FORM 4
[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).         
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
                                                                                  
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response...
0.5
                      
Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
                      

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *

Golembiewski Michael Joseph
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

PERNIX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC. [ PTX ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

_____ Director                      _____ 10% Owner
__ X __ Officer (give title below)      _____ Other (specify below)
VP Finance, Controller, CAO
(Last)          (First)          (Middle)

C/O PERNIX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC., 10 NORTH PARK PLACE, SUITE 201
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY)

8/8/2017
(Street)

MORRISTOWN, NJ 07960
(City)        (State)        (Zip)
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

 
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Trans. Date 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 3. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock   8/8/2017     A    3300   (1) A $0   3300   D    

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Trans. Date 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 4. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (right to buy)   $2.92   8/8/2017     A      10000         (2) 8/8/2027   Common Stock   10000   $0   10000   D    

Explanation of Responses:
(1)  Represents a grant of restricted share units that vest in four equal annual installments of 825 shares over a four-year period, with the first installment vesting on August 8, 2018, which is the one-year anniversary of the grant date.
(2)  The stock option vests in four equal annual installments of 2,500 shares over a four-year period, with the first installment vesting at the close of business on August 8, 2018, which is the one-year anniversary of the grant date.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address
Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Golembiewski Michael Joseph
C/O PERNIX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
10 NORTH PARK PLACE, SUITE 201
MORRISTOWN, NJ 07960


VP Finance, Controller, CAO

Signatures
/s/ Michael J. Golembiewski 8/9/2017
** Signature of Reporting Person Date


Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.