PALATINE, IL--(Marketwire - Aug 2, 2012) -  Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: [ ACUR ]) today announced its support for the Stop Tampering of Prescription Pills ("STOPP") Act of 2012, H.R. 6160, introduced by a bi-partisan group led by Representative William Keating (D-MA).

The Bill would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to provide a framework to define tamper-resistant technologies, thereby incentivizing the development of and market support for tamper-resistant opioid drugs. It would also serve to bring together physicians, regulators, third party payors and others concerned with the epidemic of prescription opioid abuse and misuse to promote the proper use of tamper-resistant technologies, along with other risk mitigation strategies.

"Acura has been at the forefront of developing abuse deterrent technologies to combat opioid, as well as methamphetamine misuse and abuse for the past 10 years," said Bob Jones, President and CEO, Acura Pharmaceuticals. "Clarity around the regulations as they pertain to tamper-resistant technologies would be constructive for the industry, as well as states that are considering legislation to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic."

Bill H.R. 6160 is co-sponsored by Rep. Bono Mack (R-CA), Rep. Rahall (D-WV), Rep. Rogers (R-KY), Rep. Lynch (D-MA), Rep. Towns (D-NY) and Rep. Tierney (D-MA).

About Acura Pharmaceuticals
Acura Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of product candidates intended to address [ medication abuse and misuse ], utilizing its proprietary AVERSION^® and IMPEDE™ technologies. In June 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved OXECTA^® which incorporates the AVERSION technology. The Company has a development pipeline of additional AVERSION technology products including other opioids and its IMPEDE technology for pseudoephedrine hydrochloride products.

The trademark OXECTA^® is owned by Pfizer Inc.