exv10w20



 




Exhibit 10.20




Form of Incentive Stock Option

Granted Under RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation 2007 Incentive Plan





			
	1.	 	Grant of Option.





     This certificate evidences an incentive stock option (this “Stock Option”) granted by RXi
Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), on [___ ] to [___],
an employee of the Company or its subsidiaries (the “Participant”) pursuant to the Company’s 2007
Incentive Plan (as from time to time in effect, the “Plan”). Under this Stock Option, the
Participant may purchase, in whole or in part, on the terms herein provided, a total of [___]
shares of common stock of the Company (the “Shares”) at $[___] per Share, which is not less than
the fair market value of the Shares on the date of grant of this Stock Option. The latest date on
which this Stock Option, or any part thereof, may be exercised is [___](the “Final Exercise
Date”). The Stock Option evidenced by this certificate is intended to be an incentive stock option
as defined in section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the
“Code”).



     This Stock Option is exercisable in the following installments prior to the Final Exercise
Date:


 



 



 



 



Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon termination of the Participant’s Employment, any portion of
this Stock Option that is not then exercisable will immediately expire and the remainder of this
Stock Option will remain exercisable for three months (unless termination of the Participant’s
Employment resulted from reasons that in the determination of the Administrator cast such discredit
on the Participant as to justify immediate forfeiture of this Stock Option, in which case this
entire Option shall immediately expire and no portion thereof shall remain exercisable); provided,
that any portion of this Stock Option held by the Participant immediately prior to the
Participant’s death, to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for one year following
the Participant’s death; and further provided, that in no event shall any portion of this Stock
Option be exercisable after the Final Exercise Date.




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	2.	 	Exercise of Stock Option.





     Each election to exercise this Stock Option shall be in writing, signed by the Participant or
the Participant’s executor, administrator, or legally appointed representative (in the event of the
Participant’s incapacity) or the person or persons to whom this Stock Option is transferred by will
or the applicable laws of descent and distribution (collectively, the “Option Holder”), and
received by the Company at its principal office, accompanied by this certificate and payment in
full as provided in the Plan. Subject to the further terms and conditions provided in the Plan,
the purchase price may be paid as follows: (i) by delivery of cash or check acceptable to the
Administrator; (ii) upon and following an initial public offering of the Company and to the extent
permitted by applicable law (as determined by the Administrator), through a broker-assisted
exercise program acceptable to the Administrator; or (iii) through any combination of the
foregoing. In the event that this Stock Option is exercised by an Option Holder other than the
Participant, the Company will be under no obligation to deliver Shares hereunder unless and until
it is satisfied as to the authority of the Option Holder to exercise this Stock Option.




			
	3.	 	Notice of Disposition.





     The person exercising this Stock Option shall notify the Company when making any disposition
of the Shares acquired upon exercise of this Stock Option, whether by sale, gift or otherwise.




			
	4.	 	Restrictions on Transfer of Shares.





     If at the time this Stock Option is exercised the Company or any of its stockholders is a
party to any agreement restricting the transfer of any outstanding shares of the Company’s common
stock, the Administrator may provide that this Stock Option may be exercised only if the Shares so
acquired are made subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in that agreement (or if more than
one such agreement is then in effect, the agreement or agreements specified by the Administrator).



     If requested by the Corporation and the managing underwriter of an offering by the Corporation
of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
each stockholder who acquires shares by exercise of this Option shall agree, by executing and
delivering such form of agreement as the Company and such underwriter shall reasonably request, not
to sell publicly or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares held by such stockholder or other
securities of the Corporation held by such stockholder for a specified period of time (not to
exceed 180 days) immediately following the effective date of such registration statement; provided,
that such agreement shall apply only to the initial public offering of the Corporation’s
securities.




			
	5.	 	Withholding; Agreement to Provide Security.





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     If at the time this Stock Option is exercised the Company determines that under applicable law
and regulations it could be liable for the withholding of any federal or state tax upon exercise or with respect to a disposition of any Shares acquired upon exercise of this
Stock Option, this Stock Option may not be exercised unless the person exercising this Stock Option
remits to the Company any amounts determined by the Company to be required to be withheld upon
exercise (or makes other arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the payment of such taxes)
and gives such security as the Company deems adequate to meet its potential liability for the
withholding of tax upon a disposition of the Shares and agrees to augment such security from time
to time in any amount reasonably determined by the Company to be necessary to preserve the adequacy
of such security.




			
	6.	 	Nontransferability of Stock Option.





     This Stock Option is not transferable by the Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution and is exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the
Participant (or in the event of the Participant’s incapacity, the person or persons legally
appointed to act on the Participant’s behalf).




			
	7.	 	Provisions of the Plan.





     This Stock Option is subject to the provisions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by
reference. A copy of the Plan as in effect on the date of the grant of this Stock Option has been
furnished to the Participant. By exercising all or any part of this Stock Option, the Participant
agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan and this certificate. All initially capitalized terms
used herein will have the meaning specified in the Plan, unless another meaning is specified
herein.




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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed by its duly
authorized officer.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation
 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 



Dated: [_________________]




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Acknowledged and agreed:

 	 
	 	 	 
	 	[Name of Participant] 	 
	 	 	 
	 



Dated: [_________________]