exv10w31



 





Exhibit 10.31




CONSULTING AGREEMENT




     THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made this 1st day of January, 2008
(“Effective Date”) is entered into by Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its
principal place of business at 167 Sidney Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
(the “Company”), and Karr
Pharma Consulting, LLC, having a place of business located at 30 Ox Bow Lane, Essex, Connecticut
06426 (the “Consultant”). Company and Consultant may be referred to herein individually as a
“Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”



INTRODUCTION




     The Company desires to retain the services of the Consultant and the Consultant desires to
perform certain Services, as defined below, for the Company. In consideration of the mutual
covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by the Parties, the Parties agree as follows:



     1.      Services. The Consultant agrees to perform such consulting, advisory and related
services to and for the Company as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Company
(“Service”). Such Services shall be performed at such location, on such days, and at such times as
may be reasonably agreed by the Company and the Consultant. Such Services, if any, shall be
performed on an as needed basis.



     2.      Term. This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until
December 31, 2008 (such period, as it may be extended, being referred to as the “Consultation
Period”), unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.



     3.      Compensation.



               3.1    Consulting Fees. The Consultant shall be entitled to $375 per hour, not to exceed
$3,000 per day, of Service actually performed by the Consultant hereunder. The Consultant shall
submit to the Company monthly statements, in a form satisfactory to the Company, detailing Services
performed for the Company in the previous month. The Company shall pay to the Consultant
consulting fees with respect to all Services actually performed and invoiced within 30 days after
Company’s receipt of each monthly invoice.



               3.2    Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Consultant for all
reasonable and necessary expenses incurred or paid by the Consultant in connection with, or related
to, the performance of his Services under this Agreement. The Consultant shall submit to the
Company itemized monthly statements, in a form satisfactory to the Company, of such expenses
incurred in the previous month. The Company shall pay to the Consultant amounts shown on each such
statement within 30 days after Company’s receipt thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Consultant shall not incur total expenses in excess of $ 1,000 per month without the prior
written approval of the Company.



               3.3    Benefits. The Consultant shall not be entitled to any benefits, coverages or
privileges made available to employees of the Company, including, without limitation, social
security, unemployment, medical or pension payments.



 









 





     4.      Termination. Each of the Company and the Consultant may terminate the Consultation
Period upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the other Party. In the event of such termination,
the Consultant shall be entitled to payment for Services performed and expenses paid or incurred
prior to the effective date of termination, subject to the limitation on reimbursement of expenses
set forth in Section 3.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may terminate the
Consultation Period, effective immediately upon receipt of written notice, if the Consultant
breaches or threatens to breach any provision of this Agreement or Section 7, 8 or 9 of the
Employment Agreement (as defined below).



     5.      Cooperation. The Consultant shall use his best efforts in the performance of his
obligations under this Agreement. The Company shall provide such access to its information and
property as may be reasonably required in order to permit the Consultant to perform his obligations
hereunder. The Consultant shall cooperate with the Company’s personnel, shall not interfere with
the conduct of the Company’s business and shall observe all rules, regulations and security
requirements of the Company concerning the safety of persons and property.



     6.      Employment Agreements.



                    (a)      The Company and the Consultant acknowledge and agree that this Consulting Agreement shall
take effect immediately following the effectiveness of the Consultant’s resignation as an officer
and employee of the Company and the termination of the Employment Period (as defined in the
Employment Agreement dated as of December 5, 2005 between the Company and the Consultant (the
“Employment Agreement”)).



                    (b)      The Consultant hereby agrees that during the Consulting Period he shall continue to be
bound by and subject to the provisions of Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Employment Agreement, as if he
continued to be an employee of the Company during the Consultation Period and that references in
such Sections to the termination or cessation of employment shall be deemed to mean the termination
or cessation of the Consultation Period hereunder. For example, as a result of this Section 6(b),
the Consultant shall be subject to and bound by the non-competition and non-solicitation
obligations set forth in Section 8 of the Employment Agreement during the Consultation Period and
for a period of one year after the termination or cessation of the Consultation Period for any
reason.



     7.      Independent Contractor Status. The Consultant shall perform all Services under
this Agreement as an “independent contractor” and not as an employee or agent of the Company. The
Consultant is not authorized to assume or create any obligation or responsibility, express or
implied, on behalf of, or in the name of, the Company or to bind the Company in any manner.



     8.      Notices. All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States
Post Office, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the other Party at the
address shown above, or at such other address or addresses as either Party shall designate to the
other in accordance with this Section 8.



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     9.      Pronouns. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this Agreement
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular forms of
nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa.



     10.     Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
Parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating
to the subject matter of this Agreement.



     11.     Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument
executed by both the Company and the Consultant.



     12.     Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.



     13.     Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the
benefit of, both Parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any corporation
with which, or into which, the Company may be merged or which may succeed to its assets or
business, provided, however, that the obligations of the Consultant are personal and shall not be
assigned by him.



     14.     Miscellaneous.



               14.1    No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by the Company 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.



               14.2    The captions of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and
in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.



               14.3    In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or otherwise
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no
way be affected or impaired thereby.



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	IDERA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.	 	 	 	KARR PHARMA CONSULTING,
LLC


	By:

	 	 /s/ Lou Arcudi	 	 
	 	By:
	 	 /s/ Robert W. Karr
	 

	 	 
	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	Lou Arcudi	 	 	 	Robert W. Karr, M.D.
	CFO
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Date:

	 	 1-2-08	 	 	 	Date:
	 	 1-2-08
	 

	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 






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