# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001213308
**File Stem:** 0001104659-23-001403
**Filing Date:** 2023-1
**Character Count:** 7471
**Document Hash:** 3afea1557999fa1931c4780330999e43
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001104659-23-001403.hdr.sgml**: 20230105

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001104659-23-001403

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 4

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 1

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20230103

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230105

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230105

**REPORTING-OWNER**: 

**OWNER DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** THANGARAJ IMMANUEL
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001213308

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 4
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-10113
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23511295

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 10001 WOODLOCH FOREST DRIVE SUITE 175
- **CITY:** THE WOODLANDS
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 77380
**ISSUER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000786947
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 110853640
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** NY
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 616 N. NORTH COURT, SUITE 120
- **CITY:** PALATINE
- **STATE:** IL
- **ZIP:** 60067
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 847-705-7709

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 616 N. NORTH COURT, SUITE 120
- **STREET 2:** .
- **CITY:** PALATINE
- **STATE:** IL
- **ZIP:** 60067

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** HALSEY DRUG CO INC/NEW
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19920703

### UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
**Washington, D.C. 20549**

## FORM 4

### STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

[ ] Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **1. Name and Address of Reporting Person**<sup>*</sup><br>THANGARAJ IMMANUEL<br><sub>(Last) (First) (Middle)</sub><br>335 BRYANT STREET, #3<br><sub>(Street)</sub><br>PALO ALTO, CA 94301<br><sub>(City) (State) (Zip)</sub> | **3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)**<br>2023-01-03 | **5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer**<br>(Check all applicable)<br>[X] Director [ ] 10% Owner<br>[ ] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)<br>_ _ |
| **2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol**<br>ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC [ ACUR ] | **4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)**<br>  | **6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)**<br>[X] Form filed by One Reporting Person<br>[ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person |

---

## Table I - Non-Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | Amount | (A) or (D) | Price | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Common Stock | 2023-01-03 |  | M<sup>(1)</sup> |  | 66666 | A | <sup>(2)</sup> | 397647<sup>(3)</sup> | D |  |
| Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1956396 | I<sup>(8)</sup> | By Essex Woodlands Health Venture Fund V, L.P. |

---

## Table II - Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | (A) | (D) | Date Exercisable | Expiration Date | Title | Amount or Number of Shares | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Restricted Stock Units (2021 Plan) | <sup>(2)(4)</sup> | 2023-01-03 |  | M |  |  | 66666 | <sup>(5)</sup> | <sup>(5)</sup> | Common Stock | 66666 | <sup>(6)</sup> | 0 | D |  |
| Restricted Stock Units (2021 Plan) | <sup>(2)(4)</sup> | 2023-01-03 |  | A |  |  | 50000 | <sup>(7)</sup> | <sup>(7)</sup> | Common Stock | 50000 | <sup>(6)</sup> | 50000 | D |  |

---

### Footnotes:

(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 January 3, 2022. 25% of Restricted Stock Units vested on the last day of each of March, June, September and December 2022. 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) 50,000 Restricted Stock Units were granted on January 3, 2023. 25% of Restricted Stock Units vest on the last day of each of March, June, September and December 2023, 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 2024, or earlier upon a change of control.

(8) The reporting person is a managing director of the general partner of Essex Woodlands Health Ventures Fund V, L.P. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

**Signature:** /s/ Immanuel Thangaraj  
**Date:** 2023-01-05

### Remarks:

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).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

**Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.**