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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * SANDELL SCOTT D   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ARDELYX, INC. [ARDX] 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) 1954 GREENSPRING DRIVE, SUITE 600 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 05/25/2018 (Street) TIMONIUM, MD 21093 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ 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 05/25/2018   A   416,667 A $ 4 9,169,210 I See Note 1 (1) Common Stock 05/25/2018   A   416,666 A $ 4 3,082,186 I See Note 2 (2) Common Stock 05/25/2018   A   416,667 A $ 4 3,082,186 I See Note 3 (3) Common Stock               592 I See Note 4 (4)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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
SANDELL SCOTT D 1954 GREENSPRING DRIVE SUITE 600 TIMONIUM, MD 21093		X

Signatures

/s/ Sasha Keough, attorney-in-fact		05/30/2018
**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)	The Reporting Person is a manager of NEA 12 GP, LLC, ("NEA 12 GP") which is the sole general partner of NEA Partners 12, Limited Partnership ("NEA Partners 12"). NEA Partners 12 is the sole general partner of New Enterprise Associates 12, Limited Partnership ("NEA 12"), the direct beneficial owner of the securities. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise of such portion of the securities held by NEA 12 in which the Reporting Person has no pecuniary interest.
(2)	The Reporting Person is a manager of NEA 15 GP, LLC, ("NEA 15 GP") which is the sole general partner of NEA Partners 15, L.P. ("NEA Partners 15"). NEA Partners 15 is the sole general partner of New Enterprise Associates 15, L. P. ("NEA 15"), the direct beneficial owner of the securities. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise of such portion of the securities held by NEA 15 in which the Reporting Person has no pecuniary interest.
(3)	The Reporting Person is a manager of NEA 15 GP which is the sole general partner of NEA Partners 15-OF, L.P. ("NEA Partners 15-OF"). NEA Partners 15-OF is the sole general partner of NEA 15 Opportunity Fund, L. P. ("NEA Opportunity 15"), the direct beneficial owner of the securities. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise of such portion of the securities held by NEA Opportunity 15 in which the Reporting Person has no pecuniary interest.
(4)	The securities are directly held by Rising River Partners, L.P. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise of such portion of the securities of the Issuer held by Rising River Partners, L.P. in which the Reporting Person has no pecuniary interest.

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