Sec Form 4 Filing - Schutte John @ ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC - 2021-06-09

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 Schutte John 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC [ ACUR] 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) 2604 RIVER GREEN CIRCLE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 06/09/2021 (Street) LOUISVILLE, KY40206 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 8,912,655 D Common Stock 06/09/2021 C 42,984,375 A $ 0.16 42,984,375 I By Abuse Deterrent Pharma, LLC ( 1 )

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 Warrant to Purchase Common Stock $ 0.528 07/24/2017 07/23/2022 Common Stock 1,782,531 1,782,531 D Warrant to Purchase Common Stock $ 0.01 06/28/2019 06/28/2024 Common Stock 10,000,000 10,000,000 I By Abuse Deterrent Parma, LLC ( 1 ) Convertible Promissory Note $ 0.16 06/09/2021 C 06/28/2019 ( 3 ) Common Stock 42,984,375 $ 0 0 I By Abuse Deterrent Parma, LLC ( 1 )

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Schutte John 2604 RIVER GREEN CIRCLE LOUISVILLE, KY40206 X Signatures /s/ John Schutte 06/24/2021 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The Reporting Person is the manager and a member of AD Pharma. The Reporting Person hereby disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose. ( 2 )On the conversion date, $6,000,000 of principal and $877,500 of interest under the note was converted into the Issuer's common stock. For each $0.16 converted, AD Pharma received one share of common stock. ( 3 )This note is convertible, at the election of AD Pharma, at any time prior to repayment of the note and matures on July 1, 2023.

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).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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