Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Novartis Bioventures Ltd
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [ARPO] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director __X__ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O NOVARTIS INTERNATIONAL AG, WSJ-200.220		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/20/2018
(Street)

BASEL, V8 CH-4002		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
___ Form filed by One Reporting Person
_X_ 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. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction 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)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 08/20/2018   S   5,300 D $ 3.9 (1) 5,800,250 I See Footnote (2)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction 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
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(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)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Novartis Bioventures Ltd
C/O NOVARTIS INTERNATIONAL AG
WSJ-200.220
BASEL, V8 CH-4002		     X    
NOVARTIS AG
LICHTSTRASSE 35
BASEL, V8 CH 4056		     X    

Signatures

 /s/ Bartosz Dzikowski, Secretary of the Board of Novartis Bioventures Ltd   08/22/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date
 /s/ Florian Muellershausen, Authorized Signatory on behalf of Novartis Bioventures Ltd   08/22/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date
 /s/ Bartosz Dzikowski, Authorized Signatory on behalf of Novartis AG   08/22/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date
 /s/ Florian Muellershausen, Authorized Signatory on behalf of Novartis AG   08/22/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Reflects sales of common stock executed in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $3.90 to $3.91. The price reported reflects the weighted average sale price. The Reporting Persons hereby undertake to provide upon request to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the sales were effected.
(2) The board of directors of Novartis Bioventures Ltd has sole voting and investment control and power over such securities. None of the members of its board of directors has individual voting or investment power with respect to such securities and each disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities. Novartis Bioventures Ltd is an indirectly owned subsidiary of Novartis AG.
 
Remarks:
Exhibit List - Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney

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