

<!-- EDGAR Online I-Metrix Xcelerate Taxonomy Schema, based on XBRL 2.1  http://www.edgar-online.com/ -->
<!-- Version: 6.13.8 -->
<!-- Round: afb71e09-2e6f-4dce-be8b-c87d88418aae -->
<!-- Creation date: 2012-03-05T19:08:36Z -->
<!-- Copyright (c) 2005-2011 EDGAR Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -->
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  <annotation>
    <appinfo>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/DocumentDocumentandEntityInformation" id="DocumentDocumentandEntityInformation">
        <link:definition>101 - Document - Document and Entity Information</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/StatementOfFinancialPositionClassified" id="Role_StatementOfFinancialPositionClassified">
        <link:definition>103 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/StatementOfFinancialPositionClassifiedParenthetical" id="Role_StatementOfFinancialPositionClassifiedParen">
        <link:definition>104 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
      </link:roleType>
      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/StatementOfIncomeAlternative" id="Role_StatementOfIncomeAlternative">
        <link:definition>105 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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        <link:definition>106 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/StatementOfCashFlowsIndirect" id="Role_StatementOfCashFlowsIndirect">
        <link:definition>107 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/StatementOfCashFlowsIndirectParenthetical" id="Role_StatementOfCashFlowsIndirectParen">
        <link:definition>108 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical)</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsBusinessDescriptionAndAccountingPoliciesTextBlock" id="Role_NotesToFinancialStatementsBusinessDescriptionAndAccountingPoliciesTextBlock">
        <link:definition>109 - Disclosure - DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsResearchAndDevelopmentDisclosureTextBlock" id="Role_NotesToFinancialStatementsResearchAndDevelopmentDisclosureTextBlock">
        <link:definition>110 - Disclosure - LICENSE, DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisclosureTextBlock" id="Role_NotesToFinancialStatementsPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisclosureTextBlock">
        <link:definition>111 - Disclosure - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesDisclosureTextBlock" id="Role_NotesToFinancialStatementsAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesDisclosureTextBlock">
        <link:definition>112 - Disclosure - ACCRUED EXPENSES</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsStockholdersEquityNoteDisclosureTextBlock" id="Role_NotesToFinancialStatementsStockholdersEquityNoteDisclosureTextBlock">
        <link:definition>113 - Disclosure - COMMON STOCK WARRANTS</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsIncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlock" id="Role_NotesToFinancialStatementsIncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlock">
        <link:definition>114 - Disclosure - INCOME TAXES</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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        <link:definition>115 - Disclosure - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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        <link:definition>116 - Disclosure - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://www.acurapharm.com/taxonomy/role/NotesToFinancialStatementsQuarterlyFinancialInformationTextBlock" id="Role_NotesToFinancialStatementsQuarterlyFinancialInformationTextBlock">
        <link:definition>117 - Disclosure - SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)</link:definition>
        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>
        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>
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  <import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/numeric" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/dtr/type/numeric-2009-12-16.xsd"/>
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