of SVLSF V, LLC, general partner of SV Life Sciences Fund V (GP), L.P., general partner of SV Life Sciences Fund V Strategic Partners, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
