##### 



EXHIBIT 10.44 [QUESTCOR LETTERHEAD] February 9, 2005 VIA HAND DELIVERY
Barbara J. McKee
3260 Whipple Road
Union City, CA 94587 Re: Offer of Employment Dear Ms. McKee: Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the Company) is pleased to offer you the position of Director of
Finance on the terms described below. This offer is contingent on negotiations with Macias & Ryan
resulting in nullification of any buy-out fee associated with your employment. Should you accept
our offer of employment, your start date will be on or before March 1, 2005. In the interim, you will report to Albert Hanson, Acting Chief Executive Officer. Your office will
be located at our facility in Union City, California. Of course, the Company may change your
reporting responsibilities, position, duties, and work location from time to time, as it deems
necessary. Your base compensation will be $150,000 per annum ($6,250.00 semi-monthly) less all amounts the
Company is required to hold under applicable laws. You will be a participant in the 2005 Employee
Incentive Program, which has yet to be submitted to the Compensation Committee for approval. Your
incentive bonus will be based on the attainment of specific milestones during the calendar year.
The milestones will be communicated to you in writing by Mr. Hanson following the start of your
employment and will be updated annually as part of the performance review process. You will be eligible to participate in the Companys various benefit plans including medical,
dental and vision insurance, as well as life, accidental death and disability insurance. You will
receive 16 days of paid vacation per calendar year, in addition to 12 paid regular holidays and two
paid floating holidays. You will also be eligible to participate in the Companys 401(k) Plan,
Section 529 College Savings Program and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The eligibility requirements
for these plans are explained in the Companys Employee Handbook, and in the case of the Companys
401(k) Plan, in the 401(k) Plans summary plan description. A copy of the Employee Handbook and
the 401(k) Plans summary plan description will be provided to you. Please read them




---



##### 



carefully. Of course, to the extent the provisions of the various plans are inconsistent with
the provisions of the Employee Handbook or summary plan description, the plan provisions will
control. As you no doubt appreciate, as a Company employee, you will be expected to abide by Company rules
and regulations, acknowledge in writing that you have read the Companys Employee Handbook, sign
and comply with a Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement which prohibits unauthorized use
or disclosure of Company proprietary information and sign the Policy Against Insider Trading. The Companys management has in effect an employee stock option plan to recognize the talent and
skills our employees bring to the Company. Management will recommend to the Board of Directors
that, at the time you join the Company, the Company grant to you an option under the stock option
plan to purchase 60,000 shares of the Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to
100% of the closing price of the Companys Common Stock on the date prior to the commencement of
your employment, pending approval by the Board of Directors. One-eighth (1/8th) of these
options will vest after six (6) months of employment and thereafter the remaining shares will vest
at the rate of 1/48th of the total grant on each monthly anniversary of your continued
employment with the Company. The option will be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Companys stock option plan and your stock option agreement. The Company will review your performance in accordance with the Employee Handbook, to assess your
accomplishment of milestones and goals, which the Company reasonably sets for you. The Company will
consider whether and when you should receive increases in your compensation and benefits as
described therein based on such accomplishments. You may terminate your employment with the Company at any time and for any reason whatsoever simply
by notifying the Company. Likewise, the Company may terminate your employment at any time and for
any reason whatsoever, with or without cause or advance notice. This at-will employment
relationship cannot be changed except in writing signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief
Financial Officer. Any and all disputes connected with, relating to or arising from your employment with the Company
will be settled by final and binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association as presently in force. The only claims not covered by this Agreement are
claims for benefits under the unemployment insurance or workers compensation laws. Any such
arbitration will take place in Alameda County, California. The parties hereby incorporate into
this agreement all of the arbitration provisions of Section 1283.05 of the California Code of Civil
Procedure. The Company understands and agrees that it will bear the costs of the arbitration
filing and hearing fees and the cost of the arbitrator. Each side will bear its own attorneys
fees, and the arbitrator will not have authority to award attorneys fees unless a statutory
section at issue in the dispute authorizes the award of attorneys fees to the prevailing party, in
which case the arbitrator has authority to make such award as permitted by the statute in question.
The arbitration shall be instead of any civil litigation; this means that you are waiving any
right to a jury trial, and that the arbitrators 2.




---



##### 



decision shall be final and binding to the fullest extent permitted by law and enforceable by
any court having jurisdiction thereof. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrators may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction. The employment terms in this letter supersede any other agreements or promises made to you by
anyone, whether oral or written, express or implied. In the event you accept this employment
offer, the terms set forth in this letter will comprise our final, complete and exclusive agreement
with respect to the subject matter of this letter. Thus, by accepting this employment offer and
signing this offer letter, you agree to be bound by its terms and conditions. As required by law,
the Companys offer is subject to satisfactory proof of your right to work in the United States no
later than three days after your employment begins. Please sign and date this letter, and return it to me as soon as possible. This offer terminates if
it is not signed and delivered to me by the close of business on February 11, 2005. A facsimile
copy will suffice for this purpose, so long as an original signature is delivered when you commence
employment. My confidential facsimile number is (928) 244-3718. We look forward to your favorable reply and to a productive and enjoyable work relationship. Sincerely,   /s/ FREDRIC I. STORCHFredric I. Storch
Sr. Director, Human Resources and Administration
 I hereby acknowledge that I have read the foregoing letter and agree to be bound by all of its
terms and conditions: /s/ BARBARA J. McKEEBarbara J. McKeeFebruary 9, 2005Date
 3.