VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc Stock Option Agreement



 EXHIBIT 10.9 
 VIA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 
 2004 STOCK PLAN 
 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT 
 Unless
otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the 2004 Stock Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Stock Option Agreement. 
  

	I.	NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT 

 Name:

 Address: 
 The
undersigned Optionee has been granted an Option to purchase Common Stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as follows: 
  

					
	Date of Grant	  	  
	  	
			
	Vesting Commencement Date	  	  
	  	
			
	Exercise Price per Share	  	 $
	  	
			
	Total Number of Shares Granted	  	  
	  	
			
	Total Exercise Price	  	 $
	  	
			
	Type of Option:	  	             Incentive Stock Option	  	
		  	             Nonstatutory Stock Option	  	
			
	Term/Expiration Date:	  	  
	  	

 Vesting Schedule: 
 This Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, according to the following vesting schedule: 







 Termination Period: 
 This Option shall be exercisable for [three (3) months] after Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider. Upon Optionee’s death or Disability, this Option may be exercised for [one (1) year]
after Optionee ceases to be a Service Provider. In no event may Optionee exercise this Option after the Term/Expiration Date as provided above. 
  

	II.	AGREEMENT 

 1. Grant of Option. The
Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants to the Optionee named in the Notice of Grant (the “Optionee”), an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per
Share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Exercise Price”), and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to Section 15(c) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between
the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail. 
 If designated in the
Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Nevertheless, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code
Section 422(d), this Option shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”). 
 2. Exercise of Option.

 (a) Right to Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the
Notice of Grant and with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. 
 (b) Method of Exercise. This Option shall
be exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”) which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being
exercised, and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised
upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate Exercise Price. 
 No Shares shall be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless such issuance and such exercise complies with Applicable Laws. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date on which the Option
is exercised with respect to such Shares. 
 3. Optionee’s Representations. In the event the Shares have not been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, at the time this Option is exercised, the Optionee shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with the exercise of all or any portion of this Option, deliver to the Company his or her Investment
Representation Statement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. 
  

 -2- 








 4. Lock-Up Period. Optionee hereby agrees that Optionee shall not offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the
Company or enter into any swap, hedging or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by Optionee (other than those
included in the registration) for a period specified by the representative of the underwriters of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of any registration
statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act. 
 Optionee agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably
requested by the Company or the underwriter which are consistent with the foregoing or which are necessary to give further effect thereto. In addition, if requested by the Company or the representative of the underwriters of Common Stock (or other
securities) of the Company, Optionee shall provide, within ten (10) days of such request, such information as may be required by the Company or such representative in connection with the completion of any public offering of the Company’s
securities pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act. The obligations described in this Section shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may
be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a Commission Rule 145 transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of
Common Stock (or other securities) subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of said one hundred eighty (180) day period. Optionee agrees that any transferee of the Option or shares acquired pursuant to the Option shall be bound by
this Section. 
 5. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination
thereof, at the election of the Optionee: 
 (a) cash or check; 
 (b) consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Plan; or 
 (c) surrender of other Shares which, (i) in the case of Shares acquired from the Company, either directly or indirectly, have been owned by the Optionee, and not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, for
more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares. 
 6. Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised until such time as the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, or
if the issuance of such Shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such shares would constitute a violation of any Applicable Law. 
  

 -3- 








 7. Restrictions on Shares . Optionee hereby agrees that Shares purchased upon the exercise of the
Option shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, restrictions on the transferability of Shares, the right of the Company to repurchase Shares, and a right of
first refusal in favor of the Company with respect to permitted transfers of Shares. Such terms and conditions may, in the Committee’s sole discretion, be contained in the Exercise Notice with respect to the Option or in such other agreement as
the Committee shall determine and which the Optionee hereby agrees to enter into at the request of the Company 
 8. Non-Transferability
of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by Optionee. The terms of the Plan and this Option Agreement
shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee. 
 9. Term of Option. This Option
may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option. 
 10. Tax Obligations. 
 (a) Withholding Taxes. Optionee agrees to make appropriate arrangements
with the Company (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the satisfaction of all Federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding requirements applicable to the Option exercise. Optionee acknowledges
and agrees that the Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise. 
 (b) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the Option granted to Optionee herein is an ISO, and if Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the ISO on or
before the later of (1) the date two years after the Date of Grant, or (2) the date one year after the date of exercise, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition. Optionee agrees that Optionee may be
subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized by the Optionee. 
 11. Entire Agreement; Governing
Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements
of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. This agreement is governed by the internal
substantive laws but not the choice of law rules of California. 
 12. No Guarantee of Continued Service. OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND
AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER).
OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, 

  

 -4- 








 
THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS
A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH OPTIONEE’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR
WITHOUT CAUSE. 
 Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions
thereof, and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Option in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option and
fully understands all provisions of the Option. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Option. Optionee further agrees
to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below. 
  

					
	OPTIONEE	 		  	VIA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
			
	  
	 		  	  

	Signature	 		  	By
	  
	 		  	  

	Print Name	 		  	Title
	  
	 		  	
	  
	 		  	
	Residence Address	 		  	

  

 -5- 








 EXHIBIT A 
 2004 STOCK PLAN 
 EXERCISE NOTICE 
 VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 
 Address:
                         
 Attention:                          
 1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today,
                    ,             , the undersigned (“Optionee”)
hereby elects to exercise Optionee’s option to purchase                      shares of the Common Stock (the “Shares”) of VIA
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the 2004 Stock Plan (the “Plan”) and the Stock Option Agreement dated
                    ,              (the “Option Agreement”).

 2. Delivery of Payment. Optionee herewith delivers to the Company the full purchase price of the Shares, as set forth in the Option
Agreement, and any and all withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Option. 
 3. Representations of Optionee.
Optionee, without further action on his or her part, by purchase of the Shares agrees to be deemed a party to, a signatory of and bound by the First Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement dated March 31, 2006 as may be amended or
restated from time to time and any successor agreement thereto ,(the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), and the Shares shall be subject to such rights and restrictions as contained therein. Participant acknowledges that he or she has
received, read and understood the Plan, the Option Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement, and this Exercise Notice and is familiar with their terms and provisions and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions. 

4. Rights as Shareholder. Until the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly
authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares shall be issued to the
Optionee as soon as practicable after the Option is exercised in accordance with the Option Agreement. No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance except as provided in
Section 13 of the Plan. 
 5. Company’s Right of First Refusal. Before any Shares held by Optionee or any transferee (either
being sometimes referred to herein as the “Holder”) may be sold or otherwise transferred (including transfer by gift or operation of law), the Company or its assignee(s) shall have a right of first refusal to purchase the Shares on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Section (the “Right of First Refusal”). 







 (a) Notice of Proposed Transfer. The Holder of the Shares shall deliver to the Company a written
notice (the “Notice”) stating: (i) the Holder’s bona fide intention to sell or otherwise transfer such Shares; (ii) the name of each proposed purchaser or other transferee (“Proposed Transferee”); (iii) the
number of Shares to be transferred to each Proposed Transferee; and (iv) the bona fide cash price or other consideration for which the Holder proposes to transfer the Shares (the “Offered Price”), and the Holder shall offer the Shares
at the Offered Price to the Company or its assignee(s). 
 (b) Exercise of Right of First Refusal. At any time within thirty (30)
days after receipt of the Notice, the Company and/or its assignee(s) may, by giving written notice to the Holder, elect to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Shares proposed to be transferred to any one or more of the Proposed Transferees,
at the purchase price determined in accordance with subsection (c) below. 
 (c) Purchase Price. The purchase price
(“Purchase Price”) for the Shares purchased by the Company or its assignee(s) under this Section shall be the Offered Price. If the Offered Price includes consideration other than cash, the cash equivalent value of the non-cash
consideration shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith. 
 (d) Payment. Payment of the Purchase
Price shall be made, at the option of the Company or its assignee(s), in cash (by check), by cancellation of all or a portion of any outstanding indebtedness of the Holder to the Company (or, in the case of repurchase by an assignee, to the
assignee), or by any combination thereof within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Notice or in the manner and at the times set forth in the Notice. 
 (e) Holder’s Right to Transfer. If all of the Shares proposed in the Notice to be transferred to a given Proposed Transferee are not purchased by the Company and/or its assignee(s) as provided in this
Section, then the Holder may sell or otherwise transfer such Shares to that Proposed Transferee at the Offered Price or at a higher price, provided that such sale or other transfer is consummated within 120 days after the date of the Notice, that
any such sale or other transfer is effected in accordance with any applicable securities laws and that the Proposed Transferee agrees in writing that the provisions of this Section shall continue to apply to the Shares in the hands of such Proposed
Transferee. If the Shares described in the Notice are not transferred to the Proposed Transferee within such period, a new Notice shall be given to the Company, and the Company and/or its assignees shall again be offered the Right of First Refusal
before any Shares held by the Holder may be sold or otherwise transferred. 
 (f) Exception for Certain Family Transfers. Anything to
the contrary contained in this Section notwithstanding, the transfer of any or all of the Shares during the Optionee’s lifetime or on the Optionee’s death by will or intestacy to the Optionee’s immediate family or a trust for the
benefit of the Optionee’s immediate family shall be exempt from the provisions of this Section. “Immediate Family” as used herein shall mean spouse, lineal descendant or antecedent, father, mother, brother or sister. In such case, the
transferee or other recipient shall receive and hold the Shares so transferred subject to the provisions of this Section, and there shall be no further transfer of such Shares except in accordance with the terms of this Section. 
  

 -2- 








 (g) Termination of Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal shall terminate as to any
Shares upon the earlier of (i) the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public, or (ii) a Change in Control in which the successor corporation has equity securities that are publicly traded. 
 6. Tax Consultation. Optionee understands that Optionee may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Optionee’s purchase or disposition
of the Shares. Optionee represents that Optionee has consulted with any tax consultants Optionee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Optionee is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

 7. Restrictive Legends and Stop-Transfer Orders. 
 (a) Legends. Optionee understands and agrees that the Company shall cause the legends set forth below or legends substantially equivalent thereto, to be placed upon any certificate(s) evidencing ownership of
the Shares together with any other legends that may be required by the Company or by state or federal securities laws: 
 THE SECURITIES
REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL
SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES, SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION IS IN COMPLIANCE THEREWITH. 
 THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL HELD BY THE ISSUER OR ITS ASSIGNEE(S) AS SET FORTH IN THE EXERCISE NOTICE BETWEEN THE ISSUER AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SHARES,
A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE ISSUER. SUCH TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS AND RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL ARE BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES. 
 THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 180 DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE UNDERWRITTEN PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES
AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF BY THE HOLDER WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COMPANY OR THE MANAGING UNDERWRITER. 
 (b)
Stop-Transfer Notices. Optionee agrees that, in order to ensure compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Company may issue appropriate “stop transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and that, if the
Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records. 
  

 -3- 








 (c) Refusal to Transfer. The Company shall not be required (i) to transfer on its books any
Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Notice or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to
whom such Shares shall have been so transferred. 
 8. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this
Exercise Notice to single or multiple assignees, and this Exercise Notice shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Notice shall be binding upon
Optionee and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns. 
 9. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the
interpretation of this Exercise Notice shall be submitted by Optionee or by the Company forthwith to the Administrator which shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting. The resolution of such a dispute by the Administrator shall be final
and binding on all parties. 
 10. Governing Law; Severability. This Exercise Notice is governed by the internal substantive laws but
not the choice of law rules, of California. In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Exercise Notice will continue in full force and effect.

 11. Entire Agreement. The Plan and Option Agreement are incorporated herein by reference. This Exercise Notice, the Plan, the
Option Agreement and the Investment Representation Statement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee
with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. 
  

					
	Submitted by:	  		  	Accepted by:
			
	OPTIONEE	  		  	VIA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
	  
	  		  	  

	Signature	  		  	By
	  
	  		  	  

	Print Name	  		  	Title
			
	Address:	  		  	Address:
	  
	  		  	  

	  
	  		  	  

			
	  
	  		  	  

		  		  	Date Received

  

 -4- 








 EXHIBIT B 
 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION STATEMENT 
  

			
	OPTIONEE:	  	
		
	COMPANY:	  	VIA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
		
	SECURITY:	  	COMMON STOCK
		
	AMOUNT:	  	
		
	DATE:	  	

 In connection with the purchase of the above-listed Securities, the undersigned Optionee
represents to the Company the following: 
 (a) Optionee is aware of the Company’s business affairs and financial condition and has
acquired sufficient information about the Company to reach an informed and knowledgeable decision to acquire the Securities. Optionee is acquiring these Securities for investment for Optionee’s own account only and not with a view to, or for
resale in connection with, any “distribution” thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). 
 (b) Optionee acknowledges and understands that the Securities constitute “restricted securities” under the Securities Act and have not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon a specific
exemption therefrom, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of Optionee’s investment intent as expressed herein. In this connection, Optionee understands that, in the view of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the statutory basis for such exemption may be unavailable if Optionee’s representation was predicated solely upon a present intention to hold these Securities for the minimum capital gains period specified under tax statutes, for a
deferred sale, for or until an increase or decrease in the market price of the Securities, or for a period of one year or any other fixed period in the future. Optionee further understands that the Securities must be held indefinitely unless they
are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. Optionee further acknowledges and understands that the Company is under no obligation to register the Securities. Optionee understands that the
certificate evidencing the Securities will be imprinted with any legend required under applicable state securities laws. 
 (c) Optionee is
familiar with the provisions of Rule 701 and Rule 144, each promulgated under the Securities Act, which, in substance, permit limited public resale of “restricted securities” acquired, directly or indirectly from the issuer
thereof, in a non-public offering subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Rule 701 provides that if the issuer qualifies under Rule 701 at the time of the grant of the Option to the Optionee, the exercise will be exempt from
registration under the Securities Act. In the event the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, ninety (90) days 








 
thereafter (or such longer period as any market stand-off agreement may require) the Securities exempt under Rule 701 may be resold, subject to the
satisfaction of certain of the conditions specified by Rule 144, including: (1) the resale being made through a broker in an unsolicited “broker’s transaction” or in transactions directly with a market maker (as said
term is defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934); and, in the case of an affiliate, (2) the availability of certain public information about the Company, (3) the amount of Securities being sold during any three month period not
exceeding the limitations specified in 
 Rule 144(e), and (4) the timely filing of a Form 144, if applicable. 
 In the event that the Company does not qualify under Rule 701 at the time of grant of the Option, then the Securities may be resold in certain
limited circumstances subject to the provisions of Rule 144, which requires the resale to occur not less than one year after the later of the date the Securities were sold by the Company or the date the Securities were sold by an affiliate
of the Company, within the meaning of Rule 144; and, in the case of acquisition of the Securities by an affiliate, or by a non-affiliate who subsequently holds the Securities less than two years, the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
sections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the paragraph immediately above. 
 (d) Optionee further understands that in the event all
of the applicable requirements of Rule 701 or 144 are not satisfied, registration under the Securities Act, compliance with Regulation A, or some other registration exemption will be required; and that, notwithstanding the fact that
Rules 144 and 701 are not exclusive, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has expressed its opinion that persons proposing to sell private placement securities other than in a registered offering and otherwise than pursuant to
Rules 144 or 701 will have a substantial burden of proof in establishing that an exemption from registration is available for such offers or sales, and that such persons and their respective brokers who participate in such transactions do so at
their own risk. Optionee understands that no assurances can be given that any such other registration exemption will be available in such event. 
  

	
	Signature of Optionee:
	
	  

	
	Date:                         ,           
 


  

 -2-