**Exhibit 10.29**

[NitroMed Letterhead]

January10, 2006

Mr. Gerald Bruce3465 Byron DriveDoylestown, PA  18901

DearGerald:

Iam very pleased to formally offer you the position of Vice President of Salesfor NitroMed Inc. reporting to Mark Pavao, Vice President of Sales andMarketing for NitroMed Inc.  In thisposition you will be responsible broadly for developing and driving salesstrategy and results through leadership of a world class sales team.  You will also be a responsible for providingpositive and influential leadership and counsel internally as part of theNitroMed Inc. senior management team as well as externally with keystakeholders as appropriate.

Theterms of this offer are as follows:

**Annual Base Salary**

$220,000per year paid in 24 equal payments to be reviewed annually.

**AnnualPerformance Bonus**

Youwill be entitled to a bonus target of 50% of your annual salary in accordancewith achievement of goals and objectives. The size of the bonus program will be based on the overall NitroMedperformance against its major objectives. Individual awards will be granted from this bonus pool dependent onindividual achievement.  You will beguaranteed a minimum of a $90,000 annual bonus for the performance years 2006,2007 and 2008 to be paid out respectively in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

**Annual Performance Stock Options**

Youwill be eligible to receive an annual stock option grant.  The amount of options available will bedetermined by the Board of Directors based on overall company performance.  Individual awards will be granted from thisoption pool dependent on individual achievement.

**Cost of Living Adjustment**

Youwill receive a monthly payment of $2,500 for 36 months beginning with yourfirst month of employment.  Thesepayments are designed to help with your cost of living transition inconjunction with your move to the Boston area.

**Sign On Cash**

Youwill receive a one time payment of $45,000 as a sign on bonus to be paid withinyour first 30 days of employment with NitroMed Inc.

**Sign On Stock Options**

Youwill be offered an option to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock in theCompany.  The price at which the stockcloses on your start date will be the exercise price of these options.  These 

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optionswill vest over four years in equal installments as long as you remain in theemploy of the Company.

**Group Benefits:**

Youwill receive comprehensive group health, long term disability, accident andlife insurance benefits and eligibility to participate in NitroMed’s 401K plan.

**Leave:**

Youwill be entitled to illness and vacation days consistent with the Company’sstandard policy.  This policy willprovide you with four weeks of vacation per calendar year.

**Relocation**

Subjectto your continued employment, the Company will reimburse you up to a sum not toexceed $75,000 for relocation related expenses including such things as movinghousehold contents, buying and selling commissions and temporary housing.  Pursuant to your conversation with MichaelLoberg, CEO, in the event there is a reasonable situation in which additionalfunds are needed for a specific aspect of relocation, the request should bemade in writing and will be reviewed and subject to his approval.

**Change of Control**

Aseparate change of control agreement will be provided to you that includesdetails relative to key definitions, terms and benefits which will include thefollowing benefit:  you will be entitledto 2.0 times your salary if the Company or the employee (you) terminatesemployment within 12 months of a change of control event.  The Company is in process of finalizing andestablishing these agreements with the entire NitroMed management team as thisoffer is being executed and as such will provide it to you shortly.

**Agreements:**

Asa condition of employment, you will be required to sign the Company’s Inventionand Non-disclosure Agreement and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

Thecommencement date for this position is February 6, 2006.  Please sign a copy of this letter and returnit as acceptance of this offer by January 16, 2006.

Gerald,we look forward to working with you at NitroMed.  It is my wish that this position allows youto participate in the success of NitroMed and will both enrich and enhance yourcareer experience.

Sincerely,
| /s/ Mark Pavao                       |   |
|--------------------------------------|--------|
| Mark Pavao                           |
| Vice President,  Marketing and Sales |

 

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April24, 2006

 

Mr. Gerald Bruce3465 Byron DriveDoylestown, PA  18901

Re:Offer Letter Addendum

 

DearGerald:

Inaddition to the previously executed offer letter, you will be a participant inthe NitroMed Inc. Executive Severance Benefit Pan and Summary PlanDescription.  All terms and conditionsapply.

This addendum constitutes an exception for youto Schedule A of the above referenced plan in that you will be entitled tosalary continuation for a period of twelve (12) months in addition to thefollowing: one times (1X) the average of your last 2 annual bonus amounts or 1Xyour existing bonus target or 1X your existing bonus guarantee whichever of the3 is higher.  You will also be entitledto 1X any cost of living payments existing at the time of Severance.
| Sincerely,                                  |   |
|---------------------------------------------|--------|
|                                        |   |
| /s/ Argeris Karabelas                       |   |   |
| Argeris Karabelas                           |   |   |
| Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |   |
|                                             |        |  |  |

 

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