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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JBjizeoLekEhHSeSN1RmnWVISUqg8ul8DONlEmUyuDveSJwfyhw6REfwScY+O6H7
 rFYAaRGMWxg6fQFmHOIwJg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908662-09-000146.txt : 20090401
<SEC-HEADER>0000908662-09-000146.hdr.sgml : 20090401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090401165813
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908662-09-000146
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090330
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090401
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEADE HARRY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241322

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21794
		FILM NUMBER:		09724118

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GTC BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
		STREET 2:		175 CROSSING BOULEVARD
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01702

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
</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>2009-03-30</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241322</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MEADE HARRY</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Transgenic Research</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-03-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">20% of the option vested on March 30, 2009. The remaining 80% will vest in four equal annual installments on each of March 30, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Nathaniel S. Gardiner as attorney-in-fact for Harry Meade</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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