Acura Pharmaceuticals has been awarded a $300,000 grant by the National Institute On Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health to fund Phase I development of Acura’s new, early stage Limitx™ abuse deterrent technology. The grant is based on a proposal submitted by the company to advance the development of a self-regulating hydromorphone tablet intended to deter abuse by excess oral consumption of the tablets.

Under the terms of the Grant, the Company must complete Phase I development by February 28, 2015. Phase I of the project is intended to optimize the formulation in preparation for clinical testing in Phase II. NIDA funding of Phase II development, for which an application has already been submitted, will be contingent upon (1) assessment by NIDA of the Phase I progress report and determination that the Phase I milestones were achieved, (2) review and approval of other documents necessary for continuation, and (3) availability of funds. No assurance can be given that Phase II development funding will be provided by NIDA.

About Limitx™ Technology
Limitx™ technology is a new, early stage technology separate and apart from the Company’s other abuse deterrent technologies, Aversion® and Impede®. Limitx™ is a novel formulation of common pharmaceutical ingredients intended to address abuse by excess oral consumption of multiple tablets. In proof of concept laboratory tests, Limitx™ demonstrated the ability to limit the release of the active ingredient from tablets when multiple tablets are simultaneously introduced into simulated gastric fluid. Acura has patents pending with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office covering its Limitx™ technology. While the initial Limitx™ formulation utilizes hydromorphone as its sole active ingredient, if such development proves successful, it is expected that the technology could incorporate other opioids as well. The need for abuse deterrent formulations which address excess oral consumption was stressed in the January 2013 FDA draft guidance for abuse deterrent opioids.

Phase I Research on the Company’s hydromorphone tablet utilizing Limitx™ technology is supported by the National Institute On Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44DA037921. The results and content of any such research is solely the responsibility of Acura and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.