Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-212134

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, Dated June 6, 2018

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated July 26, 2016)

                Shares

Common Stock

____________________

We are offering            shares of our common stock in this offering.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VKTX.” On June 5, 2018, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $9.39 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplementand under similar headings in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement for a discussion of certain risks you should consider before investing in shares of our common stock.

	Per Share	Total
Public offering price	$	$
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)	$	$
Proceeds to us before expenses	$	$

(1) We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses. See “Underwriting” for a description of the compensation to be received by the underwriters.

We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to              additional shares of common stock from us at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, to cover over-allotments, if any.

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and future filings.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the common stock to the investors in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on or about June     , 2018.

____________________

Sole Book-Running Manager

William Blair

The date of this prospectus supplement is June           , 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement	Page
About this Prospectus Supplement		S-1
Prospectus Supplement Summary		S-2
Risk Factors		S-6
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		S-7
Market and Industry Data		S-9
Use of Proceeds		S-10
Price Range of our Common Stock		S-11
Dividend Policy		S-12
Capitalization		S-13
Dilution		S-14
Underwriting		S-15
Legal Matters		S-19
Experts		S-19
Information Incorporated by Reference; Where You Can Find More Information		S-20

Prospectus	Page
Summary		1
Risk Factors		1
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		2
Use of Proceeds		4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		4
Description of Capital Stock		5
Description of Debt Securities		9
Description of Warrants		16
Description of Units		19
Legal Ownership of Securities		20
Plan of Distribution		23
Legal Matters		25
Experts		25
Where You Can Find More Information		25
Important Information Incorporated by Reference		26

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are part of a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. This prospectus supplement describes the specific terms of this offering. The accompanying base prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, provides general information about us, some of which, such as the section therein entitled “Plan of Distribution,” may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, combined.

We urge you to carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and the additional information under the heading “Incorporation by Reference; Where You Can Find More Information” before buying any of the securities being offered under this prospectus supplement. These documents contain information you should consider when making your investment decision.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying base prospectus. To the extent any information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. The information in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede the information in the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein, except for those documents incorporated by reference therein which we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement.

You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front cover of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus or on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, as applicable. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, the securities described in this prospectus supplement only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus supplement outside the United States. This prospectus supplement does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.

We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

In this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated or required by the context, the terms “Viking,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” refer to Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary contains basic information about us and this offering. This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement. This summary is not complete and may not contain all of the information that may be important to you and that you should consider before deciding whether or not to invest in our securities. For a more complete understanding of Viking and this offering, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, in its entirety. Investing in our securities involves risks that are described in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors,” under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 and in our other filings with the SEC.

The Company

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel, first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Our lead clinical program, VK5211, is an orally available, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator, or SARM. A SARM is designed to selectively interact with a subset of receptors that have a normal physiologic role of interacting with naturally-occurring hormones called androgens. Broad activation of androgen receptors with drugs, such as exogenous testosterone, can stimulate muscle growth and improve bone mineral density, but often results in unwanted side effects such as prostate growth, hair growth and acne. VK5211 is expected to selectively produce the therapeutic benefits of testosterone in muscle and bone tissue, potentially accelerating rehabilitation and improving patient outcomes. VK5211 is also expected to have improved safety, tolerability and patient acceptance relative to testosterone. We believe that VK5211 may also have potential benefits to patients suffering from muscle loss in other settings, such as joint replacements or muscle wasting disorders.

In October 2015, we commenced enrollment in a Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial in 108 patients recovering from non-elective hip fracture surgery. In November 2017, we announced positive top-line results from this study.  Top-line data showed that the trial achieved its primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant, dose dependent increases in lean body mass, less head, following treatment with VK5211 as compared to placebo.  The study also achieved certain secondary endpoints, demonstrating statistically significant increases in appendicular lean body mass and total lean body mass for all doses of VK5211, compared to placebo.  VK5211 demonstrated encouraging safety and tolerability in this study, with no drug-related serious adverse events reported. We expect to engage in further discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the potential further clinical development of VK5211 in hip fracture as well as other potential acute use settings.

Our second clinical program, VK2809, an orally available, tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor beta, or TRß, is in a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver disease. VK2809 belongs to a family of novel prodrugs which are cleaved in vivo to release potent thyromimetics. Selective activation of the TRß receptor in liver tissue is believed to favorably affect cholesterol and lipoprotein levels via multiple mechanisms, including increasing the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptors and increasing mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. We are currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial of VK2809 in approximately 60 patients with hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver disease and expect to report initial results from this Phase 2 clinical trial in the second half of 2018. In October 2017, we announced positive final results from an eight-week study of VK2809 in an in vivo model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. Treatment with VK2809 resulted in: (1) statistically significant reductions in several key measures of steatosis, including liver triglyceride content and total liver lipid content, (2) fibrotic activity, including total liver fibrosis, type I collagen and hydroxyproline, relative to vehicle controls, and (3) statistically significant changes in the expression of key genes associated with NASH development and progression, relative to vehicle control, suggesting improved lipid and cholesterol metabolism, improved lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity and reduced fibrotic activity.

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In February 2017, we announced that we are commencing efforts to utilize VK2809 to potentially help patients who suffer from Glycogen Storage Disease type Ia, or GSD Ia.  GSD Ia is a rare, orphan genetic disease caused by a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase, or G6PC, an enzyme responsible for the liver’s production of free glucose from glycogen and gluconeogenesis.  Approximately 2,000 patients in the U.S. suffer from GSD Ia. We have conducted a proof-of-concept study utilizing VK2809 in an in vivo model of GSD Ia. Data demonstrated that treatment with VK2809 led to statistically significant reductions in key metabolic markers of GSD Ia. VK2809’s potential to rapidly reduce hepatic triglyceride levels, as demonstrated in this initial evaluation in a GSD Ia model, provides support for the continued investigation of the compound in this indication. We expect to initiate a Phase 1 human proof-of-concept clinical trial to evaluate VK2809 in patients with GSD Ia in the first half of 2018.

We are also developing VK0214 for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, or X-ALD, a rare X-linked, inherited neurological disorder characterized by a breakdown in the protective barriers surrounding brain and nerve cells. The disease, for which there is no approved treatment, is caused by mutations in a peroxisomal transporter of very long chain fatty acids, or VLCFA, known as ABCD1. As a result, transporter function is impaired and patients are unable to efficiently metabolize VLCFA. The TRß receptor is known to regulate expression of an alternative VLCFA transporter, known as ABCD2. Various preclinical models have demonstrated that increased expression of ABCD2 can lead to normalization of VLCFA metabolism. Preliminary data suggest that VK0214 stimulates ABCD2 expression in an in vitro model and reduces VLCFA levels in an in vivo model of X-ALD.  Pending completion of certain toxicology studies, we expect to file an IND to initiate a proof-of-concept study in patients with X-ALD in the first half of 2019.

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 24, 2012. Since our incorporation, we have devoted most of our efforts towards conducting certain clinical trials and preclinical studies related to our VK5211, VK2809 and VK0214 programs, as well as efforts towards raising capital and building infrastructure. We obtained exclusive worldwide rights to our VK5211, VK2809 and VK0214 programs and certain other assets pursuant to an exclusive license agreement with Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, or Ligand. The terms of this license agreement are detailed in the Master License Agreement which we entered into on May 21, 2014 with Ligand, as amended, or the Master License Agreement. A summary of the Master License Agreement can be found under the heading “Agreements with Ligand—Master License Agreement” under Part I, “Item 1. Business” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 7, 2018.

For a complete description of our business, financial condition, results of operations and other important information, we refer you to our filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.  For instructions on how to find copies of these documents, see the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Information Incorporated by Reference; Where You Can Find More Information.”

Corporate Information

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 24, 2012. Our principal executive offices are located at 12340 El Camino Real, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92130, and our telephone number is (858) 704-4660. Our website address is www.vikingtherapeutics.com. We do not incorporate the information on, or accessible through, our website into this prospectus supplement, and you should not consider any information on, or accessible through, our website as part of this prospectus supplement. We have included our website address in this prospectus supplement solely as an inactive textual reference.

Emerging Growth Company Status

We qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as that term is defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we qualify as an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that do not qualify as emerging growth companies, including, without limitation, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, reduced disclosure

S-3

obligations relating to executive compensation and exemptions from the requirements of holding advisory “say-on-pay,” “say-when-on-pay” and “golden parachute” executive compensation votes.

Under the JOBS Act, we will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of:

• the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more;

• the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, or December 31, 2020;

• the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; and

• the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act (i.e., the first day of the fiscal year after we have (1) more than $700.0 million in outstanding common equity held by our non-affiliates, measured each year on the last day of our second fiscal quarter, and (2) been public for at least 12 months).

We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus supplement and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings with the SEC. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than the information you receive from other public reporting companies.

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The Offering

Common stock offered by us	shares
Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering	shares
Option to purchase additional shares	We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to              additional shares of common stock from us at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, to cover over-allotments, if any.
Use of proceeds	We estimate the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $        , after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for continued development of our VK5211, VK2809 and VK0214 programs and for general research and development, working capital and general corporate purposes, including other potential uses of net proceeds from this offering.  See “Use of Proceeds” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement for additional detail.
Trading symbol	Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VKTX.”
Risk factors	Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 and other information included or incorporated in this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in our securities.

The number of shares of our common stock that will be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 50,933,195 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2018, and excludes:

• 1,967,721 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2018 with a weighted-average exercise price of $3.16 per share;

• 136,250 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance in connection with service-based restricted stock units outstanding as of March 31, 2018 with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $4.94 per share;

• 1,397,046 shares of our common stock reserved as of March 31, 2018 for future issuance under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year;

• 1,051,427 shares of our common stock reserved as of March 31, 2018 for future issuance under our 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year;  and

• 8,780,838 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants as of March 31, 2018, at a weighted-average exercise price of $1.56 per share.

Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus supplement assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares to cover over-allotments, if any.

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RISK FACTORS

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, as well as our other filings with the SEC, include material risk factors relating to our business. Those risks and uncertainties and the risks and uncertainties described below are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial or that are not specific to us, such as general economic conditions, may also materially and adversely affect our business and operations. If any of those risks and uncertainties or the risks and uncertainties described below actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed substantially. In such a case, you may lose all or part of your investment. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and those risks and uncertainties incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, as well as the other information included in this prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision with respect to our common stock.

Risks Related to this Offering

Purchasers of common stock in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of their investment. You may experience further dilution upon exercise of our outstanding options and warrants.

The public offering price per share of common stock in this offering is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock before giving effect to this offering. Accordingly, if you purchase common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate substantial dilution of approximately $         per share, representing the difference between the public offering price per share of common stock and our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2018. In addition, if our outstanding options or warrants are exercised, you could experience further dilution. For a further description of the dilution that you will experience immediately after this offering, see the section in this prospectus supplement entitled “Dilution.”

Future sales of our common stock, or the perception that such future sales may occur, may cause our stock price to decline.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, following this offering could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. A substantial majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock are, and the shares of common stock sold in this offering upon issuance will be, freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

We have broad discretion to determine how to use the funds raised in this offering, and may use them in ways that may not enhance our operating results or the price of our common stock.

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering, and we could spend the proceeds from this offering in ways our stockholders may not agree with or that do not yield a favorable return, if at all. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for continued development of our VK5211, VK2809 and VK0214 programs and for general research and development, working capital and general corporate purposes, including other potential uses of net proceeds from this offering. See “Use of Proceeds” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement for additional detail. However, our use of these proceeds may differ substantially from our current plans. If we do not invest or apply the proceeds from this offering in ways that improve our operating results, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement include, but are not limited to, statements about:

• risks and uncertainties associated with our research and development activities, including our clinical trials and preclinical studies;

• the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals or of alternative regulatory pathways for our drug candidates;

• the potential market opportunities for commercializing our drug candidates;

• ourexpectations regarding the potential market size and the size of the patient populations for our drug candidates, if approved for commercial use, and our ability to serve such markets;

• estimates of our expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and our needs for additional financing;

• our ability to develop, acquire and advance our product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials and preclinical studies and obtain regulatory approvals;

• the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and drug candidates;

• the initiation, cost, timing, progress and results of future and current preclinical studies and clinical trials, and our research and development programs;

• the terms of future licensing arrangements, and whether we can enter into such arrangements at all;

• timing and receipt or payments of licensing and milestone revenues, if any;

• the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our drug candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others;

• regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

• the performance of our third party suppliers and manufacturers;

• our ability to maintain and establish collaborations or obtain additional funding;

• the success of competing therapies that are currently or may become available;

• our expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act;

• our use of proceeds from this offering;

• our financial performance; and

• developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry.

We caution you that the forward-looking statements highlighted above do not encompass all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus supplement or in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

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We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The outcomes of the events described in these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected, including, but not limited to, the risk factors described herein and the risk factors set forth in Part I - Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the SEC on March 7, 2018, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC on May 9, 2018, and elsewhere in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and challenging environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. We cannot assure you that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus supplement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, other strategic transactions or investments we may make.

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MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

This prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference herein contain statistical data, estimates, forecasts, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business and the markets for certain diseases, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on statistical data, estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, medical and general publications, government data, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties. These third parties may, in the future, alter the manner in which they conduct surveys and studies regarding the markets in which we operate our business. The market and other estimates included in this prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference herein, as they relate to projections, involve numerous assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Risk Factors” and in the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the common stock in this offering will be approximately
$           million, or approximately $          million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares to cover over-allotments, if any, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for continued development of our VK5211, VK2809 and VK0214 programs and for general research and development, working capital and general corporate purposes.

Our expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our current intentions based upon our present plans and business condition. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we cannot predict with complete certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the completion of this offering or the actual amounts that we will spend on the uses set forth above. The amount and timing of our actual expenditures will depend upon numerous factors, including the results of our research and development efforts, the timing and success of preclinical studies, our ongoing clinical trials or clinical trials we may commence in the future, the timing of regulatory submissions and the feedback from regulatory authorities. In addition, we might decide to postpone or not pursue clinical trials or preclinical activities if the net proceeds from this offering and the other sources of cash are less than expected, although we currently expect that the net proceeds from this offering will be used as set forth above. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds, and investors will be relying on our judgment regarding the application of the net proceeds of this offering. Additionally, our management will have discretion to allocate the net proceeds from this offering for acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary businesses and products or repayment of our indebtedness, in-licensing opportunities and pipeline development. We have no current agreements or commitments to use these proceeds to make any such acquisitions or investments or to repay any indebtedness.

Pending use of the proceeds from this offering as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds of this offering in money market funds, certificates of deposit and corporate debt securities.

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PRICE RANGE OF OUR COMMON STOCK

Our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April 29, 2015 and is listed under the symbol “VKTX.” On June 5, 2018, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $9.39 per share.  The following table sets forth, for our fiscal periods indicated, the high and low sale prices of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

	High		Low
Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2018
Second Quarter (through June 5, 2018)	$	11.17	$	3.69
First Quarter	$	7.36	$	3.86
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2017
Fourth Quarter	$	4.40	$	1.69
Third Quarter	$	1.99	$	0.88
Second Quarter	$	1.49	$	0.96
First Quarter	$	1.70	$	1.11
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016
Fourth Quarter	$	1.50	$	0.90
Third Quarter	$	1.54	$	1.22
Second Quarter	$	2.89	$	1.06
First Quarter	$	4.24	$	1.37

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors or any authorized committee thereof after considering our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our board of directors or such committee deems relevant, and will be subject to the restrictions contained in our current or future financing instruments.

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents, debt, equity and total capitalization as of March 31, 2018:

• on an actual basis; and

• on an as adjusted basis to give effect to this offering and the application of the estimated net proceeds of this offering as described under “Use of Proceeds.”

The “As Adjusted” column assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional shares to cover over-allotments, if any.

You should read the data set forth in the table below in conjunction with the section of this prospectus supplement under the caption “Use of Proceeds” as well as our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” our financial statements and other financial information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

	As of March 31, 2018 (in thousands, except share amounts) (Unaudited)
	Actual		As Adjusted
Cash, cash equivalents and investments	$	77,468	$
Deferred public offering and other financing costs		240
Debt		3,792
Accrued interest		34
Convertible notes payable		3,721
Debt conversion feature liability		37
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value: 10,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted		—		—
Common stock, $0.00001 par value: 300,000,000 shares authorized, actual and as adjusted, and 50,933,195 shares issued and outstanding, actual; and shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted		1
Additional paid-in capital		157,146
Accumulated deficit		(84,406)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(109)
Total stockholders’ equity		72,632
Total capitalization	$	76,424	$

The above table excludes:

• 1,967,721 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2018 with a weighted-average exercise price of $3.16 per share;

• 136,250 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance in connection with service-based restricted stock units outstanding as of March 31, 2018 with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $4.94 per share;

• 1,397,046 shares of our common stock reserved as of March 31, 2018 for future issuance under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year;

• 1,051,427 shares of our common stock reserved as of March 31, 2018 for future issuance under our 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year;  and

• 8,780,838 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants as of March 31, 2018, at a weighted-average exercise price of $1.56 per share.

S-13

DILUTION

Purchasers of common stock in this offering will experience immediate dilution to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of common stock and the net tangible book value per share of common stock immediately after this offering.

Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2018 was approximately $72.4 million, or $1.42 per share of common stock. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing the net of total tangible assets less total liabilities, by the aggregate number of shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2018.  After giving effect to the sale by us of            shares of common stock at the public offering price of $        per share of common stock, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2018 would have been approximately $          million, or $         per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $          per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of
$           per share of common stock issued to the investors purchasing securities in this offering.

The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

Public offering price per share of common stock			$
Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2018	$	1.42
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering	$
Net tangible book value per share after this offering			$
Dilution per share to investors participating in this offering			$

If the underwriters exercise their option in full to purchase            additional shares of common stock in this offering at the public offering price of $           per share, the net tangible book value per share after this offering would be $         per share, the increase in the net tangible book value per share to existing stockholders would be     $           per share and the dilution to investors purchasing securities in this offering would be $           per share.

The above table excludes:

• 1,967,721 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding as of March 31, 2018 with a weighted-average exercise price of $3.16 per share;

• 136,250 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance in connection with service-based restricted stock units outstanding as of March 31, 2018 with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $4.94 per share;

• 1,397,046 shares of our common stock reserved as of March 31, 2018 for future issuance under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year;

• 1,051,427 shares of our common stock reserved as of March 31, 2018 for future issuance under our 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year;  and

• 8,780,838 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants as of March 31, 2018, at a weighted-average exercise price of $1.56 per share.

To the extent that options or warrants are exercised, new options are issued under our equity incentive plans, or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there may be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. Moreover, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

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UNDERWRITING

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is acting as representative of each of the underwriters named below and as sole book-running manager for this offering. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the number of shares of common stock set forth opposite its name below.

Underwriter	Number of Shares
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
Total

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares sold under the underwriting agreement if any of the shares are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the shares, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The representative has advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $             per share. After the initial offering of the shares, the public offering price, concession or any other term of the offering may be changed by the representative.

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock.

		Total
	Per Share	Without Option		With Option
Public offering price	$		$	$
Underwriting discounts and commissions	$		$	$
Proceeds, before expenses, to us	$		$	$

We estimate expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions referred to above, will be approximately $            . We also have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for up to $65,000 for their counsel fees. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, this reimbursed fee is deemed underwriting compensation for this offering.

Option to Purchase Additional Shares

We have granted an option to the underwriters, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, to purchase up to             additional shares at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. If the underwriters exercise this option, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to conditions

S-15

contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the above table.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We and our executive officers and directors have agreed not to sell or transfer any shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of common stock, for 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement without first obtaining the written consent of William Blair & Company, L.L.C., on behalf of the underwriters.  Specifically, we and these other persons have agreed, with certain exceptions, not to (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, announce the intention to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of any of our securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or any rights to purchase or otherwise acquire our securities, (ii) request or demand that we file a registration statement related to the shares of common stock or (iii) publicly announce any of the foregoing.

This lock-up provision applies to shares of common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of common stock.

Nasdaq Capital Market Listing

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VKTX.”

Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

Until the distribution of the shares is completed, SEC rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our common stock. However, the representative may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of our common stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the option granted to them. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of such option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the closing of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representative has repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the Nasdaq Capital Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representative will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

S-16

The underwriters may also engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of shares of our common stock in this offering and extending through the completion of distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.

Electronic Distribution

In connection with this offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and certain of their affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Some of the underwriters and certain of their affiliates may in the future engage in investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us and our affiliates, for which they may in the future receive customary fees, commissions and expenses.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers.  Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates are currently providing investment banking advice to us and may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Selling Restrictions

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a “Relevant Member State”), no offer of shares may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

A. to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

B. to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representative; or

C. in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of shares shall require the Company or the representative to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

Each person in a Relevant Member State who initially acquires any shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of the law in that Relevant Member State implementing Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive. In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any shares to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant Member State to qualified investors, as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representative has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

S-17

We, the representative and each of our affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

This prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of shares in any Relevant Member State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of shares. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant Member State of shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Company or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive in relation to such offer. Neither the Company nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of shares in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the Company or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer.

For the purpose of the above provisions, the expression “an offer to the public” in relation to any shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the shares, as the same may be varied in the Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in the Relevant Member State, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member States) and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State, and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

S-18

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement will be passed upon for us by Paul Hastings LLP, Palo Alto, California. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Goodwin Procter LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Marcum LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

S-19

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE; WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information and reports we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement. We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below, which we have already filed with the SEC:

• our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on March 7, 2018;

• our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2018;

• our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 6, 2018;

• our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2018, February 2, 2018, February 6, 2018 and May 31, 2018; and

• the description of our common stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-37355), filed with the SEC on April 23, 2015.

All documents we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus supplement and before the later of (1) the completion of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus supplement and (2) if applicable, the date any underwriter stops offering securities pursuant to this prospectus supplement will also be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement from the date of filing of such documents. Upon request, we will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus supplement is delivered a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement but not delivered with this prospectus supplement.

Notwithstanding the preceding, unless specifically stated to the contrary, none of the information that we disclose under 2.02 or 7.01 or, if related to Items 2.02 or 7.01, Item 9.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that we may, from time to time, furnish to the SEC will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus supplement. The information contained in each of the documents incorporated by reference speaks only as of the date of such document. Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, or contained in this prospectus supplement, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document or report that also is incorporated by reference or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments to those reports, and other information that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act can also be accessed free of charge through the Internet. These filings will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the offering of these securities. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. You can obtain a copy of the registration statement, at prescribed rates, from the SEC at the address listed above. The registration statement and the documents referred to above are also available on our corporate website at www.vikingtherapeutics.com. Unless specifically listed above, the information contained on the SEC website or our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and you should not consider that information a part of this prospectus supplement.  You may obtain a copy of any of these documents at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

S-20

Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

12340 El Camino Real, Suite 250

San Diego, California 92130

Telephone: (858) 704-4660

This prospectus supplement may contain information that updates, modifies or is contrary to information in one or more of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

S-21

PROSPECTUS

Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

$150,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

We may offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, up to $150,000,000 in the aggregate of any combination of the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings,either individually or in combination with other securities. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of debt securities, common stock upon conversion of preferred stock, or common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants.

Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference, before you invest in any of our securities.

We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 1 of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and in any applicable free writing prospectuses, and under similar headings in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Our common stock and warrants are currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VKTX” and “VKTXW”, respectively.  On June 16, 2016, the last reported sales price for our common stock was $1.32 per share and the last reported sales price for our warrants was $0.38. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any securities market or other exchange of the securities, if any, covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is July 26, 2016.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
Summary	1
Risk Factors	1
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	2
Use of Proceeds	4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges	4
Description of Capital Stock	5
Description of Debt Securities	9
Description of Warrants	16
Description of Units	19
Legal Ownership of Securities	20
Plan of Distribution	23
Legal Matters	25
Experts	25
Where You Can Find More Information	25
Important Information Incorporated by Reference	26

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities, warrants to purchase any of such securities and/or units consisting of any combination of such securities, either individually or in combination with other securities, in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $150,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.

Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the section entitled “Important Information Incorporated by Reference”, before buying any of the securities being offered.

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.

The information appearing in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”.

SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information that is presented in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units, and it is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information included elsewhere in this prospectus. Before you decide whether to purchase shares of our common stock or preferred stock, or our debt securities, warrants or units, you should read this entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free-writing prospectus carefully, including the risks of investing in our securities discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Viking,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this prospectus refer to Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

The Company

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel, first-in-class or best-in-class therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. We have exclusive worldwide rights to a portfolio of five drug candidates in clinical trials or preclinical studies, which are based on small molecules licensed from Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, or Ligand. Our lead clinical program is VK5211, a first-in-class, orally available drug candidate currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial for acute rehabilitation following non-elective hip fracture surgery. Hip fracture is a common injury among persons aged 60 and older. VK5211 is a non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator, or SARM. A SARM is designed to selectively interact with a subset of receptors that have a normal physiologic role of interacting with naturally-occurring hormones called androgens. Broad activation of androgen receptors with drugs, such as exogenous testosterone, can stimulate muscle growth and improve bone mineral density, or BMD, but often results in unwanted side effects such as prostate growth, hair growth and acne. VK5211 has been shown to selectively produce the therapeutic benefits of testosterone in muscle and bone tissue, potentially accelerating rehabilitation and improving outcomes among hip fracture patients. We commenced a Phase 2 clinical trial of VK5211 in October 2015 and expect to complete enrollment in the trial in the second half of 2016 and complete the trial in the first quarter of 2017. We are also focused on the development of first-in-class, selective, small molecule agonists of the thyroid hormone receptor beta, or TRß, for lipid disorders. Our lead TRß program is VK2809, a liver-selective, orally available prodrug of a potent small molecule TRß agonist. TRß is known to regulate expression of genes important for lipid metabolism, which we believe suggests potential therapeutic benefits for patients suffering from hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia and diseases resulting from accumulation of fat in liver tissue, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. We plan to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial of VK2809 in patients with hypercholesterolemia and elevated liver fat content in mid-2016. Our second TRß agonist is VK0214, which we are evaluating in the orphan disease known as X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, or X-ALD. Preclinical studies of VK0214 in in vitro models of X-ALD showed positive effects on genes relevant to X-ALD. We are evaluating VK0214 in an in vivo model of X-ALD and expect to report preliminary data in 2016. Pending completion of this work, we expect to initiate clinical trials of VK0214 in X-ALD patients.

For a complete description of our business, financial condition, results of operations and other important information, we refer you to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.  For instructions on how to find copies of these documents, see “Where You Can Find More Information”.

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 24, 2012. Our principal executive offices are located at 12340 El Camino Real, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92130, and our telephone number is (858) 704-4660. Our website address is www.vikingtherapeutics.com. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference. We do not incorporate the information on, or accessible through, our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or accessible through, our website as part of this prospectus.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, or any updates in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being offered. Our business, financial condition or results of

1

operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:

• risks and uncertainties associated with our research and development activities, including our clinical trials and preclinical studies;

• the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals or of alternative regulatory pathways for our drug candidates;

• the potential market opportunities for commercializing our drug candidates;

• our expectations regarding the potential market size and the size of the patient populations for our drug candidates, if approved for commercial use, and our ability to serve such markets;

• estimates of our expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and our needs for additional financing;

• our ability to develop, acquire and advance drug candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials and preclinical studies;

• the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and drug candidates;

• the initiation, cost, timing, progress and results of future preclinical studies and clinical trials, and our research and development programs;

• the terms of future licensing arrangements, and whether we can enter into such arrangements at all;

• timing and receipt or payments of licensing and milestone revenues, if any;

• the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our drug candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others;

• regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

• the performance of our third party suppliers and manufacturers;

• our ability to maintain and establish collaborations or obtain additional funding;

• the success of competing therapies that are currently or may become available;

• our expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act;

• our use of proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus;

• our ability to continue as a going concern;

• our financial performance; and

• developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry.

We caution you that the forward-looking statements highlighted above do not encompass all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The outcomes of the events described in these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set forth in Part I - Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the SEC on March 8, 2016, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, as filed with the SEC on May 10, 2016, and elsewhere in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and challenging environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We cannot assure you that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to

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reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, other strategic transactions or investments we may make.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as described in the applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus, if any, for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation, supporting asset growth and engaging in acquisitions or other business combinations. We also may use a portion of the proceeds to repay debt.

The amounts and timing of our use of the net proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus will depend on a number of factors, such as the timing and progress of our research and development efforts, the timing and progress of any partnering and commercialization efforts, technological advances and the competitive environment for our products. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from the sale of securities under this prospectus. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the timing and application of these proceeds. Pending application of the net proceeds as described above, we intend to temporarily invest the proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing instruments.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth the historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. for the periods indicated.

	Year Ended December 31,
								Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
	2012		2013	2014		2015
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		*	*		*		*		*

__________________

(*) We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 24, 2012. We did not record earnings for any of the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 or 2015 or the three months ended March 31, 2016. Accordingly, our earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges for such periods and we are unable to disclose a ratio of earnings to fixed charges for such periods. The dollar amount of the deficiency in earnings available for fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $111,027, $146,247, $21,884,183, $23,403,988 and $3,586,988, respectively.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following description summarizes the most important terms of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary of the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description of the matters set forth in this “Description of Capital Stock,” you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and the Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 21, 2014, as amended, between us and Ligand, or the Registration Rights Agreement, each of which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law. Our authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.00001 par value per share.

As of May 31, 2016, there were 19,273,215 shares of our common stock outstanding, held by approximately 15 stockholders of record, not including beneficial holders whose shares are held in names other than their own. Our board of directors is authorized, without stockholder approval except as required by the rules and listings standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, to issue additional shares of our capital stock.

Common Stock

Dividend Rights

Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine.

Voting Rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting for the election of directors, and it establishes a classified board of directors that is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. Only the directors in one class will be subject to election at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the directors in the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms.

No Preemptive or Similar Rights

Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights, and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.

Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions

If we become subject to a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders would be distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock and any participating preferred stock outstanding at that time, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights of and the payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Fully Paid and Non-Assessable

All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are, and the shares of our common stock to be issued pursuant to this prospectus or which may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock or debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, or upon exercise of warrants or units to be issued pursuant to this prospectus, will be, fully paid and non-assessable.

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of our preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.

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Equity Awards

As of May 31, 2016, options to purchase 846,212 shares of our common stock with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.94 per share were outstanding, restricted stock awards representing an aggregate of 559,745 shares of our common stock were unvested and outstanding, and restricted stock units representing 63,125 shares of our common stock were outstanding.

Outstanding Warrants

As of May 31, 2016, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 9,667,500 shares of our common stock with a weighted-average exercise price of $1.57 per share were outstanding.

Ligand Convertible Note

As of May 31, 2016, the aggregate outstanding principal amount under the Secured Convertible Promissory Note, or the Ligand Note, that we previously issued to Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, or Ligand, plus all accrued and previously unpaid interest thereon, was approximately $1,961,520. We may repay any portion of the outstanding principal amount of the loans under the Ligand Note, plus accrued and previously unpaid interest thereon, by delivering a notice to Ligand, or the Additional Repayment Notice, specifying the amount that we wish to repay, or the Additional Payment Amount. Ligand will have five days to elect to receive the Additional Payment Amount in cash, our equity securities or a combination of cash and our equity securities. If Ligand does not make an election within such five-day period, the form of the Additional Payment Amount will be at our sole election and discretion, subject to the number of equity securities being reduced to the extent that the issuance of such equity securities would increase Ligand’s beneficial ownership of our common stock to greater than 49.9%. To the extent that any portion of an Additional Payment Amount will be paid in the form of our equity securities, we will issue to Ligand, with respect to the portion of the Additional Payment Amount that will be paid in our equity securities, (1) in the event we deliver the Additional Repayment Notice before October 10, 2016, such number of shares of common stock and a warrant to purchase an equivalent number of shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.50 per share, calculated by dividing the Additional Payment Amount by $1.25 (subject to adjustment for stock dividends, splits, combinations or similar transactions), and (2) in the event we deliver the Additional Repayment Notice on or after October 10, 2016, such number of shares of our common stock equal to the greater of (i) such number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Additional Payment Amount by the volume weighted-average closing price of our common stock for the 30 days prior to the date we deliver the Additional Repayment Notice, and (ii) such number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Additional Payment Amount by $8.00 (subject to adjustment for stock dividends, splits, combinations or similar transactions). Each $1.00 of any Additional Repayment Amount will reduce the amount of accrued and unpaid interest and then unpaid principal amount under the Ligand Note by $0.50.  Additionally, pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement between us and Ligand, dated May 21, 2014, as amended, or the Loan and Security Agreement, Ligand has agreed that it will not, until January 23, 2017, sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of our common stock, including shares issuable upon conversion of the Ligand Note.

Registration Rights

On May 21, 2014, we entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with Ligand, pursuant to which we agreed, among other things, that we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, by no later than January 23, 2017, a Registration Statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act that covers the resale of (1) the securities issued by us to Ligand pursuant to the Master License Agreement we previously entered into with Ligand and the securities issuable by us to Ligand pursuant to the Ligand Note, or, collectively, the Viking Securities, (2) the shares of our common stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the Viking Securities, if applicable, and (3) the shares of our common stock issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for or in replacement of the Viking Securities.

We issued to the representative of the underwriters for our initial public offering as additional compensation a warrant, or the Representative’s Warrant, to purchase an aggregate of 82,500 shares of our common stock. Pursuant to the terms of the Representative’s Warrant, the holders of 51% of the shares issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrant, or the Registrable Warrant Shares, have the right to demand, on one occasion, the registration by us of the Registrable Warrant Shares. Additionally, we have agreed under the terms of the Representative’s Warrant to provide the holder of the Registrable Warrant Shares with certain piggyback registration rights.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Certain provisions of Delaware law, along with certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of our company. These provisions are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our company to first negotiate with our board of directors. However, these provisions could have the effect of delaying, discouraging or preventing attempts to acquire us, which could deprive our stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

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Delaware Law

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, regulating corporate takeovers. In general, those provisions prohibit a public Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

• the transaction is approved by the board of directors before the date the interested stockholder attained that status;

• upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or

• on or after the date of the transaction, the transaction is approved by the board of directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL defines a business combination to include the following:

• any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

• any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

• subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

• any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

• the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning, or who within three years prior to the time of determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by any such entity or person.

A Delaware corporation may opt out of this provision by express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or by amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws approved by its stockholders. However, we have not opted out of, and do not currently intend to opt out of, this provision. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire our company.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws include a number of provisions that could deter hostile takeovers or delay or prevent changes relating to the control of our board of directors or management team, including the following:

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• Board of Directors Vacancies.  Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws authorize only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors can be set only by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and then gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This makes it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors and promotes continuity of management.

• Classified Board.  Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that our board of directors is classified into three classes of directors. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors.

• Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders.  Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our stockholders may not take action by written consent, but may only take action at annual or special meetings of our stockholders. As a result, a holder controlling a majority of our capital stock would not be able to amend our amended and restated bylaws or remove directors without holding a meeting of our stockholders called in accordance with our amended and restated bylaws. Our amended and restated bylaws further provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority of our board of directors, the Chairperson of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer or our President, thus prohibiting a stockholder (in the capacity as a stockholder) from calling a special meeting. These provisions might delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.

• Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations.  Our amended and restated bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions might preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders if the proper procedures are not followed. We expect that these provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

• No Cumulative Voting.  The DGCL provides that stockholders may cumulate votes in the election of directors if the corporation’s certificate of incorporation allows for such mechanism. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.

• Directors Removed Only for Cause.  Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that stockholders may remove directors only for cause.

• Exclusive Jurisdiction for Certain Actions.  Our amended and restated bylaws require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against our directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, unless we otherwise consent. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.

• Amendment of Charter Provisions.  Any amendment of the above provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, with the exception of the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and designate any rights, preferences and privileges thereto, would require approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our then outstanding common stock.

• Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock.  Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by our board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock would enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or other means.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock and the warrants we issued in May 2016 is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is One Embarcadero Center, Suite 515, San Francisco, CA 94111.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VKTX”. Our warrants issued in April 2016 are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VKTXW”.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.

The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuseswe authorize for use in connection with a specific offering of debt securities, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.

General Matters

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations or financial condition or transactions involving us.

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities”, which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount”, or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:

• the title of the series of debt securities;

• any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued;

• the maturity date or dates;

• the form of the debt securities of the series;

• the applicability of any guarantees;

• whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

• whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination;

• if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;

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• the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;

• our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

• if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;

• the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;

• the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

• any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series;

• whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities, and the depositary for such global security or securities;

• if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or at the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange;

• if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

• additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant;

• additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable;

• additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;

• additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture;

• additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of the holders of the debt securities issued under the indenture;

• the currency of payment of the debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;

• whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;

• the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any, and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;

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• any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and

• any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets (other than a subsidiary of ours) must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate.

Events of Default under the Indenture

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:

• if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;

• if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;

• if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for a period of 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and

• if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than certain specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, of such series of debt securities immediately due and payable. If certain specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur with respect to us, the principal amount and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.

The holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

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Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:

• the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and

• subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.

        A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies, only if:

• the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;

• the holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request;

• such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee in compliance with the request; and

• the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer.

These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal of, or the premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.

We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.

Modification of Indenture; Waiver

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters, including, but not limited to, the following:

• to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series;

• to comply with the provisions described above under “—Consolidation, Merger or Sale”;

• to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;

• to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture;

• to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture;

• to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect;

• to provide for the issuance of, and to establish the form and terms and conditions of, the debt securities of any series as provided above under “—General Matters”, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished

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pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities;

• to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; or

• to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

• extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series;

• reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of debt securities; or

• reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver.

Discharge

The indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including, but not limited to, the following obligations to:

• provide for payment;

• register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;

• replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;

• pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series;

• maintain paying agencies;

• hold monies for payment in trust;

• recover excess money held by the trustee;

• compensate and indemnify the trustee; and

• appoint any successor trustee.

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, and any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

• issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the date of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the date of the mailing; or

• register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.

Information Concerning the Trustee

The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given to it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.

We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that, unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the indenture or the debt securities, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

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Ligand Loan and Security Agreement and Ligand Note

Pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement, among other things, Ligand agreed to provide us with loans in the aggregate amount of up to $2.5 million. In accordance with the Loan and Security Agreement, Ligand initially loaned $1.0 million to us on May 27, 2014, and additional amounts of $250,000 to us each month from June 2014 through and including November 2014 for a total of $2.5 million. From May 21, 2014 to January 21, 2016, the principal amount outstanding under the loans accrued interest at a fixed per annum rate equal to the lesser of 5.0% or the maximum interest rate permitted by law. Effective as of January 22, 2016, the principal amount outstanding under the loans accrues interest at a fixed per annum rate equal to the lesser of 2.5% or the maximum interest rate permitted by law. In the event we default under the loans, the loans will accrue interest at a fixed per annum rate equal to the lesser of 8% or the maximum interest rate permitted by law. The loans are evidenced by the Ligand Note. Pursuant to the terms of the Loan and Security Agreement and the Ligand Note, the loans will become due and payable upon the written demand of Ligand at any time after the earlier to occur of an event of default under the Loan and Security Agreement or the Ligand Note, or May 21, 2017, unless the loans are repaid in cash or converted into equity prior to such time. In addition, under the Loan and Security Agreement, we may not declare or pay dividends in respect of our common stock without Ligand’s prior written consent.  

As of May 31, 2016, the aggregate outstanding principal amount under the Ligand Note, plus all accrued and previously unpaid interest thereon, was approximately $1,961,520. We may repay any portion of the outstanding principal amount of the loans under the Ligand Note, plus accrued and previously unpaid interest thereon, by delivering an Additional Repayment Notice to Ligand, specifying the Additional Payment Amount. Ligand will have five days to elect to receive the Additional Payment Amount in cash, our equity securities or a combination of cash and our equity securities. If Ligand does not make an election within such five-day period, the form of the Additional Payment Amount will be at our sole election and discretion, subject to the number of equity securities being reduced to the extent that the issuance of such equity securities would increase Ligand’s beneficial ownership of our common stock to greater than 49.9%. To the extent that any portion of an Additional Payment Amount will be paid in the form of our equity securities, we will issue to Ligand, with respect to the portion of the Additional Payment Amount that will be paid in our equity securities, (1) in the event we deliver the Additional Repayment Notice before October 10, 2016, such number of shares of common stock and a warrant to purchase an equivalent number of shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.50 per share, calculated by dividing the Additional Payment Amount by $1.25 (subject to adjustment for stock dividends, splits, combinations or similar transactions), and (2) in the event we deliver the Additional Repayment Notice on or after October 10, 2016, such number of shares of our common stock equal to the greater of (i) such number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Additional Payment Amount by the volume weighted-average closing price of our common stock for the 30 days prior to the date we deliver the Additional Repayment Notice, and (ii) such number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Additional Payment Amount by $8.00 (subject to adjustment for stock dividends, splits, combinations or similar transactions). Each $1.00 of any Additional Repayment Amount will reduce the amount of accrued and unpaid interest and then unpaid principal amount under the Ligand Note by $0.50.  Additionally, pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement, Ligand has agreed that it will not, until January 23, 2017, sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of our common stock, including shares issuable upon conversion of the Ligand Note.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in the applicable prospectus supplements and free writing prospectuseswe have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may be issued in one or more series.

Warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus we authorize for use in connection with the specific offering. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

        We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement, if any, including a form of warrant certificate, that describes the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuseswe have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, and the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.

General Matters

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms relating to a series of warrants being offered, including:

• the title of such securities;

• the offering price or prices and aggregate number of warrants offered;

• the currency or currencies for which the warrants may be purchased;

• if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

• if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

• if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

• in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

• in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which, and the currency in which, these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

• the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants;

• the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

• the terms of any rights to force the exercise of the warrants;

• any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

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• the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

• the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified;

• a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;

• the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and

• any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

        Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:

• in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or

• in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent in connection with the exercise of the warrant.

Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.

Governing Law

Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants and warrant agreements, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the warrants or warrant agreements, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants

Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.

Outstanding Warrants

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As of May 31, 2016, warrants to purchase 9,667,500 shares of our common stock with a weighted-average exercise price of $1.57 per share were outstanding.  All of the outstanding warrants are currently exercisable, and all outstanding warrants contain provisions for the adjustment of the exercise price in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations, reclassifications or mergers. In addition, all of the outstanding warrants contain a “cashless exercise” feature that allows the holders thereof to exercise the warrants without a cash payment to us under certain circumstances.  

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.

The following description, together with the additional information included in the applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we authorize for use in connection with a specific offering of units, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

• the title of the series of units;

• identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

• the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

• the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

• a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

• any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

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LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee or depositary maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.

Book-Entry Holders

We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Global securities will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for global securities, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.

As a result, investors in a global security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not legal holders, of the securities.

Street Name Holders

We may terminate a global security in certain situations, as described under “—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”, or issue securities that are not issued in global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name”. Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

For securities held in street name, we or any applicable trustee or depositary will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we or any such trustee or depositary will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.

Legal Holders

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee or third party employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the legal holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that legal holder is required, under agreements with its participants or customers or by law, to pass the payment or notice along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture, or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the legal holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the legal holders contact the indirect holders is up to the legal holders.

Special Considerations for Indirect Holders

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 If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form because the securities are represented by one or more global securities or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

• how it handles securities payments and notices;

• whether it imposes fees or charges;

• how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required;

• whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future;

• how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and

• if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

Global Securities

A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.

Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we issue to, deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”. As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and legal holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a legal holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued as a global security, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

Special Considerations for Global Securities

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If securities are issued only as global securities, an investor should be aware of the following:

• an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations described below;

• an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as described above;

• an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;

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• an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in the global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;

• the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in the global security;

• we and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security, nor will we or any applicable trustee supervise the depositary in any way;

• the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in the global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do the same; and

• financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in the global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities.

There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

In a few special situations described below, a global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own names, so that they will be direct holders. The rights of holders and street name investors are described above.

A global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:

• if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days;

• if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or

• if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived.

The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and neither we nor any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, direct sales to the public, “at the market” offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

• at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

• at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

• at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

• at negotiated prices.

A prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

• the name or names of the underwriters, if any;

• the purchase price of the securities or other consideration therefor, and the proceeds, if any, we will receive from the sale;

• any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;

• any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;

• any public offering price;

• any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and

• any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

 Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement, other than securities covered by any over-allotment option. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.

We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.

We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

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All securities we may offer, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.

Any underwriters that are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus, and any supplement thereto, will be passed upon for us by Paul Hastings LLP, Palo Alto, California.

EXPERTS

Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Marcum LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities being offered under this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities being offered under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement. You may read and copy the registration statement, as well as our reports, proxy statements and other information, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including Viking Therapeutics, Inc.  The SEC’s Internet site can be found at http://www.sec.gov.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain important information that you should read about us.

The following documents are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:

(a)	The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2016;
(b)	The Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 12, 2016;
(c)	The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2016;
(d)	The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on (i) January 25, 2016, (ii) March 15, 2016, (iii) April 8, 2016, (iv) April 13, 2016, (v) April 14, 2016, (vi) May 2, 2016 and (vii) May 27, 2016; and
(e)	The description of the Registrant’s common stock set forth in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-37355), filed with the SEC on April 23, 2015, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including those made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus and will become a part of this prospectus from the respective dates that such documents are filed with the SEC. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof or of the related prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

Documents incorporated by reference are available from us, without charge. You may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address:

Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Attn: Secretary

12340 El Camino Real, Suite 250

San Diego, CA 92130

Telephone Number: (858) 704-4660

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             Shares

Common Stock

________________________________

Prospectus Supplement
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Sole Book-Running Manager

William Blair

June       , 2018