ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS.

On August 1, 2012, AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had recently issued the Company Patent Number 8,226,978 entitled "Small Volume Oral Transmucosal Dosage Forms Containing Sufentanil for Treatment of Pain," and Patent Number 8,231,900 entitled "Small-Volume Oral Transmucosal Dosage Forms." A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number Description

99.1 Press Release dated August 1, 2012.

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