-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HBzL2HJBJR3Z06Kx9iwaHOrj4QkhUu7TKW/shWpwqu9eUanKSoFamfYRsgE13HZG
 ylL8Ux5+yoJ5T2tv2DGpRA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001095449-09-000247.txt : 20091029
<SEC-HEADER>0001095449-09-000247.hdr.sgml : 20091029
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091029142248
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001095449-09-000247
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091019
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091029
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091029

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Boyer Mark Thomas
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001295659

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26483
		FILM NUMBER:		091144152

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 175
		CITY:			GREENBRAE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94904

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Soboleski Mitchell Joseph
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001473077

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26483
		FILM NUMBER:		091144151

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 175
		CITY:			GREENBRAE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94904

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VAXGEN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001036968
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				943236309
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		379 OYSTER POINT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 10
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(650) 624-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		379 OYSTER POINT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 10
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000937219
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26483
		FILM NUMBER:		091144153

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 175
		CITY:			GREENBRAE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94904
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4154648023

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 175
		CITY:			GREENBRAE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94904
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001036968</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VAXGEN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VAXGEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000937219</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 175</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENBRAE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94904</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001295659</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Boyer Mark Thomas</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 175</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENBRAE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94904</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001473077</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Soboleski Mitchell Joseph</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 DRAKES LANDING ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 175</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENBRAE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94904</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2389600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2729610</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">A group of which the reporting persons were parties was dissolved. A change of voting right is reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities are beneficially owned by Mr. Soboleski and ROI Capital Management, Inc. for clients of ROI Capital Management, Inc. of which Mr. Soboleski is the Secretary.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These securities are beneficially owned by Mr. Boyer; 2,389,600 are held in accounts for clients of ROI Capital Management, Inc. of which Mr. Boyer is the President, and 340,010 are held in accounts for which Mr. Boyer has separate discretionary authority.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mitchell J. Soboleski</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark T. Boyer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----