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

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-19</periodOfReport>
<dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-06-19</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROTEIN DESIGN LABS INC/DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PDLI</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184419</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DREWS JURGEN</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>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>15.35</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-06-19</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>4000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2004-03-21</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2013-06-19</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>4000</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>4000</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">On June 23, 2003, the reporting person mistakenly filed a Form 4 reporting the acquisition on June 19, 2003 of an option to purchase 8,000 shares of common stock.  On June 19, 2003, the reporting person acquired an option to purchase only 4,000 shares of common stock.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The option becomes exersiable as to 25% on the stated date and thereafter at the rate of 1/4 per additional month of service.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Column 8 is not a required reportable field.  Because SEC software requires a dollar amount, a zero is used in this column, per SEC guidance.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Jurgen Drews</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-11</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

