EX-10.10



 Exhibit 10.10 
  

			
	 




	 	
	 	665 Third Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
	 	Tel +1-650-735-1324 | Fax +1-650-362-1908
	 	

 June 3, 2013 

Dr. Mehdi Gasmi 
 [Address] 

[Address] 
 Re: Employment Terms For Vice President,
Pharmaceutical Development 
 Dear Mehdi: 
 This letter
agreement (the “Agreement”) memorializes the employment terms for your anticipated hire by Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc. (the “Company”) in the position of Senior Scientist. These terms will become effective as of
August 12, 2013 or at such later date and as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (as applicable, the “Hire Date”). 
 Effective
as of the Hire Date, your employment terms will be as follows: 
  

	1.	Duties; Reporting Relationship; Office Location. 

 In the position of Vice President, Pharmaceutical
Development, you will serve in a technical capacity and will be required to perform the duties commonly associated with this position, including consulting with the company’s leadership and scientific advisors on experimental design, performing
laboratory duties such as experimental design, protocol development, and establishment and validation of assays, and managing contract research organizations, as well as other activities that may be assigned to you by the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer (the “CEO”) from time to time. You will report to the CEO, and will work at the Company’s offices at 665 Third Street, Suite 250, San Francisco. 

 

	2.	Compensation and Benefits. 

 Your base salary will be $260,000 per annum, subject to payroll deductions
and all required withholdings, representing full-time employment with the Company. Your salary will be paid in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule. You will be eligible to earn an annual performance bonus provided that you
are actively employed through and including the date of bonus grants. Your annual bonus will be calculated based on attainment of individual goals (including corporate and personal objectives) to be determined by the Company’s management each
year, and will be prorated in years where you have not been employed during the entire calendar year. Bonus payments will be in the form of cash and/or incentive stock options, and will be granted entirely at the discretion of the Company’s CEO
and Board of Directors. Any cash bonus payments will be less payroll deductions and all required withholdings. 









			
	 




	 	
	 	665 Third Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
	 	Tel +1-650-735-1324 | Fax +1-650-362-1908
	 	

  

 You will be eligible to participate in the Company’s general employee benefits, including the executive
severance benefit plan, in accordance with the terms, conditions and limitations of the benefit plans to the extent such plans have been established by the Company. 

You will also be eligible for executive relocation assistance, provided that you work through the Company’s preferred relocation services
providers. The Company will provide household goods move including up to thirty days storage (not to exceed $20,000), and 30 days temporary housing, selected and approved by Company, grossed up for applicable taxes. You will also receive a
miscellaneous relocation allowance of $3,000, which will not be grossed up for taxes, to be used toward any other miscellaneous items. Should you terminate your employment or be terminated for cause within twelve (12) months, you will be
responsible for repaying 100% of the cash value of relocation assistance. Should you terminate your employment or be terminated for cause after twelve (12) months and prior to twenty-four (24) months, you will be responsible for repaying
50% of the cash value of relocation assistance. 
  

	3.	Incentive Stock Option grant. 

 In addition to the compensation and benefits described above, the Company
will grant you, following your start as an employee following the Hire Date and subject to the approval of the Company’s board of directors and the Company successfully obtaining a permit from the applicable state authority, the option to
purchase one hundred ten thousand (110,000) shares of the Company’s common stock, representing approximately 1.2% of currently outstanding shares based on the current capitalization of the company, at the fair market value as determined by
the Company’s board of directors at the date of the grant. The foregoing stock option will be subject to the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and standard form of stock option agreement (the “Option Agreement”), and shall
provide that 25% of the shares vest after twelve (12) months, and the remaining 75% of the shares vest in equal monthly installments over the following thirty-six (36) months. 

 

	4.	Confidentiality and Proprietary Information Obligations. 

  

	 	(a)	Company Policies and Proprietary Information Agreement: You will be required to sign the Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Proprietary
Information Agreement”). 

  

	 	(b)	 Adverse or Outside Business Activities. Throughout your employment with the Company, you may engage in civic, academic teaching and lectures, and
not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not interfere with the performance of your duties hereunder or present a conflict of interest with the Company. You may not engage in other












			
	 




	 	
	 	665 Third Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
	 	Tel +1-650-735-1324 | Fax +1-650-362-1908
	 	

  


	 	
employment or undertake any other commercial business activities unless you obtain the prior written consent of the Company’s CEO. The Company may rescind its consent to your service as a
director of all other corporations or participation in other business or public activities, if the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that such activities compromise or threaten to compromise the Company’s reputational or business
interests or conflict with your duties to the Company. In addition, throughout the term of your employment with the Company, you agree not to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, own, manage, operate, join,
control, finance or participate in the ownership, management, operation, control or financing of, or be connected as an officer, director, executive, partner, employee, principal, agent, representative, consultant, licensor, licensee or otherwise
with, any business or enterprise engaged in any business which is competitive with or which is reasonably anticipated to be competitive with the Company’s business; provided, however, that you may purchase or otherwise acquire up to (but not
more than) one percent (1%) of any class of securities of any enterprise (but without participating in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or regional securities exchange. You hereby represent and
warrant that you have disclosed previously to the Board all other employment or other commercial business activities that you already undertake, or intend to undertake (to the extent currently known by you), during your period of employment with the
Company. 

  

	5.	No Conflicts. 

 By signing this Agreement you hereby represent to the Company that, except as previously
disclosed to the Company: (a) your employment with the Company is not prohibited under any employment agreement or other contractual arrangement; and (b) you do not know of any conflicts which would restrict your employment with the
Company. You hereby represent that you have disclosed to the Company any contract you have signed that may restrict your activities on behalf of the Company, and that you are presently in compliance with such contracts, if any. 

 

	6.	At Will Employment. 

 Your employment relationship with the Company will be an “at-will”
arrangement and this Agreement does not constitute a guarantee of employment for any specific period of time. This means that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause, and with or without advance
notice. This “at-will” employment relationship cannot be changed except in a written agreement approved by the Company and signed by you and by a duly authorized officer of the Company. 









			
	 




	 	
	 	665 Third Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
	 	Tel +1-650-735-1324 | Fax +1-650-362-1908
	 	

  

 Following the “at-will” arrangement, you will not be entitled to any remuneration or compensation
if your employment is terminated, for any reason or no reason, provided that, should the company choose to terminate your employment for a reason other than cause within the first six (6) months of your employment, you will receive
severance in the form of eight (8) weeks’ salary at your then-current salary level in exchange for a complete and general release of any claims against the Company. 
  


	7.	Miscellaneous. 

 As required by law, your employment is contingent upon satisfactory proof of your
identity and legal authorization to work in the United States. This Agreement, together with your Proprietary Information Agreement, forms the complete and exclusive statement of your employment agreement with the Company. The employment terms in
this Agreement supersede any other agreements or promises made to you by anyone, whether oral or written, concerning your employment terms. Changes in your employment terms, other than those changes expressly reserved to the Company’s or
Board’s discretion in this Agreement, require a written modification approved by the Board and signed by you and a duly authorized member of the Board. This Agreement will bind the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of both
you and the Company, and inure to the benefit of both you and the Company, their heirs, successors and assigns. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, this determination shall not affect
any other provision of this Agreement and the provision in question shall be modified so as to be rendered enforceable in a manner consistent with the intent of the parties insofar as possible under applicable law. This Agreement shall be construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to conflicts of law principles. Any ambiguity in this Agreement shall not be construed against either party as the drafter. Any waiver of a breach of this Agreement,
or rights hereunder, shall be in writing and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any successive breach or rights hereunder. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts which shall be deemed to be part of one original, and facsimile signatures
shall be equivalent to original signatures. 









			
	 




	 	
	 	665 Third Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
	 	Tel +1-650-735-1324 | Fax +1-650-362-1908
	 	

  

 Please sign and date this letter and return it to me by the close of business on June 7, 2013 in
order to confirm your anticipated employment terms as set forth above. 
 We look forward to a productive and enjoyable work relationship with you. 

 

			
	Sincerely,
	Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc.:
	
	 /s/ Thomas W. Chalberg

	Thomas W. Chalberg, President and Chief Executive Officer
	
	Understood and Accepted:
	
	 /s/ Mehdi Gasmi

	Mehdi Gasmi
		
	Date:	 	 05 June 2013











			
	 




	 	
	 	665 Third Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
	 	Tel +1-650-735-1324 | Fax +1-650-362-1908
	 	

  

 EXHIBIT A 

EMPLOYEE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS ASSIGNMENT 

AGREEMENT 







 EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT 

In consideration of my employment or continued employment by Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc. (“Company”), and the
compensation paid to me now and during my employment with the Company, I agree to the terms of this Agreement as follows: 

 


 1. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION PROTECTIONS. 

1.1 Nondisclosure; Recognition of Company’s Rights. At all times during and after my employment, I will hold in confidence and
will not disclose, use, lecture upon, or publish any of Company’s Confidential Information (defined below), except as may be required in connection with my work for Company, or as expressly authorized by the Chief Executive Officer (the
“CEO”) of Company. I will obtain the CEO’s written approval before publishing or submitting for publication any material (written, oral, or otherwise) that relates to my work at Company and/or incorporates any Confidential
Information. I hereby assign to Company any rights I may have or acquire in any and all Confidential Information and recognize that all Confidential Information shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company and its assigns. 

1.2 Confidential Information. The term “Confidential Information” shall mean any and all confidential
knowledge, data or information related to Company’s business or its actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, including without limitation (a) trade secrets, inventions, ideas, processes, computer source and object code,
data, formulae, programs, other works of authorship, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, and techniques; (b) information regarding products, services, plans for research and development, marketing and business plans,
budgets, financial statements, contracts, prices, suppliers, and customers; (c) information regarding the skills and compensation of Company’s employees, contractors, and any other service providers of Company; and (d) the existence
of any business discussions, negotiations, or agreements between Company and any third party. 
 1.3 Third Party Information. I
understand that Company has received and in the future will receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information (“Third Party Information”) subject to a duty on Company’s part to maintain the
confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During and after the term of my employment, I will hold Third Party Information in strict confidence and will not disclose to anyone (other than Company personnel
who need to know such information in connection with their work for Company) or use, Third Party Information, except in connection with my work for Company or unless expressly authorized by an officer of Company in writing. 

1.4 No Improper Use of Information of Prior Employers and Others. I represent that my employment by Company does not and will not
breach any agreement with any former employer, including any noncompete agreement or any agreement to keep in confidence or refrain from using



 
information acquired by me prior to my employment by Company. I further represent that I have not entered into, and will not enter into, any agreement, either written or oral, in conflict
with my obligations under this Agreement. During my employment by Company, I will not improperly make use of, or disclose, any information or trade secrets of any former employer or other third party, nor will I bring onto the premises of Company or
use any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or other third party, in violation of any lawful agreements with that former employer or third party. I will use in the performance of my duties only information that is
generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to my own, is common knowledge in the industry or otherwise legally in the public domain, or is otherwise provided or developed by Company.  

2. INVENTIONS. 
 2.1
Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the term “Invention” means any ideas, concepts, information, materials, processes, data, programs, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, artwork, formulae, other
copyrightable works, and techniques and all Intellectual Property Rights in any of the items listed above. The term “Intellectual Property Rights” means all trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, mask work rights, patents and other
intellectual property rights recognized by the laws of any jurisdiction or country. The term “Moral Rights” means all paternity, integrity, disclosure, withdrawal, special and any other similar rights recognized by the laws of any
jurisdiction or country. 
 2.2 Prior Inventions. I have disclosed on Exhibit A a complete list of all Inventions that
(a) I have, or I have caused to be, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed, or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of my employment by Company; (b) in which I have an ownership interest or which I have a license to
use; (c) and that I wish to have excluded from the scope of this Agreement (collectively referred to as “Prior Inventions”). If no Prior Inventions are listed in Exhibit A, I warrant that there are no Prior Inventions. I
agree that I will not incorporate, or permit to be incorporated, Prior Inventions in any Company Inventions (defined below) without Company’s prior written consent. If, in the course of my employment with Company, I incorporate a Prior
Invention into a Company process, machine or other work, I hereby grant Company a non-exclusive, perpetual, fully-paid and royalty-free, irrevocable and worldwide license, with rights to sublicense through multiple levels of sublicensees, to
reproduce, make derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display in any form or medium, whether now known or later developed, make, have made, use, sell, import, offer for sale, and exercise any and all present or future
rights in, such Prior Invention. 

 


  
 1 









 2.3 Assignment of Company Inventions. Inventions assigned to the Company or to a third
party as directed by the Company pursuant to the subsection titled Government or Third Party are referred to in this Agreement as “Company Inventions.” Except for Inventions (a) that are subject to the subsection titled
Government or Third Party, (b) that qualify fully under the provisions of California Labor Code section 2870, or (c) any Prior Inventions that I have set forth in Exhibit A, I hereby assign and agree to assign in the future
(when any such Inventions or Intellectual Property Rights are first reduced to practice or first fixed in a tangible medium, as applicable) to Company all my right, title, and interest in and to any and all Inventions (and all Intellectual Property
Rights with respect thereto) made, conceived, reduced to practice, or learned by me, either alone or with others, during the period of my employment by Company. Any assignment of Inventions (and all Intellectual Property Rights with respect thereto)
hereunder includes an assignment of all Moral Rights. To the extent such Moral Rights cannot be assigned to Company and to the extent the following is allowed by the laws in any country where Moral Rights exist, I hereby unconditionally and
irrevocably waive the enforcement of such Moral Rights, and all claims and causes of action of any kind against Company or related to Company’s customers, with respect to such rights. I further acknowledge and agree that neither my
successors-in-interest nor legal heirs retain any Moral Rights in any Inventions (and any Intellectual Property Rights with respect thereto). I have reviewed the notification on Exhibit A (Limited Exclusion Notification) and agree that this
signed Agreement acknowledges my receipt of the notification. 
 2.4 Obligation to Keep Company Informed. During the period
of my employment and for one (1) year after my employment ends, I will promptly and fully disclose to Company in writing (a) all Inventions authored, conceived, or reduced to practice by me, either alone or with others, including any that
might be covered under California Labor Code section 2870, and (b) all patent applications filed by me or in which I am named as an inventor or co-inventor. 

2.5 Government or Third Party. I agree that, as directed by the Company, I will assign to a third party, including without limitation
the United States, all my right, title, and interest in and to any particular Company Invention. 
 2.6 Enforcement of Intellectual
Property Rights and Assistance. During and after the period of my employment and at Company’s request and expense, I will assist Company in every proper way, including consenting to and joining in any action, to obtain and enforce
United States and foreign Intellectual Property Rights and Moral Rights relating to Company Inventions in all countries. If the Company is unable to secure my signature on any document needed in connection with such purposes, I hereby irrevocably
designate and appoint Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as my agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act on my behalf to execute and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully
permitted 


 
acts to further such purposes with the same legal force and effect as if executed by me. 

2.7 Incorporation of Software Code. I agree that I will not incorporate into any Company software or otherwise deliver to Company any
software code licensed under the GNU General Public License or Lesser General Public License or any other license that, by its terms, requires or conditions the use or distribution of such code on the disclosure, licensing, or distribution of any
source code owned or licensed by Company. 
 3. RECORDS. I agree to keep and maintain adequate and current records (in the form of
notes, sketches, drawings and in any other form that is required by the Company) of all Inventions made by me during the period of my employment by the Company, which records shall be available to, and remain the sole property of, the Company at all
times. 
 4. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES. I agree that during the term of my employment by Company, I will not
(a) without Company’s express written consent, engage in any employment or business activity that is competitive with, or would otherwise conflict with my employment by, Company; and (b) for the period of my employment by Company and
for one (1) year thereafter, I will not either directly or indirectly, solicit or attempt to solicit any employee, independent contractor, or consultant of Company to terminate his, her or its relationship with Company in order to become an
employee, consultant, or independent contractor to or for any other person or entity. 
 5. RETURN OF
COMPANY PROPERTY. Upon termination of my employment or upon Company’s request at any other time, I will deliver to Company all of Company’s property, equipment, and documents, together with all copies
thereof, and any other material containing or disclosing any Inventions, Third Party Information or Confidential Information and certify in writing that I have fully complied with the foregoing obligation. I agree that I will not copy, delete, or
alter any information contained upon my Company computer or Company equipment before I return it to Company. In addition, if I have used any personal computer, server, or e-mail system to receive, store, review, prepare or transmit any Company
information, including but not limited to, Confidential Information, I agree to provide the Company with a computer-useable copy of all such Confidential Information and then permanently delete and expunge such Confidential Information from those
systems; and I agree to provide the Company access to my system as reasonably requested to verify that the necessary copying and/or deletion is completed. I further agree that any property situated on Company’s premises and owned by Company is
subject to inspection by Company’s personnel at any time with or without notice. Prior to the termination of my employment or promptly after termination of my employment, I will cooperate with Company in attending an exit interview and certify
in writing that I have complied with the requirements of this section. 

 


  
 2 








 
 6. NOTIFICATION OF NEW EMPLOYER. If I leave
the employ of Company, I consent to the notification of my new employer of my rights and obligations under this Agreement, by Company providing a copy of this Agreement or otherwise. 

7. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

7.1 Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement and any action related thereto will be governed and interpreted by and under the laws of
the State of California, without giving effect to any conflicts of laws principles that require the application of the law of a different state. I expressly consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in the state and federal courts for the county in
which Company’s principal place of business is located for any lawsuit filed there against me by Company arising from or related to this Agreement. 

7.2 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions of
this Agreement will remain enforceable and the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it is valid and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law. 

7.3 Survival. This Agreement shall survive the termination of my employment and the assignment of this Agreement by Company to any
successor or other assignee and shall be binding upon my heirs and legal representatives. 
 7.4 Employment. I agree and
understand that nothing in this Agreement shall give me any right to continued employment by Company, and it will not interfere in any way with my right or Company’s right to terminate my employment at any time, with or without cause and with
or without advance notice. 
 7.5 Notices. Each party must deliver all notices or other communications required or permitted under
this Agreement in writing to the other party at the address listed on the signature page, by courier, by certified or registered mail (postage prepaid and return receipt requested), or by a nationally-recognized express mail service. Notice will be
effective upon receipt or refusal of delivery. If delivered by certified or registered mail, notice will be considered to have been given five (5) business days after it was mailed, as evidenced by the postmark. If delivered by courier or
express mail service, notice will be considered to have been given on



 
the delivery date reflected by the courier or express mail service receipt. Each party may change its address for receipt of notice by giving notice of the change to the other party. 

7.6 Injunctive Relief. I acknowledge that, because my services are personal and unique and because I will have access to the
Confidential Information of Company, any breach of this Agreement by me would cause irreparable injury to Company for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy and, therefore, will entitle Company to injunctive relief (including
specific performance). The rights and remedies provided to each party in this Agreement are cumulative and in addition to any other rights and remedies available to such party at law or in equity. 

7.7 Waiver. Any waiver or failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement on one occasion will not be deemed a waiver of that
provision or any other provision on any other occasion. 
 7.8 Export. I agree not to export, reexport, or transfer,
directly or indirectly, any U.S. technical data acquired from Company or any products utilizing such data, in violation of the United States export laws or regulations. 

7.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of
which shall be taken together and deemed to be one instrument. 
 7.10 Entire Agreement. If no other agreement governs
nondisclosure and assignment of inventions during any period in which I was previously employed or am in the future employed by Company as an independent contractor, the obligations pursuant to sections of this Agreement titled Confidential
Information Protections and Inventions shall apply. This Agreement is the final, complete and exclusive agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and merges all prior communications between us with respect to
such matters. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, or any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, will be effective unless in writing and signed by me and the CEO of Company. Any subsequent change or changes in my duties, salary or
compensation will not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement. 

 

 

  
 This Agreement shall be
effective as of the first day of my employment with Company. 

  
 3 









									
	EMPLOYEE:	 		 	AVALANCHE BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.:
			
	I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND, AND ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT AND HAVE BEEN
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT WITH INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL.	 		 	ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
			
	 /s/ Mehdi Gasmi
	 		 	 /s/ Thomas W. Chalberg

	(Signature)	 		 	(Signature)
					
	By:	 	 Mehdi Gasmi
	 		 	By:	 	Thomas W. Chalberg
					
	Title:	 	 Senior Scientist
	 		 	Title:	 	President & CEO
					
	Date:	 	 05 June 2013
	 		 	Date:	 	February 6, 2012
					
	Address:	 	 [address]
	 		 	Address:	 	665 Third Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107


  
 4 








 EXHIBIT A 

INVENTIONS 
 1. Prior Inventions
Disclosure. The following is a complete list of all Prior Inventions (as provided in Subsection 2.2 of the attached Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement, defined herein as the “Agreement”): 

 

	 	 ̈	None 

  

	 	 ̈	See immediately below: 

  

	
	  

	
	  


 2. Limited Exclusion Notification. 

THIS IS TO NOTIFY you in accordance with Section 2872
of the California Labor Code that the foregoing Agreement between you and Company does not require you to assign or offer to assign to Company any Invention that you develop entirely on your own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies,
facilities or trade secret information, except for those Inventions that either: 
 a. Relate at the time of conception or reduction
to practice to Company’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development; or 
 b. Result from any work
performed by you for Company. 
 To the extent a provision in the foregoing Agreement purports to require you to assign an Invention
otherwise excluded from the preceding paragraph, the provision is against the public policy of this state and is unenforceable. 
 This
limited exclusion does not apply to any patent or Invention covered by a contract between Company and the United States or any of its agencies requiring full title to such patent or Invention to be in the United States. 

  
 A-1