-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A5m/Rzk07mV/MQOnccIsJWlMV7NnkGUZVPMRvTl2PxdJHFz9a3IhNy63zaiGXo2X
 wcNP0+RoYP66HSA/jJEJ2w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000882796-03-000001.txt : 20030805
<SEC-HEADER>0000882796-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030805
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030805172604
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000882796-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030804
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030805

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000882796
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				621413174
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2190 PKWY LAKE DR
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35244
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2054444600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2190 PARKWAY LAKE DR
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35244

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHERRILL JOSEPH H JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001095864

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23186
		FILM NUMBER:		03824517

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1510 STICKNEY POINT RD
		CITY:			SARASOTA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34231
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9419268223

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1510 STICKNEY POINT RD
		CITY:			SARASOTA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34231
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-04</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882796</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BCRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001095864</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHERRILL JOSEPH H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2190 PARKWAY LAKE DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35244</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>2003-08-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-08-04</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.03</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>484100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-08-04</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>484300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">An additional 10,000 shares are held by Cynthia Sherrill (wife), and 1,000 shares held by Andrew Sherrill (son) for a total of 495,100 shares held directly and indirectly.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">An additional 10,000 shares are held by Cynthia Sherrill (wife) and 1,000 shares by Andrew Sherrill (son) for a total of 495,300 shares held directlyand indirectly.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mike Richardson, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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