<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-21</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000729922</issuerCik><issuerName>OSI PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>OSIP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001238973</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>FRENCH JOHN H II</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>2004-01-21</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>6.5000</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>23997.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-21</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>35.0000</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21997.0000</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>6.5000</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-21</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1998-03-19</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-03-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000.0000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3303.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">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="F2">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="F3">Includes only options with the same termination date.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert L. Van Nostrand by Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

