RECITALS:

EXHIBIT 10.4(a)
                      FIRST AMENDMENT TO LICENSE AGREEMENT

         This First Amendment to the License Agreement ("First Amendment") is
made as of this 20th day of December, 2003 by and between ImmuneRegen
BioSciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal offices at 8665 E.
Xxx Xx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx X000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 ("the Company")
on the one hand, and Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Ph.d., an individual having his principal
address at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 ("Xxxxxx") and Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Ph.d., an individual having its principal address at 0000 X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 ("Xxxxxx"), on the other hand (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx are
together the "Licensors").

                                    RECITALS:

         WHEREAS, Company and Licensors are parties to a certain License
Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2002 and as may be amended from time to time
(the "Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, Customer and Licensors desire to amend the Agreement as
hereinafter set forth;

         NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

         Licensors agree to provide updated information for Schedule A, "License
         Proprietary Rights" regarding the docket number, status, application
         numbers, grant numbers and grant date for each patent listed, as such
         information becomes available.



         This First Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one instrument. A copy of this First Amendment that is signed and delivered by
telecopy or other facsimile transmission shall be considered an original,
executed First Amendment.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this First Amendment to
the License Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                           "LICENSORS"


                                           /S/  XXXX X. XXXXXX
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Ph.d.

                                           /S/  XXXXX X. XXXXXX, PHD
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Ph.d.



                                           IMMUNEREGEN BIOSCIENCES, INC.

                                           By:  /S/    XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
                                                --------------------------------
                                                 Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
                                                Title: President