Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4)

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

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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 * Goncalves Joana	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Cara Therapeutics, Inc. [ CARA ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director                    _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below)    _____ Other (specify below) Chief Medical Officer
(Last)          (First)          (Middle) C/O CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC., 4 STAMFORD PLAZA, 107 ELM STREET, 9TH FL	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 8/24/2021
(Street) STAMFORD, CT 06902 (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	8/24/2021		A		6400 (1)	A	$0.00	50010	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

Explanation of Responses:

(1)

Represents the number of shares that vested under a performance-based restricted stock unit award (the "RSU") based on the Issuer's satisfaction of certain performance criteria of the award. In light of the performance-based vesting conditions of the award, such shares were not reportable under Section 16 until vesting was determined, which occurred on August 24, 2021. The vested shares represents the first of two possible vesting events of the total number of shares subject to the award. The remaining shares subject to the award will vest only upon the satisfaction of additional performance vesting criteria. Each RSU represents the contingent right to receive one share of common stock of the Issuer.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Goncalves Joana C/O CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC. 4 STAMFORD PLAZA, 107 ELM STREET, 9TH FL STAMFORD, CT 06902			Chief Medical Officer

Signatures
/s/ Darren DeStefano, Attorney-in-Fact		8/26/2021
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date