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 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
ORBIMED ADVISORS LLC
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. [PIRS]
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)
601 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 54TH FLOOR
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/13/2018
(Street)

NEW YORK, NY 10022
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
___ Form filed by One Reporting Person
_X_ 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 02/13/2018   M   6,057 A $ 4.68 5,506,787 I See Footnotes (3) (5) (6)
Common Stock 02/13/2018   M   58 A $ 4.68 49,328 I See Footnotes (4) (5) (6)
Common Stock 02/13/2018   M   1,765 A $ 5.08 5,508,552 I See Footnotes (3) (5) (6)
Common Stock 02/13/2018   M   17 A $ 5.08 49,345 I See Footnotes (4) (5) (6)
Common Stock 02/13/2018   S   7,822 D $ 8.98 5,500,730 I See Footnotes (3) (5) (6)
Common Stock 02/13/2018   S   75 D $ 8.98 49,270 I See Footnotes (4) (5) (6)

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
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 4.68 02/13/2018   M     6,057   (1) 02/15/2018 Common Stock 6,057 $ 0 0 I See Footnotes (3) (5) (6)
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 4.68 02/13/2018   M     58   (1) 02/15/2018 Common Stock 58 $ 0 0 I See Footnotes (4) (5) (6)
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 5.08 02/13/2018   M     1,765   (2) 02/15/2018 Common Stock 1,765 $ 0 0 I See Footnotes (3) (5) (6)
Stock Option (right to buy) $ 5.08 02/13/2018   M     17   (2) 02/15/2018 Common Stock 17 $ 0 0 I See Footnotes (4) (5) (6)

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
ORBIMED ADVISORS LLC
601 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 54TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10022
    X    
OrbiMed Capital GP III LLC
601 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 54TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10022
    X    

Signatures

 /s/ Sven H. Borho, Member of OrbiMed Advisors LLC   02/15/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

 /s/ Carl L. Gordon, Member of OrbiMed Advisors LLC   02/15/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

 /s/ Jonathan T. Silverstein, Member of OrbiMed Advisors LLC   02/15/2018
**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 stock options were included in an award to Chau Khuong, an employee of the Reporting Persons, made on October 25, 2017 for services as a director of the Issuer. The award included stock options relating to a total of 6,115 shares of the Issuer's Common Stock and was vested and exercisable on October 25, 2017. Mr. Khuong is no longer a director of the Issuer.
(2) The stock options were included in an award to Chau Khuong, an employee of the Reporting Persons, made on January 25, 2018 for services as a director of the Issuer. The award included stock options relating to a total of 1,782 shares of the Issuer's Common Stock and was vested and exercisable on January 25, 2018. Mr. Khuong is no longer a director of the Issuer.
(3) These Shares are held of record by OrbiMed Private Investments III, LP ("OPI III"). OrbiMed Capital GP III LLC ("GP III") is the general partner of OPI III, and OrbiMed Advisors LLC ("Advisors"), a registered adviser under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, as amended, is the managing member of GP III. By virtue of such relationships, GP III and Advisors may be deemed to have voting and investment power over the securities held by OPI III and as a result may be deemed to beneficially own such securities for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Advisors exercised this investment and voting power through a management committee comprised of Carl L. Gordon, Sven H. Borho and Jonathan T. Silverstein, each of whom disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares held by OPI III.
(4) These Shares are held of record by OrbiMed Associates III, LP ("Associates III"). Advisors is the general partner of Associates III. By virtue of such relationships, Advisors may be deemed to have voting and investment power over the securities held by Associates III and as a result may be deemed to have beneficial ownership over such securities. Advisors exercised this investment and voting power through a management committee comprised of Carl L. Gordon, Sven H. Borho and Jonathan T. Silverstein, each of whom disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares held by Associates III.
(5) Samuel D. Isaly, who was included as a Reporting Person on previous reports under Section 16 of the Exchange Act filed by GP III and Advisors, is no longer subject to Section 16 with respect to securities of the Issuer.
(6) This report on Form 4 is jointly filed by GP III and Advisors. Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein for purposes of Rule 16a-1(a) under the Exchange Act, except to the extent of its or his pecuniary interest therein, if any. This report shall not be deemed an admission that any of the Reporting Persons is a beneficial owner for the purpose of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or for any other purpose.

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