<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-05-25</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001358762</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REATA PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RETA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001034320</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WORTLEY MICHAEL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2801 GATEWAY DRIVE, SUITE 150</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75063</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>See Remarks</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.43</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-03-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B common stock</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>39184</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option becomes exercisable as to 14,204 shares on April 1, 2016, and the remainder vests in twelve equal quarterly installments thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Class B common stock is convertible into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (a) at the holder's election at any time after the date that is six months following the date of the closing of the initial public offering of the company's Class A common stock, (b) at the holder's election prior to that time subject to certain conditions, or (c) at the option of the company's board of directors, in its sole discretion, at any time or multiple times from time to time on or before the closing of the initial public offering. The conversion right of the Class B common stock has no expiration date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Vice President, Chief Legal Officer</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael D. Wortley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-05-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
