RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.26
EXECUTION
COPY
RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
This
Scientific Advisory Board Agreement (the
“Agreement”) dated as of February 26,
2007, is made by Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Ph.D. (the “SAB Member”) and RXi Pharmaceuticals
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“RXi” and together with the SAB Member, the
“Parties”). The SAB Member is an investigator of the Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Medical Institute (the
“Institute”) at the Institute’s laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
AGREEMENT
1. General.
(A) Effective Date. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including without
limitation Section 1(C) below, this Agreement will become effective upon the completion of all the
following events:
| (1) | the execution of this Agreement by the Parties; | ||
| (2) | the approval of this Agreement by each Principal Institution (defined below); | ||
| (3) | the transfer to RXi of substantially all of the RNAi assets owned or controlled by CytRx Corporation (“CytRx”); and | ||
| (4) | the closing of an equity financing of RXi or its successor in an aggregate amount of not less than $15 million dollars or such lesser dollar amount as RXi accepts as an initial investment from investors (including CytRx acting as an Investor) (the “Equity Funding”). |
The date, if any, wherein all of these events are completed (the “Effective Date”) will be
indicated below the signature of the SAB Member on the signature page of this Agreement. If the
Effective Date has not occurred by June 30, 2007, then this Agreement and its terms will be null
and void unless the Parties mutually agree otherwise.
(B) Services. As of the Effective Date, RXi shall retain the SAB Member, and the SAB Member
agrees to serve, as a member of RXi’s Scientific Advisory Board (“SAB”) and to consult with
RXi in the Field (as hereinafter defined). The SAB Member agrees to provide to RXi such services
in the Field as are customarily performed by a member of a scientific advisory board to a company
such as RXi (the “Services”). The SAB Member is being engaged by RXi as a consultant for
the exchange of ideas only and shall not direct or conduct research for or on behalf of RXi. The
Services will include, without limitation:
| • | Consulting with RXi’s management within the SAB Member’s professional area of expertise from time to time as reasonably requested by RXi; |
| • | Exchanging strategic and business development ideas with RXi; | ||
| • | Attending scientific, medical or business meetings with RXi’s management, such as United States Food & Drug Administration meetings, meetings with strategic or potential strategic partners and other meetings relevant to SAB Member’s area of expertise; and | ||
| • | Attending meetings of the SAB as provided herein. |
For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Field” means the use of RNAi technology in,
or the application of RNAi technology to, the discovery or development of therapeutic products for
humans or animals, and/or the use of RNAi as a component of therapeutic products for humans or
animals. Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the term “Field” is specifically
understood to not include the use of RNAi technology in, or the application of RNAi
technology to, the discovery and development of reagents, diagnostic products, agricultural
products, or products or services developed for or offered to the research tools and products
market, or the use of RNAi as a component of reagents, diagnostic products, agricultural products,
or products or services developed for or offered to the research tools and products market. The
Services shall not include those services prohibited by either Principal Institution or any
Affiliated Institution (as defined in Section 2 hereof). The SAB Member is agreeing to provide the
Services under this Agreement in consideration of the compensation provided in Section 3 hereof.
(C) Prior Services. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, and
notwithstanding the fact that this Agreement may otherwise become effective upon the Effective
Date, the parties hereby agree, ratify and covenant that the terms of this Agreement shall govern
any and all services, advice, ideas, reports, Inventions (as defined in Section 8 hereof), or other
items conceived, made or furnished by the SAB Member, wholly or in part, to the Company or any of
its founders, stockholders, officers, employees and agents relating to the Company, its formation,
or the subject matter hereof at any time prior to the Effective Date.
2. Performance of Services. As of the Effective Date, the SAB Member agrees to make
himself available to render the Services, at such time or times and location or locations as may be
mutually agreed, from time to time at the request of RXi. The SAB Member agrees not to perform any
Services for RXi on the premises of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (which, together with the
Institute, are collectively referred to as the “Principal Institution”), any academic
institution or any hospital with which he is or may become affiliated (each such Principal
Institution, academic institution and hospital an “Affiliated Institution”) or with the
respective facilities or funds of any such Affiliated Institution which could result in claims by
such Affiliated Institution of rights in any Inventions (as defined in Section 8 hereof), without
the express prior agreement of RXi and the Affiliated Institution, as appropriate. Unless covered
by an appropriate agreement between any third party (other than an Affiliated Institution) and RXi,
the SAB Member shall not knowingly engage in any activities or use any facilities in the course of
providing Services which could result in claims of ownership to any Inventions being made by
such third party. The SAB Member agrees to devote his reasonable and diligent efforts to the
performance of the Services. The SAB Member agrees to devote up to 20 days per year to providing
the Services, including by attending at least 8 SAB meetings per year.
3. Compensation.
(A) Up-Front Cash Payment and Grant of Option. RXi will compensate the SAB Member for serving
as a member of the SAB and for providing the Services to RXi as follows, with such compensation to
be the full consideration for the Services:
(1) Commencing on the Effective Date, RXi shall pay the SAB Member a total
monthly payment of $5,000 for each month during the Term, payable monthly in
arrears as full payment for the cash portion of the SAB Member’s
compensation. In addition, on the Effective Date RXi shall pay the SAB
Member a lump sum payment of an amount equal to $5,000 per month for the
period from September 1, 2006 to the Effective Date of this Agreement, pro
rated for partial months, as a one-time fee in recognition of his services
to RXi prior to the date hereof.
(2) RXi or, if applicable, its successor entity (the “Granting
Party”), shall, at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Granting
Party following the Effective Date grant the SAB Member a nonqualified stock
option (the “Option”) under the standard option plan of the Granting
Party (the “Option Plan”) to purchase a number of shares of common
stock of RXi equal to 1/140th of the number of shares of common stock of RXi
held by CytRx immediately prior to the Equity Funding (the “Option
Shares”). If the value of the Granting Party’s common stock is not then
Publicly Available (as defined below), at the first regularly scheduled
Board meeting of the Granting Party following each of the first, second and
third anniversaries of the Effective Date, and otherwise on the first,
second and third anniversaries of the Effective Date, the Granting Party
will grant the SAB Member an additional Option to purchase the same number
of Option Shares as previously granted at the first regularly scheduled
Board meeting following the Effective Date. The Option granted at the first
Board meeting following the Effective Date shall have a per share exercise
price equal to the per share price paid for RXi stock in the Equity Funding.
Each additional Option granted pursuant to this Section shall have a per
share exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Granting Party’s
common stock on the respective date of each grant. If the Granting Party’s
common stock is Publicly Available on the date of such grant, the fair
market value shall be equal to the closing price of such stock on such
public market the date of such grant; if the Granting Party’s common stock
is not Publicly Available on the date of such grant, the fair market value
shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Granting
Party. The Options shall be fully vested on the date of grant, shall have a
term of ten years, and shall otherwise be in the form of the standard
Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement used by the Granting
Party in its Option Plan. Notwithstanding any language in the standard
Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement or any other Granting Party document or
agreement to the contrary, the Options granted to the SAB Member hereunder
shall not be subject to lapse for any reason prior to the
end of their ten
year term. The Granting Party covenants and agrees that it will file an
effective Form S-8 registration statement covering the Options and the
Options Shares as promptly as practicable after the Granting Party becomes
eligible to file such Form, such that from and after the date of filing the
Option Shares shall be freely tradable immediately upon any exercise of the
Options. The Options may be exercised pursuant to a cashless exercise, but
only if the SAB Member is not able at the time to obtain the cash proceeds
for the exercise price in a broker’s transaction (with the Granting Party
bearing any commission expenses charged by the broker in connection with
selling sufficient shares to generate the cash proceeds for the exercise
price). For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Publicly
Available” shall mean (i) the common stock of the Granting Company is
listed on a national securities exchange or admitted to unlisted trading
privileges on such exchange or (ii) the common stock is not so listed or
admitted to unlisted trading privileges, but is traded on the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market or the OTC Bulletin Board.
(B) Equity Ownership Limit. The stock options set forth herein, when added to all other
stock, stock options, rights or other equity or equity-based securities (collectively,
“Securities”) issued or issuable by RXi to the SAB Member (either directly or indirectly),
constitute not more than 5.0% of RXi’s presently issued and outstanding common stock, as diluted by
assuming full exercise of any options and other rights held by the SAB Member. Indirect holdings
for this purpose include without limitation (i) any Securities issued or issuable by RXi to members
of the SAB Member’s immediate family and (ii) any Securities issued or issuable by RXi to the SAB
Member, or Securities allocated or allocable to the SAB Member under Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory’s inventorship policies, as royalties under a license by RXi of technology of which the
SAB Member is an inventor.
(C) Expenses. RXi also shall promptly reimburse the SAB Member for reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses, including, without limitation, travel expenses incurred by him in the performance of the
Services (including attendance at all SAB meetings), following RXi’s receipt of a request for
reimbursement from the SAB Member. The SAB Member shall promptly provide RXi with documentation
supporting all such expenses.
4. Principal Institution. RXi recognizes that the activities of the SAB Member are or
will be subject to the rules and regulations of each Principal Institution and any other Affiliated
Institution, now or in the future, and RXi agrees that SAB Member shall be under no obligation to
perform Services if such performance would conflict with such rules and regulations, or constitute
a conflict of interest under the relevant policies of the Affiliated Institution. RXi further
acknowledges that the SAB Member is an employee of the Institute and is subject to the Institute’s
policies concerning consulting, conflicts of interest and intellectual property. RXi agrees that
nothing in this Agreement shall affect the SAB Member’s obligations to, or research on behalf of,
the Institute or Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, including, without
limitation, obligations or research of the SAB Member in connection with a transfer by the
Institute or Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory of materials or intellectual property developed in whole
or in part by the SAB Member, or in connection with research collaborations. The SAB Member has no
reason to believe that the SAB Member’s performance of any of the services
contemplated by this
Agreement will conflict with the applicable rules or policies of any Affiliated Institution, each
as presently in effect. In the event such rules and regulations shall, in RXi’s reasonable opinion
or the reasonable opinion of the SAB Member, substantially interfere with the performance of
Services by the SAB Member, RXi or the SAB Member may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days notice
to the other party. Any such termination by RXi shall not be considered a termination for Cause
(as defined in Section 6(A) below), unless the Affiliated Institution’s rules or policies that are
asserted by RXi or the SAB Member to be in conflict with the performance of the Services are rules
or policies that are not generally applied by that Affiliated Institution to other academic
researchers at that institution. The SAB Member shall provide copies to RXi of all status reports
he delivers and other material correspondences he has with any Affiliated Institution (other than
the Institute) concerning this Agreement or the Services within three (3) business days of his
delivery or receipt of such report or correspondence, provided that the policies of any Affiliated
Institution permit him to do so, and provided further that RXi agrees to hold any such report or
correspondence in confidence.
5. Term. The SAB Member’s performance of Services shall commence on the Effective
Date and shall continue for a period of four (4) years thereafter (such period, including any
extension of such period, the “Term”), unless either the SAB Member or RXi terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Sections 4 or 6 hereof, or unless this Agreement is extended by the mutual
written agreement of the SAB Member and RXi in accordance with Section 20 hereof.
6. Termination; Effect of Termination.
(A) Termination by RXi for Cause. RXi may terminate this Agreement (in addition to any other
available remedy) at any time for Cause. The term “Cause” shall mean the SAB Member’s
material failure to perform his duties under this Agreement which goes uncured for more than 15
days following written notice from RXi, the SAB Member’s conviction of or plea of no contest to any
felony, or the SAB Member’s act or failure to act that materially and adversely affects the
business of RXi. If RXi terminates for Cause, the SAB Member will receive no further Options under
this Agreement.
(B) Termination by SAB Member for Good Reason. The SAB Member may terminate this Agreement
(in addition to any other available remedy) at any time for Good Reason. The term “Good
Reason” shall mean (i) RXi’s breach of any of its material obligations under this Agreement in
any material respect (including without limitation, RXi’s payment obligations and RXi’s obligations
with respect to the Options and the Option Shares) if such breach is not cured within 15 days (10
days in the case of a breach of a payment obligation) after receipt by such party of written notice
thereof, or (ii) the occurrence any of the following events upon not less than 15 days prior
written notice to RXi at any time after the occurrence of such events, but in no event later than
60 days after written notice from RXi to the SAB Member of the occurrence of any of such events:
| • | a decree, judgment, or order by a court of competent jurisdiction shall have been entered adjudging RXi as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization of RXi under any bankruptcy or similar law, and such decree of order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or a decree or order of a court of competent jurisdiction ordering the |
| appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee, or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of RXi, or for the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of RXi, shall have been entered, and such decree, judgment, or order shall have remained in force undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days; |
| • | RXi shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a voluntary bankrupt, or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization under any bankruptcy or similar law or similar statute, or shall consent to the filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, liquidator, trustee, or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of it or any of its assets or property, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or | ||
| • | RXi and its affiliates shall discontinue or suspend indefinitely substantially all research and development efforts in the Field. |
If the SAB Member terminates for Good Reason, the Granting Party shall remain obligated to grant
all Options under this Agreement required pursuant to Section 3(A)(2) hereof at the times and with
the terms specified hereunder.
(C) Termination by RXi without Cause; termination by SAB Member without Good Reason. RXi or
the SAB Member may terminate this Agreement at any time without cause and without liability to any
other party upon at least 90 days prior written notice to RXi or the SAB Member, as the case may
be. If RXi terminates this Agreement without Cause, the Granting Party shall remain obligated to
grant all Options under this Agreement required pursuant to Section 3(A)(2) hereof at the times and
under the terms specified hereunder. If the SAB Member terminates this Agreement without Good
Reason, he will receive no further Options under this Agreement; provided that, if the SAB Member
terminates this Agreement pursuant to this Section following the first, second or third anniversary
of the Effective Date but prior to the time that RXi has granted the SAB Member the Option with
respect to such anniversary, then RXi shall remain obligated to grant the Option with respect to
such anniversary only.
(D) Termination due to Death or Disability. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon
the death of the SAB Member, or upon notice from RXi or the SAB Member following the
“Disability” of the SAB Member. For purposes of this Agreement, the SAB Member shall be
considered “to have suffered a Disability” if: (i) he is incapacitated or disabled by accident,
sickness or otherwise so as to render him mentally or physically incapable of performing a
substantial part of the Services, with or without reasonable accommodation, required to be
performed by him under this Agreement for a period of at least 90 consecutive days, or for 90 days
(whether or not consecutive) during any six (6) month period. A termination
by death or Disability shall not be considered a termination for Cause. Upon the SAB Member’s
death or Disability, the Granting Party shall remain obligated to grant all Options under this
Agreement required pursuant to Section 3(A)(2) hereof at the times and with the terms specified
hereunder; provided that, in the event of the death of the SAB Member, the Granting Party shall be
entitled to rely on instructions of the executor of the SAB Member’s estate, or any other party
reasonably determined by the Granting Party based on the advice of counsel to be the appropriate
person to provide instructions, with respect to the party to receive such grant and all other
matters in connection with such grant, and provided further, that the Granting Party’s obligation
to make such grants following the death of the SAB Member shall be subject to compliance with
federal and state securities laws.
(E) Termination Pursuant to Section 4. Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time
subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 4. Upon the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 4 (other than a termination by RXi that is treated under Section 4 as
a termination for Cause or a termination by the SAB Member other than for Good Reason), the
Granting Party shall remain obligated to grant all Options under this Agreement required pursuant
to Section 3(A)(2) hereof at the times and under the terms specified hereunder.
(F) Survival of Certain Provisions. No termination of this Agreement shall relieve the SAB
Member or RXi of any obligations hereunder which by their terms are intended to survive the
termination of the SAB Member’s association with RXi, including, but not limited to, the
obligations of Sections 1(C), 3 (as to only those provisions that are specifically described as
being applicable after the Term), 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22 through 24, and 26 hereof.
(G) Return of RXi Property. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the SAB Member
shall promptly deliver to RXi any and all property of RXi or its customers, licensees, licensors,
or affiliates provided to SAB Member pursuant to this Agreement which may be in his possession or
control, including without limitation, products, memoranda, notes, diskettes, records, reports,
laboratory notebooks, or other documents or photocopies of the same and shall destroy any
Confidential Information (as defined in Section 9 hereof) in tangible form.
(H) Rights of Principal Institution. The termination of this Agreement shall not affect (i)
RXi’s obligations to recognize the priority of Institute and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
intellectual property rights under the third paragraph of Section 8 or RXi’s obligations to defend
and indemnify the Institute under Section 19.
7. Independent Contractor. It is understood and agreed that the SAB Member is an
independent contractor and that neither this Agreement nor the Services to be rendered hereunder
shall for any purpose whatsoever or in any way or manner create any employer-employee relationship
between the parties. The SAB Member shall not be entitled to any fringe benefits generally
provided to employees of RXi and RXi shall not be required to maintain workers’ compensation
coverage for the SAB Member.
8. Inventions. The SAB Member shall promptly disclose to RXi, and, subject to the
terms of the third paragraph of this Section 8, hereby assigns and agrees to assign to RXi (or as
otherwise directed by RXi), his full right, title and interest, if any, to all Inventions.
The SAB Member agrees to cooperate fully with RXi, its attorneys and agents, in the preparation and
filing of all papers and other documents as may be required to perfect RXi’s rights in and to any
of such Inventions, including, but not limited to, execution of any and all applications for
domestic and foreign patents, copyrights or other proprietary rights and the performance of such
other acts
(including, among others, the execution and delivery of instruments of further assurance
or confirmation) requested by RXi to assign the Inventions to RXi and to permit RXi to file, obtain
and enforce any patents, copyrights or other proprietary rights in the Inventions, all at RXi’s
sole cost and expense. The SAB Member hereby designates RXi as his agent, and grants to RXi a
power of attorney with full power of substitution, which power of attorney shall be deemed coupled
with an interest, for the purpose of effecting any such assignment hereunder from the SAB Member to
RXi in the event the SAB Member should fail or refuse to sign and deliver any document in
connection with perfecting the foregoing rights of RXi within 10 days following RXi’s request;
provided that, in each case in which RXi intends to exercise this right (i) RXi shall give the SAB
Member and the Institute 30 days written notice, by certified mail (the Institute’s copy being
mailed to the Office of the General Counsel, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Medical Institute, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 Attn: General Counsel) that RXi intends to exercise its rights under
this sentence, which notice shall refer to this Agreement and shall be accompanied by (a) copies of
the documents that RXi intends to execute or file, or a description of the other acts that RXi
intends to take, and (b) reasonably sufficient information about the Invention or other
intellectual property to which the documents or acts relate for the SAB Member and the Institute
each to make a determination of whether the document or acts relate to an Invention; and (ii) RXi
may not exercise its rights under this sentence if either the SAB Member or the Institute notifies
RXi within the 30-day period referred to above that the SAB Member or the Institute disagrees.
“Inventions” shall mean, for purposes of this Section 8, ideas, discoveries,
creations, manuscripts and properties, innovations, improvements, know-how, inventions, trade
secrets, apparatus, developments, techniques, methods, biological processes, cell lines, laboratory
notebooks and formulas (whether or not patentable or copyrightable or constituting trade secrets)
conceived, made or discovered by the SAB Member (whether alone or with others) within the Field (i)
solely as a direct result of consulting with RXi under this Agreement and (ii) not in the course of
the SAB Member’s activities as an Institute employee or Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory faculty
member.
In no event shall the SAB Member’s obligations hereunder relate to any right, title or
interest that the SAB Member may have in ideas, discoveries, creations, manuscripts and properties,
innovations, improvements, know-how, inventions, trade secrets, apparatus, developments,
techniques, methods, biological processes, cell lines, laboratory notebooks and formulas (whether
or not patentable or copyrightable or constituting trade secrets) conceived, made or discovered by
the SAB Member (whether alone or with others) with the use of facilities or fundings of any
Affiliated Institution and that the SAB Member is required to assign to his Affiliated Institution
pursuant to the rules and regulations of such Affiliated Institution. Further, RXi will have no
rights by reason of this Agreement in any publication, invention, discovery, improvement, or other
intellectual property whatsoever, whether or not publishable, patentable, or copyrightable, which
is developed as a result of a program of research financed, in whole or in part, by funds provided
by or under the control of either Principal Institution. The SAB Member
agrees to not knowingly use or incorporate any third party proprietary information into any
Inventions or to disclose such information to RXi. Upon termination of this Agreement with RXi,
the SAB Member shall provide to RXi in writing a full, signed statement of all Inventions in which
the SAB Member participated prior to termination of this Agreement.
RXi acknowledges and agrees that it will enjoy no priority or advantage as a result of the
consultancy created by this Agreement in gaining access, whether by license or otherwise, to any
proprietary information or intellectual property that arises from any research undertaken by the
SAB Member in his capacity as an employee of the Institute or a member of the faculty of Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory.
9. Confidentiality. The SAB Member may disclose to RXi any information that the SAB
Member would normally freely disclose to other members of the scientific community at large,
whether by publication, by presentation at seminars, or in informal scientific discussions.
However, the SAB Member shall not disclose to RXi information that is proprietary to the Institute
or Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and is not generally available to the public other than through
formal technology transfer procedures.
During the Term, the SAB Member will be exposed to certain information concerning RXi’s
research, business, Inventions, products, proposed new products, designs, clinical testing
programs, manufacturing processes and techniques, customers, and other information and materials
that embody trade secrets or technical or business information that is confidential and proprietary
to RXi and is not generally known to the public (collectively, “Confidential Information”).
Confidential Information shall not include information that (i) is in the public domain on the
Effective Date of this Agreement, (ii) is or was disclosed to the SAB Member by a third party
having no fiduciary relationship with RXi and having no known obligation of confidentiality with
respect to such information, (iii) is or was independently known or developed by the SAB Member
without reference to the Confidential Information as reasonably demonstrated by the SAB Member by
written records or (iv) is required by law or in a legal proceeding to be disclosed, provided that
the SAB Member shall give RXi prior written notice of such proposed disclosure so that RXi may take
such legal steps as they deem appropriate to protect the Confidential Information. In addition,
Confidential Information does not include information generated by the SAB Member, alone or with
others, unless the information (i) is generated solely as a direct result of the performance of the
Services and (ii) is not generated in the course of the SAB Member’s activities as an Institute
employee or Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory faculty member. The SAB Member hereby agrees, for a
period of seven years following his receipt of such Confidential Information, not to disclose or
make use of, or allow others to use, any Confidential Information, except to RXi’s employees and
representatives, without RXi’s prior written consent, unless such information becomes publicly
available through no fault of the SAB Member; provided, however, that such obligations of the SAB
Member will expire no later than five years after the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
In addition, the SAB Member further agrees not to make any notes or memoranda relating to the
Business of RXi other than for the benefit of RXi and not to use or permit to be used at any time
any such notes or memoranda other than for the benefit of RXi.
10. Injunctive Relief. The SAB Member agrees that any breach of this Agreement by him
could cause irreparable damage to RXi and that in the event of such breach RXi shall
have the right to obtain injunctive relief, including, without limitation, specific
performance or other equitable relief to prevent the violation of his obligations hereunder. It is
expressly understood and agreed that nothing herein contained shall be construed as prohibiting RXi
from pursuing any other remedies available for such breach or threatened breach, including, without
limitation, the recovery of damages by RXi.
11. No Assignment by the SAB Member. The Services to be rendered by the SAB Member
are personal in nature. The SAB Member may not assign or transfer this Agreement or any of his
rights or obligations hereunder. In no event shall the SAB Member assign or delegate
responsibility for actual performance of the Services to any other natural person.
12. Publications. The SAB Member agrees that he will not at any time during the time
limitations set forth in paragraph 9 hereof, publish any Confidential Information that becomes
known to him as a result of his relationship with RXi which is, or pursuant to the terms hereof
becomes, the property of RXi or any of its clients, customers, consultants, licensors, licensees,
or affiliates except to such extent as may be necessary in the ordinary course of performing in
good faith his duties as a member of the SAB of RXi and with the prior written consent of RXi.
During the Term and for a period of two years thereafter, the SAB Member agrees to submit to
RXi for a period of at least 30 days (the “Review Period”) a copy of any proposed
manuscript or other materials to be published or otherwise publicly disclosed by the SAB Member
(each a “Proposed Publication”) which contains Confidential Information or discloses
Inventions in sufficient time to enable RXi to determine if patentable Inventions or Confidential
Information would be disclosed. Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict the SAB Member’s
right to publish material which does not contain Confidential Information. Following the
expiration of the Review Period, if RXi does not notify the SAB Member that the Proposed
Publication discloses patentable Inventions or Confidential Information such Proposed Publication
shall be deemed to be approved by RXi for publication. In addition, the SAB Member will cooperate
with RXi in this respect and will delete from the manuscript or other disclosure any Confidential
Information if requested by RXi and will assist RXi in filing for patent protection for any
patentable Inventions prior to publication or other disclosure.
13. No Conflicting Agreements. The SAB Member represents and warrants, that as of the
Effective Date, he will not be a party to any commitments or obligations that conflict with this
Agreement. During the Term, the SAB Member will not enter into any agreement either written or
oral in conflict with this Agreement and will arrange to provide Services under this Agreement in
such a manner and at times that such Services will not conflict with his responsibilities under any
other agreement, arrangement or understanding or pursuant to any employment relationship he has at
any time with any third party. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and any
agreement or policy of any Affiliated Institution, the agreement or policy of the Affiliated
Institution shall control.
14. Other Consulting Services. RXi agrees that the SAB Member may serve as a member
of scientific advisory boards or in a similar capacity with, and provide consulting services to,
other companies in scientific areas outside of the Field, provided that such service does not
conflict or materially interfere with his Services hereunder. RXi further agrees that the
SAB Member may serve as a member of scientific advisory boards or in a similar capacity with,
and provide consulting services to, other companies in scientific areas within the Discovery
Sub-Field (defined below), provided that such service does not conflict or materially interfere
with his Services hereunder. For purposes hereof, the term “Discovery Sub-Field” shall
mean that portion of the Field that includes the use of RNAi technology in, or the application of
RNAi
technology to, the discovery or identification of targets for therapeutic products for humans
or animals.
15. Nonsolicitation. During the Term and for a period of one year thereafter, the SAB
Member, personally, will not, without RXi’s prior written consent, directly solicit the employment
of any employee of RXi or its affiliates with whom the SAB Member has had contact in connection
with the relationship arising under this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 15 shall be deemed to
prohibit general solicitations of employment by any Affiliated Institution.
16. Disclosure of Relationship. The parties each shall be entitled to disclose that
the SAB Member is serving on the SAB and RXi may use the SAB Member’s name and, in doing so may
cite the SAB Member’s relationship with the Institute, including in any business plan, press
release, advertisement, prospectus or other offering document of RXi or its affiliates, so long as
any such usage (a) is limited to reporting factual events or occurrences only, and (b) is made in a
manner that could not reasonably constitute a specific endorsement by the Institute or the SAB
Member of RXi or of any program, product or service of RXi. However, RXi shall not use the SAB
Member’s name or the Institute’s name in any press release, or quote the SAB Member in any RXi
materials (including advertisements), or otherwise use the SAB Member’s name or the Institute’s
name in a manner not specifically permitted by the preceding sentence, unless in each case RXi
obtains in advance the written consent of the Institute, and, in the case of the use of the SAB
Member’s name, the SAB Member’s consent as well. The foregoing consents shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed by the SAB Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, in the opinion of RXi’s
counsel, RXi is required by applicable law to use the SAB Member’s name or the Institute’s name in
a press release or governmental filing and, under the circumstances, RXi is not reasonably able to
obtain the advance written consent of the Institute or the SAB Member, as applicable, to such use,
then RXi may proceed without obtaining the advance written consent of the Institute or the SAB
Member, as applicable.
17. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be delivered or
sent by facsimile transmission, recognized courier service, registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested.
If to RXi:
Xxx Xxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Fax: 000-000-0000
Chief Executive Officer
RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Fax: 000-000-0000
with a copy to:
Ropes & Xxxx LLP
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to the SAB Member:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Ph.X.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Medical Institute
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Medical Institute
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given as of the date sent by the
facsimile or delivered to a recognized courier service, or three days following the date sent by
registered or certified mail.
18. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties and their respective legal representatives, successors and permitted
assigns. The SAB Member agrees that RXi may assign this Agreement, in whole but not in part, to
any purchaser of all or substantially all of its assets or to any successor corporation resulting
from any merger, consolidation or other reorganization of RXi with or into such corporations. RXi
also may assign this Agreement, in whole but not in part, to any person or entity controlled by, in
control of, or under common control with, RXi, if it obtains the prior written consent of the SAB
Member, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed; provided, however, that
no such assignment shall relieve RXi of its liability to the SAB Member hereunder; and
provided further, however, that no such assignment shall be made to CytRx or any affiliate thereof
without the prior written consent of the SAB Member, which consent he may withhold in his sole and
unfettered discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, RXi may not enter into any transaction
pursuant to which all or substantially all of its assets or shares are acquired by a third party,
or it merges with any third party unless, in any such transaction, such third party explicitly
assumes, in writing, all of RXi’s obligations and the obligations of the “Granting Party” under
this Agreement. RXi may not otherwise assign this Agreement without the SAB Member’s prior written
consent.
19. Indemnification. RXi shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SAB Member
from any claim, loss, liability or expense (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred by him
as a result of the performance of his Services hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof, a
material breach by RXi hereof or any gross negligence or willful misconduct by RXi or its
respective officers or directors in connection with this Agreement or otherwise relating to or
resulting from the performance of the Services hereunder, except where such claim, loss, liability
or expense is attributable primarily to the SAB Member’s own gross negligence or willful
misconduct.
RXi agrees, at its sole expense, to defend the Institute against, and to indemnify and hold
the Institute harmless from, any liability, claim, judgment, cost, expense, damage, deficiency,
loss, or obligation, of any kind or nature (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees
and other costs and expenses of defense) relating to a claim or suit by a third party against the
Institute, either arising from this Agreement, the SAB Member’s performance of Services, or any
products or services of RXi which result from the SAB Member’s performance of Services.
20. Entire Agreement; Counterparts. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
among the parties as to the subject matter hereof. No provision of this Agreement shall be waived,
altered or cancelled except in writing signed by the party against whom such waiver, alteration or
cancellation is asserted. RXi and the SAB Member acknowledge and agree that any amendment of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, any extension of this Agreement or any change from the
terms of Section 3 in the consideration to be provided to the SAB Member with respect to the
Services) or any departure from the terms or conditions hereof with respect to the SAB Member’s
consulting services for RXi is subject to the Institute’s prior written approval. Any such waiver
shall be limited to the particular instance and the particular time when and for which it is given.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by different parties hereto on
separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
21. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.
22. Enforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof as to
an obligation of a party shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, provided that if such invalidity or unenforceability materially
adversely affects the benefits the other party reasonably expected to receive hereunder, that party
shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement. Moreover, if one or more of the provisions
contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to scope,
activity or subject so as to be unenforceable at law, such provision or provisions shall be
construed by limiting or reducing it or them, so as to be enforceable to the extent compatible with
the applicable law as it shall then appear. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 22
to the contrary, if any provision of this Agreement affecting the rights or property of the
Institute is adjudicated to be invalid, unenforceable, contrary to, or prohibited under applicable
laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, this Agreement shall terminate as of the date such
adjudication is effective.
23. Construction. This Agreement has been prepared jointly and shall not be strictly
construed against any party.
24. Resolution of Disputes. Except as set forth below, any dispute arising under or
in connection with any matter related to this Agreement or any related agreement shall be resolved
exclusively by arbitration. The arbitration will be in conformity with and subject to the
applicable rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. All parties agree to be
(i) subject to the jurisdiction and venue of any arbitration or litigation in Boston,
Massachusetts; and (ii) bound by the decision of the arbitrator as the final decision with respect
to any dispute that is to be resolved by arbitration pursuant to this Agreement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any dispute or controversy that involves the rights of the Institute shall not be
determined by arbitration.
25. Advice of Counsel. Each party acknowledges that, in executing this Agreement,
such party has had the opportunity to seek the advice of independent legal counsel, and has read
and understood all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
26. Individual Capacity; Third Party Beneficiary. The SAB Member and RXi acknowledge
that (i) the SAB Member is entering into this Agreement in his individual capacity and not as an
employee or agent of the Institute, (ii) the Institute is not a party to this Agreement and has no
liability or obligation hereunder, and (iii) the Institute is an intended third-party beneficiary
of this Agreement and certain provisions of this Agreement (excluding the compensation provisions
of Section 3(A), (B), and (D)) are for the benefit of the Institute and are enforceable by the
Institute in its own name.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Scientific Advisory Board
Agreement as a sealed instrument as of the date first written above.
| RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION |
||||
| By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxxx | |||
| Xxx Xxxxx | ||||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||||
| SAB MEMBER |
||||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Ph.D. | |||
| Social Security Number: |
||||
| Effective Date: 2/15, 2007 | ||||
April 30, 2007
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Ph.D.
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Medical Institute
Cold Spring Harbor Institute
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Medical Institute
Cold Spring Harbor Institute
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Re: Scientific Advisory Board Agreement
between Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Ph.D. and RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation dated as of
February 26, 2007 (the “Agreement”)
Dear Xx. Xxxxxx:
We are
writing to confirm our mutual understanding concerning certain matters in connection with
the above-referenced Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this letter
shall have the meaning given them in the Agreement. We agree as follows:
RXi shall, as additional consideration for your services to be rendered under
the Agreement, at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of
RXi following the Effective Date, grant to you an option (the “Additional Option”)
to purchase a number of shares equal to 1/280th of the number of shares of common stock of
RXi held by CytRx immediately prior to the Equity Funding. The Additional Option shall
have a per share exercise price equal to the price per share paid for RXi stock in the
Equity Funding, shall have a ten year term from the date of grant and shall be exercisable
in full from and after the day before the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date
(the “Vesting Date”), provided that prior to the Vesting Date you have not
terminated the Agreement without Good Reason and RXi has not terminated the Agreement
for Cause prior to the Vesting Date. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence
regarding termination by RXi for Cause and termination by you without Good Reason prior
to the Vesting Date, the Additional Option shall remain outstanding and shall continue
to vest on the Vesting Date notwithstanding any prior termination of the Agreement or
your consulting relationship with the RXi. For purposes hereof: (i) the failure of
RXi to offer, by notice to you given prior to the end of the initial four year term
of the Agreement, to extend the Agreement for an additional period of one year following
the initial four year Term on terms at least as favorable as are currently set forth
in the Agreement shall be deemed to be a termination by RXi without Cause (which
shall cause the Additional Option to remain outstanding and continue to vest on the
Vesting Date); and (ii) the failure of you to accept RXi’s offer to extend the Agreement
for an additional period of one year following the initial four year Term on terms at
least as favorable as are currently
set forth in the Agreement shall be deemed to be a termination by you without Good Reason
(which shall cause the Additional Option to lapse). From and after the Vesting Date,
the Additional Option shall not be subject to lapse for any reason (including,
without limitation, a subsequent termination for Cause or termination without Good Reason)
prior to the end of the 10 year term. The Additional Option will otherwise be on such
terms as set forth in the standard form of RXi’s nonqualified stock option agreement.
The terms of Section 3(A)(2) of the Agreement shall apply to the Additional Option to the
extent not inconsistent with the terms of this paragraph.
In
addition, RXi will pay to you $10,000 within thirty (30) days following the Equity Funding,
in addition to the compensation set forth in the Agreement.
If
you are in agreement with the foregoing, please countersign this letter where indicated
below and return it to the undersigned at your earliest convenience.
| Very truly yours, RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION |
||||
| By: | /s/ Xxx Xxxxx 4/30/07 | |||
| AGREED: |
||||
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Ph.D. | ||||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||
| Date: 4/30/2007 |
||||
