PALATINE, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/15 -- Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACUR) today announced the launch of their second pseudoephedrine (PSE) product, NEXAFED® Sinus Pressure + Pain. NEXAFED Sinus Pressure + Pain [pseudoephedrine HCI 30mg + acetaminophen 325mg] is a meth-resistant immediate-release tablet that effectively relieves congestion due to colds and allergies, as well as pain and/or fever associated with colds and sinus headaches. NEXAFED Sinus Pressure + Pain will continue to utilize NEXAFED's unique, patented IMPEDE® technology that disrupts the conversion of PSE into the dangerous drug methamphetamine (meth), and will be the first meth-resistant PSE combination sinus medicine available. 

"NEXAFED Sinus Pressure + Pain gives pharmacists the only meth-resistant combination cold medication with pseudoephedrine on the market," said Bob Jones, president of Acura Pharmaceuticals. "We are excited to offer pharmacists and consumers a sinus medication with the main ingredient they have relied on to treat their congestion for years combined with acetaminophen to treat pain associated with sinus congestion and pressure, all while fighting meth." 

Pseudoephedrine is the preferred decongestant used in most cold medications, but is commonly used in the illegal manufacturing of meth. NEXAFED's IMPEDE technology significantly disrupts the conversion of PSE to meth, making it virtually useless for meth production.

Data shows that meth use is still a pervasive issue in the U.S. According to a recent survey from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over 100,000 more people used meth in 2013 than in previous years. And in October 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice granted over $6 million dollars to law enforcement agencies in several states to help them combat meth -- demonstrating the continued impact of meth in local communities nationwide. 

NEXAFED is currently available nationwide in drug, mass merchandiser and grocery stores with pharmacies. And in some states like West Virginia, nearly all pharmacies have chosen to replace single ingredient PSE products with meth-resistant products such as NEXAFED to counter the impact of meth production felt statewide. 

"When NEXAFED replaces traditional, non-meth-resistant PSE products in pharmacies, patients get the same relief they expect, but meth cooks have to look elsewhere for the older products they prefer. This has led to a significant reduction in local meth labs as documented by state and county officials in 2014," according to Jones.

For more information on NEXAFED, please visit www.nexafed.com.

About NEXAFED Sinus Pressure + Pain
NEXAFED Sinus Pressure + Pain [pseudoephedrine HCI 30mg / and acetaminophen 325 mg] is an immediate-release meth-resistant decongestant and pain reliever combining pseudoephedrine and acetaminophen. NEXAFED Sinus Pressure + Pain provides fast, effective relief from congestion due to colds and allergies and also relieves pain and/or fever associated with colds and sinus headaches. All NEXAFED products offer non-drowsy relief and are formulated with IMPEDE technology, a unique polymer matrix that disrupts the conversion of pseudoephedrine into the dangerous drug, methamphetamine. IMPEDE technology forms a thick gel when the tablets are dissolved in solvents typically used in the pseudoephedrine extraction or methamphetamine production processes, trapping the pseudoephedrine or converted methamphetamine to resist its isolation or purification. For additional information, visit www.nexafed.com.

About Acura Pharmaceuticals
Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing safe and effective products intended to address medication abuse and misuse to market. As a leader in abuse-deterrent technology, Acura has also successfully developed and commercialized a prescription drug product that addresses opioid abuse. Acura is committed to addressing the needs of local communities by investing in ongoing research and development to drive improvement in abuse-deterrent technology.

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Source: Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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