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

March 15, 2010
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(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):
	[   ]	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
	[   ]	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
	[   ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
	[   ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

---

Item 8.01. Other Events.

     On March 15, 2010, we issued a press release, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, announcing clinical evaluation is now allowed under an Investigational New Drug application filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a benzodiazepine product candidate utilizing our Aversion® technology.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press Release dated March 15, 2010.

---

SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Date: March 15, 2010	By:	/s/   PETER A. CLEMENS Peter A. Clemens Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

---

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press Release dated March 15, 2010.