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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-04-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001270073</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERCEPT PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ICPT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001569222</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Micheli Francesco</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>VIA G. DE GRASSI, 11</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILAN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>L6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ITALY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isTenPercentOwner>true</isTenPercentOwner>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-04-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>390625</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>64</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6845578</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of common stock purchased by Genextra S.p.A. in a private offering that was completed on April 9, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are held by Genextra S.p.A. Mr. Micheli is the Executive Director and Chairman of the board of Genextra S.p.A. and, in such capacity, Mr. Micheli exercises voting control over the shares of common stock owned by Genextra S.p.A and investment control over such shares as authorized by the board of Genextra S.p.A. Mr. Micheli disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to any such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Francesco Micheli</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-04-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
