-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LN2vV9oSmTExUVcP7ouoJOk437cPHLkKneoB3fYKgHEckRFmK3n4UB4gJCQwcYLH
 e1bJmaiITE5AUzgXSVGkMQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-09-011661.txt : 20090225
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-09-011661.hdr.sgml : 20090225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090225185955
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-09-011661
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090225
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090225

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sabat John R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001324254

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32360
		FILM NUMBER:		09635226

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-279-6100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 MILLBROOK DRIVE
		CITY:			BUFFALO GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60089

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>c81738_4x0.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-23</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324254</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sabat John R</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP, Sales, Mktg, Natl Accts</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.98</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests in three annual installments with 8,334 vesting on February 23, 2009 and February 23, 2010, and 8,333 vesting on February 23, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">There was no consideration given in exchange for the security.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John R Sabat</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----