Sec Form 4 Filing - Cox Russell J. @ VITAL THERAPIES INC - 2019-01-11

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Cox Russell J. 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol VITAL THERAPIES INC [ VTL] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Executive Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O VITAL THERAPIES, INC., 15222-B AVENUE OF SCIENCE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/11/2019 (Street) SAN DIEGO, CA92128 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Option (right to buy) $ 6.3 01/11/2019 D 1,588,832 ( 1 ) 01/02/2028 Common Stock 1,588,832 $ 0 ( 2 ) 0 D Restricted Stock Units ( 3 ) 01/11/2019 A 1,854,376 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) Common Stock 1,854,376 $ 0 1,854,376 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Cox Russell J. C/O VITAL THERAPIES, INC. 15222-B AVENUE OF SCIENCE SAN DIEGO, CA92128 X Chief Executive Officer Signatures /s/ Michael V. Swanson, as Attorney-in-Fact 01/14/2019 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Twenty five (25%) of the shares of common stock subject to the option vested on January 3, 2019, and thereafter, one forty-eighth (1/48th) of the shares of common stock subject to the option shall vest monthly, such that all of the shares of common stock subject to the option are vested by January 3, 2022, subject to the reporting person's continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the Amended & Restated 2017 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan)) through each vesting date; provided, that, the unvested portion of the option, if any, that would vest during the 12-month period following his termination date had he remained employed by the Issuer through such date shall vest in the event of a termination without cause following a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan). ( 2 )The option was cancelled by mutual agreement of the reporting person and Vital Therapies, Inc. The reporting person received a restricted stock unit award as reported in this Form 4 as consideration for this cancellation. ( 3 )Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of Vital Therapies, Inc. Common Stock. ( 4 )Subject to the reporting person continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan), twenty five percent (25%) of the RSUs vest annually after the vesting commencement date of January 11, 2019. One hundred percent (100%) of the unvested portion of the RSUs, if any, shall vest in the event of a Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason (each as defined in the reporting person's Change of Control and Severance Agreement).

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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