Amendment to Employment Agreement



 Exhibit 10.6 
  
 AMENDMENT TO 
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
  
 This Amendment to
Employment Agreement (this “Amendment”) by and between Xcyte Therapies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Robert Lawrence Kirkman, M.D. (the “Employee”) is dated as of August 12, 2005
and amends the Employment Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2004 (the “Employment Agreement”) by and between the Company and the Employee. All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in the Employment Agreement. 
  
 RECITALS

  
 A. Section 9(b) of the Employment Agreement provides that
any term thereof may be amended with the written consent of the Company and the Employee. 
  
 B. In recognition of the Employee’s continuing contributions to the Company, his increased responsibilities as Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and his increased workload in light of
the Company’s exploration of strategic alternatives, the Company and the Employee wish to amend Section 1(a) and Section 3(a) of the Employment Agreement as set forth herein. 
  
 NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing considerations and certain other good and valuable consideration set forth
herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Employee agree as follows: 
  
 AGREEMENT 
  
 1. Amendment of Position Responsibilities. Section 1(a) of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: 
  
 “(a) Position Responsibilities. Employee shall be employed as Acting President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company effective as of July 5, 2005. The duties and responsibilities of Employee shall include the duties and responsibilities reasonably assigned to Employee from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors, in
all cases to be consistent with Employee’s corporate office and position.” 
  
 2. Amendment of Compensation. Section 3(a) of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: 
  
 “(a) Salary. Effective as of July 5, 2005, Employee shall receive a monthly salary of $25,000
(subject to applicable withholding taxes), which is equivalent to $300,000 on an annualized basis (the “Base Salary”). Employee’s monthly salary will be payable pursuant to the Company’s normal payroll practices.”

  
 3. Effect of Amendment. Except as set forth in this
Amendment, the provisions of the Employment Agreement shall remain unchanged and shall continue in full force and effect. 
  
 [Signature Pages Follow] 









 This Amendment to Employment Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an
original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Facsimile copies of signed signature pages shall be binding originals. 
  

			
	COMPANY:
	 
	 XCYTE THERAPIES, INC.
 a Delaware corporation

		
	By:	 	 /s/ Kathi Cordova

	 	 	 Kathi Cordova
 Senior Vice President Finance and Treasurer



  

 Signature Page to Amendment to Employment Agreement 









			
	ROBERT L. KIRKMAN
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Robert L. Kirkman

	 	 	 Robert L. Kirkman