POWER OF ATTORNEY
Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints each of Richard King, James Welch, Christopher Whitmore and Mark Weeks,
or either of them signing singly, and with full power of substitution,
the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:
(1) prepare, execute in the undersigned's name and on the undersigned's
behalf, and submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
a Form ID, including amendments thereto, and any other documents
necessary or appropriate to obtain codes and passwords enabling the
undersigned to make electronic filings with the SEC of reports required
by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or regulation of the SEC;
(2) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
capacity as an officer, director and/or more than 10% stockholder of
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in
accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;
(3) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned
which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such
Form 3, 4, or 5, complete and execute any amendment or
amendments thereto, and timely file such form with the SEC and any
stock exchange or similar authority; and
(4) take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection
with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by,
the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by
such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this
Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms
and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.
The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power
and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever
requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the
rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full
power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute
or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this
power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.
The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact,
in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are
not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's
responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect
until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5
with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities
issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed
writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.
This Power of Attorney supersedes any prior power of attorney granted by
the undersigned with respect to Forms 3, 4, and 5.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power
of Attorney to be executed as of September 13, 2013.
/s/ David Chung
David Chung