-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JwOgi4kLHvY9fA04vaK5cPwdURpysaY4870XayXnhxcSohNFbjXbw0n02UW6FlMM
 R46Y1Vv0zRZJ9hO+e0o8CQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-005158.txt : 20040128
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-005158.hdr.sgml : 20040128
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040128174123
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-005158
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040123
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040128

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AKORN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000003116
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				720717400
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			LA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 MILLBROOK DRIVE
		CITY:			BUFFALO GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60089
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472796100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 TRI STATE INTERNATIONAL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			LINCOLNSHIRE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60069

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ELLIS JERRY N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001127878

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13976
		FILM NUMBER:		04550135

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST HORIZON PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
		STREET 2:		660 HEMBREE PARKWAY STE 106
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7704429707

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST HORIZON PHARMACEUTICAL CORP
		STREET 2:		660 HEMBREE PARKWAY STE 106
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>boc82371_01jne.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003116</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AKORN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AKRN.PK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001127878</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ELLIS JERRY N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2500 MILLBROOK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BUFFALO GROVE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60089</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-01-23</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JERRY N. ELLIS</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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