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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KUiVNxxIfL+P9SpEjs3WGhGA6rZB+LvGxTS+wBt/gRHROhwbjoUKcZtPE70dC1Pt
 U3Ia5iZuCtGxGt0Vy0URBw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-08-026516.txt : 20080424
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-08-026516.hdr.sgml : 20080424
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080424160019
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-08-026516
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080422
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080424
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080424

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LUCI DAVID P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001271123

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13634
		FILM NUMBER:		08774453

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BIOENVISION INC
		STREET 2:		509 MADISON AVE SUITE 404
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127506700

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACROCHEM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000743884
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				042744744
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 WASHINGTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 220
		CITY:			WELLESLEY HILLS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02481
		BUSINESS PHONE:		781-489-7310

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 WASHINGTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 220
		CITY:			WELLESLEY HILLS
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02481
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000743884</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MACROCHEM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MACH.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001271123</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUCI DAVID P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MACROCHEM CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>80 BROAD STREET, SUITE 2210</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres. &amp; Chief Business Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2290000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-04-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2290000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2590000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest as follows:  572,500 shares on 4/22/2008, and thereafter 143,124 shares shall vest and become exercisable every 90 days until 4/22/2011, subject to accelerated vesting under certain circumstances as set forth in the Option Award Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David P. Luci</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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