Sec Form 4 Filing - SKELLY WILLIAM G @ ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC - 2017-01-03

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 SKELLY WILLIAM G 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC [ ACUR] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 616 N. NORTH COURT 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/03/2017 (Street) PALATINE, IL60067 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ 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 01/03/2017 M( 1 ) 13,216 A 28,345 ( 3 ) ( 4 ) D

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 Restricted Stock Units ( 4 ) ( 2 ) 01/03/2017 D 8,810 ( 5 ) ( 5 ) Common Stock 8,810 $ 0.7665 ( 2 ) ( 6 ) 13,216 D Restricted Stock Units ( 4 ) ( 2 ) 01/03/2017 M 13,216 ( 5 ) ( 5 ) Common Stock 13,216 ( 2 ) 0 D Restricted Stock Units ( 2 ) 01/03/2017 A 59,523 ( 7 ) ( 7 ) Common Stock 59,523 ( 8 ) 59,523 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other SKELLY WILLIAM G C/O ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 616 N. NORTH COURT PALATINE, IL60067 X Signatures /s/ William Skelly 01/04/2017 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Represents exchange of restricted stock units. ( 2 )Par value of $.01 must be paid by Reporting Person (or withheld from cash distributions) upon exchange of Restricted Stock Units for cash or stock ( 3 )Does not include Restricted Stock Units. ( 4 )Reflects 1 for 5 Reverse Stock Split effective August 27, 2015. ( 5 )25% of Restricted Stock Units vested on March 31, 2016, 25% vested on June 30, 2016; 25% vested on September 30, 2016 and 25% vested on December 31, 2016. Reporting Person elected to exchange 40% (8.810) of Restricted Stock Units for cash (less par value of $.01 per share). Remaining Restricted Stock Units are being exchanged on a one for one basis for common stock, in each case upon payment of, or deduction of par value. ( 6 )Represents closing price of Issuer's common stock on December 30, 2016. ( 7 )25% of Restricted Stock Units vest on the last day of each of March, June, September and December 2017, subject to immediate vesting in the event of a change of control. Reporting Person may elect to exchange up to 40% of Restricted Stock Units for cash and the remaining Restricted Stock Units will be exchanged on a one for one basis for common stock, in each case upon payment of, or deduction of par value. Distributions in respect of vested Restricted Stock Units will be made on the first business day of January 2018, or earlier upon a change of control. ( 8 )N/A

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

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