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                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
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            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



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        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0001607678</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>VIKING THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-37355</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>9920 Pacific Heights Blvd, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>San Diego</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>92121</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>858-704-4660</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>GREG ZANTE</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>131687</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>10275536.61</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>111436384</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>10/28/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
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            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>10/28/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of Stock Options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>94001</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>10/28/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>05/20/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Purchase Plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>11055</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>05/20/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>03/28/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Units</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>15057</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>03/28/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>03/04/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Units</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>11574</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>03/04/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
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            <sellerDetails>
                <name>GREG ZANTE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>9920 Pacific Heights Blvd, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>San Diego</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>92121</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>07/30/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>16136</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>922212.06</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>10/28/2024</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>07/29/2024</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ Greg Zante</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
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144
0001264949
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001607678
VIKING THERAPEUTICS INC
001-37355
9920 Pacific Heights Blvd, Suite 350
San Diego
CA
92121
858-704-4660
GREG ZANTE
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
131687
10275536.61
111436384
10/28/2024
NASDAQ
Common
10/28/2024
Exercise of Stock Options
Issuer
N
94001
10/28/2024
Cash
Common
05/20/2024
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Issuer
N
11055
05/20/2024
Cash
Common
03/28/2024
Restricted Stock Units
Issuer
N
15057
03/28/2024
N/A
Common
03/04/2024
Restricted Stock Units
Issuer
N
11574
03/04/2024
N/A
N
GREG ZANTE
9920 Pacific Heights Blvd, Suite 350
San Diego
CA
92121
Common
07/30/2024
16136
922212.06
10/28/2024
07/29/2024
/s/ Greg Zante