ACUR Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc (CE)

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 OF SECURITIES                                                                                   
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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940                       

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) ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 616 N. NORTH COURT, SUITE 120	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 1/3/2022
(Street) PALATINE, IL 60067 (City)        (State)        (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. 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	1/3/2022		M(1)		66666	A	(2)	459323 (3)	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. 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		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (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 (2021 Plan)	(2)(4)	1/3/2022		M			66666	(5)	(5)	Common Stock	66666	(6)	0	D
Restricted Stock Units (2021 Plan)	(2)(4)	1/3/2022		A			66666	(7)	(7)	Common Stock	66666	(6)	66666	D

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	Represents exchange of restricted stock units.
(2)	Par value of $.01 per share must be paid by Reporting Person upon exchange of Restricted Stock Units for stock
(3)	Does not include Restricted Stock Units.
(4)	1 - for - 1
(5)	66,666 Restricted Stock Units were granted on May 25, 2021. 50% of Restricted Stock Units vested on the last day of June 2021, while 25% of Restricted Stock Units vested on the last day of September 2021 and December 2021. Restricted Stock Units are being exchanged on a one for one basis for common stock, in each case upon payment of par value.
(6)	N/A
(7)	66,666 Restricted Stock Units were granted on January 3, 2022. 25% of Restricted Stock Units vest on the last day of each of March, June, September and December 2022, subject to immediate vesting in the event of a change of control and certain other events. 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 2023, or earlier upon a change of control.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
SKELLY WILLIAM G ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 616 N. NORTH COURT, SUITE 120 PALATINE, IL 60067	X

Signatures
/s/ William G. Skelly		1/5/2022
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date