-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FgkVZI84s2qEZb6g84hxqlLF5+lM9ZZsQRWuX3MQvcnLqy1/7ODmW/i+2ux1mgVx
 F1I3/Ogu6c55W9Z5J4cuCg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-06-022815.txt : 20061205
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-06-022815.hdr.sgml : 20061205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061205162417
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-06-022815
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061205

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ACORDA THERAPEUTICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001008848
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15 SKYLINE DRIVE
		CITY:			HAWTHORNE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10532
		BUSINESS PHONE:		914-347-4300

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PANEM SANDRA PHD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001176268

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50513
		FILM NUMBER:		061257603

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11 STABWIX STREET
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15222
		BUSINESS PHONE:		443-542-2192

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MARTEK BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		6480 DOBBIN ROAD
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21045
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001008848</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACORDA THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACOR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001176268</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PANEM SANDRA PHD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>15 SKYLINE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAWTHORNE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10532</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-employee stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1287</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-03-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-12-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1287</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5774</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares subject to this option vest in equal quarterly installments for one year beginning on 3/1/2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to a contractual arrangement between the reporting person and Cross Atlantic Partners, Inc., the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of 2,569 shares of these securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Sandra Panem</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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