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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-12-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001235007</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENDOCYTE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECYT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001509415</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Leamon Christopher P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3000 KENT AVE, SUITE A1-100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WEST LAFAYETTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>47906</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President of Research</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <expirationDate>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-02-04</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 263 shares acquired under the Endocyte, Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on December 14, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option is fully vested and immediately exercisable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares subject to this option vest 1/4 annually over a period of four years beginning February 4, 2017.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael A. Sherman, Attorney-in-Fact for Christopher P. Leamon (power of attorney previously filed)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-12-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
