UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13G
(Rule 13d-102)
 
Information Statement Pursuant to Rules 13d-1 and 13d-2
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. __)*
 
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.	
(Name of Issuer)	
 
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share	
(Title of Class of Securities)	
 
00484M106	
(CUSIP Number)	
 
June 27, 2017	
Date of Event Which Requires Filing of the Statement	
 
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
 
	¨	Rule 13d-1(b)	
	x	Rule 13d-1(c)	
	¨	Rule 13d-1(d)	
 
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
 
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 2 of 13 Pages	
 
1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
 
Partner Fund Management, L.P.	
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP	 
(a)        ¨
 
(b)        x	
3.	SEC USE ONLY
 	
4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware	
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
 	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER
0	
	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER
 
2,716,515 shares	
	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0	
	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
See Row 6 above	
9.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
See Row 6 above	
10.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES	¨	
11.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
5.8% 1
 	
12.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IA; PN	

	1	The percentages reported in this Schedule 13G are based upon 46,659,426 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 30, 2017 according Form 10-Q filed by the issuer with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2017. All of the other numbers and percentages reported in this Schedule 13G are as of 9:00 a.m. (ET) on the date of filing.	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 3 of 13 Pages	
 
1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
 
Partner Fund Management GP, LLC	
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP	 
(a)        ¨
 
(b)        x	
3.	SEC USE ONLY
 	
4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware	
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
 	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER
0	
	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER
 
2,716,515 shares	
	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0	
	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
See Row 6 above	
9.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
See Row 6 above	
10.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES	¨	
11.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
5.8%
 	
12.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
OO	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 4 of 13 Pages	
 
1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
 
Partner Investment Management, L.P.	
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP	 
(a)        ¨
 
(b)        x	
3.	SEC USE ONLY
 	
4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware	
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
 	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER
0	
	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER
 
48,705 shares	
	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0	
	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
See Row 6 above	
9.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
See Row 6 above	
10.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES	¨	
11.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
0.1%
 	
12.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IA; PN	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 5 of 13 Pages	
 
1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
 
Partner Investment Management GP, LLC	
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP	 
(a)        ¨
 
(b)        x	
3.	SEC USE ONLY
 	
4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware	
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
 	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER
0	
	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER
 
48,705 shares	
	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0	
	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
See Row 6 above	
9.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
See Row 6 above	
10.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES	¨	
11.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
0.1%
 	
12.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
OO	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 6 of 13 Pages	
 
1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
 
Brian D. Grossman	
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP	 
(a)        ¨
 
(b)        x	
3.	SEC USE ONLY
 	
4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S. Citizen	
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
 	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER
0	
	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER
 
2,765,220 shares	
	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0	
	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
See Row 6 above	
9.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
See Row 6 above	
10.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES	¨	
11.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
5.9%
 	
12.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 7 of 13 Pages	
 
1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
 
Christopher M. James	
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP	 
(a)        ¨
 
(b)        x	
3.	SEC USE ONLY
 	
4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S. Citizen	
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
 	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER
0	
	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER
 
2,765,220 shares	
	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0	
	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
See Row 6 above	
9.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
See Row 6 above	
10.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES	¨	
11.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
5.9%
 	
12.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 8 of 13 Pages	
 
Item 1(a)	Name of Issuer	
 	Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.	
 	 	
Item 1(b)	Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices	
 	420 Saw Mill River Road, Ardsley, New York 10502	
 	 	
Item 2(a)	Name of Person Filing	
 	This Schedule 13G is being jointly filed by Partner Fund Management, L.P. (“PFM”), Partner Fund Management GP, LLC (“PFM-GP”), Partner Investment Management, L.P. (“PIM”), Partner Investment Management GP, LLC (“PIM-GP”), Brian D. Grossman (“Grossman”) and Christopher M. James (“James” and, collectively with PFM, PFM-GP, PIM, PIM-GP and Grossman, the “Reporting Persons”) with respect to shares of common stock of the above-named issuer owned by PFM Healthcare Emerging Growth Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“HEGM”), PFM Global Long Alpha Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“GLAM”), PFM Healthcare Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“HCM”), PFM Healthcare Opportunities Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“HCOPP”), PFM Healthcare Long Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“HCLM”), PFM Diversified Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“DM”), PFM Diversified Institutional Master Fund, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership (“DI”), PFM Healthcare Principals Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“HCP”), and PFM Diversified Principals Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“DP” and, collectively with HEGM, GLAM, HCM, HCOPP, HCLM, DM, DI and HCP, the “Funds”).	
 	 	
 	PFM is the investment advisor for HEGM, GLAM, HCM, HCOPP, HCLM, DM and DI. PIM is the investment advisor for HCP and DP. PFM-GP and PIM-GP are, respectively, the general partners of PFM and PIM. Grossman is the portfolio manager for the health care strategy for the Funds. James is the portfolio manager for the diversified strategy for the Funds. Grossman and James are co-managing members of PFM-GP and PIM-GP.	
 	 	
 	The filing of this statement shall not be construed as an admission that any of the Reporting Persons is the beneficial owner of any securities covered by the statement other than the securities actually owned by such person (if any).	
 	 	
Item 2(b)	Address of Principal Business Office	
 	The address of the principal business office of each of the Reporting Persons is c/o Partner Fund Management, L.P., 4 Embarcadero Center, Suite 3500, San Francisco, CA 94111.	
 	 	
Item 2(c)	Citizenship	
 	Each of PFM and PIM is organized as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of PFM-GP and PIM-GP is organized as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of Grossman and James is a U.S. citizen.	
 	 	
Item 2(d)	Title of Class of Securities	
 	Common stock, $0.001 par value	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 9 of 13 Pages	
 
Item 2(e)	CUSIP Number	
 	00484M106	
 	 	
Item 3	If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:	
 
 	(a)	¨	Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(b)	¨	Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(c)	¨	Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(d)	¨	Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(e)	¨	An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);	
 	 	 	 	
 	(f)	¨	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);	
 	 	 	 	
 	(g)	¨	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);	
 	 	 	 	
 	(h)	¨	A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(i)	¨	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act;	
 	 	 	 	
 	(j)	¨	Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).	
 
 	If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: ____________.	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 10 of 13 Pages	
 
	Item 4	Ownership	
 
	A.	Partner Fund Management, L.P. and Partner Fund Management GP, LLC	
 
	(a)	PFM and PFM-GP may be deemed to beneficially own 2,716,515 shares of Common Stock.	
 
	(b)	The number of shares PFM and PFM-GP may be deemed to beneficially own constitutes approximately 5.8% of the Common Stock outstanding.	
 
	(c)	Number of shares as to which such person has:	
 
	(i)	sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0	
 
	(ii)	shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 2,716,515	
 
	(iii)	sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0	
 
	(iv)	shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 2,716,515	
 
	B.	Partner Investment Management, L.P. and Partner Investment Management GP, LLC	
 
	(a)	PIM and PIM-GP may be deemed to beneficially own 48,705 shares of Common Stock.	
 
	(b)	The number of shares PIM and PIM-GP may be deemed to beneficially own constitutes approximately 0.1% of the Common Stock outstanding.	
 
	(c)	Number of shares as to which such person has:	
 
	(i)	sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0	
 
	(ii)	shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 48,705	
 
	(iii)	sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0	
 
	(iv)	shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 48,705	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 11 of 13 Pages	
 
	C.	Brian D. Grossman	
 
	(a)	Grossman may be deemed to beneficially own 2,765,220 shares of Common Stock.	
 
	(b)	The number of shares Grossman may be deemed to beneficially own constitutes approximately 5.9% of the Common Stock outstanding.	
 
	(c)	Number of shares as to which such person has:	
 
	(i)	sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0	
 
	(ii)	shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 2,765,220	
 
	(iii)	sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0	
 
	(iv)	shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 2,765,220	
 
	D.	Christopher M. James	
 
	(a)	James may be deemed to beneficially own 2,765,220 shares of Common Stock.	
 
	(b)	The number of shares James may be deemed to beneficially own constitutes approximately 5.9% of the Common Stock outstanding.	
 
	(c)	Number of shares as to which such person has:	
 
	(i)	sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0	
 
	(ii)	shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 2,765,220	
 
	(iii)	sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0	
 
	(iv)	shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 2,765,220	
 
Item 5	Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class	
 	If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following ¨ .	
 	 	
Item 6	Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person	
 	Not Applicable	
 	 	
Item 7	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company	
 	See Item 2 above	
 	 	
Item 8	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group	
 	Not Applicable	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 12 of 13 Pages	
 
Item 9	Notice of Dissolution of Group	
 	Not Applicable	
 	 	
Item 10	Certification	
 	By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.	

 
 
CUSIP No. 00484M106	13G	Page 13 of 13 Pages	
 
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
 
Dated this 7 th day of July, 2017.
 
PARTNER FUND MANAGEMENT, L.P.	 	PARTNER FUND MANAGEMENT GP, LLC	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	Partner Fund Management GP, LLC	 	By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	
 	its general partner	 	 	Darin Sadow, Authorized Signatory	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	 	 	 	
 	Darin Sadow, Authorized Signatory	 	 	 	
 	 	 	
PARTNER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, L.P.	 	PARTNER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT GP, LLC	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	Partner Investment Management GP, LLC,	 	By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	
 	its general partner	 	 	Darin Sadow, Authorized Signatory	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	 	 	 	
 	Darin Sadow, Authorized Signatory	 	 	 	
 	 	 	
BRIAN D. GROSSMAN	 	CHRISTOPHER M. JAMES	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	 	By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	
 	Darin Sadow, attorney-in-fact *	 	 	Darin Sadow, attorney-in-fact **	

	*	Darin Sadow is signing on behalf of Brian Grossman as attorney-in-fact pursuant to a power of attorney dated August 4, 2011, and incorporated by reference herein. The power of attorney was filed as an attachment to a filing by certain of the Reporting Persons on Schedule 13G for K-V Pharmaceutical Company on August 5, 2011.	
 
	**	Darin Sadow is signing on behalf of Christopher M. James as attorney-in-fact pursuant to a power of attorney dated August 4, 2011, and incorporated by reference herein. The power of attorney was filed as an attachment to a filing by certain of the Reporting Persons on Schedule 13G for K-V Pharmaceutical Company on August 5, 2011.	

 

EXHIBIT 99.1
 
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
 
The undersigned hereby agree that the Statement on Schedule 13G filed herewith (and any amendments thereto), relating to the common stock of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is being filed jointly with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on behalf of each of the undersigned.
 
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and each of such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
 
Dated this 7 th day of July, 2017.
 
PARTNER FUND MANAGEMENT, L.P.	 	PARTNER FUND MANAGEMENT GP, LLC	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	Partner Fund Management GP, LLC	 	By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	
 	its general partner	 	 	Darin Sadow, Authorized Signatory	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	 	 	 	
 	Darin Sadow, Authorized Signatory	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
PARTNER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, L.P.	 	PARTNER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT GP, LLC	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	Partner Investment Management GP, LLC,	 	By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	
 	its general partner	 	 	Darin Sadow, Authorized Signatory	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	 	 	 	
 	Darin Sadow, Authorized Signatory	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
BRIAN D. GROSSMAN	 	CHRISTOPHER M. JAMES	
 	 	 	 	 	
By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	 	By:	/s/ Darin Sadow	
 	Darin Sadow, attorney-in-fact	 	 	Darin Sadow, attorney-in-fact