Exhibit 10.1


 


AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


 


This Amendment (this
“Amendment”) dated as of the 20th day of December, 2017 amends the Employment Agreement, dated
April 28, 2015, as amended on December 1, 2016 and May 31, 2017 (collectively, the “Agreement”), by and
between Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (the “Company”) and Steven A. Shallcross (the “Executive”).
Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned in the Agreement.  


 


WHEREAS, the
Company currently employs the Executive as its Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary pursuant to terms and conditions
set forth in the Agreement; and


 


WHEREAS, the
Company also desires to employ the Executive as its Interim Chief Executive Officer, and the Executive desires to accept such position,
on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.


 


NOW THEREFORE,
for the mutual promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree to amend the Agreement as follows:


 


1.           Amendments.


 


		A.	Section
2 of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph to the end of Section 2 of the Agreement:


 


		(a)	“The Executive shall also serve as Interim Chief
Executive Officer effective December 5, 2017 until the time that the Company appoints a permanent Chief Executive Officer unless
there is an earlier termination of the Executive in accordance with the Agreement. As Interim Chief Executive Officer, the Executive
shall have such duties, authorities and responsibilities commensurate with the duties, authorities and responsibilities of persons
in similar capacities in similarly sized companies and such other duties and responsibilities as the Board shall designate that
are consistent with the Executive’s position as Interim Chief Executive Officer, including directing, supervising and having
responsibility for all aspects of the operations and general affairs of the Company as directed by the Board. The Executive shall
report to, and be subject to, the lawful direction of the Board. During Executive’s tenure as Interim Chief Executive Officer,
the Executive shall use his best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently the duties and responsibilities assigned to the
Executive hereunder and devote all of the Executive’s business time (excluding periods of vacation and other approved leaves
of absence) to the performance of the Executive’s duties with the Company.”



 


		B.	Section
4 of the Agreement is deleted and replaced with the following:


 


“4. (a) BASE
SALARY. During the Employment Term, the Company agrees to pay the Executive a base salary (the “Base Salary”)
at an annual rate of Three Hundred Eighty One Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($381,150), payable semi-monthly in accordance
with the regular payroll practices of the Company. The Executive’s Base Salary shall be subject to review and adjustment
from time to time by the Board (or a committee thereof) in its sole discretion, but may not be decreased. The base salary as determined
herein from time to time shall constitute “Base Salary” for purposes of this Agreement.


 






     


     


    

 


(b) MONTHLY COMPENSATION.
For the period that the Executive serves as Interim Chief Executive Officer, he shall receive a cash payment from the Company of
Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000) per calendar month; pro-rated for any partial months that Executive serves as Interim Chief Executive
Officer, payable in accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Company.


 


2.           Severability.
The provisions of this Amendment are severable and if any part or it is found to be unenforceable the other paragraphs shall remain
fully valid and enforceable.


 


3.           No
Other Amendments; Confirmation. All other terms of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The Agreement,
as amended by this Amendment, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter thereof.


 


4.           Counterparts.
This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but both of which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.


 


 


[Signature page follows]


 



     


     


    

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto
have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first written above.


 


	 	Company:	 
	 	 	 
	 	SYNTHETIC BIOLOGICS, INC.	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Jeffrey J. Kraws 	 
	 	 	Name: Jeffrey J. Kraws
	 	 	Title: Chairman of the Board of Directors
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	Executive:
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	/s/ Steven A. Shallcross	 
	 	STEVEN A. SHALLCROSS