Exhibit
10.3

    


    REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT

    


    This
Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of
this 2nd day of
March, 2009 by and among Response Genetics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and David M. Smith.

     

    For good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

     

    1.      Certain
Definitions.

     

    As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

     

    “Affiliate” means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries Controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such Person.

     

    “Business Day” means a
day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are open
for the general transaction of business.

     

    “Common Stock” means
the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and any securities into
which such shares may hereinafter be reclassified.

     

    “Control” (including
the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” or “under common control with”) means
the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

     

    “Holder” means David
M. Smith and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of David M. Smith who is a
subsequent holder of any Registrable Securities.

     

    “Person” means an
individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business
trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship,
unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any other form of entity
not specifically listed herein.

     

    “Prospectus” means (i)
the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the
prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by
reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any “free writing prospectus” as defined
in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.

     

    “Register,” “registered” and
“registration”
refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
similar document in compliance with the 1933 Act (as defined below), and the
declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or
document.

     

    “Registrable
Securities” means (i) the Shares and (ii) any other securities issued or
issuable with respect to or in exchange for Registrable Securities; provided,
that, a security shall cease to be a Registrable Security upon (A) sale pursuant
to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or (B) such security
becoming eligible for sale without restriction by the Holder pursuant to Rule
144.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

     

    “Registration
Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed under
the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such
Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and
all material incorporated by reference in such Registration
Statement.

     

    “SEC” means the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.

     

    “Shares” means the
shares of Common Stock held by the Holder as set forth below the name of the
Holder on the signature pages hereto.

     

    “1933 Act” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.

     

    “1934 Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

     

    2.      Registration.

     

    (a)
      Registration
Statements.  Promptly following the date hereof but no later
than ninety (90) days after the date hereof (the “Filing Deadline”), the Company
shall prepare and file with the SEC one Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or,
if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company, on such form of registration
statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of the
Registrable Securities), covering the resale of the Registrable Securities,
which Registration Statement may include additional shares of Common Stock or
other securities for the account of any other holder in the discretion of the
Company.  Subject to any SEC comments, such Registration Statement
shall include the plan of distribution attached hereto as Exhibit A; provided,
however, that the Holder shall not be named as an “underwriter” in the
Registration Statement without the Holder’s prior written
consent.  Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent
allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including
Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock
resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with
respect to the Registrable Securities.  The Registration Statement
(and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of
effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in accordance with Section 3(c) to the
Holder and its counsel prior to its filing or other submission.

     

    (b)     
Expenses.  The
Company will pay all expenses associated with each registration, including
filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and
expenses, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale
under applicable state securities laws, listing fees, fees and expenses of one
counsel to the Holder (not to exceed $10,000) and the Holder’s reasonable
expenses in connection with the registration, but excluding discounts,
commissions, fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar
securities industry professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities
being sold.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (c)       Effectiveness.

     

    (i)        The
Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration
Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after filing, and in any
event no later than the earlier of (i) five (5) Business Days after the SEC
shall have informed the Company that no review of the Registration Statement
will be made or that the SEC has no further comments on the Registration
Statement or (ii) the 150th day
after the date hereof.  The Company shall notify the Holder by
facsimile or e-mail as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within
twenty-four (24) hours, after any Registration Statement is declared effective
and shall simultaneously provide the Holder with copies of any related
Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the
securities covered thereby.

     

    (ii)       For
not more than twenty (20) consecutive days or for a total of not more than
forty-five (45) days in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may suspend
the use of any Prospectus included in any Registration Statement contemplated by
this Section in the event that the Company determines in good faith that such
suspension is necessary to (A) delay the disclosure of material non-public
information concerning the Company, the disclosure of which at the time is not,
in the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company
or (B) amend or supplement the affected Registration Statement or the related
Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of
the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading (an “Allowed Delay”); provided, that the Company shall promptly (a)
notify the Holder in writing of the commencement of and the reasons for an
Allowed Delay, but shall not (without the prior written consent of the Holder)
disclose to the Holder any material non-public information giving rise to an
Allowed Delay, (b) advise the Holder in writing to cease all sales under the
Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay and (c) use
commercially reasonable efforts to terminate an Allowed Delay as promptly as
practicable.

     

    3.      Company
Obligations.  The Company will use commercially reasonable
efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance
with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously
as possible:

     

    (a)       use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become
effective and to remain continuously effective for a period that will terminate
upon the earlier of (i) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by
such Registration Statement as amended from time to time, have been sold, and
(ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (the
“Effectiveness Period”) and advise the Holder in writing when the Effectiveness
Period has expired;

     

    (b)      prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with
the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution
of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (c)       provide
copies to and permit counsel designated by the Holder to review each
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto no fewer than
seven (7) days prior to their filing with the SEC and not file any document to
which such counsel reasonably objects;

     

    (d)      furnish
to the Holder and its legal counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared and
publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the Company (but not
later than two (2) Business Days after the filing date, receipt date or sending
date, as the case may be) one (1) copy of any Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto, and each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to
the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or
the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement
(other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the
Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a
Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto and such other documents as the Holder may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned by the Holder that are covered by the related Registration
Statement;

     

    (e)       use
commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or
other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the
withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment;

     

    (f)       prior
to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use commercially reasonable
efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Holder and their counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities
for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions
requested by the Holder and do any and all other commercially reasonable acts or
things necessary or advisable to enable the distribution in such jurisdictions
of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for this Section 3(f), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section
3(f), or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction;

     

    (g)      use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer
quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by the
Company are then listed;

     

    (h)      immediately
notify the Holder, at any time prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period,
upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which,
the Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing,
and promptly prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such holder a supplement
to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that such
Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
and

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (i)        otherwise
use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, including, without
limitation, Rule 172 under the 1933 Act, file any final Prospectus, including
any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the
1933 Act, promptly inform the Holder in writing if, at any time during the
Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in
Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Holder is required to deliver a
Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take
such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration
of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and make available to its security
holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the Availability
Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period of at least
twelve (12) months, beginning after the effective date of each Registration
Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section
11(a) of the 1933 Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for the
purpose of this subsection 3(i), “Availability Date” means the 45th day
following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes the effective date
of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is
the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “Availability Date” means the
90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter).

     

    (j)        With
a view to making available to the Holder the benefits of Rule 144 (or its
successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time
permit the Holder to sell shares of Common Stock to the public without
registration, the Company covenants and agrees to:  (i) make and keep
public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule
144, until the earlier of (A) six months after such date as all of the
Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction by the holders thereof
pursuant to Rule 144 without regard to any volume limitation or current
information requirements thereunder or (B) such date as all of the Registrable
Securities shall have been resold; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all
reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1934 Act; and
(iii) furnish to the Holder upon request, as long as the Holder owns any
Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company that it has
complied with the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act, (B) a copy of the
Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to
avail the Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling
of any such Registrable Securities without registration.

    


    4.      Due Diligence Review;
Information.  The Company shall make available, during normal
business hours, for inspection and review by the Holder, advisors to and
representatives of the Holder (who may or may not be affiliated with the Holder
and who are reasonably acceptable to the Company), all financial and other
records, and all other corporate documents and properties of the Company as may
be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause the Company’s
officers, directors and employees, within a reasonable time period, to supply
all such information reasonably requested by the Holder or any such
representative, advisor or underwriter in connection with such Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other
inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time
to time after the filing and effectiveness of the Registration Statement for the
sole purpose of enabling the Holder and such representatives, advisors and
underwriters and their respective accountants and attorneys to conduct initial
and ongoing due diligence with respect to the Company and the accuracy of such
Registration Statement.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    Except to the extent the Holder is then
an employee or director of the Company, the Company shall not disclose material
nonpublic information to the Holder, or to advisors to or representatives of the
Holder, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies
such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the
Holder, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or
refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review and any Holder
wishing to obtain such information enters into an appropriate confidentiality
agreement with the Company with respect thereto.

     

    5.      Obligations of the
Holder.

     

    (a)       The
Holder shall furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding
itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of
disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably
required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall
execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may
reasonably request.  At least five (5) Business Days prior to the
first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall
notify the Holder of the information the Company requires from such Holder if
the Holder elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement.  The Holder shall provide such information to
the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing
date of such Registration Statement if the Holder elects to have any of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement.

     

    (b)     
The Holder, by its acceptance of the Registrable Securities agrees to cooperate
with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the
preparation and filing of a Registration Statement hereunder, unless the Holder
has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude all of its
Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.

     

    (c)       The
Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of either (i)
the commencement of an Allowed Delay pursuant to Section 2(c)(ii) or (ii) the
happening of an event pursuant to Section 3(h) hereof, the Holder will
immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the Holder is
advised by the Company in writing that such dispositions may again be
made.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    6.      Indemnification.

     

    (a)       Indemnification by the
Company.  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Holder and its officers, directors, members, employees and agents, successors
and assigns, each other person, if any, who controls the Holder within the
meaning of the 1933 Act, and each underwriter, if any, and each person who may
be deemed an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
they may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission of any material fact contained in any Registration
Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereof; (ii) any blue sky application or other document executed by
the Company specifically for that purpose or based upon written information
furnished by the Company filed in any state or other jurisdiction in order to
qualify any or all of the Registrable Securities under the securities laws
thereof (any such application, document or information herein called a “Blue Sky
Application”); (iii) the omission or alleged omission to state in a Blue Sky
Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading; (iv) any violation by the Company or its
agents of any rule or regulation promulgated under the 1933 Act applicable to
the Company or its agents and relating to action or inaction required of the
Company in connection with such registration; or (v) any failure to register or
qualify the Registrable Securities included in any such Registration Statement
in any state where the Company or its agents has affirmatively undertaken or
agreed in writing that the Company will undertake such registration or
qualification on the Holder’s behalf and will reimburse the Holder, and each
such officer, director or member and each such controlling person for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon (1) an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in
conformity with information furnished by the Holder or any such controlling
person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or
Prospectus or (2) the delivery by the Holder of an outdated or defective
Prospectus after the Company has notified the Holder in writing that the Company
does not meet the conditions for use of Rule 172 and that (A) as a result the
Holder must deliver a Prospectus in connection with any sales under the
Registration Statement and (B) the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior
to the receipt by the Holder of an amended or supplemented Prospectus, but only
if and to the extent that following the receipt of the amended or supplemented
Prospectus the misstatement or omission giving rise to such loss, claim, damage
or liability would have been corrected.

     

    (b)      Indemnification by the
Holder.  The Holder shall, severally but not jointly, indemnify
and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the
Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders and each person who
controls the Company (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) against any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including reasonable attorney fees)
resulting from (x) the Holder’s failure to deliver a Prospectus in connection
with any sales under the Registration after the Company has advised the Holder
in writing that (A) the Company does not meet the conditions for use of Rule 172
and (B) as a result the Holder must deliver a Prospectus in connection with any
sales under the Registration Statement or (y) any untrue statement of a material
fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is
contained in (1) any information furnished in writing by the Holder to the
Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus
or amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in an outdated or defective Prospectus
delivered by the Holder in connection with any sales under the Registration
Statement after the Company has notified the Holder in writing that the Company
does not meet the conditions for use of Rule 172 and that (A) as a result the
Holder must deliver a Prospectus in connection with any sales under the
Registration Statement and (B) the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior
to the receipt by the Holder of an amended or supplemented Prospectus, but only
if and to the extent that following the receipt of the amended or supplemented
Prospectus the misstatement or omission giving rise to such loss, claim, damage
or liability would have been corrected.  In no event shall the
liability of the Holder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the
proceeds (net of all expense paid by the Holder in connection with any claim
relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages the Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission)
received by the Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in
the Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification
obligation.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (c)       Conduct of Indemnification
Proceedings.  Any person entitled to indemnification hereunder
shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect
to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to
assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party; provided that any
person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ
separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (a)
the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, or (b) the
indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within
a reasonable period of time and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
person or (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such person, based upon written
advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such person and the
indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the person
notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such person elects to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying
party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of
such person); and provided, further, that the
failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not
relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the
extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the
indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation.  It
is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any
proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than
one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified
parties.  No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the
claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability
in respect of such claim or litigation.  No indemnifying party shall
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with
such consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless such indemnified party from
and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment.

     

    (d)       Contribution.  If
for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a)
and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it
harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a
result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be entitled to
contribution from any person not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.  In no event shall the contribution obligation of a
holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of
the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such holder in connection with any
claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages such holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon the sale of the
Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    7.      Miscellaneous.

     

    (a)       Amendments and
Waivers.  This Agreement may be amended only by a writing
signed by the Company and the Holder.  The Company may take any action
herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by
it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent to such
amendment, action or omission to act, of the Holder.

     

    (b)       Notices.  Unless
otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall
be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given as hereinafter
described (i) if given by personal delivery, then such notice shall be deemed
given upon such delivery, (ii) if given by telex or telecopier, then such notice
shall be deemed given upon receipt of confirmation of complete transmittal,
(iii) if given by mail, then such notice shall be deemed given upon receipt of
such notice by the recipient and (iv) if given by an internationally recognized
overnight air courier, then such notice shall be deemed given upon receipt of
such notice by the recipient.  All notices shall be addressed to the
party to be notified at the address as follows, or at such other address as such
party may designate by ten days’ advance written notice to the other
party:

    


    If to the Company:

    


    Response
Genetics, Inc.

    1640
Marengo Street

    6th
Floor

    Los
Angeles, California 90033

    Attention:         Thomas
Stankovich

    Denise McNairn

    Fax:    (323)
224-3097

    


    With a copy to:

    


    Willkie
Farr & Gallagher LLP

    787
Seventh Avenue

    New York,
New York 10019-6099

    Attention:  Steven
A. Seidman

    Fax:  (212)
728-9763

    


    If to the Holder:

    


    to the
address set forth on the signature pages hereto.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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    (c)       Assignments and Transfers by
Holder.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Holder and its respective successors and
assigns.  The Holder may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to
time in part, to one or more persons its rights hereunder in connection with the
transfer of Registrable Securities by the Holder to such person, provided that
the Holder complies with all laws applicable thereto and provides written notice
of assignment to the Company promptly after such assignment is
effected.

     

    (d)       Assignments and Transfers by
the Company.  This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company
(whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of
the Holder, provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and
delegate its duties hereunder to any surviving or successor corporation in
connection with a merger or consolidation of the Company with another
corporation, or a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the Company’s assets to another corporation, without the prior written
consent of the Holder, after notice duly given by the Company to the
Holder.

     

    (e)       Benefits of the
Agreement.  The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors
and assigns of the parties.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or
their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or
liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided
in this Agreement.

     

    (f)       Counterparts;
Faxes.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This Agreement
may also be executed and transmitted via facsimile, or by portable document
format via electronic mail, which shall be deemed an original.

     

    (g)      
Titles and
Subtitles.  The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are
used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or
interpreting this Agreement.

     

    (h)       Severability.  Any
provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be
enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such
prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  To the
extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of
law which renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any
respect.

     

    (i)        Further
Assurances.  The parties shall execute and deliver all such
further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may
reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to
evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        -10-

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

     

    (j)        Entire
Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein.  This Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.

     

    (k)       Governing Law; Consent to
Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.  This Agreement shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of
New York without regard to the choice of law principles thereof.  Each
of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
courts of the State of New York located in New York County and the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any
suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  Service of
process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on
each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for
the giving of notices under this Agreement.  Each of the parties
hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such
suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such
court.  Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the
laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts
and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding
brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY
RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS
AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS
WAIVER.

     

    
      
         


      

      
        -11-

        
          

        

      

      
         


      

    


    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have
executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this
Agreement as of the date first above written.

     

    
      
        
          
            
              	
                      The
      Company:

                    	
                      RESPONSE
      GENETICS, INC.

                    
	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                      By:

                    	

                      /s/ Kathleen Danenberg

                    	
                         

                    
	 
      	
                      Name:
      Kathleen Danenberg

                    
	 
      	
                      Title:  
      President and Chief Executive
Officer

                    


            

          

        

      

    


    
      
         


      

      
        -12-

        
          

        

      

      
         


      

    


    
      The
Holder:

    

    


    
      
        
          
            
              
                
                  
                    
                      
                        	
                                /s/ David M. Smith

                              	 
	
                                David
      M. Smith

                              	 


                      

                    

                  

                

              

            

          

        

      

    

    


    Number of
Shares:  1,386,229

    


    Address
for Notice:

    P.O. Box
359

    Manhasset,
NY 11030

    


    with a
copy to:

    


    Emanuel
J. Adler

    Blank
Rome LLP

    The
Chrysler Building

    405
Lexington Avenue

    New York,
NY 10174-0208

    Fax:
212.885.5001

     

    
      
         


      

      
        -13-

        
          

        

      

      
         


      

    


    Exhibit
10.3

    


    Exhibit
A

    


    Plan
of Distribution

    


    The selling stockholders, which as used
herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest
selling shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock received
after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge,
partnership distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell,
transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of common stock or
interests in shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading
facility on which the shares are traded or in private
transactions.  These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at
prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the
prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at
negotiated prices.

    


    The selling stockholders may use any
one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests
therein:

    


    - ordinary brokerage transactions and
transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

    


    - block trades in which the
broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and
resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the
transaction;

    


    - purchases by a broker-dealer as
principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

    


    - an exchange distribution in
accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

    


    - privately negotiated
transactions;

    


    - short sales effected after the date
the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part is declared
effective by the SEC;

    


    - through the writing or settlement of
options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or
otherwise;

    


    - broker-dealers may agree with the
selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated
price per share; and

    


    - a combination of any such methods of
sale.

    


    The selling stockholders may, from time
to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of
common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their
secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the
shares of common stock, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an
amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision
of the Securities Act amending the list of selling stockholders to include the
pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders
under this prospectus.  The selling stockholders also may transfer the
shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees,
pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners
for purposes of this prospectus.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

     

    In connection with the sale of our
common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into
hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which
may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging
the positions they assume.  The selling stockholders may also sell
shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their
short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in
turn may sell these securities.  The selling stockholders may also
enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial
institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require
the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares
offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial
institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended
to reflect such transaction).

    


    The aggregate proceeds to the selling
stockholders from the sale of the common stock offered by them will be the
purchase price of the common stock less discounts or commissions, if
any.  Each of the selling stockholders reserves the right to accept
and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in
part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or through
agents.  We will not receive any of the proceeds from this
offering.

    


    The selling stockholders also may
resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance
upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, provided that they meet the
criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.

    


    The selling stockholders and any
underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the
common stock or interests therein may be "underwriters" within the meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Securities Act.  Any discounts, commissions,
concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting
discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.  Selling
stockholders who are "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the
Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act.

    


    To the extent required, the shares of
our common stock to be sold, the names of the selling stockholders, the
respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents,
dealer or underwriter, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a
particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or,
if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that
includes this prospectus.

    


    In order to comply with the securities
laws of some states, if applicable, the common stock may be sold in these
jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or
dealers.  In addition, in some states the common stock may not be sold
unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from
registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied
with.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        -15-

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

     

    We have advised the selling
stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange
Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the
selling stockholders and their affiliates.  In addition, to the extent
applicable we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or
amended from time to time) available to the selling stockholders for the purpose
of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.  The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that
participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain
liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities
Act.

    


    We have agreed to indemnify the selling
stockholders against liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act
and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the shares offered by
this prospectus.

    


    We have agreed with the selling
stockholders to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus
constitutes a part effective until the earlier of (1) such time as all of the
shares covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in
accordance with the registration statement or (2) the date on which the shares
may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act
without regard to any volume limitation or current information requirements
thereunder.

     

    
      
         


      

      
        -16-