Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (Form: 4, Received: 01/05/2026)

FORM 4 ☐ Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). ☐ Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5
	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^* Lian Brian	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Viking Therapeutics, Inc. [ VKTX ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President & CEO
(Last) (First) (Middle) C/O VIKING THERAPEUTICS, INC., 9920 PACIFIC HEIGHTS BLVD, SUITE 350	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 1/2/2026
(Street) SAN DIEGO, CA 92121	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share	1/2/2026		A		78,400 ⁽¹⁾	A	$0	2,508,620 ⁽²⁾	D
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share	1/2/2026		A		224,080 ⁽³⁾	A	$0	2,732,700	D
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share	1/5/2026		S		132,454 ⁽⁴⁾	D	$32.2907 ⁽⁵⁾	2,600,246	D
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share	1/5/2026		S		53,279 ⁽⁴⁾	D	$33.3765 ⁽⁶⁾	2,546,967	D
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share	1/5/2026		S		41,276 ⁽⁴⁾	D	$34.2184 ⁽⁷⁾	2,505,691	D
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share	1/5/2026		S		6,400 ⁽⁴⁾	D	$35.0661 ⁽⁸⁾	2,499,291	D

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)*
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)			11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$35.42	1/2/2026		A		176,300		⁽⁹⁾	1/2/2036	Common Stock	176,300	$0	176,300	D

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	Represents a restricted stock unit award ("RSU") of common stock under the Issuer's 2024 Equity Incentive Plan. One-third of the shares subject to the RSU shall vest on each one year anniversary of the grant date of the award.
(2)	Includes 11,111 shares acquired on May 20, 2024 pursuant to the Issuer's 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(3)	The reported securities were subject to a performance restricted stock unit award that was granted on January 3, 2023, 33.33% of which vested on January 2, 2026. upon the achievement of a non-financial performance goal and a second performance restricted stock unit award that was granted on January 3, 2025, 1.665% of which vested on January 2, 2026, upon the partial achievement of a non-financial performance goal.
(4)	These shares were automatically sold on a non-discretionary basis solely to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations in connection with the issuance of shares upon the vesting of certain shares of common stock subject to certain restricted stock unit awards that vested on January 3, 2026 and the performance restricted stock unit awards described in Footnote 3.
(5)	The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted-average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $31.87 to $32.865, inclusive. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote.
(6)	The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted-average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $32.87 to $33.865, inclusive. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote.
(7)	The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted-average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $33.87 to $34.85, inclusive. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote.
(8)	The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted-average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $34.88 to $35.20, inclusive. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote.
(9)	25% of the shares subject to the option will vest on each anniversary of the grant date.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Lian Brian C/O VIKING THERAPEUTICS, INC. 9920 PACIFIC HEIGHTS BLVD, SUITE 350 SAN DIEGO, CA 92121	X		President & CEO

Signatures
/s/ Michael Morneau, as Attorney-in-Fact		1/5/2026
^**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

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