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Exhibit 10.1

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

        THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment"), dated
and effective as of September 30, 2002, is entered into by and between Avatex
Corporation (the "Company"), and Grady E. Schleier ("Employee").

        The Company and Employee hereby agree that this Amendment amends the
Employment Agreement dated and effective as of November 12, 1996, as amended by
the Amendment thereto dated as of February 1, 1998, and the Second Amendment
thereto dated as of September 1, 1999, and the Third Amendment thereto dated as
of September 25, 2001 by and between the Company and Employee (the "Agreement"),
as follows:

        1.    A new Section 18 of the Agreement is hereby added with the
following:

18.Chemlink Employment.    The Company hereby acknowledges and permits Employee
to seek and obtain employment with Chemlink Laboratories, LLC ("Chemlink"), a
company affiliated with the Company.

          (i)  The Company and Employee acknowledge that Employee intends to
become the Chief Executive Officer of Chemlink and that conflicts may arise
between the Company and Chemlink relating to certain issues with Chemlink.

        (ii)  The Company will not consider Employee's relationship with
Chemlink a basis for termination, unless and until Employee becomes a full-time
employee of Chemlink.

        (iii)  Employee will continue to devote significant time and energy to
all matters of the Company as directed by the senior officers of the Company
until such time as Employee is terminated from the Company.

        2.    Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, all other terms
and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment effective
on the date and year first above written.

AVATEX CORPORATION
 

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Grady E. Schleier
By:
 
 
 
 

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Melvyn J. Estrin
Co-Chief Executive Officer
 
 

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Exhibit 10.1

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT