Exhibit 10.2 


 


EXECUTION
COPY


EXHIBIT A


 


STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT


 


THIS STOCKHOLDERS
AGREEMENT (as may be amended or modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as
of November 12, 2018, by and among InvaGen Pharmaceuticals Inc., a New York Corporation (“Buyer”), Avenue Therapeutics,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the stockholders of the Company listed on Schedule A
hereto (the “Stockholders” and each individually a “Stockholder”).


 


RECITALS 


 


WHEREAS,
Buyer, the Company and Madison Pharmaceuticals Inc. have entered into that certain Stock Purchase and Merger Agreement, dated as
of the date of this Agreement (the “SPMA”);


 


WHEREAS,
the parties have agreed that Buyer would receive certain rights, including with respect to the appointment of directors to the
board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”), as set forth herein;


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations and warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this
Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, effective as
of the First Stage Closing (as defined in the SPMA) (the “Effective Date”) the parties hereto agree as follows:


 


1.    Definitions.
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the
SPMA.   


 


For purposes
of this Agreement:


 


“Transfer”
means to, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, lend, grant as a gift, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise
dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with
respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, loan, gift, encumbrance, hypothecation or other disposition. A Transfer shall
include any transaction that, in whole or in part, transfers any economic consequences of ownership.


 


		2.	Board of Directors; Working Committee; Access; Notices.



 


(a)          At
the First Stage Closing, and thereafter, at any time that Buyer Beneficially Owns at least 75% of the Common Shares acquired by
Buyer at the time of the First Stage Closing, Buyer shall have the right to nominate three members to the Board of Directors pursuant
to this Section 2 (the “Buyer Directors”), initially at the First Stage Closing, and thereafter at every
annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company in which directors are generally elected, including at every adjournment or postponement
thereof, and on any action by written consent of the stockholders of the Company relating to the election of directors generally.
At least one of the Buyer Directors shall be “Independent” as determined by the Board of Directors (the “Independent
Buyer Director”) pursuant to Rule 5605 of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) and the rules and regulations
of the SEC.


 




     


     


    

 


(b)          The
following procedures shall be followed with respect to the nomination of Buyer Directors pursuant to Section 2(a):


 


(i)          For
purposes of whether Buyer has a right to nominate a Buyer Director pursuant to Section 2(a), the Beneficial Ownership of
the Common Shares will be initially measured as of the First Stage Closing and thereafter as of the record date for such annual
meeting or written consent.


 


(ii)         At
least 20 days prior to the First Stage Closing, Buyer shall provide the Company with the identity of the initial Buyer Directors
to be appointed to the Board of Directors as of the First Stage Closing (provided that Buyer may substitute such appointees by
notice to the Company at least 20 days prior to the First Stage Closing). Following the initial appointment of Buyer Directors,
each year, the Company will notify Buyer when it intends to hold its next Company’s annual meeting of stockholders at least
120 days prior to such meeting. With respect to Buyer’s nominees (other than the initial Buyer Directors), at least 90 days
prior to the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, Buyer shall provide the Company with the Buyer’s nominees for
the Buyer Directors, along with any other information reasonably requested by the Independent Directors to evaluate the suitability
of such candidates for directorship. With respect to any Buyer nominee, Buyer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
ensure that any such nominee satisfies all Nasdaq and SEC criteria and guidelines for director nominees of the Company other than
relevant independence criteria with respect to the Buyer Directors (except the Independent Buyer Director).


 


(iii)        Within
10 days (or 5 days for the initial Buyer Directors) of receiving the Buyer’s nominees for the Buyer Directors in accordance
with Section 2(b)(ii), the independent directors of the Company pursuant to Rule 5605 of Nasdaq and the rules and regulations
of the SEC (“Independent Directors”) shall make a good faith and reasonable determination as to the suitability
of the Buyer’s nominees for Buyer Directors and shall notify Buyer of its determination, it being understood and agreed that
the Independent Directors shall not object to a Buyer Director nomination except for the reasons specified in the last sentence
of this Section 2(b)(iii) or if the Board of Directors determined that the person proposed by Buyer to be the Independent
Buyer Director is not “Independent” pursuant to Rule 5605 of Nasdaq and the rules and regulations of the SEC (such
determination by the Board of Directors shall be included in the Independent Directors’ notice to Buyer pursuant to this
sentence). If the Independent Directors do not notify Buyer of their determination within the 10 day (or 5 day, if applicable)
period specified in the immediately preceding sentence, then Buyer’s nominees shall be deemed to be approved for purposes
of Section 2(b)(iv) below. Subject to compliance with the terms of this Agreement, if Buyer and the Independent Directors
do not agree on the nominee(s) within 30 days (or 15 days for the initial Buyer Directors) after the Independent Directors raise
an objection to a Buyer Director nomination as specified in this Section 2(b)(iii) above, the Buyer Director(s) shall not
be nominated by the Company at such annual meeting. The Independent Directors may disqualify a nominee for the following: (i) commission
of acts of misrepresentation, fraud, or dishonesty, (ii) commission of or pleading nolo contendere or guilty to, a crime
involving fraud, any regulatory violation, dishonesty or any felony, (iii) the entry of an order of the SEC or other regulatory
or self-regulatory body against the nominee; or (iv) if the nominee is considered to be a “Bad Actor” as defined in
Rule 506 under the Securities Act.


 




    	2



     


    

 


(iv)        If
the Independent Directors or any authorized committee thereof approves of Buyer’s nominees for Buyer Directors, the Board
of Directors shall (1) in the case of the initial Buyer Directors, appoint the Buyer Directors as members of the Board of Directors
effective as of the First Stage Closing to serve until the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders at which directors
will be generally elected, (2) in the case of subsequent Buyer Directors, nominate such nominees to be elected as directors and
recommend that the stockholders vote to elect such nominees at the next annual meeting of stockholders at which directors will
be generally elected and (3) in the case of Buyer Directors designated by Buyer pursuant to Section 2(b)(v) or 2(b)(vi), appoint
the Buyer Directors as members of the Board of Directors promptly to serve until the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders
at which directors will be generally elected.


 


(v)         If
Buyer nominee(s) is not appointed, nominated or elected by the stockholders, then as soon as practicable after the First Stage
Closing or annual meeting, as applicable, Buyer shall designate nominee(s) for such Buyer Director(s) (subject to the limitations
on the Independent Directors’ ability to raise an objection as specified in clause (iii) of this Section 2(b)), which
nominee(s) shall be appointed as director(s) by the Board of Directors promptly after such designation.


 


(vi)        In
the event a Buyer Director resigns from the Board of Directors (or is otherwise incapable of serving on the Board of Directors),
the remaining Buyer Directors shall have the power to fill such vacancy. So long as the Buyer Director replacement satisfies the
criteria in Sections 2(b)(ii) and 2(b)(iii), the Board of Directors shall vote in favor of such Buyer Director replacement.


 


(c)          Each
of the Buyer Directors will be governed by the same protections and obligations as all other directors of the Company, including,
without limitation, protections and obligations regarding customary liability insurance for directors and officers, confidentiality,
conflicts of interests, fiduciary duties, trading and disclosure policies, director evaluation process, director code of ethics,
director share ownership guidelines, stock trading and pre-approval policies, and other governance matters. Each Buyer Director
agrees that he or she shall be bound by the Company’s insider trading policy. The Company shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to ensure that the Buyer Directors are covered by liability insurance for directors with coverage that is at least as favorable,
in the aggregate, to such directors as the coverage provided for by insurance policies acquired by the Company for the benefit
of directors of the Company as in effect as of the date of this Agreement (it being agreed that the Company shall be required to
obtain such coverage to the extent that the cost therefor does not exceed, on a per director basis, more than 200% of the premium
for the coverage that is in effect as of the date hereof). Fortress shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the
Buyer Directors are covered by liability insurance for directors with coverage that is at least as favorable, in the aggregate,
to such directors as the coverage provided for by insurance policies acquired by Fortress for the benefit of directors of the Company
as in effect as of the date of this Agreement (it being agreed that Fortress shall be required to obtain such coverage to the extent
that the cost therefor does not exceed, on a per director basis, more than 200% of the premium for the coverage that is in effect
as of the date hereof).


 




    	3



     


    

 


(d)        
The Board of Directors shall have seven directors and the size of the Board of Directors may only be increased or decreased if
Buyer consents.


 


(e)          Buyer
Directors shall be as close as proportionally practicable, but at least one Buyer Director shall be, represented on all committees
of the Board of Directors and shall be appointed to such committees in accordance with Nasdaq and SEC rules. The chair of the Company’s
audit committee shall be selected by Buyer out of the Buyer Directors; provided that such person qualifies as an “audit
committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.


 


(f)           Except
for the Independent Buyer Director, the Buyer Directors shall not be compensated for their service on the Board of Directors. The
compensation of the Independent Buyer Director shall be equal to the compensation paid to the other Independent Directors of the
Company. No member of the Board of Directors designated by or Affiliated with Fortress shall be compensated for his or her service
on the Board of Directors, except to the extent such person is “Independent” as determined by the Board of Directors
pursuant to Rule 5605 of Nasdaq and the rules and regulations of the SEC.


 


(g)          At
the First Stage Closing, and thereafter, at any time that Buyer Beneficially Owns at least 75% of the Common Shares acquired by
Buyer at the time of the First Stage Closing, Buyer shall have the right to appoint one representative (the “Buyer Representative”)
to the Working Committee (as defined in Section 11.1 of the Revogenex License) and the Company shall cooperate with Buyer
to promptly cause such appointment. Buyer shall have the right to replace any person appointed by it as a Buyer Representative
with another person to act in such capacity.


 


(h)          From
the termination of the SPMA pursuant to Section 10.5(a) thereof and as long as Buyer Beneficially Owns at least 75% of the
Common Shares acquired by Buyer at the time of the First Stage Closing, the Company shall provide Buyer with all the rights afforded
to Buyer in Section 8.2 of the SPMA as if such rights are set forth herein.


 


(i)            In
order for Buyer or its Affiliates to comply with Legal Requirements or the requirements of any stock exchange on which the securities
of such a Person is listed, from the date of this Agreement until the Second Stage Closing, (i) if any action taken at a Company
Board meeting (or by written consent of the Company Board) or a Company stockholders meeting (or by written consent of the Company’s
stockholders) would be required to be disclosed by the Company to the SEC, the Company shall, concurrently with calling such a
meeting, or immediately prior to taking such action by written consent, as applicable, notify Buyer of such proposed action, (ii)
if any other action or event occurs which would be required to be disclosed by the Company to the SEC, the Company shall, within
one Business Day prior to taking such action (or in case such action is not taken by the Company or in case of any other event,
within one Business Day of becoming aware of such action or event) notify Buyer of such action or event and (iii) if the Company
makes any disclosure to the SEC, the Company shall, concurrently with such disclosure, notify Buyer thereof, including a copy of
such disclosure.


 




    	4



     


    

 





		3.	Tag Along Rights; Restriction on Transfer.



 


(a)           If
at any time a Stockholder or any of its Affiliates, assigns, successors, transferees or heirs (in each case, by operation of law
or otherwise) (the “Selling Stockholder”) proposes to Transfer any shares of its capital stock of the Company
(“Tag-along Shares”) to a third party purchaser (the “Proposed Transferee”), Buyer shall
be permitted to participate in such Transfer (a “Tag-along Sale”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Section 3.


 


(b)          Prior
to the consummation of any such Transfer of Tag-along Shares described in Section 3(a), the Selling Stockholder shall deliver
to the Company and Buyer a written notice (a “Sale Notice”) of the proposed Tag-along Sale subject to this Section
3 no later than 30 Business Days prior to the closing date of the Tag-along Sale. The Sale Notice shall make reference to Buyer’s
rights hereunder and shall describe in reasonable detail:


 


(i)          the
aggregate number of shares of Tag-along Shares the Proposed Transferee has offered to purchase and the maximum number of shares
of Tag-along Shares that Buyer shall have the right to sell in the Tag-along Sale pursuant to this Section 3;


 


(ii)         the
identity of the Proposed Transferee;


 


(iii)        the
proposed date, time and location of the closing of the Tag-along Sale;


 


(iv)        the
per share purchase price and the other material terms and conditions of the Transfer, including a description of any non-cash consideration
in sufficient detail to permit the valuation thereof; and


 


(v)         a
copy of any form of agreement proposed to be executed in connection therewith.


 


(c)          The
Sale Notice shall include, and shall constitute, an offer for Buyer to sell the shares described therein in accordance with this
Section 3 to the Proposed Transferee. Buyer shall have the right to participate in a Transfer of Tag-along Shares by the
Selling Stockholder subject to this Section 3 by delivering to the Selling Stockholder a written notice (a “Tag-along
Notice”) stating its election to do so and specifying the number of shares of capital stock of the Company to be transferred
by Buyer no later than 10 Business Days after receipt of the Sale Notice (the “Tag-along Period”). The offer
to Buyer set forth in a Sale Notice shall be irrevocable, and, to the extent such offer is accepted in a Tag-along Notice, Buyer
shall be bound and obligated to Transfer in the Tag-along Sale on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 3.
If Buyer delivers a Tag-along Notice in compliance with this Section 3(c) within the Tag-along Period, Buyer shall have
the right to Transfer to the Proposed Transferee up to the number of shares of capital stock of the Company equal to the product
of (x) Buyer’s Percentage Interest (as defined below) and (y) the aggregate number of shares of capital stock of the Company
the Proposed Transferee proposes to buy as stated in the Sale Notice. For purposes of this Section 3, Buyer’s “Percentage
Interest” means a fraction the numerator of which is equal to the number of shares of capital stock of the Company, on
an as-converted basis, then held by Buyer and the denominator of which is equal to the number of shares of capital stock of the
Company, on an as-converted basis, then held by the Selling Stockholder and Buyer in the aggregate.


 




    	5



     


    

 


(d)          If
Buyer participates in a Transfer pursuant to this Section 3, Buyer shall receive the same consideration per share as the
Selling Stockholder (regardless of class or type of capital stock of the Company being sold in such Transfer by either Buyer or
the Selling Stockholder). The Selling Stockholder and Buyer shall each be solely responsible for their expenses incurred with regard
to their participation in a Tag-along Sale.


 


(e)          Buyer
shall make or provide representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements that are not less favorable to Buyer than
those made or provided by the Selling Stockholder in connection with the Tag-along Sale (except that in the case of representations,
warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements pertaining specifically to the Selling Stockholder, Buyer shall make the comparable
representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements pertaining specifically to itself); provided, that any
indemnification obligation of Buyer in respect of breaches of representations and warranties shall be pro rata based on the consideration
received by Buyer and shall be in an amount not to exceed the aggregate proceeds received by Buyer (net of taxes) in connection
with any Tag-along Sale; provided, further, that Buyer shall only be required to make representations, warranties,
covenants, indemnities and agreements pertaining specifically to itself and its ownership of the shares of capital stock of the
Company sold by it in the Tag-along Sale; provided, further, that Buyer shall not be required to make or provide
any covenants or agreements to (i) assume any nonmonetary obligations in connection with the consummation of any sale in accordance
with this Section 3 or (ii) agree to any non-compete provisions, non-solicit provisions, confidentiality provisions, exclusivity
provisions or other similar restrictions.


 


(f)           Buyer
shall take all actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the Tag-along Sale, including entering into agreements and
delivering certificates and instruments, consistent with the agreements being entered into and the certificates being delivered
by the Selling Stockholder; provided that any such agreements, certificates and instruments contain substantially the same
terms and conditions as those executed by the Selling Stockholder as applied in a nondiscriminatory manner based on Buyer’s
Percentage Interest.


 


(g)          If
Buyer does not deliver a Tag-along Notice in compliance with Section 3(c) above within the Tag-along Period, the Selling
Stockholder shall have 90 days following the expiration of the Tag-along Period in which to Transfer the Tag-along Shares described
in the Sale Notice, at a per share price that is no greater than the per share price set forth in the Sale Notice and on other
terms and conditions which are not more favorable to the Selling Stockholder than those set forth in the Sale Notice. If at the
end of such 90 day period, the Selling Stockholder has not completed such Transfer, the Selling Stockholder may not then effect
a Transfer of Tag-along Shares subject to this Section 3 without again fully complying with the provisions of this Section
3.


 




    	6



     


    

 


(h)          Without
limiting the provisions of this Section 3, the Stockholders hereby agree that they and their Affiliates shall not Transfer any
capital stock of the Company to a competitor of Buyer or its Affiliates.


 



		4.	Governance Rights.



 


(a)           Effective
as of the termination of the SPMA pursuant to Section 10.5(a) thereof and until such time that Buyer Beneficially Owns less
than 75% of the Common Shares acquired by Buyer at the time of the First Stage Closing, none of the actions set forth in this Section
4 below shall be taken by, or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Company (or any Subsidiary thereof) without the prior written
consent of Buyer (in Buyer’s sole discretion):


 


(i)            approval
of or changes to the Company’s directors’ compensation;


 


(ii)           any
agreement or transaction that would adversely treat the holders of Common Shares as compared to the holders of Class A Preferred
Shares;


 


(iii)          increase
in the authorized shares of capital stock of the Company;


 


(iv)          issuance
of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or other rights to acquire, shares of capital
stock of the Company (including options, warrants or bonds), except for issuances to officers of the Company for services performed,
or to be performed, by such officers for the Company pursuant to Contracts or option plans entered into in the ordinary course
of business and provided that such issuances, in the aggregate with all such issuances since the date of the termination of the
SPMA pursuant to Section 10.5(a) thereof, shall not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company as of
the date of the termination of the SPMA pursuant to Section 10.5(a) thereof (it being agreed that any issuances pursuant to Section
8.7(c) of the SPMA, to the extent not forfeited, shall count towards this 5% limitation);


 


(v)          (A)
the liquidation, termination, winding-up or dissolution of the Company or (B) causing any voluntary case or other proceeding under
any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar
law of any jurisdiction with respect to the Company;


 


(vi)          approval
of amendments to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company;


 


(vii)         increase
or decrease in the size of the Board of Directors;


 


(viii)        removal
of the Common Shares from being listed on Nasdaq;


 




    	7



     


    

 


(ix)          any
Transfer or license of any Company Asset for less than fair market value, as determined by a recognized independent valuation firm
agreed upon by the Company and Buyer; or


 


(x)           the
Company’s entry into any transaction or agreement with any Affiliate of the Company (including Fortress or its Affiliates).


 



		5.	Representations and Warranties.



 


    Each
of the Stockholders represents and warrants as follows:


 


(a)          With
respect to any of the Stockholders that is a legal entity: (i) it is a legal entity duly incorporated or organized, as applicable,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its place of incorporation or organization, (ii) it is duly licensed
and qualified to conduct its business in each jurisdiction where the nature of the properties owned, leased or operated by it and
the business transacted by it requires such licensing or qualification, except where any such failures to be so qualified or licensed
have not had, or are not reasonably likely to have, a material adverse effect on the ability of the Stockholder to perform its
obligations under or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (iii) it holds all necessary corporate
power and authority to own, license and operate its assets and properties, to conduct its business, to enter into this Agreement,
to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.


 


(b)          The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder and the performance by the Stockholder of its obligations hereunder
have been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Stockholder, and no other actions or proceedings on the part
of the Stockholder are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.


 


(c)          This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and
constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Stockholder,
enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms.


 


(d)          The
execution or delivery by the Stockholder of this Agreement or the performance by the Stockholder of its obligations under this
Agreement will not (i) result in any breach of any provision of the Stockholder’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws
(if applicable), (ii) result in any breach of, require (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) any payment, consent
or notice or constitute a default (or give rise to any right of purchase, termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation)
under any Contract or order or judgment to which the Stockholder is a party or by which it or its assets are bound, (iii) result
in the creation of an Encumbrance, or (iv) violate any applicable Legal Requirement, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) through
(iv), such breaches, defaults or violations that have not had, or are not reasonably likely to have, a material adverse effect
on the ability of the Stockholder to perform its obligations under or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


 



    	8



     


    






 


		6.	Certain Transactions.









 


(a)           If
any change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company shall occur, including by reason of any issuance (including
upon exercise of warrants), reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split), or combination,
exchange, readjustment of shares, consolidation, split, buy-back, repurchase, redemption, acquisition or similar transaction,
or any stock dividend or distribution paid in stock, the calculation of Beneficial Ownership hereunder shall be equitably adjusted
to proportionately reflect such change; provided, however, that this sentence shall not be construed to permit the
Company to take any action with respect to its securities that is prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.


 



		7.	Miscellaneous.



 


(a)          Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, together with all other documents referred to herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes any and all prior agreements, negotiations,
correspondence, undertakings, understandings and communications of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed as creating a joint venture or partnership between
any of the parties hereto.


 


(b)          Transaction
Costs. Except as otherwise provided herein, the parties to this Agreement will pay their own costs and expenses (including
legal, accounting and other fees) relating to this Agreement.


 


(c)          Modifications.
Any amendment or modification to this Agreement, including this undertaking itself, shall only be valid if effected by an instrument
or instruments in writing and shall be effective against each of the parties hereto that has signed such instrument or instruments.
The parties agree that they jointly negotiated and prepared this Agreement and that this Agreement will not be construed against
any party on the grounds that such party prepared or drafted the same.


 


(d)          Notices.
Notices will be deemed to have been received (a) upon receipt of a registered letter, (b) three Business Days following proper
deposit with an internationally recognized express overnight delivery service, or (c) in the case of transmission by email, as
of the date so transmitted (or if so transmitted after normal business hours at the place of the recipient, on the Business Day
following such transmission):


 


If to the Company:


 


Avenue Therapeutics,
Inc.


2 Gansevoort
Street, 9th Floor


New York, NY
10014


Attn: Dr. Lucy
Lu, M.D.


Email: llu@avenuetx.com


 



    	9



     


    

 





With a copy (which
shall not constitute notice) to:


 


Alston &
Bird LLP


90 Park Avenue,
12th Floor


New York, NY
10016


Attn: Mark F.
McElreath


Email: mark.mcelreath@alston.com


 


If to Buyer:


 


InvaGen Pharmaceuticals
Inc.


Site B, 7 Oser
Ave.


Hauppauge, NY
11788


c/o


A.S. Kumar,
Esq.


Global General
Counsel


Cipla Ltd.


Cipla House,
Peninsula Business Park,


Ganapatrao Kadam
Marg, Lower Parel West,


Mumbai, Maharashtra
400013, India


Email: as.kumar@cipla.com
and cosecretary@cipla.com


 


With a copy (which
shall not constitute notice) to:


 


InvaGen Pharmaceuticals
Inc.


Site B, 7 Oser
Ave.


Hauppauge, NY
11788


c/o


Nishant Saxena


Global Chief
Strategy Officer


Cipla Ltd.


Cipla House,
Peninsula Business Park,


Ganapatrao Kadam
Marg, Lower Parel West,


Mumbai, Maharashtra
400013, India


Email:
nishant.saxena@cipla.com


 


With a copy (which
shall not constitute notice) to:


 


Hughes Hubbard
& Reed LLP


One Battery
Park Plaza


New York, NY
10004-1482


Attn: Kenneth
A. Lefkowitz


Email: ken.lefkowitz@hugheshubbard.com


 


If to Fortress:


 


Fortress Biotech,
Inc.


2 Gansevoort
Street, 9th Floor


New York, NY
10014








Attn: Lindsay
Rosenwald, M.D.


Email: lrosenwald@fortressbiotech.com


 



    	10



     


    

 





If to Dr. Lucy
Lu:


 


Avenue Therapeutics,
Inc.


2 Gansevoort
Street, 9th Floor


New York, NY
10014


Attn: Dr. Lucy
Lu


Email: llu@avenuetx.com


 


or to such other
address as may be hereafter communicated in writing by the parties in a notice given in accordance with this Section 7(d),
which address shall then apply to the respective notice provisions of the SPMA and all other Ancillary Agreements.


 


(e)          Public
Announcements. Except as required by Legal Requirements or by the requirements of any stock exchange on which the securities
of a party hereto or its Affiliates are listed, no party to this Agreement will make, or cause to be made, any press release or
public announcement in respect of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party or the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby or otherwise communicate with any news media with respect to the foregoing without prior notification to the
other parties, and the parties to this Agreement will consult with each other and cooperate as to the form, timing and contents
of any such press release, public announcement or disclosure.


 


(f)           Severability.
Each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Legal Requirements,
but if any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable or invalid under applicable Legal Requirements, such provision
will be ineffective only to the extent of such unenforceability or invalidity, and the parties will negotiate in good faith to
modify this Agreement so that the unenforceable or invalid provision is replaced by such valid and enforceable provision which
the parties consider, in good faith, to match as closely as possible the invalid or unenforceable provision and to achieve the
same or a similar economic effect and to give effect to the parties’ original intent. The remaining provisions of this Agreement
will continue to be binding and in full force and effect.


 


(g)          Assignment.
No party hereto may assign, in whole or in part, or delegate all or any part of its rights, interests or obligations under this
Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party. Any assignment or delegation made without such consent will be
void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer shall be entitled to (a) assign its rights under this Agreement to any one of its Affiliates,
and (b) assign any or all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (in whole or in part) as collateral security in a
financing transaction.


 


(h)          Confidentiality
Agreement. The terms of the Confidentiality Agreement are hereby incorporated herein by reference and will continue in full
force and effect until expiration or termination in accordance with the terms therein.


 




    	11



     


    

 


(i)           Governing
Law. This Agreement and any claims or causes of action pursuant to it will be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard for its principles of conflict of laws.


 


(j)           Specific
Performance. Each party acknowledges and agrees that the other party would be irreparably damaged if the provisions of this
Agreement are not performed in accordance with their terms and that any breach of this Agreement and the non-consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby by either party could not be adequately compensated in all cases by monetary damages alone. Accordingly,
in addition to any remedy to which such other party may be entitled under Section 7(k), provisional measures and injunctive
relief necessary to protect the possibility of each party to seek specific performance from the other from the tribunal referred
to in Section 7(k) can be sought from any court of competent jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto (i) agrees that it
shall not oppose the granting of any such relief and (ii) hereby irrevocably waives any requirement for the security or posting
of any bond in connection with any such relief (it is understood that clause (i) of this sentence is not intended to, and shall
not, preclude any party hereto from litigating on the merits the substantive claim to which such remedy relates).


 


(k)          Submission
to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any Proceeding with respect to this Agreement and
the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and
the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and
determined exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or in the event (but only in the event) that such court
does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, in the federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware.
Each of the parties hereto agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the
manner provided in Section 7(d), or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, will
be valid and sufficient service thereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such action or
proceeding for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid
courts and agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement in any court or tribunal other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim, or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with
respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any
judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder: (a) any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance
with this Section 7(k); (b) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court
or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment
in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise); and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable
Legal Requirements, any claim that (i) the suit, action or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the
venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper, or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced
in or by such courts.


 




    	12



     


    

 


(l)          Waiver
of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY
TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT
MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT or
the transactions contemplated hereby. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE
OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER
IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION; (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER
VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7(l).


 


(m)          Waiver.
Any term or condition of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefit thereof, but no
such waiver shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument duly executed by or on behalf of the party waiving such
term or condition, and no waiver by any party of any default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, shall
be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty, covenant or agreement hereunder
or affect in any way any rights arising by virtue of any such prior or subsequent occurrence. No failure or delay of any party
in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no waiver by any party of any term or condition
of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a waiver of the same or any other term or
condition of this Agreement on any future occasion.


 


(n)          Counterparts;
Facsimile Signature. This Agreement may be executed in one (1) or more counterparts, by original or facsimile (or other such
electronically transmitted) signature, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which will constitute one and the same
instrument. A party executing this Agreement by facsimile (or other such electronically transmitted) signature shall, upon request
from another party, promptly deliver to the requesting party an original counterpart of such signature.


 


(o)          Rights
Cumulative. All rights and remedies of each of the parties under this Agreement will be cumulative, and the exercise of one
or more rights or remedies will not preclude the exercise of any other right or remedy available under this Agreement or applicable
Legal Requirements.


 




    	13



     


    

 


(p)          Interpretation.
(a) The words “hereof”, “herein”, and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in
this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (b) the words
“date hereof,” when used in this Agreement, shall refer to the date set forth in the Preamble; (c) the terms defined
in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa; (d) the terms defined in the present tense
have a comparable meaning when used in the past tense, and vice versa; (e) any references herein to a specific Section or
Article shall refer, respectively, to Sections or Articles of this Agreement; (f) wherever the word “include”,
“includes”, or “including” is used in this Agreement, it shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation”; (g) references herein to any gender include each other gender; (h) the word “or” shall
not be exclusive; (i) the headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement
and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof; (j) any references herein to any Governmental
Authority shall be deemed to also be a reference to any successor Governmental Authority thereto; and (k) the parties hereto
have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event that an ambiguity or question of
intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties hereto and no presumption
or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.


 


(q)          Effectiveness.
This Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Date. If the SPMA is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to
the First Stage Closing, this Agreement shall automatically terminate. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the Second
Stage Closing. Notwithstanding the preceding two sentences, this Section 7 shall survive any termination of this Agreement
and any breach hereof prior to such termination shall survive such termination.


 


[Signature page to follow]


 




    	14



     


    




 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.


 


	COMPANY:	 
	 	 
	Avenue Therapeutics, Inc.	 
	 	 	 
	By:	/s/ Lucy Lu	 
	Name:  	Lucy Lu	 
	Title:	CEO	 
	 	 	 
	STOCKHOLDERS:	 
	 	 
	Fortress Biotech, Inc.	 
	 	 	 
	By:	/s/ Lindsay A. Rosenwald	 
	Name:  	Lindsay A. Rosenwald	 
	
        Title:	President and CEO	 
	 	 	 
	/s/ Lucy Lu	 
	Lucy Lu	 
	 	 	 
	BUYER:	 
	 	 	 
	InvaGen Pharmaceuticals Inc.	 
	 	 	 
	By:	/s/ Deepak Agarwal	 
	Name:  	Deepak Agarwal	 
	
        Title:	CFO	 







 


[Signature Page
to Stockholders Agreement]


 















    	15



     


    

 





Schedule
A


 


Stockholders


 


Fortress Biotech,
Inc.


 


Lucy Lu


 














    	16