Acura Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

PALATINE, Ill., July 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Nasdaq:ACUR) (the "Company") today reported a second quarter 2009 net loss of
$6.5 million, or $0.14 per share compared to net income of $6.9 million, or
$0.13 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2008. For the six months
ending June 30, 2009, the Company reported a net loss of $7.8 million, or $0.17
per share compared to net income of $14.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share
for the same period in 2008. As of July 29, 2009, we had cash and cash
equivalents of approximately $34.5 million with no term indebtedness.

Our financial results include revenues relating to our License, Development and
Commercialization Agreement with King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development,
Inc. ("King"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For the
six month period ending June 30, 2009, we recognized $2.1 million in Program Fee
Revenue from the amortization of the non-refundable $30.0 million upfront
payment received from King in December 2007 and $0.2 million in Collaboration
Revenue from reimbursement by King to the Company of Acurox(r) Tablets research
and development expenses. For the same period in 2008, we recognized $22.4
million and $5.4 million of Program Fee Revenue and Collaboration Revenue,
respectively. Second quarter 2009 revenues include $0.8 million and $0.1 million
of Program Fee Revenue and Collaboration Revenue, respectively, compared to the
second quarter 2008, which included $8.7 million and $2.0 million of Program Fee
Revenue and Collaboration Revenue, respectively. The Company also recognized
$5.0 million in Milestone Revenue related to Acurox(r) development in the six
and three month periods of 2008.

Our financial results include total share-based compensation expense of $3.8
million and $0.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008,
respectively, and $2.3 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended June
30, 2009 and 2008. Excluding the research and development share-based
compensation expense, the Company's research and development expenses decreased
$5.4 million and $2.2 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009,
respectively, as compared with the same periods in 2008. These decreases were
primarily attributable to the expenses of the pivotal Phase III clinical study
and additional clinical testing of the abuse deterrent features of Acurox(r)
Tablets conducted in 2008.

On July 2, 2009, the Company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration ("FDA") issued a Complete Response Letter regarding the New Drug
Application ("NDA") for Acurox(r) (oxycodone HC1 and niacin) Tablets CII, with a
proposed indication for the relief of moderate-to-severe pain. The Complete
Response Letter raises issues regarding the potential abuse deterrent benefits
of Acurox(r). The Company is evaluating the FDA's Complete Response Letter and
at this stage believes we can respond to the issues raised without conducting
any additional studies. We plan to meet with the FDA following submission of our
response.

The Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations
appear below. Detailed financial statements are included in the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

About Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in
research, development and manufacture of innovative Aversion(r) (abuse
deterrent) Technology and related product candidates.

About Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). When used in this
press release, the words "estimate," "project," "anticipate," "expect,"
"intend," "believe," and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. disclaims any intent or
obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and claim the protection
of the Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Act. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risk factors
include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the timing or content of
our response to the FDA concerning the Acurox(r) Tablets Complete Response
Letter and expectations regarding any meeting with the FDA to discuss the
Complete Response Letter; whether or when we are able to gain FDA approval of
the Acurox(r) Tablets NDA; whether additional clinical studies will be required
to support FDA approval of the Acurox(r) Tablets NDA; whether or when we may
gain FDA approval of product labeling for the proposed indication, or for and
label claims relating to the abuse deterrent features and benefits, of
Acurox(r). Other important factors that may cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements are discussed in the "Risk
Factors" section and other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2008 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2009, each of which is on file with the SEC.

ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

(Unaudited) (Audited)
June 30, December 31,
2009 2008
----------- -----------
Current assets $ 35,661 $ 41,888
Property, plant and equipment, net 1,096 1,073
----------- -----------
Total assets $ 36,757 $ 42,961
----------- -----------

Deferred program fee revenue - current $ 2,527 $ 4,632
Other current liabilities 1,281 1,265
Stockholders' equity 32,949 37,064
----------- -----------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 36,757 $ 42,961
----------- -----------

ACURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Six Months Three Months
Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
---------------- ----------------
Revenue
Program fee revenue $ 2,105 $22,415 $ 842 $ 8,708
Milestone revenue -- 5,000 -- 5,000
Collaboration revenue 172 5,354 55 1,977
---------------- ----------------
Total revenue 2,277 32,769 897 15,685

Operating expenses
Research and development expenses 2,334 7,166 1,205 3,084
Marketing, general and
administrative expenses 5,396 2,244 2,948 1,374
---------------- ----------------
Total operating expenses 7,730 9,410 4,153 4,458
---------------- ----------------
Operating (loss) income (5,453) 23,359 (3,256) 11,227
Other income 111 522 42 225
---------------- ----------------
(Loss) income before income tax (5,342) 23,881 (3,214) 11,452
Income tax expense 2,455 9,562 3,306 4,582
---------------- ----------------
Net (loss) income $(7,797) $14,319 $(6,520) $ 6,870
---------------- ----------------

(Loss) earnings per share
Basic $ (0.17) $ 0.31 $ (0.14) $ 0.15
---------------- ----------------
Diluted $ (0.17) $ 0.28 $ (0.14) $ 0.13
---------------- ----------------
Weighted average shares used in
computation
Basic 45,762 45,665 45,813 45,673
---------------- ----------------
Diluted 45,762 51,319 45,813 51,327
---------------- ----------------
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CONTACT: Acura Pharmaceuticals
Peter A. Clemens, SVP & CFO
847-705-7709