<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-15-029527.txt : 20150326
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-15-029527.hdr.sgml : 20150326
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150326161308
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-15-029527
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150324
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150326
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150326

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VITAL THERAPIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001280776
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15222 AVENUE OF SCIENCE, SUITE B
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92128
		BUSINESS PHONE:		858-673-6840

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15222 AVENUE OF SCIENCE, SUITE B
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92128

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEER RANDOLPH C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198762

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-36201
		FILM NUMBER:		15727845

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		614 MCKINLEY PLACE NE
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55413
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-03-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001280776</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VITAL THERAPIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198762</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEER RANDOLPH C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VITAL THERAPIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15010 AVENUE OF SCIENCE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92128</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-03-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5604</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-03-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5604</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5604</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Subject to reporting person's continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan) through the vesting date, 100% of the shares subject to the option shall vest and become exercisable upon the earlier of the one (1) year anniversary from March 24, 2015 or the day prior to the Company's 2016 annual meeting of stockholders.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael V. Swanson, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-03-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
