Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000901219
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Company Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	198,664,617

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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