Initial Registration Statement for Employee Benefit Plan (Form S-8)

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2026

Registration No. 333-   

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		82-3733567
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

259 Liberty Avenue

Staten Island, NY 10305

(Address, including zip code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

David P. Luci

President and Chief Executive Officer

Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

259 Liberty Avenue

Staten Island, NY 10305

Telephone: (917) 533-1469

(Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Ivan K. Blumenthal, Esq.

Jeffrey D. Cohan, Esq.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

919 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022

(212) 935-3000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	¨	Accelerated filer	¨
Non-accelerated filer	x	Smaller reporting company	x
		Emerging growth company	x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement registers an aggregate of 93,925 additional shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share ("common stock"), of Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Registrant") reserved under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), representing an increase of 93,925 shares reserved under the Plan effective January 2, 2026 by operation of the 2021 Plan's "evergreen" provision. This registration statement registers additional securities of the same class as other securities for which registration statements filed on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-258026, 333-263609, 333-270585, 333-277994 and 333-285865) relating to an employee benefit plan are effective. The information contained in the Registrant's registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 19, 2021 (File No. 333-258026) is hereby incorporated by reference pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8. Exhibits.

Exhibit Number		Exhibit Description		Filed Herewith		Incorporated by Reference herein from Form or Schedule		Filing Date		SEC File/ Reg. Number
4.1		Form of Common Stock Certificate.				Form S-1 (Exhibit 4.1)		May 27, 2021		333-256516
5.1		Opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.		X
23.1		Consent of CohnReznick LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.		X
23.2		Consent of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1)		X
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof)		X
107		Filing Fee Table		X

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York, on March 12, 2026.

	ACURX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
	By:	/s/ David P. Luci
		David P. Luci
		Chief Executive Officer and President

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of David P. Luci and Robert G. Shawah, acting alone or together with another attorney-in-fact, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all further amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ David P. Luci		President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)		March 12, 2026
David P. Luci
/s/ Robert G. Shawah		Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)		March 12, 2026
Robert G. Shawah
/s/ Robert J. DeLuccia		Executive Chairman		March 12, 2026
Robert J. DeLuccia
/s/ Carl V. Sailer		Director		March 12, 2026
Carl V. Sailer
/s/ Jack H. Dean		Director		March 12, 2026
Jack H. Dean
/s/ Joseph C. Scodari		Director		March 12, 2026
Joseph C. Scodari
/s/ Thomas Harrison		Director		March 12, 2026
Thomas Harrison
/s/ James Donohue		Director		March 12, 2026
James Donohue