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<P id=PARA2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>UNITED STATES</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA3 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA4 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA6 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>FORM 8-K</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA7 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA8 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>CURRENT REPORT</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA9 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA10 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA11 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): </B><B>July 1</B><B>8</B><B>, 2017</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA12 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA13 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>ACELRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA23 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>001-35068</B></FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA25 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>41-2193603</B></FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA26 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(State of incorporation)</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA28 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(Commission File No.)</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA30 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<P id=PARA33 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>351 Galveston Drive </B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA35 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Redwood City, CA 94063 </B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA38 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code:</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B> </B></FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>(650) 216-3500 </B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA39 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA40 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">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):</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA42 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&#9744;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"> Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA44 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&#9744;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA46 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&#9744;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA48 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&#9744;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA50 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule&nbsp;405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA54 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">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;</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA62 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>ITEM </B><B>5</B><B>.0</B><B>2</B><B> </B><B>Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA64 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><I>Appointment of Chief Financial Officer</I></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA65 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA66 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">On July 19, 2017, AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the &#8220;<I><B>Company</B></I>&#8221;) announced that Raffi M. Asadorian, age 47, had been appointed&nbsp;by the Company&#8217;s Board of Directors to serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective August 16, 2017 (the &#8220;<I><B>Start Date</B></I>&#8221;).</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA67 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA68 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Before joining the Company, Mr. Asadorian served as the Chief Financial Officer of Amyris, Inc., a publicly traded commercial-stage biotechnology company, from January 2015 to January 2017, and as the Group Chief Financial Officer of Unilabs, a private equity-owned healthcare diagnostic company, from August 2009 to October 2014. Mr. Asadorian started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (&#8220;<I><B>PwC</B></I>&#8221;) where, as a partner in its Transaction Services group, he advised clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and related transactions and financings. While at PwC, Mr. Asadorian advised Barr Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded specialty pharmaceutical company, on its acquisition of PLIVA, a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, and, after its acquisition, Mr. Asadorian joined Barr as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the PLIVA subsidiary from 2007 to 2009. In that role, Mr. Asadorian oversaw a global finance team and was responsible for Barr&#8217;s ex-US financial operations, until its acquisition by Teva Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Asadorian holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Xavier University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Manchester (U.K.).&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA69 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA70 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">In connection with the appointment, Mr. Asadorian executed an offer letter, which provides that he will be employed by the Company on an &#8220;at will&#8221; basis and will receive, among other things: an initial annual base salary of $400,000; an annual cash bonus targeted at 30% of Mr.&nbsp;Asadorian&#8217;s base salary (pro-rated for 2017), with actual bonus payments based on the achievement of corporate performance and individual performance objectives, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors; and eligibility to participate in the Company&#8217;s Amended and Restated Severance Benefit Plan.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA71 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA72 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">In connection with the offer letter, the Company also intends to request that the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approve that Mr. Asadorian be awarded on the Start Date an option under the Company&#8217;s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 220,000 shares of the Company&#8217;s common stock with an exercise price to be equal to the closing sales price of the Company&#8217;s common stock on the Start Date as reported by Nasdaq, and vesting as follows: 25% of the shares to vest on the first anniversary of the Start Date and then 1/48<SUP style="vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; bottom:.33em;">th</SUP>&nbsp;of the shares vesting on each of the 36 months thereafter, in all cases subject to Mr.&nbsp;Asadorian&#8217;s continuous service. </FONT></P>
<P id=PARA73 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA74 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">The foregoing description of Mr. Asadorian&#8217;s employment terms is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of his offer letter, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 attached hereto, and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA75 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA76 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 24.5pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">A copy of the Company&#8217;s press release announcing the appointment of Mr.&nbsp;Asadorian is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA78 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA79 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>(d) Exhibits.</B></FONT></P>
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<P id=PARA84 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><U><B>Description</B></U></FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA85 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">10.1+</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA86 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Offer Letter dated July 18, 2017 with Raffi Asadorian</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<P id=PARA87 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">99.1</FONT></P></TD>
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<P id=PARA88 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 88.9%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA89 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Press Release dated July 19, 2017.</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P id=PARA91 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 45pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: -45pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA92 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 45pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: -45pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA93.1 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<DIV id=PGBK93  style="WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
<DIV id=PGFTR93  style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV id=PGNUM93  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</DIV>
<HR style="HEIGHT: 2px; WIDTH: 100%; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; COLOR: #000000" noShade>

<DIV id=PGHDR93  style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>
<P id=PARA93.2 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA94 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase"><B>Signatures</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA95 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA96 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA97 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE id=TBL118  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0>

<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 44.4%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA103 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Date: July 19, 2017</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 41.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" colSpan=3>
<P id=PARA104 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">ACELRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"></FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 13.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">
<P id=PARA108 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 44.4%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 41.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" colSpan=3>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 13.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 44.4%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">
<P id=PARA109 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 3.6%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA110 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 38.2%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" colSpan=2>
<P id=PARA111 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">/s/ Jane Wright-Mitchell </FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 13.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">
<P id=PARA112 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 44.4%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">
<P id=PARA113 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 3.6%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">
<P id=PARA114 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 38.2%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" colSpan=2>
<P id=PARA115 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Jane Wright-Mitchell</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA116 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Chief Legal Officer</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 13.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">
<P id=PARA117 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P id=PARA119 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: 252pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"></FONT></P>
<DIV id=PGBK151  style="WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
<DIV id=PGFTR151  style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV id=PGNUM151  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&nbsp;</DIV>
<HR style="HEIGHT: 2px; WIDTH: 100%; PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; COLOR: #000000" noShade>

<DIV id=PGHDR151  style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>
<P id=PARA151.2 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P id=PARA121 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B></FONT></P>
<P id=PARA122 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE id=TBL160  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0>

<TR>
<TD style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; WIDTH: 5.3%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; MARGIN-TOP: 0px">
<P id=PARA152 style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Exhibit<BR></B><U><B>Number</B></U></FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 5.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">
<P id=PARA153 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 88.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">
<P id=PARA154 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif"><U><B>Description</B></U></FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 5.3%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">&nbsp; </TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 94.7%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" colSpan=2>&nbsp; </TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 5.3%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA155 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">10.1+</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 5.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">&nbsp; </TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 88.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA156 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Offer Letter dated July 18, 2017 with Raffi Asadorian</FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 5.3%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp; </TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 5.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">&nbsp; </TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 88.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 5.3%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid">
<P id=PARA157 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">99.1</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 5.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom">
<P id=PARA158 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 88.8%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">
<P id=PARA159 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">Press Release dated July 19, 2017.</FONT></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE id=TBL149  style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0>

<TR>
<TD style="WIDTH: 99.9%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle">
<P id=PARA147 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 45pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-INDENT: -45pt"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.</FONT></P></TD>
<TD style="WIDTH: 0.1%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle" colSpan=2>&nbsp; </TD></TR></TABLE>
<P id=PARA150 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25"><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times, serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P></BODY></HTML>
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acrx20170718_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):
July 1
8
, 2017
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
.0
2
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Appointment of Chief Financial Officer
On July 19, 2017, AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "
Company
") announced that Raffi M. Asadorian, age 47, had been appointed by the Company's Board of Directors to serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective August 16, 2017 (the "
Start Date
").
Before joining the Company, Mr. Asadorian served as the Chief Financial Officer of Amyris, Inc., a publicly traded commercial-stage biotechnology company, from January 2015 to January 2017, and as the Group Chief Financial Officer of Unilabs, a private equity-owned healthcare diagnostic company, from August 2009 to October 2014. Mr. Asadorian started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers ("
PwC
") where, as a partner in its Transaction Services group, he advised clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and related transactions and financings. While at PwC, Mr. Asadorian advised Barr Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded specialty pharmaceutical company, on its acquisition of PLIVA, a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, and, after its acquisition, Mr. Asadorian joined Barr as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the PLIVA subsidiary from 2007 to 2009. In that role, Mr. Asadorian oversaw a global finance team and was responsible for Barr's ex-US financial operations, until its acquisition by Teva Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Asadorian holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Xavier University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Manchester (U.K.).
In connection with the appointment, Mr. Asadorian executed an offer letter, which provides that he will be employed by the Company on an "at will" basis and will receive, among other things: an initial annual base salary of $400,000; an annual cash bonus targeted at 30% of Mr. Asadorian's base salary (pro-rated for 2017), with actual bonus payments based on the achievement of corporate performance and individual performance objectives, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors; and eligibility to participate in the Company's Amended and Restated Severance Benefit Plan.
In connection with the offer letter, the Company also intends to request that the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approve that Mr. Asadorian be awarded on the Start Date an option under the Company's 2011 Equity Incentive Plan to purchase 220,000 shares of the Company's common stock with an exercise price to be equal to the closing sales price of the Company's common stock on the Start Date as reported by Nasdaq, and vesting as follows: 25% of the shares to vest on the first anniversary of the Start Date and then 1/48
th
of the shares vesting on each of the 36 months thereafter, in all cases subject to Mr. Asadorian's continuous service.
The foregoing description of Mr. Asadorian's employment terms is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of his offer letter, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 attached hereto, and the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein.
A copy of the Company's press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Asadorian is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.1+
Offer Letter dated July 18, 2017 with Raffi Asadorian
99.1
Press Release dated July 19, 2017.
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
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: July 19, 2017
ACELRX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:
/s/ Jane Wright-Mitchell
Jane Wright-Mitchell
Chief Legal Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.1+
Offer Letter dated July 18, 2017 with Raffi Asadorian
99.1
Press Release dated July 19, 2017.
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.