-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IDnVVPmPwvEe3ALIG57JiN5/X2WcOi44r/K+TBOmXp3BUD0WMwsRmXk6uAeT1SH0
 fkGfS6spIQSSX56l7Pd/Lw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908662-08-000118.txt : 20080401
<SEC-HEADER>0000908662-08-000118.hdr.sgml : 20080401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080401164830
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908662-08-000118
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080328
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080401
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GTC BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000904973
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				043186494
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0101

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		175 CROSSING BLVD
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		508620-970

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		175 CROSSING BLVD
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bechon Christian
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001384030

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21794
		FILM NUMBER:		08729995

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		33 1 69 82 70 10

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LFB
		STREET 2:		3, AVENUE DES TROPIQUES, LES ULIS
		CITY:			COURTABOEUF
		STATE:			I0
		ZIP:			91940
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-28</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000904973</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GTC BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GTCB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001384030</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bechon Christian</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GTC BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>175 CROSSING BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRAMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01702</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>2008-03-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9091</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27506</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20148404</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Foonote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired at Mr. Bechon's election pursuant to GTC's 2002 Equity Incentive Plan in lieu of the quarterly cash payment of his 2008 director retainer fees.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares are held by LFB Biotechnologies, S.A.S.U. Mr. Bechon is the President of LFB Biotechnologies, S.A.S.U. Mr. Bechon disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities held by LFB Biotechnologies, S.A.S.U.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Nathaniel S. Gardiner as attorney-in-fact for Christian Bechon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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