-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JtBqDIOHF5FQhGIe2MisNOG5xZuFbJC/cax291zbkloYmI+aq4m2BQGI9DMpDjFl
 eK0l+UlAJSQ8UTgFhnjObw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-08-067056.txt : 20081222
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-08-067056.hdr.sgml : 20081222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081222183801
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-08-067056
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081222

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TREPPEL JERRY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213711

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32360
		FILM NUMBER:		081265176

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7323215145

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WHEATON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
		STREET 2:		13 LUCILLE CT.
		CITY:			EDISON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08820

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:		2500 MILLBROOK DRIVE
		CITY:			BUFFALO GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60089
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c78678_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-18</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003116</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AKORN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AKRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213711</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TREPPEL JERRY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1925 W. FIELD CT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE FOREST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60045</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>2008-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>384019</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options fully vested immediately upon grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">There was no consideration given in exchange for the security.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jerry I. Treppel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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