<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-02-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001145404</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CORNERSTONE THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRTX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001570171</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Chiesi U.S. Corp</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHIESI FARMACEUTICI SPA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>VIA PALERMO 26/A</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PARMA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>L6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43122</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ITALY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15687538</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 14, 2013, Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA (&quot;Chiesi SpA&quot;) transferred 15,687,538 shares to the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiesi SpA.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Danilo Piroli</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-02-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
