<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001280776-16-000015.txt : 20160815
<SEC-HEADER>0001280776-16-000015.hdr.sgml : 20160815
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160815092153
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001280776-16-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160815
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160815

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:		15010 AVENUE OF SCIENCE
		STREET 2:		STE. 200
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92128
		BUSINESS PHONE:		858-673-6840

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15010 AVENUE OF SCIENCE
		STREET 2:		STE. 200
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92128

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hasnain Faheem
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001352620

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-36201
		FILM NUMBER:		161830365

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14 CAMBRIDGE CENTER
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02142
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form3_147126730117509.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-08-11</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001352620</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hasnain Faheem</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VITAL THERAPIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15010 AVENUES 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>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>122743</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael V. Swanson, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>fhasnainpoa.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POA
<TEXT>
<!-- Document created using Workiva -->
<html>
<body>
<pre>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

      The undersigned, as a Section 16 reporting person of Vital Therapies, Inc. (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints Terence E. Winters, Michael V. Swanson, Duane Nash, John Michael Dunn, Daniel Horwood and David Mashburn the undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact to:

1.    complete and execute Forms 3, 4 and 5 and other forms and all amendments thereto as such attorneys-in-fact shall in their discretion determine to be required or advisable pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor laws and regulations, as a consequence of the undersigned's ownership, acquisition or disposition of securities of the Company; and

2.    do all acts necessary in order to file such forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or national association, the Company and such other person or agency as the attorneys-in-fact shall deem appropriate.

      The undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended).

      This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the Company and the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 11th day of August, 2016.


Signature: /s/ Faheem Hasnain

Print Name:  Faheem Hasnain




Exhibit 24


</pre>
</body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
