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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.55

                                 GENE LOGIC INC.

                            EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN


                             ADOPTED MARCH 19, 1999


SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION.

       The Gene Logic Inc. Executive Severance Plan (the "Plan") was approved by
the Board of Directors of Gene Logic Inc. on March 19, 1999. The purpose of the
Plan is to encourage eligible employees of the Company to continue as employees
of the Company in the event of a Change of Control (as defined herein) and to
provide for the payment of severance benefits to such employees in the event
their employment with the Company is terminated, as provided herein, within a
specified period preceding or following a Change of Control. Except as otherwise
stated herein, this Plan shall supersede both any severance benefit plan, policy
or practice previously maintained by the Company and any employment agreement
entered into by the Company with an individual employee, but only to the extent
that such plan, policy, practice or individual employment agreement addressed
the provision of severance benefits under circumstances covered by the Plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Plan shall not limit or restrict in any way
the provisions of the Gene Logic Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the
"Equity Incentive Plan"), including but not limited to the provisions of that
section entitled "Adjustments upon Changes in Stock," and any provisions of the
Plan relating to the treatment of stock awards issued under the Equity Incentive
Plan shall be construed only to provide additional benefits to Eligible
Employees holding one or more stock awards granted under the Equity Incentive
Plan. This Plan document is also the Summary Plan Description for the Plan.

SECTION 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS.

       (a)    "Eligible Employees" are the Chief Executive Officer, President,
and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, all employees who hold the position
of senior vice president of the Company, and selected employees who hold the
title vice president, "director" or "senior director" with the Company and are
designated in writing by the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, as
eligible to receive benefits under the Plan. No other employees of or
consultants to the Company shall be eligible to receive benefits under the Plan.
An Eligible Employee shall be eligible for benefits under the Plan if such
Eligible Employee's employment with the Company terminates due to an Involuntary
Termination Without Cause or a Constructive Termination, in either case on or
within three (3) months prior to, upon the occurrence of, or on or within
thirteen (13) months following, the effective date of a Change of Control. In
addition, an Eligible Employee shall be eligible for benefits under the Plan if
such Eligible Employee's employment with the Company terminates due to death or
Disability on or within thirteen (13) months following the effective date of a
Change of Control. An employee who otherwise is an Eligible Employee will not
receive benefits under the Plan if the Eligible Employee's employment with the
Company is terminated due to any reason other than Involuntary Termination
Without Cause, Constructive Termination, death or Disability.


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       (b)    In order to be eligible to receive benefits under the Plan, an
Eligible Employee must execute the form of Acknowledgement and Acceptance of
Plan Benefits in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and must execute a
general waiver and release in the form attached hereto as Exhibits B and Exhibit
C, as appropriate.

SECTION 3. BENEFITS.

       (a)    Eligible Employees will receive the benefits described in the
appropriate Benefit Schedule covering the job title held by the Eligible
Employee at the time of his or her Termination Date and for which the Eligible
Employee has been designated by the Company, as applicable, which Benefit
Schedule is attached hereto. In the event that the Eligible Employee holds one
or more job titles for which different benefits are provided under the Plan, the
Eligible Employee shall be eligible to receive benefits under the schedule with
the more valuable set of benefits.

       (b)    COBRA CONTINUATION.

              (i)    Each Eligible Employee who is enrolled in a group health
plan sponsored by the Company may be eligible to continue coverage under such
group health plan under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985 ("COBRA") at the time of the Eligible Employee's termination of employment.
The Company will notify the individual of any such right to continue health
coverage at the time of termination.

              (ii)   The Company will pay the Eligible Employee's COBRA premiums
during the Severance Period. The Company will pay the COBRA premiums for the
Eligible Employee's dependents during the Severance Period if, and only to the
extent that, such dependents were enrolled in a group health plan sponsored by
the Company prior to the Eligible Employee's Termination Date and some or all of
such dependents' premiums under such plan were paid by the Company prior to the
Eligible Employee's Termination Date. No provision of this Plan will affect the
continuation coverage rules under COBRA, except that the Company's payment of
any applicable premiums during the Severance Period will be credited as payment
by the Eligible Employee for purposes of the Eligible Employee's payment
required under COBRA. Therefore, the period during which an Eligible Employee
must elect to continue the Company's group health coverage at his or her own
expense under COBRA, the length of time during which COBRA coverage will be made
available to the Eligible Employee, and all other rights and obligations of the
Eligible Employee under COBRA (except the obligation to pay premiums that the
Company pays during the Severance Period) will be applied in the same manner
that such rules would apply in the absence of this Plan. At the conclusion of
the Severance Period the Eligible Employee will be responsible for the entire
payment of premiums required under COBRA for the duration of the COBRA period,
if any.

       (c)    OUTPLACEMENT BENEFITS. Each Eligible Employee will receive
outplacement services through a vendor of the Company's choice following the
Eligible Employee's Involuntary Termination Without Cause or Constructive
Termination. Payment for such outplacement services shall be made directly to
the service provider, and the Company shall not be obligated to make any
payments to the Eligible Employee regardless of whether he or she utilizes such
outplacement services and what the cost of any such outplacement services are.


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The total cost to the Company of such outplacement services shall not exceed the
amounts described in the Benefit Schedule attached hereto.

SECTION 4. LIMITATIONS ON BENEFITS.

       (a)    PARACHUTE PAYMENTS.

              (i) If any payment or benefit an Eligible Employee would receive
under this Plan ("Payment"), when combined with any other payment or benefit
such Eligible Employee receives which is treated as contingent on the occurrence
of a change in ownership of the Company within the meaning of Section 280G of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
promulgated thereunder, ("Payment") would (i) constitute a "parachute payment"
within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence,
be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the "Excise
Tax"), then such Payment shall be either (x) the full amount of such Payment or
(y) such lesser amount (with cash payments being reduced before stock option
compensation) as would result in no portion of the Payment being subject to the
Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account applicable
federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, the Excise Tax, and any
other applicable taxes, results in the Eligible Employee's receipt, on an
after-tax basis, of the greater portion of the Payment notwithstanding that all
or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax.

              (ii) Unless the Company and Eligible Employee otherwise agree in
writing, any determination required under this subsection shall be made in
writing by the Company's independent public accountants (the "Accountants"),
whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Eligible Employee
and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations
required by this subsection, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and
approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good
faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of
the Code. The Company and Eligible Employee shall furnish to the Accountants
such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in
order to make a determination under this subsection. The Company shall bear all
costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations
contemplated by this subsection.

              (iii) If, notwithstanding any reduction described in this
subsection, the IRS determines that the Eligible Employee is liable for the
Excise Tax as a result of the receipt of the payment of benefits as described
above, then the Eligible Employee shall be obligated to pay back to the Company,
within thirty (30) days after a final IRS determination or in the event that the
Eligible Employee challenges the final IRS determination, a final judicial
determination, a portion of the payment equal to the "Repayment Amount." The
Repayment Amount with respect to the payment of benefits shall be the smallest
such amount, if any, as shall be required to be paid to the Company so that the
Eligible Employee's net after-tax proceeds with respect to any payment of
benefits (after taking into account the payment of the Excise Tax and all other
applicable taxes imposed on such payment) shall be maximized. The Repayment
Amount with respect to the payment of benefits shall be zero if a Repayment
Amount of more than zero would not result in the Eligible Employee's net
after-tax proceeds with respect to the payment of such


                                       3.
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benefits being maximized. If the Excise Tax is not eliminated pursuant to this
paragraph, the Eligible Employee shall pay the Excise Tax.

              (iv) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subsection 4(a),
if (A) there is a reduction in the payment of benefits as described in this
subsection, (B) the IRS later determines that the Eligible Employee is liable
for the Excise Tax, the payment of which would result in the maximization of the
Eligible Employee's net after-tax proceeds (calculated as if the Eligible
Employee's benefits had not previously been reduced), and (C) the Eligible
Employee pays the Excise Tax, then the Company shall pay to the Eligible
Employee those benefits which were reduced pursuant to this subsection
contemporaneously or as soon as administratively possible after the Eligible
Employee pays the Excise Tax so that the Eligible Employee's net after-tax
proceeds with respect to the payment of benefits is maximized.

              (v) If the Eligible Employee either (1) brings any action to
enforce rights pursuant to this subsection 4(a), or (2) defends any legal
challenge to his or her rights hereunder, the Eligible Employee shall be
entitled to recover attorneys' fees and costs incurred in connection with such
action, regardless of the outcome of such action; provided, however, that in the
event such action is commenced by the Eligible Employee, the court finds the
claim was brought in good faith.

       (b)    DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Plan to the contrary, any benefits payable to an Eligible Employee under
this Plan shall be in lieu of any severance benefits payable by the Company to
such individual under any other arrangement covering the individual, unless
expressly otherwise agreed to by the Company in writing. In the event that any
severance benefits under any other arrangement covering an Eligible Employee
become payable to such individual prior to the time that the Company's liability
to pay any severance benefits under the Plan pursuant to Subsection 5(a)(i)
below becomes certain, then payment of the benefits under such other arrangement
shall be in lieu of any and all severance benefits payable under the Plan,
unless such other benefits are repaid to the Company in full by such individual
prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, in which case the Company shall
provide the severance benefits payable under the Plan to such Eligible Employee.

       (c)    NON-HEALTH EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. All non-health benefits (such as
life insurance and disability coverage) shall terminate as of the employee's
Termination Date or as otherwise provided under the terms of the policy or
agreement setting forth the terms of such benefits (except to the extent that
any conversion privilege, at the Eligible Employee's expense, is available
thereunder).

SECTION 5. TIME OF PAYMENT AND FORM OF BENEFIT; INDEBTEDNESS.

       (a)    Cash benefits under this Plan as described under the attached
Benefit Schedules (less applicable tax withholdings) shall be paid in a lump sum
to the Eligible Employee or his or her assignee according to the following
schedule (which schedule shall also correspond to the time of acceleration of
vesting of outstanding options as described under the attached Benefit
Schedules):


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              (i)    if an Eligible Employee's employment terminates either (A)
on or within three (3) months prior to the effective date of a Change of Control
or (B) upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, in either case due to an
Involuntary Termination Without Cause or a Constructive Termination, the
benefits shall be payable (and the acceleration of vesting of outstanding
options shall occur) at the time at which the Change of Control becomes
effective; or

              (ii)   if an Eligible Employee's employment terminates upon or
within thirteen (13) months following the effective date of a Change of Control
due to an Involuntary Termination Without Cause, Constructive Termination, death
or Disability, the benefits shall be payable (and the acceleration of vesting of
outstanding options shall occur) upon the Eligible Employee's Termination Date.

       (b)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payment shall be made (and no
acceleration of vesting of outstanding options shall occur) under this Plan
prior to the last day of any waiting period or revocation period as required by
applicable law in order for the general waiver and release required by Section
2(b) of this Plan to be effective.

       (c)    If an Eligible Employee is indebted to the Company on his or her
Termination Date, the Company reserves the right to offset any severance
payments under the Plan by the amount of such indebtedness. In addition, the
Company shall withhold appropriate federal, state, local and foreign income and
employment taxes from any payments hereunder. In no event shall payment of any
Plan benefit be made prior to the Eligible Employee's Termination Date.

SECTION 6. RIGHT TO INTERPRET PLAN; AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION; OTHER
ARRANGEMENTS; BINDING NATURE OF PLAN.

       (a)    EXCLUSIVE DISCRETION. The Plan Administrator shall have the
exclusive discretion and authority to establish rules, forms, and procedures for
the administration of the Plan, and to construe and interpret the Plan and to
decide any and all questions of fact, interpretation, definition, computation or
administration arising in connection with the operation of the Plan, including,
but not limited to, the eligibility to participate in the Plan and the amount of
benefits paid under the Plan. The rules, interpretations, computations and other
actions of the Plan Administrator shall be binding and conclusive on all
persons.

       (b)    TERM OF PLAN. This Plan shall be effective until amended,
suspended or terminated by the Company.

       (c)    AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION. The Company reserves the
right to amend, suspend or terminate this Plan or the benefits provided
hereunder at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment, suspension or
termination shall affect the right to any unpaid benefit of any Eligible
Employee whose Termination Date has occurred prior to amendment, suspension or
termination of the Plan; and further provided, that for the period of thirteen
(13) months following the effective date of a Change of Control, the Plan shall
not be amended, suspended or terminated, the Plan Administrator shall not be
removed, and no Eligible Employee shall be reclassified in any manner that would
adversely affect the interests of such Eligible Employee without the written
consent of the Eligible Employee so affected. Subject to the foregoing, this
Plan establishes and vests in each Eligible Employee a contractual right to the


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benefits to which such Eligible Employee is entitled hereunder, enforceable by
the Eligible Employee against the Company. Any action amending, suspending or
terminating the Plan may be taken only by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and shall be in
writing, which writing must be executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company or Compensation Committee, as applicable; provided, however, that any
material amendments to the Plan must be approved by the Compensation Committee.

       (d)    OTHER SEVERANCE ARRANGEMENTS. The Company reserves the right to
make other arrangements regarding severance benefits in special circumstances.

       (e)    BINDING EFFECT ON SUCCESSOR TO COMPANY. This Plan shall be binding
upon any successor or assignee, whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise, to all or substantially all of the business or
assets of the Company, or upon any successor to the Company as the result of a
Change of Control, and any such successor or assignee shall be required to
perform the Company's obligations under the Plan, in the same manner and to the
same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession
or assignment or Change of Control had taken place. In such event, the term
"Company," as used in the Plan, shall mean the Company as hereinafter defined
and any successor or assignee as described above which by reason hereof becomes
bound by the terms and provisions of this Plan.

SECTION 7. DEFINITIONS.

       Capitalized terms used in this Plan, unless defined elsewhere in this
Plan, shall have the following meanings:

       (a)    CAUSE means (i) conviction of, a guilty plea with respect to, or a
plea of nolo contendere to, a charge that the Eligible Employee has committed a
felony under the laws of the United States or of any state or a crime involving
moral turpitude, including, but not limited to, fraud, theft, embezzlement or
any crime that results in or is intended to result in personal enrichment at the
expense of the Company; (ii) material breach of any agreement entered into
between the Eligible Employee and the Company that impairs the Company's
interest therein; (iii) willful misconduct or gross neglect by the Eligible
Employee of the Eligible Employee's duties; or (iv) engagement in any activity
that constitutes a material conflict of interest with the Company.

       (b)    CHANGE OF CONTROL means the occurrence of one or more of the
following events: (1) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company; (2) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving
corporation and the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger
or consolidation fail to acquire at least fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial
ownership of the securities of the surviving corporation (or an entity
controlling the surviving corporation); (3) a reverse merger in which the
Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's common
shares outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of
the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or
otherwise and the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger
fail to acquire at least fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial ownership of the
securities of


                                       6.
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the Company (or an entity controlling the Company); or (4) the acquisition by
any person, entity or group within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or any
comparable successor provisions (excluding any employee benefit plan, or related
trust, sponsored or maintained by the Company) of the beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or
comparable successor rule) of securities of the Company representing at least
fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power entitled to vote in the
election of directors. "Change of Control" shall also mean the sale by the
Company of one or more of the Company's product groups, but only with respect to
those Eligible Employees working exclusively or primarily with the affected
group or groups.

       (c)    COMPANY means Gene Logic Inc., a Delaware corporation, including
any successor as provided in Section 6(e) hereof, and any affiliate or related
entity of Gene Logic Inc. that is designated by the Board of Directors of Gene
Logic Inc.

       (d)    CONSTRUCTIVE TERMINATION means that an Eligible Employee
voluntarily terminates his or her employment with the Company after any of the
following are undertaken without the Eligible Employee's express written
consent:

              (i) the assignment to the Eligible Employee of any duties or
responsibilities which result in any diminution or adverse change of the
Eligible Employee's position, status or circumstances of employment as in effect
at the beginning of the three (3) month period immediately prior to a Change of
Control, an adverse change in the Eligible Employee's titles or offices or
reporting relationships as in effect at the beginning of the three (3) month
period immediately prior to the effective date of a Change of Control, or any
removal of the Eligible Employee from or any failure to reelect the Eligible
Employee to any of such positions, except in connection with the termination of
the Eligible Employee's service on account of death, disability, retirement, for
Cause, or any voluntary termination of service by the Eligible Employee other
than Constructive Termination;

              (ii) a reduction by the Company in the Eligible Employee's annual
base compensation;

              (iii) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any benefit
plan or arrangement, including incentive plans or plans to receive securities of
the Company, in which the Eligible Employee is participating at the time of a
Change of Control (hereinafter referred to as "Benefit Plans"), or the taking of
any action by the Company which would adversely affect the Eligible Employee's
participation in or reduce the Eligible Employee's benefits under any Benefit
Plan or deprive the Eligible Employee of any fringe benefit enjoyed by the
Eligible Employee at the time of a Change of Control; provided, however, that
the Eligible Employee will not incur a Constructive Termination following a
Change of Control based on this clause (iii) if the Company offers a range of
benefit plans and programs which, taken as a whole, are comparable to the
Benefit Plans;

              (iv) a relocation of the Eligible Employee or the Company's
offices to a location more than twenty five (25) miles from the location at
which the Eligible Employee performed his or her duties prior to a Change of
Control, except for required travel by the Eligible Employee on


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the Company's business to an extent substantially consistent with the Eligible
Employee's business travel obligations at the time of a Change of Control;

              (v) any breach by the Company of any provision of this Plan; or

              (vi) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of this
Plan by any successor or assign of the Company.

       (e)    DISABILITY means the inability of an Eligible Employee, in the
opinion of a qualified physician acceptable to the Company, in the good faith
determination of the Company, to perform the major duties of that Eligible
Employee's position with the Company because of the sickness or injury of the
Eligible Employee.

       (f)    ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE means an employee of the Company who is eligible
to participate in the Plan as specified in Section 2 hereof.

       (g)    INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE means the Eligible
Employee's dismissal or discharge by the Company (or, if applicable, by any
successor entity) for a reason other than "Cause." Termination due to an
Eligible Employee's death or Disability shall not constitute Involuntary
Termination Without Cause.

       (h)    PAY means the Eligible Employee's base pay (exclusive of bonuses,
shift differentials, overtime and other forms of supplemental compensation) at
the rate in effect during the last regularly scheduled payroll period
immediately preceding the Eligible Employee's Termination Date.

       (i)    PLAN means this Gene Logic Inc. Executive Severance Plan.

       (j)    SEVERANCE PERIOD means the number of months of Pay used for
calculating the Eligible Employee's cash severance benefits, as specified in the
Benefit Schedule attached hereto.

       (k)    TERMINATION DATE means the last date on which the Eligible
Employee is in active pay status with the Company. A holiday cannot constitute a
Termination Date unless the Eligible Employee actively provided services for the
Company on such holiday.

SECTION 8. NO IMPLIED EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT.

       The Plan shall not be deemed (i) to give any employee or other person any
right to be retained in the employ of the Company or (ii) to interfere with the
right of the Company to discharge any employee or other person at any time and
for any reason or no reason, with or without notice, which right is hereby
reserved.

SECTION 9. MODIFICATION; WAIVER; ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NON-PUBLICATION.

       (a)    No provisions of the Plan may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Eligible Employee and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. No waiver
by either party hereto at any time of any


                                       8.
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breach by the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of
the Plan to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar
or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior or subsequent
time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied,
with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which
are not expressly set forth in or referred to in the Plan.

       (b)    The parties mutually agree not to disclose publicly the terms of
the Plan except to the extent that disclosure is mandated by applicable law.

SECTION 10. LEGAL CONSTRUCTION.

       This Plan is intended to be governed by and shall be construed in
accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA") and, to the extent not preempted by ERISA, the laws of the State of
Maryland.

SECTION 11. CLAIMS, INQUIRIES AND APPEALS.

       (a)    APPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS AND INQUIRIES. Any application for
benefits, inquiries about the Plan or inquiries about present or future rights
under the Plan must be submitted to the Plan Administrator in writing. The Plan
Administrator is:

                                 GENE LOGIC INC.
                             708 Quince Orchard Road
                          Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878
           Attn: Vice President of Human Resources and Administration

       (b)    DENIAL OF CLAIMS. In the event that any application for benefits
is denied in whole or in part, the Plan Administrator must notify the applicant,
in writing, of the denial of the application, and of the applicant's right to
review the denial. The written notice of denial will be set forth in a manner
designed to be understood by the employee, and will include specific reasons for
the denial, specific references to the Plan provision upon which the denial is
based, a description of any information or material that the Plan Administrator
needs to complete the review and an explanation of the Plan's review procedure.

       This written notice will be given to the employee within 90 days after
the Plan Administrator receives the application, unless special circumstances
require an extension of time, in which case, the Plan Administrator has up to an
additional 90 days for processing the application. If an extension of time for
processing is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the
applicant before the end of the initial 90-day period.

       This notice of extension will describe the special circumstances
necessitating the additional time and the date by which the Plan Administrator
is to render its decision on the application. If written notice of denial of the
application for benefits is not furnished within the specified time, the
application shall be deemed to be denied. The applicant will then be permitted
to appeal the denial in accordance with the Review Procedure described below.

       (c)    REQUEST FOR A REVIEW. Any person (or that person's authorized
representative) for whom an application for benefits is denied (or deemed
denied), in whole or in part, may


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<PAGE>   10

appeal the denial by submitting a request for a review to the Plan Administrator
within 60 days after the application is denied (or deemed denied). The Plan
Administrator will give the applicant (or his or her representative) an
opportunity to review pertinent documents in preparing a request for a review. A
request for a review shall be in writing and shall be addressed to:

                                 GENE LOGIC INC.
                        ATTN: Plan Administrator for the
                            Executive Severance Plan
                             708 Quince Orchard Road
                          Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878

A request for review must set forth all of the grounds on which it is based, all
facts in support of the request and any other matters that the applicant feels
are pertinent. The Plan Administrator may require the applicant to submit
additional facts, documents or other material as it may find necessary or
appropriate in making its review.

       (d)    DECISION ON REVIEW. The Plan Administrator will act on each
request for review within 60 days after receipt of the request, unless special
circumstances require an extension of time (not to exceed an additional 60
days), for processing the request for a review. If an extension for review is
required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant
within the initial 60-day period. The Plan Administrator will give prompt,
written notice of its decision to the applicant. In the event that the Plan
Administrator confirms the denial of the application for benefits in whole or in
part, the notice will outline, in a manner calculated to be understood by the
applicant, the specific Plan provisions upon which the decision is based. If
written notice of the Plan Administrator's decision is not given to the
applicant within the time prescribed in this subsection (d), the application
will be deemed denied on review.

       (e)    RULES AND PROCEDURES. The Plan Administrator will establish rules
and procedures, consistent with the Plan and with ERISA, as necessary and
appropriate in carrying out its responsibilities in reviewing benefit claims.
The Plan Administrator may require an applicant who wishes to submit additional
information in connection with an appeal from the denial (or deemed denial) of
benefits to do so at the applicant's own expense.

       (f)    EXHAUSTION OF REMEDIES. No legal action for benefits under the
Plan may be brought until the claimant (i) has submitted a written application
for benefits in accordance with the procedures described by Section 11(a) above,
(ii) has been notified by the Plan Administrator that the application is denied
(or the application is deemed denied due to the Plan Administrator's failure to
act on it within the established time period), (iii) has filed a written request
for a review of the application in accordance with the appeal procedure
described in Section 11(c) above and (iv) has been notified in writing that the
Plan Administrator has denied the appeal (or the appeal is deemed to be denied
due to the Plan Administrator's failure to take any action on the claim within
the time prescribed by Section 11(d) above).

SECTION 12. BASIS OF PAYMENTS TO AND FROM PLAN.

       All benefits under the Plan shall be paid by the Company. The Plan shall
be unfunded, and benefits hereunder shall be paid only from the general assets
of the Company.


                                      10.
<PAGE>   11

SECTION 13. OTHER PLAN INFORMATION.

       (a)    EMPLOYER AND PLAN IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS. The Employer
Identification Number assigned to Gene Logic Inc. (which is the "Plan Sponsor"
as that term is used in ERISA) by the Internal Revenue Service is 06-1411336.
The Plan Number assigned to the Plan by the Plan Sponsor pursuant to the
instructions of the Internal Revenue Service is 510.

       (b)    ENDING DATE FOR PLAN'S FISCAL YEAR. The date of the end of the
fiscal year for the purpose of maintaining the Plan's records is December 31.

       (c)    AGENT FOR THE SERVICE OF LEGAL PROCESS. The agent for the service
of legal process with respect to the Plan is Vice President of Human Resources
and Administration, Gene Logic Inc., 708 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg,
Maryland 20878. The service of legal process may also be made on the Plan by
serving the Plan Administrator.

       (d)    PLAN SPONSOR AND ADMINISTRATOR. The "Plan Sponsor" and the "Plan
Administrator" of the Plan is Gene Logic Inc., 708 Quince Orchard Road,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878. The Plan Sponsor's and Plan Administrator's
telephone number is (301) 987-1700. The Plan Administrator is the named
fiduciary charged with the responsibility for administering the Plan.

SECTION 14. STATEMENT OF ERISA RIGHTS.

       Participants in this Plan (which is a welfare benefit plan sponsored by
GENE LOGIC INC.) are entitled to certain rights and protections under ERISA. If
you are an Eligible Employee, you are considered a participant in the Plan and,
under ERISA, you are entitled to:

       (a)    Examine, without charge, at the Plan Administrator's office and at
other specified locations, such as work sites, all Plan documents and copies of
all documents filed by the Plan with the U.S. Department of Labor, such as
detailed annual reports;

       (b)    Obtain copies of all Plan documents and Plan information upon
written request to the Plan Administrator. The Administrator may make a
reasonable charge for the copies;

       (c)    Receive a summary of the Plan's annual financial report, in the
case of a plan which is required to file an annual financial report with the
Department of Labor. (Generally, all pension plans and welfare plans with 100 or
more participants must file these annual reports.)

       In addition to creating rights for Plan participants, ERISA imposes
duties upon the people responsible for the operation of the employee benefit
plan. The people who operate the Plan, called "fiduciaries" of the Plan, have a
duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan participants
and beneficiaries.

       No one, including your employer or any other person, may fire you or
otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining a
Plan benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA. If your claim for a Plan
benefit is denied in whole or in part, you must receive a written explanation of
the reason for the denial. You have the right to have the Plan review and
reconsider your claim.


                                      11.
<PAGE>   12

       Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights.
For instance, if you request materials from the Plan and do not receive them
within 30 days, you may file suit in a federal court. In such a case, the court
may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up to
$110 a day until you receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent
because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator. If you have a
claim for benefits that is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file
suit in a state or federal court. If it should happen that the Plan fiduciaries
misuse the Plan's money, or if you are discriminated against for asserting your
rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may
file suit in a federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs
and legal fees. If you are successful, the court may order the person you have
sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay
these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.

       If you have any questions about this statement or about your rights under
ERISA, you should contact the nearest office of the Pension and Welfare Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory, or
the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Pension and Welfare Benefit
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20210.

SECTION 15. EXECUTION.

       To record the adoption of the Plan as set forth herein, effective as of
March 19, 1999, the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors
of Gene Logic Inc., Gene Logic Inc. has caused its duly authorized officer to
execute the same.

                                       GENE LOGIC INC.

                                       By: /S/ MICHAEL J. BRENNAN, M.D., PH.D.
                                           -----------------------------------

                                       Title: Chief Executive Officer
                                              --------------------------------

                                      12.
<PAGE>   13


                                BENEFIT SCHEDULE
                                     FOR THE
                                 GENE LOGIC INC.

                            EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN

                            SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

THE COMPANY SHALL DETERMINE IN ITS SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION IN WHICH
CATEGORY AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE SHALL BE PLACED FOR PURPOSES OF RECEIVING
SEVERANCE BENEFITS UNDER THIS PLAN. THE COMPANY'S DETERMINATION SHALL BE FINAL
AND SHALL BE BINDING AND CONCLUSIVE ON ALL PERSONS. THE COMPANY RETAINS THE
RIGHT TO RECLASSIFY AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE PRIOR TO THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE OF
A CHANGE OF CONTROL, AND THEREAFTER TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE PLAN.

1.     If an Eligible Employee terminates due to an Involuntary Termination
Without Cause or a Constructive Termination, the cash severance benefit payable
under this Plan for Senior Executive Officers shall be a lump sum payment equal
to twelve (12) months of Pay and an amount equal to the annual maximum bonus
award that the Eligible Employee is eligible to receive as of the Termination
Date. If an Eligible Employee's bonus is calculated on a monthly or quarterly
basis, the maximum bonus award for these purposes shall be the amount derived by
annualizing the maximum monthly or quarterly payment. Any bonus payments that
have been made to an Eligible Employee during the calendar year that includes
the Termination Date (excluding payments that were earned in past years) will
reduce the amount of the maximum annual bonus award herein.

2.     If an Eligible Employee terminates due to death or Disability, the cash
severance benefit payable under this Plan for Senior Executive Officers shall be
a lump sum payment equal to six (6) months of Pay and an amount equal to the
annual maximum bonus award that the Eligible Employee is eligible to receive as
of the Termination Date. If an Eligible Employee's bonus is calculated on a
monthly or quarterly basis, the maximum bonus award for these purposes shall be
the amount derived by annualizing the maximum monthly or quarterly payment. Any
bonus payments that have been made to an Eligible Employee during the calendar
year that includes the Termination Date (excluding payments that were earned in
past years) will reduce the amount of the maximum annual bonus award herein.

3.     An Eligible Employee who becomes eligible to receive benefits under this
Plan shall become 100% fully vested in the Eligible Employee's nonvested stock
options, if any, that were previously granted to the Eligible Employee under the
Company's discretionary stock compensation plans, including, without limitation,
the Gene Logic Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan. In addition, the Company's
repurchase option with respect to any unvested option shares that were acquired
on or before the Termination Date will expire in full.

4.     The Company shall pay, on an Eligible Employee's behalf, the cost of
outplacement services, which cost shall not exceed fourteen thousand five
hundred dollars ($14,500).


<PAGE>   14

5.     Payment of the Eligible Employee's COBRA premiums as set forth in Section
3(b) of the Plan.

For purposes of this Benefit Schedule, the following definition shall apply:

SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS shall mean those Eligible Employees who are serving on
the Company's Executive Committee and whose title is Senior Vice President or
above as reflected on the personnel records of the Company as of the earlier of
the Eligible Employee's Termination Date or effective date of a Change of
Control.


<PAGE>   15


                                BENEFIT SCHEDULE
                                     FOR THE
                                 GENE LOGIC INC.

                            EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN

                     SELECTED VICE PRESIDENTS AND DIRECTORS

THE COMPANY SHALL DETERMINE IN ITS SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION IN WHICH
CATEGORY AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE SHALL BE PLACED FOR PURPOSES OF RECEIVING
SEVERANCE BENEFITS UNDER THIS PLAN. THE COMPANY'S DETERMINATION SHALL BE FINAL
AND SHALL BE BINDING AND CONCLUSIVE ON ALL PERSONS. THE COMPANY RETAINS THE
RIGHT TO RECLASSIFY AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE PRIOR TO THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE OF
A CHANGE OF CONTROL, AND THEREAFTER TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE PLAN.

1.     If an Eligible Employee terminates due to an Involuntary Termination
Without Cause or a Constructive Termination, the cash severance benefit payable
under this Plan for Selected Vice Presidents And Directors shall be a lump sum
payment equal to nine (9) months of Pay and an amount equal to three quarters
(3/4) of the annual maximum bonus award that the Eligible Employee is eligible
to receive as of the Termination Date. If an Eligible Employee's bonus is
calculated on a monthly or quarterly basis, the maximum bonus award for these
purposes shall be the amount derived by annualizing the maximum monthly or
quarterly payment. Any bonus payments that have been made to an Eligible
Employee during the calendar year that includes the Termination Date (excluding
payments that were earned in past years) will reduce the amount of the maximum
annual bonus award herein.

2.     If an Eligible Employee terminates due to death or Disability, the cash
severance benefit payable under this Plan for Selected Vice Presidents And
Directors shall be a lump sum payment equal to six (6) months of Pay and an
amount equal to three quarters (3/4) of the annual maximum bonus award that the
Eligible Employee is eligible to receive as of the Termination Date. If an
Eligible Employee's bonus is calculated on a monthly or quarterly basis, the
maximum bonus award for these purposes shall be the amount derived by
annualizing the maximum monthly or quarterly payment. Any bonus payments that
have been made to an Eligible Employee during the calendar year that includes
the Termination Date (excluding payments that were earned in past years) will
reduce the amount of the maximum annual bonus award herein.

3.     An Eligible Employee who becomes eligible to receive benefits under this
Plan shall become 100% fully vested in the Eligible Employee's nonvested stock
options, if any, that were previously granted to the Eligible Employee under the
Company's discretionary stock compensation plans, including, without limitation,
the Gene Logic Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan. In addition, the Company's
repurchase option with respect to any unvested option shares that were acquired
on or before the Termination Date will expire in full.

4.     The Company shall pay the cost of outplacement services on an Eligible
Employee's behalf, which cost shall not exceed eleven thousand five hundred
dollars ($11,500).


<PAGE>   16

5.     Payment of the Eligible Employee's COBRA premiums as set forth in Section
3(b) of the Plan.

For purposes of this Benefit Schedule, the following definition shall apply:

SELECTED VICE PRESIDENTS AND DIRECTORS shall mean those Eligible Employees whose
title is Vice President (other than Eligible Employees who are members of the
Company's Executive Committee) or Senior Director or Director as reflected on
the personnel records of the Company and who are designated by the Company, in
the Company's sole and absolute discretion, to be Selected Vice Presidents and
Directors as of the earlier of the Eligible Employee's Termination Date or the
effective date of a Change of Control.

"Senior Director" or "Director" as used herein shall not refer to or include the
members of the Board of Directors of the Company.


<PAGE>   17


                                    EXHIBIT A

                 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF PLAN BENEFITS

       The undersigned has been identified by the Company as an "Eligible
Employee" under the Company's Executive Severance Plan (the "Plan"), which
provides for the payment of certain severance benefits for such Eligible
Employee in the event of a specified termination of employment of such Eligible
Employee within a specified period preceding or following a Change of Control of
the Company, as defined in the Plan ("Change of Control").

       The undersigned acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to,
the terms of the Plan.

       The undersigned further acknowledges that as of the date hereof, the Plan
sets forth the entire understanding between the undersigned and the Company
regarding the payment of severance benefits in the event the undersigned's
employment with the Company or its successor terminates (i) on or within
thirteen (13) months following the effective date of a Change of Control for any
reason or (ii) on or within three (3) months prior to, upon the occurrence of,
or on the effective date of a Change of Control for any reason other than death
or Disability, as defined in the Plan. Accordingly, the Plan supersedes all
prior oral and written agreements related to severance benefits, including, but
not limited to, any plan, policy, practice or employment agreement.

       The undersigned further acknowledges that, as a condition of receiving
benefits under the Plan, he or she shall have no right or claim for benefits
against the Company for severance benefits originating under any such other
plan, policy, practice or employment agreement under the circumstances described
above.

       The undersigned hereby authorizes the Company to offset any severance
payment to which he or she is entitled under the Company's Executive Severance
Plan by the amount of my indebtedness to the Company at the time the severance
payment is made, which amount shall be [_____________.]


GENE LOGIC INC.                        ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE:


By:
   -----------------------------       ------------------------------
                                       Signature


Title:                                 Name:
      --------------------------            -------------------------

Date:                                  Date:
     ---------------------------            -------------------------


<PAGE>   18

                                    EXHIBIT B

                                     RELEASE
                            (INDIVIDUAL TERMINATION)

       Certain capitalized terms used in this Release ("Release") are defined in
the Gene Logic Inc. Executive Severance Plan (the "Plan") which I have reviewed.

       I hereby confirm my obligations under the Company's proprietary
information and inventions agreement.

       In exchange for the benefits I will receive under the Plan, I hereby
release, acquit and forever discharge the Company, its parents and subsidiaries,
its Benefit Plans (except as specifically provided in the Plan), and their
officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, shareholders, successors,
assigns and affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands,
causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnities and
obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and
unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or
in any way related to claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of
my employment with the Company or the termination of that employment, including
but not limited to, claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional
distress, any and all tort claims for personal injury, claims or demands related
to salary, bonuses, commissions, or any other ownership interests in the
Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay,
or any other form of disputed compensation; claims pursuant to any federal,
state or local law or cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967, as amended ("ADEA"); the federal Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, as amended; Article
49(B) of the Maryland Code (Human Relations Commission Discrimination in
Employment); tort law; contract law; statutory law; common law; wrongful
discharge; discrimination; fraud; defamation; and breach of the implied covenant
of good faith and fair dealing; provided, however, that nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed in any way to release the Company from its
obligation to indemnify me from any third party action brought against me based
on my employment with the Company, pursuant to any applicable agreement or
applicable law or to reduce or eliminate any coverage I may have under the
Company's director and officer liability policy, if any.

       I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing
any rights I may have under ADEA. I also acknowledge that the consideration
given under the Plan for the waiver and release in the preceding paragraph
hereof is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I
further acknowledge that I have been advised by this writing, as required by the
ADEA, that: (A) my waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that
may arise on or after the date I execute this Release; (B) I should consult with
an attorney prior to executing this Release; (C) I have twenty-one (21) days to
consider this Release (although I may choose to voluntarily execute this Release
earlier); (D) I have seven (7) days following the execution of this Release by
the parties to revoke the Release; and (E) this Release shall not be


<PAGE>   19

effective until the date upon which the revocation period has expired, which
shall be the eighth day after this Release is executed by me.

       I acknowledge that this Release is a general release of claims. I
acknowledge that as such, this Release extends to claims which I may not know or
suspect to exist in my favor at the time of executing this Release, even if my
knowledge of such claims would have materially affected my settlement with the
Company. I acknowledge that I have read and understand Section 1542 of the
California Civil Code which reads as follows: "A general release does not extend
to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at
the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially
affected his settlement with the debtor." I hereby expressly waive and
relinquish all rights and benefits under California Civil Code Section 1542 and
any law of any jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to my release of any
claims I may have against the Company.



                                             [NAME OF EMPLOYEE]


Date:
     ----------------------------            -----------------------------------


<PAGE>   20


                                    EXHIBIT C

                                    RELEASE
                              (GROUP TERMINATION)

       Certain capitalized terms used in this Release ("Release") are defined in
the Gene Logic Inc. Executive Severance Plan (the "Plan") which I have reviewed.

            I hereby confirm my obligations under the Company's proprietary
information and inventions agreement.

       In exchange for the benefits I will receive under the Plan, I hereby
release, acquit and forever discharge the Company, its parents and subsidiaries,
its Benefit Plans (except as specifically provided in the Plan) and their
officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, shareholders, successors,
assigns and affiliates, of and from any and all claims, liabilities, demands,
causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys fees, damages, indemnities and
obligations of every kind and nature, in law, equity, or otherwise, known and
unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or
in any way related to claims and demands directly or indirectly arising out of
my employment with the Company or the termination of that employment, including
but not limited to, claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional
distress, any and all tort claims for personal injury, claims or demands related
to salary, bonuses, commissions, or any other ownership interests in the
Company, vacation pay, fringe benefits, expense reimbursements, severance pay,
or any other form of disputed compensation; claims pursuant to any federal,
state or local law or cause of action including, but not limited to, the federal
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the federal Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967, as amended ("ADEA"); the federal Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the federal Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990; the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, as amended; Article
49(B) of the Maryland Code (Human Relations Commission Discrimination in
Employment; tort law; contract law; statutory law; common law; wrongful
discharge; discrimination; fraud; defamation; and breach of the implied covenant
of good faith and fair dealing; provided, however, that nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed in any way to release the Company from its
obligation to indemnify me from any third party action brought against me based
on my employment with the Company, pursuant to any applicable agreement or
applicable law or to reduce or eliminate any coverage I may have under the
Company's director and officer liability policy, if any.

       I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving and releasing
any rights I may have under ADEA. I also acknowledge that the consideration
given under the Plan for the waiver and release in the preceding paragraph
hereof is in addition to anything of value to which I was already entitled. I
further acknowledge that I have been advised by this writing, as required by the
ADEA, that: (A) my waiver and release do not apply to any rights or claims that
may arise on or after the date I execute this Release; (B) I should consult with
an attorney prior to executing this Release; (C) I have forty-five (45) days to
consider this Release (although I may choose to voluntarily execute this Release
earlier); (D) I have seven (7) days following the


<PAGE>   21

execution of this Release by the parties to revoke the Release; (E) this Release
shall not be effective until the date upon which the revocation period has
expired, which shall be the eighth day after this Release is executed by me; and
(F) I have received with this Release a detailed list of the job titles and ages
of all employees who were terminated in this group termination and the ages of
all employees of all employees in the same job classification or organizational
unit who were not terminated.

       I acknowledge that this Release is a general release of claims. I
acknowledge that as such, this Release extends to claims which I may not know or
suspect to exist in my favor at the time of executing this Release, even if my
knowledge of such claims would have materially affected my settlement with the
Company. I acknowledge that I have read and understand Section 1542 of the
California Civil Code which reads as follows: "A general release does not extend
to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at
the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially
affected his settlement with the debtor." I hereby expressly waive and
relinquish all rights and benefits under California Civil Code Section 1542 and
any law of any jurisdiction of similar effect with respect to my release of any
claims I may have against the Company.

                                           [NAME OF EMPLOYEE]


Date:
     ------------------------------        -------------------------------------