SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

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
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Cox Russell J.

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

C/O VITAL THERAPIES, INC.

15222-B AVENUE OF SCIENCE

(Street)

SAN DIEGO

92128

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

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

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/11/2019

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	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)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

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 (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	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 (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (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: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
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

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).

Remarks:

	/s/ Michael V. Swanson, as Attorney-in-Fact	01/14/2019
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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