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      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>UNITED
        STATES</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SECURITIES
        AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>WASHINGTON,
        D. C. 20549</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>____________</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>FORM
        8-K</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>CURRENT
        REPORT </strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Pursuant
        to Section 13 or 15(d) of the</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Securities
        Exchange Act Of 1934</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>December
        22, 2005</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date
        of
        Report (Date of earliest event reported)</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>___________________________________________________________</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>ACURA
        PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
        Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>___________________________________________________________</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
      <div align="center">
        <table bgcolor="#ffffff" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

            <tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
              <td width="31%">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><strong><font size="2">State
                  of New
                  York</font></strong></div>
              </td>
              <td width="2%">&#160;</td>
              <td width="31%">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><strong><font size="2">1-10113</font></strong></div>
              </td>
              <td width="2%">&#160;</td>
              <td width="31%">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><strong><font size="2">11-0853640</font></strong></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
              <td width="31%">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2">(State
                  of Other Jurisdiction</font></div>
              </td>
              <td width="2%">&#160;</td>
              <td width="31%">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2">(Commission
                  File Number)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td width="2%">&#160;</td>
              <td width="31%">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2">(I.R.S.
                  Employer</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr bgcolor="#ffffff">
              <td width="31%">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2">of
                  Incorporation)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td width="2%">&#160;</td>
              <td width="31%">&#160;</td>
              <td width="2%">&#160;</td>
              <td width="31%">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2">Identification
                  Number)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>616
        N. North Court, Suite 120</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Palatine,
        Illinois 60067</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Address
        of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>(847)
        705-7709</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Registrant&#8217;s
        telephone number, including area code)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">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></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td align="left" style="WIDTH: 27pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></font></td>
              <td align="left">
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Written
                  communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
                  CFR
                  230.425)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td align="left" style="WIDTH: 27pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></td>
              <td align="left">
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Soliciting
                  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17CFR
                  240.14a-12)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td align="left" style="WIDTH: 27pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></td>
              <td align="left">
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement
                  communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
                  (17CFR240.14d-</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">2(b))</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td align="left" style="WIDTH: 27pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></td>
              <td align="left">
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pre-commencement
                  communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
                  (17CFR
                  240.13e-</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4(c))</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
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          </div>
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        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          </div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
          </div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
        1.01<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Entry
        into a Material Definitive Agreement.</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 54pt"></font><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On
        December 22, 2005, the Company entered into amendments (the &#8220;Amendments&#8221;) to the
        Executive Employment Agreements between the Company and each of Andrew Reddick,
        President and Chief Executive Officer, Ron Spivey, Senior Vice President
        and
        Chief Scientific Officer, and Peter A. Clemens, Senior Vice President and
        Chief
        Financial Officer (collectively, the &#8220;Executive Employment Agreements&#8221;). The
        Amendments provide for (i) the extension of the term of the Executive Employment
        Agreements to December 31, 2006, (ii) an adjustment to the bonus provisions
        to
        provide for the Company&#8217;s payment of an annual cash bonus (subject to the
        achievement of such target, conditions or parameters as will be agreed upon
        by
        the Employee and the Board of Directors) of up to 100% (formerly up to 35%)
        of
        the Employee&#8217;s then current Base Salary, (iii) the payment of a cash bonus for
        fiscal 2006 equal to 100% of the Employee&#8217;s then current Base Salary (the &#8220;2006
        Cash Bonus&#8221;) upon the Company&#8217;s receipt of aggregate gross proceeds of at least
        $15.0 million on or before March 31, 2007 from an offering of the Company&#8217;s
        equity securities or from license fees and milestone payments from third-party
        licensing or similar transactions (subject to the payment of a pro-rata portion
        of the 2006 Cash Bonus, provided the Company receives aggregate gross proceeds
        from such transactions of at least $11.0 million on or before March 31, 2007),
        (iv) the Company&#8217;s commitment to amend the Company&#8217;s 1998 Stock Option Plan to
        conform with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
        of
        1986, as amended (&#8220;Section 409A&#8221;), (v) the inclusion of certain restrictions on
        the time period in which the Employee may exercise his vested stock options
        upon
        a termination of employment, in order to comply with Section 409A, (vi) the
        Company&#8217;s commitment to issue to the Employee a non-qualified stock option
        agreement prepared in compliance with Section 409A, in replacement of the
        current non-qualified stock option agreements issued to the Employee, and
        (vii)
        the acknowledgement that the Company has issued Restricted Stock Units (the
&#8220;RSU
        Awards&#8221;) to the Employee pursuant to terms of the Company&#8217;s 2005 Restricted
        Stock Unit Award Plan (the &#8220;RSU Plan&#8221;) and the Restricted Stock Unit Award
        Agreements reflecting such grants (the &#8220;RSU Award Agreement&#8221;). The RSU Awards
        provide for the Company&#8217;s issuance of up to 8,250,000, 6,600,000 and 4,400,000
        shares of the Company&#8217;s Common Stock to Messrs. Reddick, Spivey and Clemens,
        respectively, subject to the terms and conditions, including the vesting
        and
        distribution requirements, of the RSU Plan and the RSU Award Agreements.
        The
        Amendment to Mr. Spivey&#8217;s Executive Employment Agreement also reflects the
        Company&#8217;s recent grant to Mr. Spivey of a non-qualified stock option award
        exercisable for 4,000,000 shares of the Company&#8217;s Common Stock at an exercise
        price of $0.13 per share.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
        9.01&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Financial
        Statements and Exhibits.</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">10.1</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Third
                  Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22,
                  2005
                  between Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Andrew D.
                  Reddick</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 36pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">10.2</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amendment
                  to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between
                  Acura
                  Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Ron J. Spivey
</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 36pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">10.3</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Third
                  Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22,
                  2005
                  between Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Peter A.
                  Clemens</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 36pt" align="justify"><br></div>
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        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

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              <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">10.4</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">2005
                  Restricted Stock Unit Award Plan</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
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        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 180pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SIGNATURES</strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">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 thereunto
        duly authorized.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
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        <div>
          <table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

              <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
                <td width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></td>
                <td width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></td>
                <td width="49%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></td>
              </tr>
              <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
                <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></td>
                <td colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>ACURA
                  PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</strong></font></td>
              </tr>
              <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
                <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
                <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
                <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
              </tr>
              <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
                <td>&#160;</td>
                <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">By:&#160;&#160;</font></td>
                <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/s/&#160;Peter
                  A. Clemens</font></td>
              </tr>
              <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
                <td colspan="2"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="1">&#160;</font></td>
                <td align="left">
                  <hr style="COLOR: #000000" align="left" noshade size="2" width="80%"><font size="2">Peter
                  A. Clemens</font></td>
              </tr>
              <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
                <td colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></td>
                <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Senior
                  Vice President &amp; Chief Financial Officer</font></td>
              </tr>
              <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
                <td colspan="2">&#160;</td>
                <td>&#160;</td>
              </tr>
              <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
                <td colspan="2"><font size="2">Date:</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">December
                  23, 2005</font></td>
                <td>&#160;</td>
              </tr>

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      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong><u>Exhibit
        Index</u></strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong><u>Exhibit
        No.</u><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong><u>Description</u></strong></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">10.1</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Third
                  Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22,
                  2005
                  between Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Andrew D.
                  Reddick</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 36pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">10.2</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amendment
                  to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between
                  Acura
                  Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Ron J. Spivey
</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 36pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">10.3</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Third
                  Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22,
                  2005
                  between Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Peter A.
                  Clemens</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 36pt" align="justify"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">

            <tr valign="top" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25">
              <td style="WIDTH: 72pt">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">10.4</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">2005
                  Restricted Stock Unit Award Plan</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC", "cik": "0000786947", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "110853640", "state-of-incorporation": "NY", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10113", "film-number": "051284954"}, "business-address": {"street1": "616 N. NORTH COURT, SUITE 120", "city": "PALATINE", "state": "IL", "zip": "60067", "phone": "847-705-7709"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "616 N. NORTH COURT, SUITE 120", "street2": ".", "city": "PALATINE", "state": "IL", "zip": "60067"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "HALSEY DRUG CO INC/NEW", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
Unassociated Document
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
December
        22, 2005
Date
        of
        Report (Date of earliest event reported)
___________________________________________________________
ACURA
        PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact
        Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
___________________________________________________________
State
                  of New
                  York
1-10113
11-0853640
(State
                  of Other Jurisdiction
(Commission
                  File Number)
(I.R.S.
                  Employer
of
                  Incorporation)
Identification
                  Number)
616
        N. North Court, Suite 120
Palatine,
        Illinois 60067
(Address
        of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(847)
        705-7709
(Registrant's
        telephone number, including area code)
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):
o
Written
                  communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
                  CFR
                  230.425)
o
Soliciting
                  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17CFR
                  240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement
                  communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
                  (17CFR240.14d-
2(b))
o
Pre-commencement
                  communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
                  (17CFR
                  240.13e-
4(c))
Item
        1.01
Entry
        into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On
        December 22, 2005, the Company entered into amendments (the "Amendments") to the
        Executive Employment Agreements between the Company and each of Andrew Reddick,
        President and Chief Executive Officer, Ron Spivey, Senior Vice President
        and
        Chief Scientific Officer, and Peter A. Clemens, Senior Vice President and
        Chief
        Financial Officer (collectively, the "Executive Employment Agreements"). The
        Amendments provide for (i) the extension of the term of the Executive Employment
        Agreements to December 31, 2006, (ii) an adjustment to the bonus provisions
        to
        provide for the Company's payment of an annual cash bonus (subject to the
        achievement of such target, conditions or parameters as will be agreed upon
        by
        the Employee and the Board of Directors) of up to 100% (formerly up to 35%)
        of
        the Employee's then current Base Salary, (iii) the payment of a cash bonus for
        fiscal 2006 equal to 100% of the Employee's then current Base Salary (the "2006
        Cash Bonus") upon the Company's receipt of aggregate gross proceeds of at least
        $15.0 million on or before March 31, 2007 from an offering of the Company's
        equity securities or from license fees and milestone payments from third-party
        licensing or similar transactions (subject to the payment of a pro-rata portion
        of the 2006 Cash Bonus, provided the Company receives aggregate gross proceeds
        from such transactions of at least $11.0 million on or before March 31, 2007),
        (iv) the Company's commitment to amend the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan to
        conform with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
        of
        1986, as amended ("Section 409A"), (v) the inclusion of certain restrictions on
        the time period in which the Employee may exercise his vested stock options
        upon
        a termination of employment, in order to comply with Section 409A, (vi) the
        Company's commitment to issue to the Employee a non-qualified stock option
        agreement prepared in compliance with Section 409A, in replacement of the
        current non-qualified stock option agreements issued to the Employee, and
        (vii)
        the acknowledgement that the Company has issued Restricted Stock Units (the
"RSU
        Awards") to the Employee pursuant to terms of the Company's 2005 Restricted
        Stock Unit Award Plan (the "RSU Plan") and the Restricted Stock Unit Award
        Agreements reflecting such grants (the "RSU Award Agreement"). The RSU Awards
        provide for the Company's issuance of up to 8,250,000, 6,600,000 and 4,400,000
        shares of the Company's Common Stock to Messrs. Reddick, Spivey and Clemens,
        respectively, subject to the terms and conditions, including the vesting
        and
        distribution requirements, of the RSU Plan and the RSU Award Agreements.
        The
        Amendment to Mr. Spivey's Executive Employment Agreement also reflects the
        Company's recent grant to Mr. Spivey of a non-qualified stock option award
        exercisable for 4,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise
        price of $0.13 per share.
Item
        9.01
Financial
        Statements and Exhibits.
10.1
Third
                  Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22,
                  2005
                  between Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Andrew D.
                  Reddick
10.2
Amendment
                  to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between
                  Acura
                  Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Ron J. Spivey
10.3
Third
                  Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22,
                  2005
                  between Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Peter A.
                  Clemens
10.4
2005
                  Restricted Stock Unit Award 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 thereunto
        duly authorized.
ACURA
                  PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:
/s/ Peter
                  A. Clemens
Peter
                  A. Clemens
Senior
                  Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Date:
December
                  23, 2005
Exhibit
        Index
Exhibit
        No.
Description
10.1
Third
                  Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22,
                  2005
                  between Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Andrew D.
                  Reddick
10.2
Amendment
                  to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22, 2005 between
                  Acura
                  Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Ron J. Spivey
10.3
Third
                  Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 22,
                  2005
                  between Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Peter A.
                  Clemens
10.4
2005
                  Restricted Stock Unit Award Plan