Sec Form 4 Filing - KAPOOR JOHN N @ AKORN INC - 2018-01-25

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person KAPOOR JOHN N 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AKORN INC [ AKRX] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director X __ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 1925 WEST FIELD COURT SUITE 300, 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/25/2018 (Street) LAKE FOREST, IL60045 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _____ Form filed by One Reporting Person __ X __ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/25/2018 M( 1 ) 10,753 A $ 24.74 513,814 ( 2 ) D Common Stock 01/25/2018 M( 1 ) 5,802 A $ 29.5 519,616 D Common Stock 01/25/2018 S( 3 ) 13,629 D $ 32.67 ( 4 ) 505,987 D Common Stock 15,050,000 I By Limited Partnership ( 5 ) Common Stock 4,427,462 I By Trusts ( 6 ) Common Stock 3,590,445 I By Limited Partnership ( 7 ) Common Stock 2,970,644 I By Limited Partnership ( 7 ) Common Stock 1,907,445 I By Trust ( 8 )

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 24.74 01/25/2018 M 10,753 05/02/2015 ( 9 ) Common Stock 10,753 $ 0 0 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 29.5 01/25/2018 M 5,802 ( 10 ) ( 11 ) Common Stock 5,802 $ 0 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other KAPOOR JOHN N 1925 WEST FIELD COURT SUITE 300 LAKE FOREST, IL60045 X Akorn Holdings, L.P. 100 NORTH FIELD DRIVE SUITE 150 LAKE FOREST, IL60045 X Signatures /s/ Joseph Bonaccorsi, Attorney-in-Fact 01/26/2018 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The Reporting Person exercised these stock options in advance of their new expiration date of January 30, 2018, which date is three months following the Reporting Person's resignation from the Company's board of directors. ( 2 )The securities owned by the Reporting Person following the reported transaction reflect the forfeiture of 10,418 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) that were forfeited upon the Reporting Person's resignation from the Company's board of directors on October 30, 2017. ( 3 )The Reporting Person sold shares to cover the exercise price of the options exercised. ( 4 )Represents the weighted average sale price of the shares sold. The shares were sold at prices ranging from $32.58 to $32.71. Upon request, the Reporting Person will provide to the SEC staff full information regarding the number of shares sold at separate prices within the foregoing range. ( 5 )Shares held by Akorn Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, of which Dr. Kapoor is the indirect managing general partner. Dr. Kapoor disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his actual pecuniary interest therein. ( 6 )Shares held through several trusts, the trustee of which is employed by a company controlled by Dr. Kapoor and the beneficiaries of which include Dr. Kapoor's children and various other family members. Dr. Kapoor disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his actual pecuniary interest therein. ( 7 )Shares held by a limited partnership of which Dr. Kapoor is the indirect managing general partner. Dr. Kapoor disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his actual pecuniary interest therein. ( 8 )Shares held by a trust of which Dr. Kapoor is sole trustee and beneficiary. ( 9 )The original expiration date of these stock options was May 2, 2019. Upon the Reporting Person's resignation from the Company's board of directors, the expiration date was accelerated to January 30, 2018, which is three months after the Reporting Person's resignation date. ( 10 )The Stock Options that were exercised vested in two tranches: 2,901 options vested on July 1, 2016, and 2,901 options vested on July 1, 2017. Upon resignation from the Company's board of directors, the Reporting Person forfeited two additional tranches of 2,900 options each that were scheduled to vest on July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019. ( 11 )The original expiration date of these stock options was July 1, 2023. Upon the Reporting Person's resignation from the Company's board of directors, the expiration date was accelerated to January 30, 2018, which is three months after the Reporting Person's resignation date.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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