<?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>0001559515</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Genextra S.p.A.</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>
            </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>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </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>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paolo Fundaro, Chief Financial Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-04-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
