*

The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

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1

Names of Reporting Persons

Brian Lian, Ph.D.

2

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

(a)  ☐

(b)  ☐

3

SEC Use Only

4

Citizenship or Place of Organization

United States

number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with

5

Sole Voting Power

1,701,740⁽¹⁾

6

Shared Voting Power

0

7

Sole Dispositive Power

1,701,740⁽¹⁾

8

Shared Dispositive Power

0

9

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

1,701,740⁽¹⁾

10

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

11

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

4.7%⁽²⁾

12

Type  of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IN

¹ 

Comprised of:  (a) 1,453,098 shares of common stock owned directly, of which 1,240,836 are vested or will vest within 60 days of December 31, 2017, and (b) 248,642 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2017.

² 

Percentage based on the number of shares of the Issuer’s common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2017, based on information provided by the Issuer.

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(a)

Name of Issuer

Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

(b)

Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

12340 El Camino Real, Suite 250

San Diego, CA 92130

(a)

Name of Person Filing

Brian Lian, Ph.D.

(b)

Address of Principal Business office or, if None, Residence

12340 El Camino Real, Suite 250

San Diego, CA 92130

(c)

Citizenship

United States

(d)

Title of Class of Securities

Common Stock, $0.00001 par value

(e)

CUSIP Number

92686J 106

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a)

☐Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);

(b)

☐Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);

(c)

☐Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);

(d)

☐Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8);

(e)

☐An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

(f)

☐An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

(g)

☐A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

(h)

☐A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

(i)

☐A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

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(j)

☐Group, in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: __________

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:

1,701,740 shares of common stock of the Issuer, comprised of:  (a) 1,453,098 shares of common stock owned directly, of which 1,240,836 are vested or will vest within 60 days of December 31, 2017, and (b) 248,642 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2017.

(b)

Percent of class:

4.7%

(c)

Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i)    Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:

        1,701,740

(ii)   Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

        0

(iii)  Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

        1,701,740

(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

        0  

N/A

N/A

N/A

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CUSIP No. 92686J 106

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