<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-13</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000877902</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEOSE TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>NTEC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001207786</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOVEY BRIAN H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>927848</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Domain Partners V, L.P.</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>21918</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By DP V Associates, L.P.(1)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person is one of the managing members of the sole general partner of Domain Partners V, L.P. and DP V Associates, L.P.  Pursuant to Instruction 5(b)(iv) of Form 3, the reporting person has elected to report as indirectly beneficially owned the entire number of securities beneficially owned by such limited partnerships.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities, and any proceeds thereof, that exceed his pecuniary interest therein, and/or that are not actually distributed to him.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kathleen K. Schoemaker, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

