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        <link:definition>153 - Disclosure - COMMON STOCK WARRANTS - Additional Information (Detail)</link:definition>

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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://acurapharm.com/role/SharebasedCompensationSummaryOfRsuPlanDetail" id="SharebasedCompensationSummaryOfRsuPlanDetail">
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        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>

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        <link:definition>159 - Disclosure - EARNINGS PER SHARE (&#34;EPS&#34;) - Reconciliation of Numerators and Denominators of Basic and Diluted EPS (Detail)</link:definition>

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        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>

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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://acurapharm.com/role/EarningsPerShareEpsAdditionalInformationDetail" id="EarningsPerShareEpsAdditionalInformationDetail">
        <link:definition>160 - Disclosure - EARNINGS PER SHARE (&#34;EPS&#34;) - Additional Information (Detail)</link:definition>

        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>

        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>

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      <link:roleType roleURI="http://acurapharm.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesAdditionalInformationDetail" id="CommitmentsAndContingenciesAdditionalInformationDetail">
        <link:definition>161 - Disclosure - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Detail)</link:definition>

        <link:usedOn>link:presentationLink</link:usedOn>

        <link:usedOn>link:definitionLink</link:usedOn>

        <link:usedOn>link:calculationLink</link:usedOn>
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  <element name="AgreementTerminationNoticeDescription" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_AgreementTerminationNoticeDescription" />

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  <element name="AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValueLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValueLineItems" />

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  <element name="InventoryReserveExpense" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_InventoryReserveExpense" />

  <element name="ScientificEquipmentMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ScientificEquipmentMember" />

  <element name="ComputerHardwareAndSoftwareMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ComputerHardwareAndSoftwareMember" />

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  <element name="CaliforniaStateMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_CaliforniaStateMember" />

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  <element name="ProvisionForSalesReturns" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ProvisionForSalesReturns" />

  <element name="AmortizationOfBondPremiumInMarketableSecurities" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_AmortizationOfBondPremiumInMarketableSecurities" />

  <element name="CashPaidDuringPeriodForAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_CashPaidDuringPeriodForAbstract" />

  <element name="DescriptionOfBusinessDisclosureAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_DescriptionOfBusinessDisclosureAbstract" />

  <element name="RevenueRecognitionMultipleDeliverableArrangementsTextBlock" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_RevenueRecognitionMultipleDeliverableArrangementsTextBlock" />

  <element name="PriorToDecemberTwentySevenTwoThousandFifteenMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_PriorToDecemberTwentySevenTwoThousandFifteenMember" />

  <element name="SalesReturnsLiability" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_SalesReturnsLiability" />

  <element name="DebtIssuanceCostsAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_DebtIssuanceCostsAbstract" />

  <element name="DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_DebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts" />

  <element name="AmortizationExpenseOfDebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_AmortizationExpenseOfDebtInstrumentIssuanceCosts" />

  <element name="ProceedsFromMilestonePaymentOnAgreement" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ProceedsFromMilestonePaymentOnAgreement" />

  <element name="LicenseDevelopmentAndCommercializationAgreementLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_LicenseDevelopmentAndCommercializationAgreementLineItems" />

  <element name="InventoryValuationWrittenOffFinishedGoods" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_InventoryValuationWrittenOffFinishedGoods" />

  <element name="CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureLineItems" />

  <element name="PurduePharmaMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_PurduePharmaMember" />

  <element name="LiquidityMattersAbstract" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_LiquidityMattersAbstract" />

  <element name="CashCashEquivalentAndMarketableSecurities" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_CashCashEquivalentAndMarketableSecurities" />

  <element name="WorkingCapital" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_WorkingCapital" />

  <element name="ContractResearchOrganizationMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ContractResearchOrganizationMember" />

  <element name="ContractManufacturingServicesValue" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ContractManufacturingServicesValue" />

  <element name="TermLoanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_TermLoanMember" />

  <element name="SharebasedCompensationRecognitionOfSharebasedCompensationExpenseTable" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" id="acur_SharebasedCompensationRecognitionOfSharebasedCompensationExpenseTable" />

  <element name="SharebasedCompensationRecognitionOfSharebasedCompensationExpenseLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_SharebasedCompensationRecognitionOfSharebasedCompensationExpenseLineItems" />

  <element name="ShareBasedCompensationExpenseRecognizedInOperations" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ShareBasedCompensationExpenseRecognizedInOperations" />

  <element name="SharebasedCompensationStockOptionAwardActivityTable" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" id="acur_SharebasedCompensationStockOptionAwardActivityTable" />

  <element name="SharebasedCompensationSummaryOfRsuPlanTable" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" id="acur_SharebasedCompensationSummaryOfRsuPlanTable" />

  <element name="RestrictedStockUnitsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_RestrictedStockUnitsMember" />

  <element name="VestedRestrictedStockUnitsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_VestedRestrictedStockUnitsMember" />

  <element name="ShareBasedCompensationsSummaryOfRsuPlanLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ShareBasedCompensationsSummaryOfRsuPlanLineItems" />

  <element name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentOtherThanOptionsDistributedInPeriod" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentOtherThanOptionsDistributedInPeriod" />

  <element name="SharebasedCompensationAdditionalInformationTable" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" id="acur_SharebasedCompensationAdditionalInformationTable" />

  <element name="RestrictedStockAwardPlanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_RestrictedStockAwardPlanMember" />

  <element name="FourNonEmployeeDirectorsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_FourNonEmployeeDirectorsMember" />

  <element name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementShareBasedPaymentSharesReservedForFutureDistribution" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" abstract="false" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementShareBasedPaymentSharesReservedForFutureDistribution" />

  <element name="SettledInCashMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_SettledInCashMember" />

  <element name="LoanAgreementMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_LoanAgreementMember" />

  <element name="SharebasedCompensationStockOptionAwardActivityLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_SharebasedCompensationStockOptionAwardActivityLineItems" />

  <element name="TotalRestrictedStockUnitAwardPlanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_TotalRestrictedStockUnitAwardPlanMember" />

  <element name="EmployeeBenefitPlansDisclosureLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_EmployeeBenefitPlansDisclosureLineItems" />

  <element name="OxfordFinanceLlcMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" id="acur_OxfordFinanceLlcMember" />
</schema>






