-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VJ5nkpVpJAJWXJpS2me/CCn5V8W1RUpOisZQb1VKMKQIqn66zKUjeo2EguyXZOS8
 4bmr6T5Ty1nqIzcQHW1Eqg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908662-08-000189.txt : 20080630
<SEC-HEADER>0000908662-08-000189.hdr.sgml : 20080630
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080630171548
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908662-08-000189
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080627
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080630
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080630

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:		08926765

	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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-27</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>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12438</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.402</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>39944</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 Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired at Mr. Bechon's election to receive common stock in lieu of the quarterly cash payment of his 2008 director retainer fees and issued pursuant to GTC's 2002 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares are held by LFB Biotechnologies, S.A.S.U.  Mr. Bechon is 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>2008-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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