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

September 18, 2014

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

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ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

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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 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

On September 18, 2014, Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Acura” or the “Company”) received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Staff (the “Staff”) of The NASDAQ Stock Market notifying Acura that because the closing bid price of its common stock has been below $1.00 for 30 consecutive business days, it no longer complies with the requirements for continued listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). The NASDAQ notice does not impact Acura’s listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market at this time and Acura’s common stock will continue to trade under the symbol “ACUR.”

In accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has been provided a period of 180 calendar days, or until March 17, 2015, in which to regain compliance. In order to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock must be at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during this 180 day period. If Acura does not demonstrate compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) by March 17, 2015, the Staff will determine whether Acura meets the applicable market value of publicly held shares requirement for continued listing and all other applicable standards for initial listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market (except the bid price requirement). If Acura meets such criteria, it may be eligible for an additional 180 day compliance period. If Acura does not regain compliance, its common stock will be subject to delisting. At that time, Acura may appeal to a NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel (“Panel”), and Acura’s common stock would remain listed pending the Panel’s decision following a hearing.

The Company intends to monitor the bid price of its common shares between now and March 17, 2015, and will consider available options to regain compliance with the listing requirements. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement or maintain compliance with the other listing requirements.

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.