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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>UNITED STATES</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:18pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>FORM 8-K</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:18pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>CURRENT REPORT</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): </b><b>April </b><b>7</b><b>, 201</b><b>8</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:24pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>ACELRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</p>

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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>Delaware</b></p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>001-35068</b></p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>41-2193603</b></p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">(State of incorporation)</p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">(Commission File No.)</p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</p>
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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>351 Galveston Drive </b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>Redwood City, CA 94063 </b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)</p>

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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;">Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number, including area code:<b> </b><b>(650) 216-3500 </b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):</p>

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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744; Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744; Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&#9744; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule&nbsp;405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&sect;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&sect;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:36pt;">Emerging growth company&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#9744;</p>

<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#9744;</p>

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<p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0pt; text-align: left">&nbsp;</p>

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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;margin-right:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;margin-bottom:0pt;font-size:10pt;"><b>Item </b><b>5.02 </b></p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;margin-right:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-align:left;margin-bottom:0pt;font-size:10pt;"><b>D</b><b>eparture of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers</b><b>.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;"><i><b>&nbsp;</b></i></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;"><i><b>Performance-Based Stock Option Awards</b></i></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:24.5pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:24.5pt;">On April 7, 2018, the Board of Directors (the &ldquo;Board&rdquo;) of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;), based upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, granted under the Company&rsquo;s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the &ldquo;Plan&rdquo;) a new type of performance-based stock option award to its employees, including the Company&rsquo;s named executive officers. An aggregate of approximately 917,543&nbsp;shares subject to these performance-based stock options were awarded to the Company&rsquo;s employees, including the following amounts for the following named executive officers:</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:24.5pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="finTable" style="margin-right: 20%; margin-left: 72pt; width: 80%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; text-indent: 0px;">

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			<p style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><br>
			Named Executive Officer</p>
			</td>
			<td id=".lead.D2" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td colspan="2" id=".amt.D2" style="text-align: center; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
			<p style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0pt; text-align: center;">Performance-Based<br>
			Stock Option Awards</p>
			</td>
			<td id=".trail.D2" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; padding-bottom: 1px;">&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
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			<td style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">
			<p style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Vincent Angotti, Chief Executive Officer</p>
			</td>
			<td id=".lead.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".symb.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".amt.2" style="width: 16%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;">192,500</td>
			<td id=".trail.2" nowrap="true" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;">&nbsp;</td>
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			<p style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Raffi Asadorian, Chief Financial Officer</p>
			</td>
			<td id=".lead.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".symb.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".amt.2" style="width: 16%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;">81,125</td>
			<td id=".trail.2" nowrap="true" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;">&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
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			<td style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">
			<p style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Anil Dasu, Chief Engineering Officer</p>
			</td>
			<td id=".lead.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".symb.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".amt.2" style="width: 16%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;">63,250</td>
			<td id=".trail.2" nowrap="true" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;">&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
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			<td style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">
			<p style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Larry Hamel, Chief Development Officer</p>
			</td>
			<td id=".lead.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".symb.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".amt.2" style="width: 16%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;">52,250</td>
			<td id=".trail.2" nowrap="true" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;">&nbsp;</td>
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			<td style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">
			<p style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Pamela Palmer, Chief Medical Officer</p>
			</td>
			<td id=".lead.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".symb.2" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</td>
			<td id=".amt.2" style="width: 16%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;">95,150</td>
			<td id=".trail.2" nowrap="true" style="width: 1%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;">&nbsp;</td>
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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:24.5pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:36pt;">Vesting of the performance-based stock options is as follows: 50% of the stock option award becomes vested and exercisable upon the Company&rsquo;s achievement of commercial approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (&ldquo;FDA&rdquo;) of its New Drug Application (&ldquo;NDA&rdquo;) for DSUVIA<sup>&trade;</sup> on or before February 15, 2019; and the remaining 50% of the award shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the date of such FDA approval, in all cases subject to continuous service to the Company. If FDA approval does not occur prior to February 15, 2019, the performance-based options shall expire unexercised. All of the performance-based options were granted with an exercise price of $2.23, the closing sales price as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on April 9, 2018. The other terms of the performance-based option are substantially similar to the Board-approved form of option agreement used for time-based option grants under the Plan.</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:36pt;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:36pt;">The summary description of the performance-based stock option is qualified in its entirety to the form of Performance-Based Stock Option Award that was approved by the Board on April 7, 2018, a copy of which will be filed with the Company&rsquo;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 and which is incorporated by reference herein.</p>

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<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><b>Signatures</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;"><b>&nbsp;</b></p>

<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:36pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</p>

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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Date: April 12, 2018</p>
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			<td colspan="2" style="vertical-align: middle; width: 3%;">
			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">ACELRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</p>
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			<td style="vertical-align: middle; width: 3%;">&nbsp;</td>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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			<td colspan="1" style="vertical-align: middle; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); width: 35%;">
			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">/s/ Raffi Asadorian</p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
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			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Raffi Asadorian</p>

			<p style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;text-align:left;">Chief Financial Officer</p>
			</td>
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acrx20180411_8k.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
April
7
, 201
8
ACELRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-35068
41-2193603
(State of incorporation)
(Commission File No.)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
351 Galveston Drive
Redwood City, CA 94063
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(650) 216-3500
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company      ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.      ☐
Item
5.02
D
eparture of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
.
Performance-Based Stock Option Awards
On April 7, 2018, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company"), based upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, granted under the Company's 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") a new type of performance-based stock option award to its employees, including the Company's named executive officers. An aggregate of approximately 917,543 shares subject to these performance-based stock options were awarded to the Company's employees, including the following amounts for the following named executive officers:
Named Executive Officer
Performance-Based
Stock Option Awards
Vincent Angotti, Chief Executive Officer
192,500
Raffi Asadorian, Chief Financial Officer
81,125
Anil Dasu, Chief Engineering Officer
63,250
Larry Hamel, Chief Development Officer
52,250
Pamela Palmer, Chief Medical Officer
95,150
Vesting of the performance-based stock options is as follows: 50% of the stock option award becomes vested and exercisable upon the Company's achievement of commercial approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") of its New Drug Application ("NDA") for DSUVIA
™
on or before February 15, 2019; and the remaining 50% of the award shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the date of such FDA approval, in all cases subject to continuous service to the Company. If FDA approval does not occur prior to February 15, 2019, the performance-based options shall expire unexercised. All of the performance-based options were granted with an exercise price of $2.23, the closing sales price as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on April 9, 2018. The other terms of the performance-based option are substantially similar to the Board-approved form of option agreement used for time-based option grants under the Plan.
The summary description of the performance-based stock option is qualified in its entirety to the form of Performance-Based Stock Option Award that was approved by the Board on April 7, 2018, a copy of which will be filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 and which is incorporated by reference herein.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 12, 2018
ACELRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:
/s/ Raffi Asadorian
Raffi Asadorian
Chief Financial Officer