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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2017-12-11</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000722830</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IMMUNOMEDICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IMMU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001677939</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PEHL MICHAEL F.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O IMMUNOMEDICS, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>300 THE AMERICAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORRIS PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07950</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.86</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>119237</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-12-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>119237</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>119237</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.86</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>320139</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-12-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>320139</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>320139</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person was granted stock options pursuant to the Company's 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan.  The stock options vest 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 2.08333% on a monthly basis thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person was granted performance-based vesting stock options pursuant to the Company's 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The stock options will vest (i) as to 151,678 shares (a) 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 2.08333% on a monthly basis thereafter through the fourth anniversary of the date of grant (each date a &quot;Vesting Date&quot;) and (b) subject to Immunomedics, Inc. common stock achieving a fair market value of $23.72 or higher based on the average closing price for the prior 15 consecutive trading days on such Vesting Date; and (ii) as to 168,461 shares (a) 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 2.08333% on a monthly basis thereafter through the fourth anniversary of the date of grant and (b) subject to Immunomedics, Inc. common stock achieving a fair market value of $35.58 or higher based on the average closing price for the prior 15 consecutive trading days on such Vesting Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">If the performance-based vesting criteria of the stock options is not attained on an applicable Vesting Date, and to the extent such performance-based vesting criteria is subsequently attained, the applicable tranche of stock options may vest on the date such criteria is met.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The purpose of this amendment is to correct the number of shares reported in Table II, Column 5, Column 7 and Column 9.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael F. Pehl</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
