SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ________________ SCHEDULE 13G/A ________________ INFORMATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1 AND 13d-2 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. 2)* Vivus, Inc. (NAME OF ISSUER) Common Stock, $.001 par value (TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES) 928551 10 0 (CUSIP NUMBER) __________________ * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). PAGE 1 OF 5 PAGES13G/A CUSIP No. 928551 10 0 _____________________________________________________________________________ (1) NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Ardsley Advisory Partners _____________________________________________________________________________ (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [ ] (b) [x] _____________________________________________________________________________ (3) SEC USE ONLY _____________________________________________________________________________ (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Connecticut _____________________________________________________________________________ NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER 0 SHARES ______________________________________________________________ BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 0 OWNED BY ______________________________________________________________ EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 REPORTING ______________________________________________________________ PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 _____________________________________________________________________________ (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 0 _____________________________________________________________________________ (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0% _____________________________________________________________________________ (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** IA _____________________________________________________________________________ ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES 13G/A CUSIP No. 928551 10 0 _____________________________________________________________________________ (1) NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Philip J. Hempleman _____________________________________________________________________________ (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [ ] (b) [x] _____________________________________________________________________________ (3) SEC USE ONLY _____________________________________________________________________________ (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States _____________________________________________________________________________ NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER 0 SHARES ______________________________________________________________ BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 0 OWNED BY ______________________________________________________________ EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 REPORTING ______________________________________________________________ PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 _____________________________________________________________________________ (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 0 _____________________________________________________________________________ (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0 _____________________________________________________________________________ (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** IN _____________________________________________________________________________ ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! PAGE 3 OF 5 PAGES The Schedule 13G initially filed for the year ended December 31, 1996 of (i) Ardsley Advisory Partners and (ii) Philip J. Hempleman relating to the common stock, par value $.001 (the "Common Stock"), issued by Vivus, Inc. (the "Company") is hereby amended as follows: ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP. Not applicable. ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [x] PAGE 4 OF 5 PAGES ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION. (if filing pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)) By signing below Ardsley Advisory Partners and Philip J. Hempleman certify that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business, were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purposes or effect. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. February __, 1998 /s/ Philip J. Hempleman ----------------------- Philip J. Hempleman, as Managing Partner of Ardsley Advisory Partners /s/ Philip J. Hempleman ----------------------- Philip J. Hempleman PAGE 5 OF 5 PAGES