Acura Pharmaceuticals (ACUR) director reports 50,000 RSU grant and stock exchange

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Acura Pharmaceuticals director George K. Ross reported equity compensation activity involving restricted stock units (RSUs) and common stock. On January 2, 2026, he acquired 50,000 shares of common stock through an RSU exchange under the 2021 plan, bringing his directly held common stock to 595,903 shares following the transaction.

The filing also shows derivative activity in RSUs. A block of 50,000 RSUs previously granted on January 2, 2025 was exchanged on a one-for-one basis into common stock upon payment of par value of $0.01 per share. In addition, Ross was granted a new award of 50,000 RSUs on January 2, 2026, vesting 25% on the last day of each of March, June, September, and December 2026, with provisions for immediate vesting upon a change of control and certain other events and an election to take up to 40% of the RSUs in cash.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

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

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

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

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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^*

ROSS GEORGE K

(Last) (First) (Middle)

ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

616 N. NORTH COURT, SUITE 120

(Street)

PALATINE IL 60067

(City) (State) (Zip)

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)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/02/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

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. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction 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	01/02/2026		M(1)		50,000	A	(2)	595,903(3)	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction 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 (Month/Day/Year)		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: 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)	01/02/2026		M			50,000	(5)	(5)	Common Stock	50,000	(6)	0	D
Restricted Stock Units (2021 Plan)	(2)(4)	01/02/2026		A			50,000	(7)	(7)	Common Stock	50,000	(6)	50,000	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. 50,000 Restricted Stock Units were granted on January 2, 2025. 25% of Restricted Stock Units vested on the last day of each of March, June, September and December 2025. 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 2, 2026. 25% of Restricted Stock Units vest on the last day of each of March, June, September and December 2026, 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 2027, or earlier upon a change of control.

	/s/ George Ross	01/15/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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FAQ

What insider activity did ACUR director George K. Ross report on this Form 4?

George K. Ross, a director of Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc., reported equity compensation-related transactions dated January 2, 2026. He exchanged 50,000 restricted stock units for 50,000 shares of common stock and received a new grant of 50,000 restricted stock units under the company’s 2021 plan.

How many Acura Pharmaceuticals (ACUR) common shares does George K. Ross own after the reported transactions?

Following the reported transactions on January 2, 2026, George K. Ross beneficially owned 595,903 shares of Acura Pharmaceuticals common stock directly, as shown in Table I of the filing.

What happened to the 50,000 restricted stock units granted to George K. Ross in January 2025 at ACUR?

The filing explains that 50,000 restricted stock units granted on January 2, 2025 vested 25% on the last day of each of March, June, September and December 2025, and these RSUs were then exchanged one-for-one for common stock on January 2, 2026, with par value of $0.01 per share paid upon exchange.

What are the terms of the new 50,000 restricted stock units granted to George K. Ross in 2026 at ACUR?

The Form 4 notes that 50,000 restricted stock units were granted on January 2, 2026. 25% of these RSUs vest on the last day of each of March, June, September and December 2026, may vest immediately upon a change of control and certain other events, and up to 40% may be exchanged for cash, with the remainder exchanged one-for-one for common stock upon payment or deduction of par value.

Does the George K. Ross Form 4 for ACUR involve any indirect ownership or third-party entities?

The insider filing data and footnotes show the reported holdings and transactions for George K. Ross as direct ownership (D), and the nature of ownership fields do not identify any trusts, partnerships, or other indirect entities for these transactions.

When will distributions for George K. Ross’s 2026 restricted stock units at ACUR be made?

According to the footnotes, distributions in respect of vested restricted stock units granted on January 2, 2026 will be made on the first business day of January 2027, or earlier upon a change of control.