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 14, 2012

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

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):

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e)

On December 14, 2012, (i) we and Robert B. Jones, our President and Chief Executive Officer entered into an amendment (the “Jones Amendment”) to his employment agreement dated March 18, 2008 (together with the prior amendment, the “Jones Agreement”) and (ii) we and Peter A. Clemens, our Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President entered into an amendment (the “Clemens Amendment”, and together with the Jones Amendment, the “Amendments”) to his employment agreement dated March 10, 1998 (together with the prior amendments, the “Clemens Agreement”).

The Amendments were entered into in reliance on the Proposed Regulations to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, and the regulations thereunder (“Section 409A”) and, among other things, are intended to make sure that certain payments on termination to which Mr. Clemens or Mr. Jones have not yet vested are made on the same schedule and with a six month delay, where required under Section 409A for “specified employees” and to otherwise comply with Section 409A. Both Mr. Jones and Mr. Clemens are currently “specified employees.” The Amendments did not increase any amounts to which either Mr. Jones or Mr. Clemens is entitled but did adjust the timing of certain payments depending on whether or not Mr. Clemens or Mr. Jones are “specified employees” at termination. A summary of the significant changes to the schedule of payments is set forth in the tables below.

Robert B. Jones

*A 409A Change of Control is. a change in ownership, change in effective control or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of assets as construed under the regulations to Section 409A.

PETER A. CLEMENS

There are also special provisions for certain payments in the event Mr. Jones or Mr. Clemens dies within six months after termination.

The foregoing is merely a summary of the material terms of the Amendments, and does not purport to be complete. Reference is made to the attached Exhibits for the full terms of the Amendments.

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.