Severance and Settlement Agreement and Release



 Exhibit 10.1 
  
 SEVERANCE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE 
  
 AGREEMENT made as of the 9th day of June, 2005 (the “Agreement”) by and between Boston Life Sciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”) and Marc E. Lanser, M.D. of Fayston, Vermont (the “Executive”). 
  
 BACKGROUND 
  
 A. The Company and Executive are parties to an Employment Agreement dated June 10, 2004 (the “Employment Agreement”); 
  

B. On May 5, 2005, Executive provided to the Company a letter of termination under the terms of Executive’s existing Employment Agreement;

  
 C. Effective as of May 10, 2005, the Company notified the
Executive in writing that its obligations under the Employment Agreement would be fulfilled and that the Employment Agreement would not be renewed; 
  
 D. The Executive hereby specifically acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Employment Agreement (as those provisions
relate to the work performed by Executive under the terms of the Employment Agreement but not as to the work to be performed by Executive under the SAB Agreement, as such term is defined below) will survive termination of said Employment Agreement
and remain binding on the Executive in accordance with the terms of such sections; 
  
 E. The Company and Executive wish to resolve amicably the Executive’s separation from the Company; 
  
 In consideration of the promises and conditions set forth herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive agree as
follows: 
  
 1. Termination Date. The Executive’s
effective date of termination from the Company is June 11, 2005 (the “Termination Date”). 







 2. Consideration. In consideration for the execution of this Agreement, and provided this
Agreement becomes binding on the Executive, the Company agrees to provide Executive (or in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate) the following payment and benefits, less any and all applicable state and federal tax
withholdings: 
  

	 	(A)	continued payment of Base Salary (as defined in the Employment Agreement) in the gross amount of $25,666.67 per month for the nine month period commencing on the Termination Date
and ending on March 10, 2006; 

  

	 	(B)	for a period of nine (9) months from the Termination Date, the same or equivalent medical, dental, life and disability insurance coverage that Executive had in force on the
Termination Date, at the Company’s expense. Thereafter, Executive may elect to continue receiving group medical insurance pursuant to the federal “COBRA” law, 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et seq.; and 

  
 Except for the payments provided for in the SAB Agreement referenced below and the vesting of options described in Paragraph
4 below, the foregoing provisions shall constitute the only payments and benefits payable by the Company to the Executive hereunder. 
  
 3. Scientific Advisory Board Consulting Agreement. As further consideration for execution of this Agreement and provided this Agreement becomes
binding on the Executive, the parties agree to execute the SAB consulting agreement (the “SAB Agreement”) attached hereto as Exhibit A in substantially the same form as attached. 
  

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 4. Stock Options. Provided this Agreement becomes binding on the Executive, the parties agree as
follows with respect to the stock options previously granted to the Executive (the “Executive Options”): 
  

	 	(A)	Options to purchase 85,291 shares of common stock will be vested as of the Termination Date. 

  

	 	(B)	Options (issued in March 2005) to purchase 107,314 shares of common stock that were not vested as of the Termination Date will continue to vest on their stated terms and conditions
as long as the Executive continues to perform services under the Agreement. 

  

	 	(C)	In the event that the SAB Agreement is terminated “without cause” (as defined in the SAB Agreement) by the Company prior to June 11, 2007, immediately upon such
termination, all unvested options will vest automatically and will become fully exercisable. 

  

	 	(D)	At such time as the SAB Agreement terminates or expires, the Executive shall be subject to the vesting and exercise provisions of the respective Stock Option Plan (each a
“Plan”) under which each option was issued, unless the Company terminates the SAB Agreement without cause, in which event the options will become fully vested as described above. Each Plan provides for extended vesting and exercise rights
upon termination subject to certain terms and conditions as described in each Plan. The parties agree that the termination date for purposes of determining extended vesting and exercise rights shall be the date on which the Executive ceases to
perform services under the SAB Agreement 

  

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 on account of the termination or expiration of that agreement. The Company confirms that when the SAB
Agreement expires or terminates, notwithstanding any amendment to any Stock Option Plan after the date hereof, any
options held by the Executive that were exercisable on the date of such expiration or termination may be exercised by the Executive for the later of: (i) a period of one year following the date of such expiration or termination, or (ii) a period of
one year from the date any option vests in the twelve month period following such expiration or termination, and (B) any options held by the Executive that were not exercisable on the date of such expiration or termination will continue to vest in
accordance with their original vesting schedule for a period of 12 months following the date of expiration or termination, and any options that vest during such 12-month period may be exercised by the Executive for a period of one year following the
date of such vesting. 
  
 5. Release. In consideration of
the payment of the consideration described above and the Company’s release of claims against Executive set forth below, which Executive acknowledges that he would not otherwise be entitled to receive, Executive hereby fully, forever,
irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies, agents and employees (each in their individual and corporate capacities)
(hereinafter, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings,
omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities, and expenses 
  

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 (including attorneys’ fees and costs), of every kind and nature which he ever had or now has against the Released
Parties arising out of his employment with and/or separation from the Company, including, but not limited to, all claims pursuant to the Employment Agreement, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42
U.S.C. §2000e et seq., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq., the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C, §12101 et seq., the Family and Medical Leave
Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., and the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Act, M.G.L. c.151B, §1 et seq., all as amended; all
claims arising out of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §1001 et seq., the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act,
M.G.L. c.12 §§11H and 11I, the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act, M.G.L. c.93, §102 and M.G.L. c.214, §1C, the Massachusetts Labor and Industries Act, M.G.L. c.149, §1 et seq., and the Massachusetts Privacy Act,
M.G.L. c.214, §1B, all as amended; all common law claims including, but not limited to, actions in tort, defamation and breach of contract; and any claim or damage arising out of his employment with or separation from the Company (including any
claim for retaliation) under any common law theory or any federal, state or local statute or ordinance not expressly referenced above-except in no event is the Executive releasing the Released Parties (including the Company) from any obligation
under this Agreement, under the SAB Agreement, under any indemnification agreement between the Executive and the Company, or from any other obligation of the Company to indemnify the Executive under the Company’s certificate of incorporation,
bylaws, or other organizational documents. Nothing in this Agreement prevents Executive from filing, cooperating with, or participating in any proceeding before the EEOC or a state Fair Employment Practices Agency (except that Executive acknowledges
that he may not be able to recover any monetary benefits in connection with any such claim, charge or proceeding). 
  

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 In consideration of the undertakings, transactions and consideration recited in this Agreement, the
Company on behalf of itself and the other Released Parties hereby unconditionally and irrevocably remises, releases and forever discharges Executive of and from any and all suits, claims, demands, interest, costs (including attorney fees and costs
actually incurred), expenses, actions and causes of action, rights, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, controversies, losses and debts, of any nature whatsoever, which the Company or any other Released Party now has, or at any time
heretofore ever had, or could have had, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, arising out of, or in connection with, Executive’s employment with the Company, except for the obligations of Executive pursuant to Sections 7, 8, 9 and
10 of the Employment Agreement (but only as those obligations relate to the work performed by Executive under the terms of the Employment Agreement), which obligations shall survive termination of the Employment Agreement in accordance with the
terms of the Employment Agreement. 
  
 6. Return of Company
Property. The Executive agrees to return on his Termination Date all Company property including, but not limited to, keys, files, records (and copies thereof), computer hardware and software, cellular phones, pagers, and Company vehicle,
which is in his possession or control, unless Executive reasonably needs such property in connection with the services to be performed under the SAB Agreement. The Executive further agrees to leave intact all electronic Company documents, including
those which he developed or helped develop during his employment, except for those documents in which Executive is working on in connection with the services to be performed under the SAB Agreement. 
  

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 7. Non-disparagement. The Executive understands and agrees that as a condition for payment to him
of the consideration described herein, he will not make any false, and disparaging statements to any media outlet, industry group, financial institution or current or former employee, consultant, client or customer of the Company regarding the
Company or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives or about the Company’s business affairs and financial condition. The Company agrees that it will instruct its officers and its Board of Directors not to, and the
Company will not, make any false and disparaging statements about the Executive to any media outlet, industry group, financial institution, academic institution, present or prospective employer of Executive or to any entity or person to which
Executive serves as a consultant or advisor. 
  
 8.
Confidentiality. To the extent permitted by law, the Executive understands and agrees that as a condition for payment to him of the consideration herein described, the terms and contents of this Agreement, and the contents of the negotiations
and discussions resulting in this Agreement, shall be maintained as confidential by the Executive, his agents and representatives and none of the above shall be disclosed except (i) to the extent required by federal or state law, (ii) to the Executive’s tax and legal advisors, (iii) to members of the Executive’s immediate family (iv) or as
otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company. This Section shall become null and void, and the Executive shall have no further obligations under this Section, in the event that the Company files this Agreement in an unredacted fashion with any of
its Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings. 
  
 9. Nature of Agreement. The Executive understands and agrees that this Agreement is a severance and settlement agreement and does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing on the part of the Company. The Company
understands and agrees that this Agreement is a severance and settlement agreement and does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing on the part of the Executive. 
  

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 10. Amendment. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties and may not be abandoned,
supplemented, changed or modified in any manner, orally or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing of concurrent or subsequent date signed by a duly authorized representative of the parties hereto. This Agreement is binding upon and shall
inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective agents, assigns, heirs, executors, successors and administrators. 
  
 11. Waiver of Rights. No delay or omission by any party in exercising any rights under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any
other right. A waiver or consent given by a party on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of any right on any other occasion. 
  
 12. Validity. Should any provision of this Agreement be declared or be
determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms, or provisions shall not be affected thereby and said illegal or invalid part, term or provision shall be deemed not to be a part
of this Agreement. 
  
 13. Applicable Law. This Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflict of laws provisions. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or if appropriate, a
federal court located in Massachusetts (which courts, for purposes of this Agreement, are the only courts of competent jurisdiction), over any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of, under, or in connection with this Agreement or its
subject matter. 
  

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 14. Acknowledgments. The Executive acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to
consider this Agreement and that the Company advised him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Agreement. Further, the Executive acknowledges he may revoke this Agreement for a period of seven (7) days after the
execution of this Agreement by notifying Peter G. Savas (with a copy to Steven D. Singer, Company Counsel) in writing, and the Agreement shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period. 

 
 15. Voluntary Assent. The Executive affirms that no other promises
or agreements of any kind have been made to or with him by any person or entity whatsoever to cause him to sign this Agreement, and that he fully understands the meaning and intent of this Agreement. The Executive states and represents that he has
had an opportunity to fully discuss and review the terms of this Agreement with an attorney. The Executive further states and represents that he has carefully read this Agreement, understands the contents herein, freely and voluntarily assents to
all of the terms and conditions hereof, and signs his name of his own free act. 
  
 16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains and constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the severance and settlement and supercedes all previous oral and
written negotiations, agreements, commitments, and writings in connection therewith. 
  
 17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) signature counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

  
 [signature page follows] 
  

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, all parties have set their hand and seal to this Agreement as of the date written above. 

 

					
	 By:
	 	 /s/ Mark Pykett

	 	Date: June 9, 2005
			
	 By:
	 	 /s/ Marc E. Lanser

	 	Date: June 9, 2005

  

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