-----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,
 RivKtL6hFa7NLqBjeZr1Qor4jWl4sHfdqOatOdVc0kpsJ4j2PzRe6TUf1NzmNcqC
 lpryjNUUuOURJ3So75xhaA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-005027.txt : 20040218
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-005027.hdr.sgml : 20040218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040218182541
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-005027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HUSSEY JAMES M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230480

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12493
		FILM NUMBER:		04614233

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEOPHARM INC
		STREET 2:		150 FIELD DRIVE STE 195
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472958678

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEOPHARM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000942788
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				510327886
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		150 FIELD DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 195
		CITY:			LAKE FORREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472958678

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WILSON SONSIN GOODRICH & ROSETI
		STREET 2:		650 PAGE MILL ROAD
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000942788</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEOPHARM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NEOL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230480</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUSSEY JAMES M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>150 FIELD DRIVE, SUITE 195</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE FOREST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60045</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.91</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>120000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.91</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>120000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning on 2/17/05.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James M. Hussey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----