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 23, 2008

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 (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.13e-4(c)

Item 8.01 Other Events

On December 23, 2008, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development, Inc. (“King”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., exercised an option under the License, Development and Commercialization Agreement dated as of October 30, 2007 between King and us, as amended, to license from us a fourth immediate-release opioid analgesic product utilizing our proprietary Aversion® Technology and paid us the $3 million exercise price.  A press release issued by us in connection with the option exercise is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release of the Registrant dated December 24, 2008.

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 Clemens
	Peter A. Clemens
	Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Date:  December 23, 2008

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release of the Registrant dated December 24, 2008.