EX-10.1





 Exhibit 10.1 

December 17, 2019 
 Jonathan G. Drachman, M.D. 

Chief Executive Officer 
 Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc. 

401 Terry Avenue N. 
 Seattle, WA 98109 

Re: 3(a)(9) Exchange Agreement 
 Dear Dr. Drachman: 

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) confirms the agreement of Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and the holders of the Common Stock listed on Schedule I attached hereto (each a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders” and together, the Company and the
Holders shall be referred to as the “Parties”), pursuant to which the Holders have agreed to exchange an aggregate of 7,907,939 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.000001 per share (the “Common
Stock”) of the Company beneficially owned by the Holders plus any shares purchased by the Holders in the registered offering currently contemplated by the Company (the “Shares”) for one or more pre-funded warrants in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each a “Pre-funded Warrant”) to purchase an aggregate number shares of Common Stock
equal to the number of Shares (the “Warrant Shares”) of the Company so exchanged, pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on terms specified
below. 
  

	 	1)	 Immediately after the closing of the registered offering currently contemplated by the Company, or, if the
closing does not occur, on such date as may be requested in writing by the Holders upon at least 24-hours’ notice (the “Closing Date”), the Holders shall exchange the Shares for
the Pre-funded Warrants representing the Warrant Shares (the “Exchange”) in the respective amounts listed on Schedule I. On the Closing Date: (a) the Holders shall cause the
applicable Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) participant (each a “DTC Participant” ) to (A) transfer via the DTC’s “deposit/withdrawal at custodian” system
(“DWAC”) the Shares to the Company’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC (including any successor, the “Transfer Agent”) and (B) take such further action as may be
necessary or appropriate to notify the Transfer Agent that the Shares have been surrendered to the Transfer Agent by the applicable DTC Participant via DWAC; (b) upon confirmation that the Shares have been surrendered to the Transfer Agent, the
Company shall instruct the Transfer Agent to cancel the Shares; and (c) ) the Company shall issue and deliver to the Holders the Pre-funded Warrants representing the Warrant Shares, in the amounts and
registered in the names set forth on Schedule I. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in lieu of clause (a) above, each Holder may satisfy its obligation to surrender the Shares by causing the Shares to be transferred via DTC to an account
specified in writing by the Company or may surrender by any other method mutually agreed to by the Parties. 


  

	 	2)	 The Company represents and warrants to each Holder as follows: 



 

	 	a.	 Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of or for the benefit of any of
the forgoing, has paid or given, or agreed to pay or give, directly or indirectly, any commission or other remuneration (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder) for soliciting the Exchange. Assuming the representations and warranties of the Holders contained herein are true and complete, the Exchange will qualify for the registration exemption contained in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities
Act. 


  

	 	b.	 It has the requisite corporate power and authority and power to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
Exchange and such transactions shall not contravene any contractual, regulatory, statutory or other obligation or restriction applicable to the Company. 















	 	c.	 It has reserved a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock as may be necessary to fully permit the exercise
of the Pre-funded Warrants and the issuance of the Warrant Shares, without regard to any beneficial ownership limits set forth in the Pre-funded Warrant.



  

	 	3)	 Each Holder, as to itself only, represents and warrants to the Company as follows: 



 

	 	a.	 It has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and consummate the Exchange.



  

	 	b.	 It is the record and beneficial owner of, and has valid and marketable title to, the Shares being exchanged by
it pursuant to this Agreement, free and clear of any lien, pledge, restriction or other encumbrance (other than restrictions arising pursuant to applicable securities laws), and has the absolute and unrestricted right, power and capacity to
surrender and exchange the Shares being exchanged by it pursuant to this Agreement, free and clear of any lien, pledge, restriction or other encumbrance. It is not a party to or bound by, and the Shares being exchanged by it pursuant to this
Agreement are not subject to, any agreement, understanding or other arrangement (i) granting any option, warrant or right of first refusal with respect to such Shares to any person, (ii) restricting its right to surrender and exchange such
Shares as contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) restricting any other of its rights with respect to such Shares. 


  

	 	c.	 Neither it nor any of its affiliates nor any person acting on behalf of or for the benefit of any of the
forgoing, has paid or given, or agreed to pay or give, directly or indirectly, any commission or other remuneration (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder) for soliciting
the Exchange. 


  

	 	4)	 This agreement, and any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this agreement, shall be exclusively
governed by the laws of the State of New York. 


  

	 	5)	 In the event that any part of this agreement is declared by any court or other judicial or administrative body
to be null, void or unenforceable, said provision shall survive to the extent it is not so declared, and all of the other provisions of this agreement shall remain in full force and effect. In such an event, the Holders and the Company shall
endeavor in good faith negotiations to modify this agreement so as to affect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible. 


  

	 	6)	 This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all
of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties. 



[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS] 

  
 2 













 Please sign to acknowledge agreement with the above terms and return to the undersigned. 

 

			
	Holders:
	
	667, L.P.
		
	By:	 	 BAKER BROS. ADVISORS LP,
 management
company and investment adviser
 to 667, L.P., pursuant to authority granted to it

by Baker Biotech Capital, L.P., general
 partner to 667, L.P.. and
not as the general
 partner



  

			
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Scott Lessing



 

			
	Name:	 	Scott Lessing
	Title:	 	President


  

			
	 BAKER BROTHERS LIFE SCIENCES,

L.P.

		
	By:	 	 BAKER BROS. ADVISORS LP,
 management
company and investment adviser
 to Baker Brothers Life Sciences, L.P.,

pursuant to authority granted to it by Baker
 Brothers Life
Sciences Capital, L.P., general
 partner to Baker Brothers Life Sciences, L.P..

and not as the general partner



  

			
		
	By:	 	/s/ Scott Lessing


 
			
	Name:	 	Scott Lessing
	Title:	 	President


 [Signature Page to Exchange Agreement] 












 Acknowledged and agreed to: 
  

			
	Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc.
		
	By:	 	/s/ Jonathan G. Drachman


			
	Name:	 	Jonathan G. Drachman
	Title:	 	President and Chief Executive Officer













 Exhibit A 

Form of Pre-Funded Warrant to Purchase Common Stock