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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.16

                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                       ASPREVA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

                                                        As of 7th December, 2004

Steven Piazza,
831 Kenmara Drive,
West Chester, PA 19380
USA

Dear Steve:

RE:   TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT WITH ASPREVA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION (THE
      "CORPORATION")

      This Agreement confirms the terms and conditions of your employment by the
Corporation and will constitute your employment agreement. Those terms and
conditions are set out below:

1.    Position and Duties. You will be employed by and will serve the
      Corporation as its Senior Vice President, Global Life Cycle Management,
      and a member of the corporation's executive management team, having the
      duties and functions customarily performed by, and have all
      responsibilities customary to, a Senior Vice President, Global Life Cycle
      Management of a corporation engaged in a business similar to that of the
      Corporation, including those duties and functions particularly described
      in SCHEDULE A attached to this Agreement. You will report directly to the
      President of the Corporation. Your duties and functions pertain to the
      Corporation and any of its subsidiaries from time to time and may be
      varied or added to from time to time by the President, at his discretion,
      exercised reasonably.

2.    Term. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall have effect as
      of and from January 20, 2005 (the "EFFECTIVE DATE") and your employment as
      Senior Vice President, Global Life Cycle Management of the Corporation
      shall continue for a period of 4 years, renewable thereafter by mutual
      written agreement of the parties for successive one year terms, or until
      earlier terminated as provided in this Agreement.

3.    Base Salary. The Corporation shall pay you a base salary at the rate of
      $330,000 CDN per year (the "BASE SALARY"), payable semi-monthly, subject
      to the withholding of all applicable statutory deductions from such Base
      Salary and including any taxable benefits received under this Agreement or
      in respect of your employment.

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                                     - 2 -

4.    Signing Bonus. On or after the Effective Date, upon both parties executing
      this Agreement, the Corporation shall pay to you a one-time signing bonus
      (the "SIGNING BONUS") of $15,000 CDN, subject to the withholding of all
      applicable statutory deductions in respect of such Signing Bonus. You
      shall be required to promptly repay the Signing Bonus to the Corporation
      if you terminate your employment pursuant to Section 17 (Termination by
      Executive) within 2 years following the Effective Date. In addition, the
      Corporation shall have the right to set off the Signing Bonus against any
      amounts owed by the Corporation to you on the effective date of
      termination of your employment.

5.    Annual Review. The compensation committee (the "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE")
      established by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Corporation for
      the purposes of this Agreement shall review your Base Salary annually.
      This review shall not result in a decrease of your Base Salary nor shall
      it necessarily result in an increase in your Base Salary and any increase
      shall be in the discretion of the Board.

6.    Performance Bonus. The Corporation shall review the performance of your
      duties and functions under this Agreement annually and shall pay you a
      bonus of up to 30% of your Base Salary if the Board, in its sole
      discretion, determines that certain short-term and long-term business
      performance objectives of the Corporation and objectives related to your
      personal performance (together, the "OBJECTIVES"), respectively weighted
      40% and 60%, have been achieved. The Objectives will be established from
      time to time by the Board or the Compensation Committee after consultation
      with you. Payment of the performance bonus set out in this Section 6 shall
      be made to you within a reasonable time following the end of each fiscal
      year and shall be subject to the withholding of all applicable statutory
      deductions by the Corporation.

7.    Benefits. The Corporation will arrange for you to be provided with health,
      medical, dental, accident and life insurance and such other benefits as
      are reasonable and appropriate for an executive level benefits plan, as
      determined by the Board from time to time, based on the recommendations of
      the Compensation Committee after consultation with you. These benefits
      will be consistent with other Senior Vice Presidents and will be
      comparable to those set out below in EXHIBIT B. You may be required to
      provide information and undergo reasonable assessments of the applicable
      insurer in order to determine your eligibility for benefits coverage. You
      acknowledge and agree that coverage under any benefit plan in effect from
      time to time is subject to availability and other requirements of the
      applicable insurer and the Corporation makes no promise about your
      eligibility for or entitlement to benefits and will have no liability or
      responsibility in the event you are denied coverage. You further
      acknowledge and agree that the components of the benefits package may be
      amended, modified or terminated from time to time by the Corporation in
      its sole discretion, and this may include terminating or changing
      carriers.

      Additionally the company will pay up to $4,000 CDN per annum against
      receipts for the provision of Catastrophic illness policy.
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                                     - 3 -

8.    Vacation. During your employment with the Corporation under this
      Agreement, you will be entitled to an annual paid vacation as determined
      by the Corporation from time to time, not less than 4 weeks per annum,
      plus up to three days company designated days (typically granted during
      the Christmas holiday period) and within policy guidelines up to 3 days
      paid parental leave. The Corporation reserves the right, acting
      reasonably, to request that vacations be scheduled so as not to conflict
      with critical business operations.

9.    Relocation and Reimbursement. You acknowledge and agree that the
      Corporation's head office is located in the metropolitan area of Victoria,
      British Columbia and that the principal place of your employment is at
      such head office. You shall relocate your principal residence from
      Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/ USA, to a new location in the metropolitan
      area of Victoria, British Columbia upon commencing employment with the
      Corporation under this Agreement. In consideration of your agreement to
      relocate your principal residence, the Corporation shall reimburse you for
      the cost of one house-hunting trip to Victoria for you and your spouse and
      shall provide to you the following amounts (the "RELOCATION ALLOWANCE")
      associated with your move:

      (a)   reasonable moving expenses to a maximum of $85,000CDN incurred by
            you to relocate you and your spouse and family, plus personal
            possessions from Pennsylvania, to your new residence in the
            metropolitan area of Victoria, British Columbia, subject to receipt
            by the Corporation of the applicable invoice or invoices for such
            expenses; to be used over a period of no more than 2 years;

      (b)   professional fees for the first three years related to tax advice
            provided by accountants of your choice to a maximum of $3,000CDN in
            year 1, $2,000 CDN in year 2 and $1,000 CDN in year 3 and;

      (c)   medical benefits, for you from your arrival in Victoria, support for
            continuing your existing benefits program (for your family in
            Pennsylvania) to a maximum of $2,000 CDN per month for the period
            between your arrival in Victoria and their arrival in Victoria in
            June/July 2005, when they will become eligible to be covered under
            the corporation's benefits program, as per section 7 (Benefits).

      Should you resign your employment with the Corporation pursuant to Section
      17 or be terminated for Cause pursuant to Section 19 in the first three
      (3) years of your employment with the Corporation, you agree to repay the
      Relocation Allowance to the Corporation in accordance with the following
      schedule:

      Years of Employment            Repayment of Relocation  Allowance
      -------------------            -----------------------------------------
      0-1 year                       Full repayment of Relocation  Allowance

      1-2 years                      Repayment of 2/3 of Relocation  Allowance

      2-3 years                      Repayment of 1/3 of Relocation  Allowance

      after 3 years                  Nil
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                                     - 4 -

10.   Reimbursement for Expenses. During your employment under this Agreement,
      the Corporation shall reimburse you for reasonable travelling and other
      expenses actually and properly incurred by you in connection with the
      performance of your duties and functions, such reimbursement to be made in
      accordance with, and subject to, the policies of the Corporation from time
      to time. For all such expenses you will be required to keep proper
      accounts and to furnish statements, vouchers, invoices and/or other
      supporting documents to the Corporation.

11.   Temporary Accommodation. The company will assist you in identifying
      suitable temporary accommodation and support the use of that accommodation
      to a maximum of $1,500 per month, against receipts, for a period of no
      more than 6 months or the arrival of your family in June/July 2005, which
      ever is sooner.

12.   Stock Options. You will receive 200,000 stock options at an exercise price
      and on such other terms set forth in the Aspreva 2002 Incentive Stock
      Option Plan, subject to approval of the Board and applicable securities
      regulatory authorities and to execution and delivery by you of a stock
      option agreement in a form acceptable to the Corporation. The stock
      options shall, vest and be exercisable in the following way:

      (a)   No options will vest for the first year (12 months) following the
            grant;

      (b)   options will begin to vest at the rate of 1/36th of the grant, each
            month at the end of each month (for a period of 36 months).

      (c)   All options from this grant will be vested at the end of the 36
            months, following the initial 12 month waiting period.

      The options granted in this Section 12 will cease to vest:

      (d)   on the date you provide the Corporation with written notice of your
            decision to resign your employment pursuant to Section 17
            (Termination by Executive);

      (e)   on the date the Corporation provides you with written notice of its
            decision to terminate your employment pursuant to Section 18
            (Termination without Cause);

      (f)   on the date the Corporation terminates your employment pursuant to
            Section 19 (Termination for Cause); or

      (g)   otherwise on the date this Agreement is terminated or deemed
            terminated.

      For greater certainty, neither the period of notice nor any payment in
      lieu thereof will be considered as extending the period of your employment
      with respect to the vesting or exercise of the options granted in this
      Section 12.

      In accordance with Section 6.5 of the Aspreva 2002 Incentive Stock Option
      Plan, should your employment with the Corporation end pursuant to Section
      17 or 18 of this agreement, you will have three (3) months from the date
      your employment ended to exercise your vested stock options, failing which
      these options shall expire. Should your employment with the Corporation
      end pursuant to Section 19 of this agreement, your options shall expire on
      the date your employment was terminated.
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                                     - 5 -

13.   Compliance with Insider Trading Guidelines and Restrictions. As a result
      of your position as Senior Vice President, Global Life Cycle Management,
      you are subject to insider trading regulations and restrictions and are
      required to file insider reports disclosing the grant of any options as
      well as the purchase and sale of any shares in the capital of the
      Corporation. The Corporation may from time to time publish trading
      guidelines and restrictions for its employees, officers and directors as
      are considered by the Board, in its discretion, prudent and necessary for
      a publicly listed company. It is a term of your employment as a senior
      officer of the Corporation that you comply with such guidelines and
      restrictions.

14.   Directors' & Officers' Liability Insurance. The Corporation shall use
      commercially reasonable efforts to provide you with directors' and
      officers' liability insurance under the policies for such insurance
      arranged by the Corporation from time to time upon such terms and in such
      amounts as the Board may reasonably determine in its discretion.

15.   No Other Compensation or Benefits. You expressly acknowledge and agree
      that unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing by the Corporation
      subsequent to execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto, you shall
      not be entitled by reason of your employment by the Corporation or by
      reason of any termination of such employment, to any remuneration,
      compensation or benefits other than as expressly set forth in this
      Agreement.

16.   Service to Employer. During your employment under this Agreement you will:

      (a)   well and faithfully serve the Corporation, at all times act in, and
            promote, the best interests of the Corporation, and devote
            substantially the whole of your working time, attention and energies
            to the business and affairs of the Corporation;

      (b)   comply with all reasonable rules, regulations, policies and
            procedures of the Corporation; and

      (c)   not, without the prior approval of the Board, to carry on or engage
            in any other business or occupation or become a director, officer,
            employee or agent of or hold any position or office with any other
            corporation, firm or person, except as a volunteer for a non-profit
            organization, for personal investments or a personal holding
            company, which may include members of your family as shareholders.

17.   Termination By Executive

      (a)   Subject to Section 20 (Termination Following Change in Control), you
            may resign as Senior Vice President, Global Life Cycle Management at
            any time, but only by giving the Corporation at least 2 months'
            prior written notice of the effective date of your resignation. On
            the giving of any such notice, the Corporation shall have the right
            to elect, in lieu of the notice period, to pay you a lump sum equal
            to 2 months' Base Salary, as referred to in Section 3 (Base Salary)
            and as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 5
            (Annual Review), plus other sums owed for arrears of salary,
            vacation pay and, if granted pursuant to Section 6 (Performance
            Bonus), bonus. If you are a director of the Corporation you will be
            deemed to have resigned as a director, effective upon your receipt
            of the notice of termination without any further action on your
            part.
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                                     - 6 -

      (b)   If the Corporation elects to pay you such lump sum in lieu of the 2
            months' notice period, the Corporation shall, subject to the terms
            and conditions of any benefit plans in effect from time to time,
            maintain the benefits and payments set out in Section 7 (Benefits)
            of this Agreement for 2 months after the date of your notice, but in
            all other respects, your resignation and the termination of your
            employment will be effective immediately upon your receipt of the
            lump sum.

18.   Termination by the Corporation Without Cause.

      (a)   The Corporation may terminate your employment as Senior Vice
            President, Global Life Cycle Management at any time without Cause
            (as defined below) by giving you written notice of such termination
            and in all respects, except as set out below, the termination of
            your employment will be effective immediately upon your receipt of
            such notice. If you are a director of the Corporation you will be
            deemed to have resigned as a director, effective upon your receipt
            of the notice of termination without any further action on your
            part.

      (b)   If your employment is terminated by the Corporation pursuant to this
            Section 18, the Corporation shall pay to you as a lump sum the
            number of months of Base Salary, as referred to in Section 3 (Base
            Salary) and as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section
            5 (Annual Review) set out in the table below depending upon the year
            of employment in which you are terminated, plus such other sums owed
            for arrears of salary, vacation pay and, if granted pursuant to
            Section 6 (Performance Bonus), bonus:

            Year of Employment     Lump Sum Payment of Base Salary (as adjusted)
            ------------------     ---------------------------------------------

            1 - 2                  6 months

            after 2                12 months

      (c)   To the extent permitted by law and subject to the terms and
            conditions of any benefit plans in effect from time to time, the
            Corporation shall maintain the benefits and payments set out in
            Section 7 (Benefits) of this Agreement (the "MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS")
            during a period of 6 months following termination.

      (d)   The payments of Base Salary and benefits set out in this Section 18
            shall be in lieu of any applicable notice period.

      (e)   To the extent permitted by law, these terms will remain in effect,
            until or unless any more favourable terms have or will be offered to
            you or other senior officers of the company, at which point those
            more favourable terms will be deemed to form part of this agreement.

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                                     - 7 -

19.   Termination by the Corporation for Cause. Notwithstanding Section 17
      (Termination by Executive), Section 18 (Termination by the Corporation
      Without Cause), or Section 20 (Termination Following Change of Control),
      the Corporation may terminate your employment as Senior Vice President,
      Global Life Cycle Management for Cause upon written notice of such
      termination at any time without any notice or severance. In this
      Agreement, "CAUSE" shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

      (a)   the commission of theft, embezzlement, fraud, obtaining funds or
            property under false pretences or similar acts of misconduct with
            respect to the property of the Corporation or its employees or the
            Corporation's customers or suppliers;

      (b)   your entering of a guilty plea or conviction for any crime involving
            fraud, misrepresentation or breach of trust, or for any serious
            criminal offence that impacts adversely on the Corporation; or

      (c)   any other matter constituting just cause at common law.

      any of which shall entitle the Corporation to terminate your employment
      under this Section 19. If you are a director of the Corporation you will
      be deemed to have resigned as a director, effective upon your receipt of
      the notice of termination without any further action on your part.

20.   Termination Following Change in Control. Concurrently with execution and
      delivery of this Agreement, you and the Corporation shall enter into a
      "Change of Control Agreement" in the form attached hereto as Schedule B
      setting out the compensation provisions to be applicable in the event of
      the termination of your employment as Senior Vice President of Global Life
      Cycle Management of the Corporation in certain circumstances following a
      "Change in Control" of the Corporation (as defined in the Change of
      Control Agreement), and will remain the same as the treatment of all other
      senior officers.

21.   No Additional Compensation upon Termination. It is agreed that neither you
      nor the Corporation shall, as a result of the termination of your
      employment, be entitled to any notice, fee, salary, bonus, severance or
      other payments, benefits or damages arising by virtue of, or in any way
      relating to, your employment or any other relationship with the
      Corporation (including termination of such employment or relationship) in
      excess of what is specified or provided for in Section 17 (Termination by
      Executive), Section 18 (Termination by the Corporation Without Cause),
      Section 19 (Termination by the Corporation for Cause), or Section 20
      (Termination Following Chance in Control), whichever is applicable.
      Payment of any amount whatsoever pursuant to Section 17 (Termination by
      Executive), Section 18 (Termination by the Corporation Without Cause),
      Section 19 (Termination by the Corporation for Cause), or Section 20
      (Termination Following Change in Control) shall be subject to the
      withholding of all applicable statutory deductions by the Corporation.

22.   Confidentiality and Assignment of Inventions. Concurrently with execution
      and delivery of this Agreement and in consideration of your employment by
      the Corporation, you and the Corporation will enter into a
      "Confidentiality Agreement and Assignment of Inventions" in the form
      attached hereto as SCHEDULE C.
<PAGE>
                                     - 8 -

23.   Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest. During your employment with the
      Corporation, you will promptly, fully and frankly disclose to the
      Corporation in writing:

      (a)   the nature and extent of any interest you or your Associates (as
            hereinafter defined) have or may have, directly or indirectly, in
            any contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction of
            or with the Corporation or any subsidiary or affiliate of the
            Corporation;

      (b)   every office you may hold or acquire, and every property you or your
            Associates may possess or acquire, whereby directly or indirectly a
            duty or interest might be created in conflict with the interests of
            the Corporation or your duties and obligations under this Agreement;
            and

      (c)   the nature and extent of any conflict referred to in subsection (b)
            above.

      In this Agreement the expression "ASSOCIATE" shall include all those
      persons and entities that are included within the definition or meaning of
      "associate" as set forth in Section 1(1) of the Company Act (British
      Columbia), as amended, or any successor legislation of similar force and
      effect, and shall also include your spouse, children, parents, brothers
      and sisters.

24.   Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest. You acknowledge that it is the policy
      of the Corporation that all interests and conflicts of the sort described
      in Section 23 (Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest) be avoided, and you
      agree to comply with all policies and directives of the Board from time to
      time regulating, restricting or prohibiting circumstances giving rise to
      interests or conflicts of the sort described in Section 23 (Disclosure of
      Conflicts of Interest). During your employment with the Corporation,
      without Board approval, in its sole discretion, you shall not enter into
      any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any other person or
      entity that would in any way conflict or interfere with this Agreement or
      your duties or obligations under this Agreement or that would otherwise
      prevent you from performing your obligations hereunder, and you represent
      and warrant that you or your Associates have not entered into any such
      agreement, arrangement or understanding, provided however you will be
      permitted to accept teaching or academic activities appointments as long
      as such activities related to such appointments do not conflict or hinder
      the performance of your duties.

25.   Provisions Reasonable. It is acknowledged and agreed that:

      (a)   both before and since the Effective Date the Corporation has
            operated and competed and will operate and compete in a global
            market, with respect to the business of the Corporation set out in
            SCHEDULE D attached hereto (the "BUSINESS");

      (b)   competitors of the Corporation and the Business are located in
            countries around the world;

      (c)   in order to protect the Corporation adequately, any enjoinder of
            competition would have to apply world wide;
<PAGE>
                                     - 9 -

      (d)   during the course of your employment by the Corporation, both before
            and after the Effective Date, on behalf of the Corporation, you have
            acquired and will acquire knowledge of, and you have come into
            contact with, initiated and established relationships with and will
            come into contact with, initiate and establish relationships with,
            both existing and new clients, customers, suppliers, principals,
            contacts and prospects of the Corporation, and that in some
            circumstances you have been or may well become the senior or sole
            representative of the Corporation dealing with such persons; and

      (e)   in light of the foregoing, the provisions of Section 26 (Restrictive
            Covenant) below are reasonable and necessary for the proper
            protection of the business, property and goodwill of the Corporation
            and the Business.

26.   Restrictive Covenant. Subject to the exceptions set out in SCHEDULE E
      attached hereto, you agree that you will not, either alone or in
      partnership or in conjunction with any person, firm, company, corporation,
      syndicate, association or any other entity or group, whether as principal,
      agent, employee, director, officer, shareholder, consultant or in any
      capacity or manner whatsoever, whether directly or indirectly, for the
      Term of Employment and continuing for a period of 6 months from the lawful
      termination of your employment, regardless of the reason for such
      termination:

      (a)   carry on or be engaged in, concerned with or interested in, or
            advise, invest in or give financial assistance to, any business,
            enterprise or undertaking that:

            (i)   is involved in the Business or in the sale, distribution,
                  development or supply of any product or service that is
                  competitive with the Business or any product or service of the
                  Business; or

            (ii)  competes with the Corporation with respect to any aspect of
                  the Business;

            provided, however, that the foregoing will not prohibit you from
            acquiring, solely as an investment and through market purchases,
            securities of any such enterprise or undertaking which are publicly
            traded, so long as you are not part of any control group of such
            entity and such securities, which if converted, do not constitute
            more than 5% of the outstanding voting power of that entity;

      (b)   solicit, agree to be employed by, or agree to provide services to
            any person, firm, corporation or other entity that was a client,
            customer, supplier, principal, shareholder, investor, collaborator,
            strategic partner, licensee, contact or prospect of the Corporation
            during the time of your employment with the Corporation, whether
            before or after the Effective Date, for any business purpose that is
            competitive with the Business or any product or service of the
            Business; or

      (c)   divert, entice or take away from the Corporation or attempt to do so
            or solicit for the purpose of doing so, any business of the
            Corporation, or any person, firm, corporation or other entity that
            was an employee, client, customer, supplier, principal, shareholder,
            investor, collaborator, strategic partner, licensee, contact or
            prospect of the Corporation during the time of your employment with
            the Corporation, whether before or after the Effective Date.
<PAGE>
                                     - 10 -

27.   Remedies. You acknowledge and agree that any breach or threatened breach
      of any of the provisions of Section 13 (Compliance with Insider Trading
      Guidelines and Restrictions), Section 16 (Service to Employer), Section 22
      (Confidentiality and Assignment of Inventions), Section 23 (Disclosure of
      Conflicts of Interest), Section 24 (Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest) or
      Section 26 (Restrictive Covenant) could cause irreparable damage to the
      Corporation or its partners, subsidiaries or affiliates, that such harm
      could not be adequately compensated by the Corporation's recovery of
      monetary damages, and that in the event of a breach or threatened breach
      thereof, the Corporation shall have the right to seek an injunction,
      specific performance or other equitable relief as well as any equitable
      accounting of all your profits or benefits arising out of any such breach.
      It is further acknowledged and agreed that the remedies of the Corporation
      specified in this Section 27 are in addition to and not in substitution
      for any rights or remedies of the Corporation at law or in equity and that
      all such rights and remedies are cumulative and not alternative and that
      the Corporation may have recourse to any one or more of its available
      rights or remedies as it shall see fit.

28.   Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
      benefit of the Corporation and its successors and assigns. Your rights and
      obligations contained in this Agreement are personal and such rights,
      benefits and obligations shall not be voluntarily or involuntarily
      assigned, alienated or transferred, whether by operation of law or
      otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Corporation. This
      Agreement shall otherwise be binding upon and inure to the benefit of your
      personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors,
      heirs, distributees, devisees, legatees and permitted assigns.

29.   Agreement Confidential. Both parties shall keep the terms and conditions
      of this Agreement confidential except as may be required to enforce any
      provision of this Agreement or as may otherwise be required by any law,
      regulation or other regulatory requirement.

30.   Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in
      accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and
      applicable laws of Canada and the parties hereto attorn to the exclusive
      jurisdiction of the provincial and federal courts of such province.

31.   Exercise of Functions. The rights of the Corporation as provided in this
      Agreement may be exercised on behalf of the Corporation only by the Board.

32.   Entire Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement are in
      addition to and not in substitution for the obligations, duties and
      responsibilities imposed by law on employers and employees of corporations
      generally, and you and the Corporation agree to comply with such
      obligations, duties and responsibilities. Except as otherwise provided in
      this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
      the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may only be
      varied by further written agreement signed by you and the Corporation.
      This Agreement supersedes any previous communications, understandings and
      agreements between you and the Corporation regarding your employment. It
      is acknowledged and agreed that this Agreement is mutually beneficial and
      is entered into for fresh and valuable consideration with the intent that
      it shall constitute a legally binding agreement.

<PAGE>
                                     - 11 -

33.   Further Assurances. The parties will execute and deliver to each other
      such further instruments and assurances and do such further acts as may be
      required to give effect to this Agreement.

34.   Surviving Obligations. Your obligations and covenants under Section 22
      (Confidentiality and Assignment of Inventions), Section 26 (Restrictive
      Covenant) and Section 27 (Remedies) shall survive the termination of this
      Agreement.

35.   Independent Legal Advice. You hereby acknowledge that you have obtained or
      have had an opportunity to obtain independent legal advice in connection
      with this Agreement, and further acknowledge that you have read,
      understand, and agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions
      contained herein.

36.   Notice. All notices and other communications that are required or
      permitted by this Agreement must be in writing and shall be hand delivered
      or sent by express delivery service or certified or registered mail,
      postage prepaid, or by facsimile transmission (with written confirmation
      copy by registered mail) to the parties at the addresses indicated below.

            IF TO ASPREVA:

            Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation
            Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy
            26th Floor, 700 West Georgia Street
            Vancouver, BC. V7Y 1B3

            Attn: R. Hector MacKay-Dunn

            IF TO NAME: STEVEN PIAZZA

            Attn Henry A. Gladstone
            Cozen O'Connor,
            1900 Market Street
            Philadelphia

            and
            Steven Piazza,
            831 Kenmara Drive,
            West Chester, PA 19380
            USA

Any such notice shall be deemed to have been received on the earlier of the date
actually received or the date five (5) days after the same was posted or sent.
Either party may change its address or its facsimile number by giving the other
party written notice, delivered in accordance with this Section.

37.   Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or any part thereof shall
      for any reason be held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, then
      such invalid or unenforceable provision or part shall be severable and
      severed from this Agreement and the other

<PAGE>
                                     - 12 -

      provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect and be construed as if
      such invalid or unenforceable provision or part had never been contained
      herein.

38.   Waiver. Any waiver of any breach or default under this Agreement shall
      only be effective if in writing signed by the party against whom the
      waiver is sought to be enforced, and no waiver shall be implied by any
      other act or conduct or by any indulgence, delay or omission. Any waiver
      shall only apply to the specific matter waived and only in the specific
      instance in which it is waived.

39.   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
      counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original,
      and such counterparts will together constitute but one Agreement.

If you accept and agree to the foregoing, please confirm your acceptance and
agreement by signing the enclosed duplicate copy of this letter where indicated
below and by returning it to us. You are urged to consider fully all the above
terms and conditions and to obtain independent legal advice or any other advice
you feel is necessary before you execute this agreement.

                                       Yours truly,

                                       ASPREVA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION

                                       By:  /s/ NOEL HALL
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Authorized Signatory

Accepted and agreed to by Steven Piazza as of the 7th day of December, 2004

/s/ STEVEN PIAZZA
---------------------------
Steven Piazza

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A
                     DESCRIPTION OF THE DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS
                   OF THE OF SVP GLOBAL LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT

ASPREVA POSITION:        #0200

NAME:                    STEVEN PIAZZA

REPORTS TO:              NOEL HALL

DEPARTMENT:              LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT

LOCATION:                VICTORIA, BC

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Senior Vice President of Global Life Cycle Management plans, directs, and
oversees all aspects of Aspreva Pharmaceuticals' marketing policies, objectives,
and initiatives additionally is responsible for the strategic leadership and
growth of the International operations and will coordinate the activities of our
staff working closely with all global functions..

Roles & Responsibilities:

o     Responsible for developing the global, life cycle commercial / product
      strategic plan; securing corporate and regional agreement and overseeing
      the execution of that plan in the short and long term.

o     As the owner of each brand's architecture, the Senior Vice President is
      responsible for both the development and modification of Aspreva's brands.

o     Is a member of the executive management team that develops and executes
      corporate objectives and strategy.

o     Oversees the provision of commercial input into late stage Business
      Development Candidates

o     Directs the planning and eventual formation of a fully integrated global
      life cycle management team. This team includes marketing, medical affairs,
      market planning and market research.

o     Identify changes in the marketing environment or competitive strategies
      and evaluates, adjusts, or redrafts the organization's marketing plan and
      philosophy accordingly for all markets world wide.

o     Works directly with VP Clinical, VP Regulatory, Regional General Managers,
      and VP Business Development to ensure the commercial attractiveness of
      clinical, regulatory, sales, and business development strategies.

o     Lead Aspreva's International programs initially consisting of a dedicated
      Medical Marketing and Marketing Team.

o     Oversee all analytical activity in international markets to prioritize
      markets and make recommendations as to appropriate levels of investment.

o     Lead the development and implementation of Aspreva's sales tracking
      activities using unique analytics.

o     Oversee the strategy and executions of Aspreva's pre-launch and launch
      activities to support corporate objectives in all international markets
      (excludes North America and Europe).

o     Lead Aspreva's interface with Aspreva's commercial partners in all
      international markets, insuring global brand strategies are effectively
      communicated and executed in concert with our partners' affiliates.

<PAGE>
                                     - 2 -

o     Provide input into the annual Aspreva corporate business and strategic
      planning process.

o     Participate in the development of policy and practice for the Corporation.

o     Keep the President, CEO and global functional heads appraised of
      developments that may have an impact on global functional activities.

o     Such other duties as may be requested by the President or appropriate
      management from time to time.

Requirements:

o     10 years experience in the development and application of complex global
      analytics.

o     A successful track record of at least 5 -10 years in a globally oriented
      organization, preferably in the pharmaceutical industry, with significant
      experience of the US market, market access and reimbursement pathways.

o     Successfully lead a marketing group with responsibility for a core product
      - ie at least a Director level Marketing role.

o     Evidence of leading an organization through rapid growth.

o     Extensive public company experience is preferred

o     MBA and/or Professional Accounting designation

o     An intelligent, creative and articulate individual who can relate to
      people at all levels of an organization and possesses excellent
      communication skills

o     Energetic and enthusiastic, with the drive and determination to improve
      quality at every level and the business acumen to manage complex issues
      and environments

POSITION DESCRIPTION SIGN-OFF

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have read and I understand the contents of this job description.

Employee: S Piazza

Signature:  /s/ S PIAZZA
            ------------------------

Date: 12/10/04
      ------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This description is an accurate statement of the position's assigned duties,
responsibilities and reporting relationships as at 23rd November, 2004.

Manager: Noel Hall

Signature:  /s/ NOEL HALL                   Title: President
            ------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Human Resources: M Thornton

Signature:  /s/ M THORNTON
            ------------------------

Date:  26th November, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE B

                       ASPREVA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION

                                                        As of 7th December, 2004

Steven Piazza,
831 Kenmore Drive,
West Chester, PA 19380
USA

Dear Steve:

                         RE: CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

            Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation (the "CORPORATION") considers it
essential to the best interests of its members to foster the continuous
employment of its senior executive officers. In this regard, the Board of
Directors of the Corporation (the "BOARD") has determined that it is in the best
interests of the Corporation and its members that appropriate steps should be
taken to reinforce and encourage management's continued attention, dedication
and availability to the Corporation in the event of a Potential Change in
Control (as defined in Section 2), without being distracted by the uncertainties
which can arise from any possible changes in control of the Corporation.

            In order to induce you to agree to remain in the employ of the
Corporation, such agreement evidenced by the employment agreement entered into
as of the date of this Agreement between you and the Corporation (the
"EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT") and in consideration of your agreement as set forth in
Section 3 below, the Corporation agrees that you shall receive and you agree to
accept the severance and other benefits set forth in this Agreement should your
employment with the Corporation be terminated subsequent to a Change in Control
(as defined in Section 2) in full satisfaction of any and all claims that now
exist or then may exist for remuneration, fees, salary, bonuses or severance
arising out of or in connection with your employment by the Corporation or the
termination of your employment:

1.    TERM OF AGREEMENT.

            This Agreement shall be in effect for a term commencing on the
Effective Date of the Employment Agreement (as therein defined) and ending on
the date of termination of the Employment Agreement.

2.    DEFINITIONS.

      (a)   "Affiliate" means a corporation that is an affiliate of the
            Corporation under the Securities Act (British Columbia), as amended
            from time to time.

      (b)   "Change in Control" of the Corporation shall be deemed to have
            occurred:

            (i)   if a merger, amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation,
                  reorganization or transfer takes place in which Equity
                  Securities of the Corporation possessing more than 50% of the
                  total combined voting power of the
<PAGE>
                                     - 2 -

                  Corporation's outstanding Equity Securities are acquired by a
                  person or persons different from the persons holding those
                  Equity Securities immediately prior to such transaction, and
                  the composition of the Board following such transaction is
                  such that the directors of the Corporation prior to the
                  transaction constitute less than 50% of the Board membership
                  following the transaction, except that no Change in Control
                  will be deemed to occur if such merger, amalgamation,
                  arrangement, consolidation, reorganization or transfer is with
                  any subsidiary or subsidiaries of the Corporation;

            (ii)  if any person, or any combination of persons (different from
                  those person(s) holding Equity Securities prior to the date
                  hereof) acting jointly or in concert by virtue of an
                  agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding shall
                  acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the
                  voting rights attached to all outstanding Equity Securities;
                  or

            (iii) if any person, or any combination of persons (different from
                  those person(s) holding Equity Securities prior to the date
                  hereof) acting jointly or in concert by virtue of an
                  agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding shall
                  acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, the right to appoint
                  a majority of the directors of the Corporation; or

            (iv)  if the Corporation sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of
                  all or substantially all of its assets, except that no Change
                  of Control will be deemed to occur if such sale or disposition
                  is made to a subsidiary or subsidiaries of the Corporation.

            provided however, that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to
            have occurred if such Change in Control results solely from the
            issuance of Equity Securities in connection with a bona fide
            financing or series of financings by the Corporation.

      (c)   "Base Salary" shall mean the annual base salary, as referred to in
            Section 3 (Base Salary), and as adjusted from time to time in
            accordance with Section 5 (Annual Review), of the Employment
            Agreement.

      (d)   "Bonus" shall mean the bonus referred to in Section 6 (Performance
            Bonus) of the Employment Agreement.

      (e)   "Cause" shall have the meaning set out in Section 19 (Termination by
            the Corporation for Cause) of the Employment Agreement.

      (f)   "Date of Termination" shall mean, if your employment is terminated,
            the date specified in the Notice of Termination.

      (g)   "Equity Security" in respect of a security of the Corporation, shall
            have the meaning ascribed thereto in Part II of the Securities Act
            (British Columbia), as it existed on the date of this Agreement, and
            also means any security carrying the right to convert such security
            into, exchange such security for, or entitling the
<PAGE>
                                     - 3 -

            holder to subscribe for, any equity security, or into or for any
            such convertible or exchangeable security or security carrying a
            subscription right.

      (h)   "Good Reason" shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the
            following events, without your express written consent, within 12
            months of Change in Control:

            (i)   a material change in your status, position, authority or
                  responsibilities that does not represent a promotion from or
                  represents an adverse change from your status, position,
                  authority or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to
                  the Change in Control;

            (ii)  a material reduction by the Corporation, in the aggregate, in
                  your Base Salary, or incentive, retirement, health benefits,
                  bonus or other compensation plans provided to you immediately
                  prior to the Change in Control, unless an equitable
                  arrangement has been made with respect to such benefits in
                  connection with a Change in Control;

            (iii) a failure by the Corporation to continue in effect any other
                  compensation plan in which you participated immediately prior
                  to the Change in Control (except for reasons of
                  non-insurability), including but not limited to, incentive,
                  retirement and health benefits, unless an equitable
                  arrangement has been made with respect to such benefits in
                  connection with a Change in Control;

            (iv)  any request by the Corporation or any affiliate of the
                  Corporation that you participate in an unlawful act; or

            (v)   any purported termination of your employment by the
                  Corporation after a Change in Control which is not effected
                  pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
                  requirements of clause (i) below and for the purposes of this
                  Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.

      (i)   "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice, in writing,
            communicated to the other party in accordance with Section 6 below,
            which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this
            Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the
            facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination
            of your employment under the provision so indicated.

      (j)   "Potential Change in Control" of the Corporation shall be deemed to
            have occurred if:

            (i)   the Corporation enters into an agreement, the consummation of
                  which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;

            (ii)  any person (including the Corporation) publicly announces an
                  intention to take or to consider taking actions which if
                  consummated would constitute a Change in Control; or
<PAGE>
                                     - 4 -

            (iii) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for the
                  purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control of
                  the Corporation has occurred.

3.    POTENTIAL CHANGE IN CONTROL.

            You agree that, in the event of a Potential Change in Control of the
Corporation occurring after the Effective Date, and until 12 months after a
Change in Control, subject to your right to terminate your employment by issuing
and delivering a Notice of Termination for Good Reason, you will continue to
diligently carry out your duties and obligations, on the terms set out in the
Employment Agreement.

4.    COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION FOLLOWING CHANGE IN CONTROL.

            Subject to compliance by you with Section 3, upon your employment
terminating pursuant to a Notice of Termination within 12 months after a Change
in Control, the Corporation agrees that you shall receive and you agree to
accept, the following payments in full satisfaction of any and all claims you
may have or then may have against the Corporation, for remuneration, fees,
salary, benefits, bonuses or severance, arising out of or in connection with
your employment by the Corporation or the termination of your employment:

      (a)   If your employment shall be terminated by the Corporation for Cause
            or by you other than for Good Reason, the terms of the Employment
            Agreement shall govern and the Corporation shall have no further
            obligations to you under this Agreement.

      (b)   If your employment by the Corporation shall be terminated by you for
            Good Reason or by the Corporation other than for Cause, then you
            shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided below:

            (i)   subject to the withholding of all applicable statutory
                  deductions, the Corporation shall pay you a lump sum equal to
                  12 months' Base Salary, as referred to in Section 3 (Base
                  Salary) and as adjusted from time to time in accordance with
                  Section 5 (Annual Review) of the Employment Agreement, plus
                  other sums owed for arrears of salary, vacation pay and, if
                  awarded, Bonus;

            (ii)  to the extent permitted by law and subject to the terms and
                  conditions of any benefit plans in effect from time to time,
                  the Corporation shall maintain the benefits and payments set
                  out in Section 7 (Benefits) of the Employment Agreement during
                  the 12 month period;

            (iii) the Corporation shall arrange for you to be provided with such
                  outplacement career counselling services as are reasonable and
                  appropriate, to assist you in seeking new executive level
                  employment; and

            (iv)  all incentive stock options and trust shares granted to you by
                  the Corporation under any stock option and/or trust share
                  agreement that is entered into between you and the Corporation
                  and is outstanding at the time of termination of your
                  employment, which incentive stock options and or trust shares
                  have not yet vested, shall immediately vest upon the

<PAGE>
                                     - 5 -

                  termination of your employment and shall be fully exercisable
                  by you in accordance with the terms of the agreement or
                  agreements under which such options were granted.

You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in
this Section 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any sums
actually received be deducted.

5.    BINDING AGREEMENT.

            This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
your personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors,
heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If you die while any amount would
still be payable to you under this Agreement if you had continued to live, that
amount shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your
devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your
estate.

6.    NOTICES.

            All notices and other communications that are required or permitted
by this Agreement must be in writing and shall be hand delivered or sent by
express delivery service or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, or by
facsimile transmission (with written confirmation copy by registered mail) to
the parties at the addresses indicated below.

                  IF TO ASPREVA:

                  Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation
                  Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy
                  26th Floor, 700 West Georgia Street
                  Vancouver, BC  V7Y 1B3

                  Attn:    R. Hector MacKay-Dunn

                  IF TO STEVEN PIAZZA:

                  ATTN HENRY A. GLADSTONE

                  AND

                  Steven Piazza,
                  831 Kenmore Drive,
                  West Chester, PA 19380
                  USA

Any such notice shall be deemed to have been received on the earlier of the date
actually received or the date five (5) days after the same was posted or sent.
Either party may change its address or its facsimile number by giving the other
party written notice, delivered in accordance with this Section.
<PAGE>
                                     - 6 -

7.    MODIFICATION: AMENDMENTS: ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

            This Agreement may not be modified, waived or discharged unless such
waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by you and
such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either
party at any time of any breach by the other party of, or compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the
same or at any prior or subsequent time. Except as set forth in your Employment
Agreement, 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 this Agreement.

8.    GOVERNING LAW.

            This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance
with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and applicable laws of Canada
and the parties hereto attorn to the exclusive jurisdiction of the provincial
and federal courts of such province.

9.    VALIDITY.

            The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

10.   NO EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE CONTRACT

            Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon you any right to
continue in the employment of the Corporation for any period of specific
duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the
Corporation or you, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to
terminate your employment at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without
cause.

            If the foregoing sets forth our agreement on this matter, kindly
sign and return to the Corporation a copy of this letter.

                                       Yours truly,

                                       ASPREVA PHARMACEUTICALS
                                       CORPORATION

                                       By:  /s/ NOEL HALL
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Authorized Signatory

Accepted and agreed to by Steven Piazza as of the 7th day of December, 2004

/s/ STEVEN PIAZZA
------------------------------------------
STEVEN PIAZZA

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE C

                          CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT AND
                            ASSIGNMENT OF INVENTIONS

                       ASPREVA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

                                                        As of 7th December, 2004

Steven Piazza,
831 Kenmara Drive,
West Chester, PA 19380
USA

Dear Steve:

The purpose of this letter is to confirm and record the terms of the agreement
(the "AGREEMENT") between you and Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation
("ASPREVA") concerning the terms on which you will (i) receive from and disclose
to Aspreva proprietary and confidential information; (ii) agree to keep the
information confidential, to protect it from disclosure and to use it only in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) assign to Aspreva all
rights, including any ownership interest which may arise in all inventions and
intellectual property developed or disclosed by you over the course of your work
during your employment with Aspreva. The effective date ("EFFECTIVE DATE") of
this Agreement is the date that you start or started working at Aspreva, as
indicated in the employment agreement between you and Aspreva dated as of August
25, 2003.

In consideration of the offer of employment by Aspreva and the payment by
Aspreva to you of the sum of CDN$1.00 and other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, you and Aspreva
hereby agree as follows:

1.          INTERPRETATION

1.1         DEFINITIONS. In this Agreement:

      (a)   "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION", subject to the exemptions set out in
            Section 2.8, shall mean any information relating to Aspreva's
            Business (as hereinafter defined), whether or not conceived,
            originated, discovered, or developed in whole or in part by you,
            that is not generally known to the public or to other persons who
            are not bound by obligations of confidentiality and:
<PAGE>
                                     - 2 -

            (i)   from which Aspreva derives economic value, actual or
                  potential, from the information not being generally known; or

            (ii)  in respect of which Aspreva otherwise has a legitimate
                  interest in maintaining secrecy;

            and which, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall
            include;

            (iii) all proprietary information licensed to, acquired, used or
                  developed by Aspreva in its search and development activities
                  including but not restricted to the development and
                  commercialization of drugs for rare diseases and conditions
                  and orphan drugs as defined by the U.S. Orphan Drug Act, other
                  scientific strategies and concepts, designs, know-how,
                  information, material, formulas, processes, research data and
                  proprietary rights in the nature of copyrights, patents,
                  trademarks, licenses and industrial designs;

            (iv)  all information relating to Aspreva's Business, and to all
                  other aspects of Aspreva's structure, personnel, and
                  operations, including financial, clinical, regulatory,
                  marketing, advertising and commercial information and
                  strategies, customer lists, compilations, agreements and
                  contractual records and correspondence; programs, devices,
                  concepts, inventions, designs, methods, processes, data,
                  know-how, unique combinations of separate items that is not
                  generally known and items provided or disclosed to Aspreva by
                  third parties subject to restrictions on use or disclosure;

            (v)   all know-how relating to Aspreva's Business including, all
                  biological, chemical, pharmacological, toxicological,
                  pharmaceutical, physical and analytical, clinical, safety,
                  manufacturing and quality control data and information, and
                  all applications, registrations, licenses, authorizations,
                  approvals and correspondence submitted to regulatory
                  authorities;

            (vi)  all information relating to the businesses of competitors of
                  Aspreva including information relating to competitors'
                  research and development, intellectual property, operations,
                  financial, clinical, regulatory, marketing, advertising and
                  commercial strategies, that is not generally known;

            (vii) all information provided by Aspreva's agents, consultants,
                  lawyers, contractors, licensors or licensees to Aspreva and
                  relating to Aspreva's Business; and

            (viii) all information relating to your compensation and benefits,
                  including your salary, vacation, stock options, rights to
                  continuing education, perquisites, severance notice, rights on
                  termination and all other compensation and benefits, except
                  that you shall be entitled to disclose such information to
                  your bankers, advisors, agents, consultants and other third
                  parties who
<PAGE>
                                     - 3 -

                  have a duty of confidence to you and who have a need to know
                  such information in order to provide advice, products or
                  services to you.

      (b)   "INVENTIONS" shall mean any and all discoveries, developments,
            enhancements, improvements, concepts, formulas, processes, ideas,
            writings, whether or not reduced to practice, industrial and other
            designs, patents, patent applications, provisional patent
            applications, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutions,
            divisionals, reissues, renewals, re-examinations, extensions,
            supplementary protection certificates or the like, trade secrets or
            utility models, copyrights and other forms of intellectual property
            including all applications, registrations and related foreign
            applications filed and registrations granted thereon.

      (c)   "WORK PRODUCT" shall mean any and all Inventions and possible
            Inventions relating to Aspreva's Business resulting from any work
            performed by you for Aspreva that you may invent or co-invent during
            your involvement in any capacity with Aspreva, except those
            Inventions invented by you entirely on your own time that do not
            relate to Aspreva's Business or do not derive from any equipment,
            supplies, facilities, Confidential Information or other information,
            gained, directly or indirectly, by you from or through your
            involvement in any capacity with Aspreva.

      (d)   "ASPREVA'S BUSINESS" shall mean the businesses actually carried on
            by Aspreva, directly or indirectly, whether under an agreement with
            or in collaboration with, any other party including but not
            exclusively, the development and commercialization of drugs for rare
            diseases and conditions and orphan drugs as defined by the U.S.
            Orphan Drug Act.

2.          CONFIDENTIALITY

2.1         BASIC OBLIGATION OF CONFIDENTIALITY. You hereby acknowledge and
agree that in the course of your involvement with Aspreva, Aspreva may disclose
to you or you may otherwise have access or be exposed to Confidential
Information. Aspreva hereby agrees to provide such access to you and you agree
to receive and hold all Confidential Information on the terms and conditions set
out in this Agreement. Except as set out in this Agreement, you will keep
strictly confidential all Confidential Information and all other information
belonging to Aspreva that you acquire, observe or are informed of, directly or
indirectly, in connection with your involvement, in any capacity, with Aspreva.

2.2         FIDUCIARY CAPACITY. You will be and act toward Aspreva as a
fiduciary in respect of the Confidential Information.

2.3         NON-DISCLOSURE. Unless Aspreva first gives you written permission to
do so under Section 2.7 of this Agreement, you will not at any time, either
during or after your involvement in any capacity with Aspreva;

      (a)   use or copy Confidential Information or your recollections thereof;

<PAGE>
                                     - 4 -

      (b)   publish or disclose Confidential Information or your recollections
            thereof to any person other than to employees of Aspreva who have a
            need to know such Confidential Information for their work for
            Aspreva;

      (c)   permit or cause any Confidential Information to be used, copied,
            published, disclosed, translated or adapted except as otherwise
            expressly permitted by this Agreement;

      (d)   permit or cause any Confidential Information to be stored off the
            premises of Aspreva, including permitting or causing such
            Information to be stored in electronic format on personal computers,
            except in accordance with written procedures of Aspreva, as amended
            from time to time in writing; or

      (e)   communicate the Confidential Information or your recollections
            thereof to another employee of Aspreva in a public place or using
            methods of communication that are capable of being intercepted (such
            as unencrypted messages using the internet or cellular phones) or
            overheard, without the written permission of Aspreva.

2.4         TAKING PRECAUTIONS. You will take all reasonable precautions
necessary or prudent to prevent material in your possession or control that
contains or refers to Confidential Information from being discovered, used or
copied by third parties.

2.5         ASPREVA'S OWNERSHIP OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. As between you and
Aspreva, Aspreva shall own all right, title and interest in and to the
Confidential Information, whether or not created or developed by you.

2.6         CONTROL OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND RETURN OF INFORMATION. All
physical materials produced or prepared by you containing Confidential
Information, including, without limitation, biological material, chemical
entities, test results, notes of experiments, computer files, photographs, x-ray
film, designs, devices, formulas, memoranda, drawings, plans, prototypes,
samples, accounts, reports, financial statements, estimates and materials
prepared in the course of your responsibilities to or for the benefit of
Aspreva, shall belong to Aspreva, and you will promptly turn over to Aspreva's
possession every original and copy of any and all such items in your possession
or control upon request by Aspreva. You shall not permit or cause any physical
materials to be stored off the premises of Aspreva, unless in accordance with
written procedures of Aspreva, as amended from time to time in writing. You
shall not transfer any biological material to another person outside of Aspreva,
unless a material transfer agreement has been signed by both Aspreva and the
other party. You shall not accept any biological material from another person
outside of Aspreva, unless in accordance with written procedures of Aspreva, as
amended from time to time in writing.

2.7         PURPOSE OF USE. You will use Confidential Information only for
purposes authorised or directed by Aspreva.

<PAGE>
                                     - 5 -

2.8         EXEMPTIONS. Your obligation of confidentiality under this Agreement
will not apply to any of the following:

      (a)   information that is already known to you, though not due to a prior
            disclosure by Aspreva or by a person who obtained knowledge of the
            information, directly or indirectly, from Aspreva;

      (b)   information disclosed to you by another person who is not obliged to
            maintain the confidentiality of that information and who did not
            obtain knowledge of the information, directly or indirectly, from
            Aspreva;

      (c)   information that is developed by you independently of Confidential
            Information received from Aspreva and such independent development
            can be documented by you;

      (d)   other particular information or material which Aspreva expressly
            exempts by written instrument signed by Aspreva;

      (e)   information or material that is in the public domain through no
            fault of your own; and

      (f)   information or material that you are obligated by law to disclose,
            to the extent of such obligation, provided that:

            (i)   in the event that you are required to disclose such
                  information or material, then, as soon as you become aware of
                  this obligation to disclose, you will provide Aspreva with
                  prompt written notice so that Aspreva may seek a protective
                  order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with
                  the provisions of this Agreement;

            (ii)  if Aspreva agrees that the disclosure is required by law, it
                  will give you written authorization to disclose the
                  information for the required purposes only;

            (iii) if Aspreva does not agree that the disclosure is required by
                  law, this Agreement will continue to apply, except to the
                  extent that a Court of competent jurisdiction orders
                  otherwise; and

            (iv)  if a protective order or other remedy is not obtained or if
                  compliance with this Agreement is waived, you will furnish
                  only that portion of the Confidential Information that is
                  legally required and will exercise all reasonable efforts to
                  obtain confidential treatment of such Confidential
                  Information.
<PAGE>
                                     - 6 -

3.          ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

3.1         NOTICE OF INVENTION. You agree to promptly and fully inform Aspreva
of all your Work Product, whether or not patentable, throughout the course of
your involvement, in any capacity, with Aspreva, whether or not developed before
or after your execution of this Agreement. On your ceasing to be employed by
Aspreva for any reason whatsoever, you will immediately deliver up to Aspreva
all of your Work Product. You further agree that all of your Work Product shall
at all times be the Confidential Information of Aspreva.

3.2         ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS. Subject only to those exceptions set out in
EXHIBIT A hereto, you will assign, and do hereby assign, to Aspreva or, at the
option of Aspreva and upon notice from Aspreva, to Aspreva's designee, your
entire right, title and interest in and to all of your Work Product during your
involvement, in any capacity, with Aspreva and all other rights and interests of
a proprietary nature in and associated with your Work Product, including all
patents, patent applications filed and other registrations granted thereon. To
the extent that you retain or acquire legal title to any such rights and
interests, you hereby declare and confirm that such legal title is and will be
held by you only as trustee and agent for Aspreva. You agree that Aspreva's
rights hereunder shall attach to all of your Work Product, notwithstanding that
it may be perfected or reduced to specific form after you have terminated your
relationship with Aspreva. You further agree that Aspreva's rights hereunder are
worldwide rights and are not limited to Canada, but shall extend to every
country of the world.

3.3         MORAL RIGHTS. Without limiting the foregoing, you irrevocably waive
any and all moral rights arising under the Copyright Act (Canada), as amended,
or any successor legislation of similar force and effect or similar legislation
in other applicable jurisdictions or at common law that you may have with
respect to your Work Product, and agree never to assert any moral rights which
you may have in your Work Product, including, without limitation, the right to
the integrity of such Work Product, the right to be associated with the Work
Product, the right to restrain or claim damages for any distortion, mutilation
or other modification or enhancement of the Work Product and the right to
restrain the use or reproduction of the Work Product in any context and in
connection with any product, service, cause or institution, and you further
confirm that Aspreva may use or alter any such Work Product as Aspreva sees fits
in its absolute discretion.

3.4         GOODWILL. You hereby agree that all goodwill you have established or
may establish with clients, customers, suppliers, principals, shareholders,
investors, collaborators, strategic partners, licensees, contacts or prospects
of Aspreva relating to the business or affairs of Aspreva (or of its partners,
subsidiaries or affiliates), both before and after the Effective Date, shall, as
between you and Aspreva, be and remain the property of Aspreva exclusively, for
Aspreva to use, alter, vary, adapt and exploit as Aspreva shall determine in its
discretion.

<PAGE>
                                     - 7 -

3.5         ASSISTANCE. You hereby agree to reasonably assist Aspreva, at
Aspreva's request and expense, in:

      (a)   making patent applications for your Work Product, including
            instructions to lawyers and/or patent agents as to the
            characteristics of your Work Product in sufficient detail to enable
            the preparation of a suitable patent specification, to execute all
            formal documentation incidental to an application for letters patent
            and to execute assignment documents in favour of Aspreva for such
            applications;

      (b)   making applications for all other forms of intellectual property
            registration relating to your Work Product;

      (c)   prosecuting and maintaining the patent applications and other
            intellectual property relating to your Work Product; and

      (d)   registering, maintaining and enforcing the patents and other
            intellectual property registrations relating to your Work Product.

3.6         ASSISTANCE WITH PROCEEDINGS. You further agree to reasonably assist
Aspreva, at Aspreva's request and expense, in connection with any defence to an
allegation of infringement of another person's intellectual property rights,
claim of invalidity of another person's intellectual property rights, opposition
to, or intervention regarding, an application for letters patent, copyright or
trademark or other proceedings relating to intellectual property or applications
for registration thereof.

4.          GENERAL

4.1         TERM AND DURATION OF OBLIGATION. The term of this Agreement is from
the Effective Date and terminates on the date that you are no longer working at
or for Aspreva. Except as otherwise agreed in a written instrument signed by
Aspreva, Article 2 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, including
your obligations of confidentiality and to return Confidential Information, and
shall endure, with respect to each item of Confidential Information, for so long
as those items fall within the definition of Confidential Information. Sections
1.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10,
4.11, 4.12 and 4.13 shall also survive the termination of this Agreement.

4.2         BINDING NATURE OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement is not assignable by
you. You agree that this Agreement shall be binding upon your heirs and estate.

4.3         NON-COMPETITION. While you are an employee of Aspreva, you will not
provide services to or enter into a contract of employment or service in any
capacity for any business which is in any way competitive with Aspreva's
Business without the prior written consent of Aspreva.

<PAGE>
                                     - 8 -

4.4         NO CONFLICTING OBLIGATIONS. You represent and warrant that you will
not use or disclose to other persons at Aspreva information that (i) constitutes
a trade secret of persons other than Aspreva during your employment at Aspreva,
or (ii) which is confidential information owned by another person. You represent
and warrant that you have no agreements with or obligations to others with
respect to the matters covered by this Agreement or concerning the Confidential
Information that are in conflict with anything in this Agreement.

4.5         EQUITABLE REMEDIES. You acknowledge and agree that a breach by you
of any of your obligations under this Agreement would result in damages to
Aspreva that could not be adequately compensated by monetary award. Accordingly,
in the event of any such breach by you, in addition to all other remedies
available to Aspreva at law or in equity, Aspreva shall be entitled as a matter
of right to apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for such relief by way of
restraining order, injunction, decree or otherwise, as may be appropriate to
ensure compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, without having to prove
damages to the court.

4.6         PUBLICITY. You shall not, without the prior written consent of
Aspreva, make or give any public announcements, press releases or statements to
the public or the press regarding your Work Product or any Confidential
Information.

4.7         SEVERABILITY. If any covenant or provision of this Agreement or of a
section of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be void or unenforceable in whole or in part, then such void or unenforceable
covenant or provision shall not affect or impair the enforceability or validity
of the balance of the section or any other covenant or provision.

4.8         TIME OF ESSENCE/NO WAIVER. Time is of the essence hereof and no
waiver, delay, indulgence, or failure to act by Aspreva regarding any particular
default or omission by you shall affect or impair any of Aspreva's rights or
remedies regarding that or any subsequent default or omission that is not
expressly waived in writing, and in all events time shall continue to be of the
essence without the necessity of specific reinstatement.

4.9         FURTHER ASSURANCES. The parties will execute and deliver to each
other such further instruments and assurances and do such further acts as may be
required to give effect to this Agreement.

<PAGE>
                                     - 9 -

4.10        NOTICES. All notices and other communications that are required or
permitted by this Agreement must be in writing and shall be hand delivered or
sent by express delivery service or certified or registered mail, postage
prepaid, or by facsimile transmission (with written confirmation copy by
registered mail) to the parties at the addresses indicated below.

            IF TO ASPREVA:

            Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation
            Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy
            26th Floor, 700 West Georgia Street
            Vancouver, BC  V7Y 1B3

            Attn:    R. Hector MacKay-Dunn

            IF TO STEVEN PIAZZA:

            ATTN HENRY A. GLADSTONE

            AND
            Steven Piazza,
            831 Kenmara Drive,
            West Chester, PA 19380
            USA

Any such notice shall be deemed to have been received on the earlier of the date
actually received or the date five (5) days after the same was posted or sent.
Either party may change its address or its facsimile number by giving the other
party written notice, delivered in accordance with this Section.

4.11        AMENDMENT. No amendment, modification, supplement or other purported
alteration of this Agreement shall be binding unless it is in writing and signed
by you and by Aspreva.

4.12        ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement supersedes all previous dealings,
understandings, and expectations of the parties and constitutes the whole
agreement with respect to the matters contemplated hereby, and there are no
representations, warranties, conditions or collateral agreements between the
parties with respect to such transactions except as expressly set out herein.

4.13        GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted
in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and applicable
laws of Canada and the parties hereto attorn to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the provincial and federal courts of such province.

4.14        INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE. You hereby acknowledge that you have
obtained or have had an opportunity to obtain independent legal advice in
connection with this Agreement,

<PAGE>
                                     - 10 -

and further acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to be bound by
all of the terms and conditions contained herein.

ACCEPTANCE

            If the foregoing terms and conditions are acceptable to you, please
indicate your acceptance of and agreement to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement by signing below on this letter and on the enclosed copy of this
letter in the space provided and by returning the enclosed copy so executed to
us. Your execution and delivery to Aspreva of the enclosed copy of this letter
will create a binding agreement between us.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Yours truly,

ASPREVA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION

By: /s/ NOEL HALL
    --------------------------------------
         Noel Hall

Accepted and agreed as of the 7th day of December, 2004

/s/ M. THORNTON                                /s/ STEVEN PIAZZA
------------------------------------------     ---------------------------------
Witness Signature                              SIGNATURE OF STEVEN PIAZZA

M. E. THORNTON
------------------------------------------
Witness Name

HR DIRECTOR
------------------------------------------
Occupation

5324 PARKER AVE, VICTORIA
------------------------------------------
Address
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                           EXCLUSION FROM WORK PRODUCT

                                      None

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE D

                             BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY

The business of the Corporation shall mean the business actually carried on by
the Corporation, directly or indirectly, whether under an agreement with or in
collaboration with any other party including, but not limited to the development
and commercialization of drugs for rare diseases and conditions and orphan drugs
as defined by the U.S. Orphan Drug Act.

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE E

                        EXCEPTION TO RESTRICTIVE COVENANT

                                      None

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                                 BENEFIT SUMMARY

The company agrees to provide coverage under a benefit plan, whose provider may
change from time to time and whose terms may change from time to time and final
coverage is always subject to availability and other requirements of the
applicable insurer. The Corporation intends to provide cover to the following
standard but can make no promises about your eligibility for or entitlement to
benefits and will have no liability or responsibility in the event you are
denied coverage BY THE PROVIDER.

The terms will be specified in detail in your employee benefit booklet. The
broad terms are outlined below

EMPLOYEE LIFE INSURANCE
Insurance BENEFIT AMOUNT - $50,000

DEPENDENT LIFE INSURANCE
Insurance BENEFIT AMOUNT - $5,000 spouse; $2,500 each dependent child

ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT
BENEFIT AMOUNT - $50,000

EXTENDED HEALTH CARE
OVERALL BENEFIT MAXIMUM - Unlimited
DEDUCTIBLE - Nil
BENEFIT PERCENTAGE (CO-INSURANCE) -
100% for - Medical Services & Supplies - Professional Services - Vision - Drugs

DENTAL CARE
DEDUCTIBLE - Nil
BENEFIT PERCENTAGE (CO-INSURANCE) -
100% for Level I - Basic Services
100% for Level II - Supplementary Basic Services
50% for Level III - Dentures
50% for Level IV - Major Restorative Services
BENEFIT MAXIMUMS
$2,000 per calendar year combined for Level I and Level II and Level III and
Level IV

SHORT TERM DISABILITY
Weekly Income BENEFIT AMOUNT - 66.7% of your weekly earnings, to a maximum of
$1,000
QUALIFYING PERIOD - none, if the disability is due to an accident; 7 calendar
days, if the disability is due to a sickness
_ If hospitalized due to sickness prior to the end of the Qualifying Period,
benefits are payable from the first day of hospitalization.
MAXIMUM BENEFIT PERIOD - 17 weeks

LONG TERM DISABILITY
Long Term Disability BENEFIT AMOUNT - 66.7% of your monthly earnings, to a
maximum of $5,000 If approved by the insurer. QUALIFYING PERIOD - 119 days.<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                                   SCHEDULE B

                       ASPREVA PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION

                                                        As of 7th December, 2004
Steven Piazza,
831 Kenmore Drive,
West Chester, PA 19380
USA

Dear Steve:

                         RE: CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

      Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation (the "CORPORATION") considers it
essential to the best interests of its members to foster the continuous
employment of its senior executive officers. In this regard, the Board of
Directors of the Corporation (the "BOARD") has determined that it is in the best
interests of the Corporation and its members that appropriate steps should be
taken to reinforce and encourage management's continued attention, dedication
and availability to the Corporation in the event of a Potential Change in
Control (as defined in Section 2), without being distracted by the uncertainties
which can arise from any possible changes in control of the Corporation.

      In order to induce you to agree to remain in the employ of the
Corporation, such agreement evidenced by the employment agreement entered into
as of the date of this Agreement between you and the Corporation (the
"EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT") and in consideration of your agreement as set forth in
Section 3 below, the Corporation agrees that you shall receive and you agree to
accept the severance and other benefits set forth in this Agreement should your
employment with the Corporation be terminated subsequent to a Change in Control
(as defined in Section 2) in full satisfaction of any and all claims that now
exist or then may exist for remuneration, fees, salary, bonuses or severance
arising out of or in connection with your employment by the Corporation or the
termination of your employment:

1.    TERM OF AGREEMENT.

      This Agreement shall be in effect for a term commencing on the Effective
Date of the Employment Agreement (as therein defined) and ending on the date of
termination of the Employment Agreement.

2.    DEFINITIONS.

      (a)   "Affiliate" means a corporation that is an affiliate of the
            Corporation under the Securities Act (British Columbia), as amended
            from time to time.

      (b)   "Change in Control" of the Corporation shall be deemed to have
            occurred:

            (i)   if a merger, amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation,
                  reorganization or transfer takes place in which Equity
                  Securities of the Corporation possessing more than 50% of the
                  total combined voting power of the

<PAGE>
                                     - 2 -

                  Corporation's outstanding Equity Securities are acquired by a
                  person or persons different from the persons holding those
                  Equity Securities immediately prior to such transaction, and
                  the composition of the Board following such transaction is
                  such that the directors of the Corporation prior to the
                  transaction constitute less than 50% of the Board membership
                  following the transaction, except that no Change in Control
                  will be deemed to occur if such merger, amalgamation,
                  arrangement, consolidation, reorganization or transfer is with
                  any subsidiary or subsidiaries of the Corporation;

            (ii)  if any person, or any combination of persons (different from
                  those person(s) holding Equity Securities prior to the date
                  hereof) acting jointly or in concert by virtue of an
                  agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding shall
                  acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the
                  voting rights attached to all outstanding Equity Securities;
                  or

            (iii) if any person, or any combination of persons (different from
                  those person(s) holding Equity Securities prior to the date
                  hereof) acting jointly or in concert by virtue of an
                  agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding shall
                  acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, the right to appoint
                  a majority of the directors of the Corporation; or

            (iv)  if the Corporation sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of
                  all or substantially all of its assets, except that no Change
                  of Control will be deemed to occur if such sale or disposition
                  is made to a subsidiary or subsidiaries of the Corporation.

            provided however, that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to
            have occurred if such Change in Control results solely from the
            issuance of Equity Securities in connection with a bona fide
            financing or series of financings by the Corporation.

      (c)   "Base Salary" shall mean the annual base salary, as referred to in
            Section 3 (Base Salary), and as adjusted from time to time in
            accordance with Section 5 (Annual Review), of the Employment
            Agreement.

      (d)   "Bonus" shall mean the bonus referred to in Section 6 (Performance
            Bonus) of the Employment Agreement.

      (e)   "Cause" shall have the meaning set out in Section 19 (Termination
            by the Corporation for Cause) of the Employment Agreement.

      (f)   "Date of Termination" shall mean, if your employment is terminated,
            the date specified in the Notice of Termination.

      (g)   "Equity Security" in respect of a security of the Corporation, shall
            have the meaning ascribed thereto in Part II of the Securities Act
            (British Columbia), as it existed on the date of this Agreement, and
            also means any security carrying the

<PAGE>
                                     - 3 -

            right to convert such security into, exchange such security for, or
            entitling the holder to subscribe for, any equity security, or into
            or for any such convertible or exchangeable security or security
            carrying a subscription right.

      (h)   "Good Reason" shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the
            following events, without your express written consent, within 12
            months of Change in Control:

            (i)   a material change in your status, position, authority or
                  responsibilities that does not represent a promotion from or
                  represents an adverse change from your status, position,
                  authority or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to
                  the Change in Control;

            (ii)  a material reduction by the Corporation, in the aggregate, in
                  your Base Salary, or incentive, retirement, health benefits,
                  bonus or other compensation plans provided to you immediately
                  prior to the Change in Control, unless an equitable
                  arrangement has been made with respect to such benefits in
                  connection with a Change in Control;

            (iii) a failure by the Corporation to continue in effect any other
                  compensation plan in which you participated immediately prior
                  to the Change in Control (except for reasons of
                  non-insurability), including but not limited to, incentive,
                  retirement and health benefits, unless an equitable
                  arrangement has been made with respect to such benefits in
                  connection with a Change in Control;

            (iv)  any request by the Corporation or any affiliate of the
                  Corporation that you participate in an unlawful act; or

            (v)   any purported termination of your employment by the
                  Corporation after a Change in Control which is not effected
                  pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
                  requirements of clause (i) below and for the purposes of this
                  Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.

      (i)   "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice, in writing,
            communicated to the other party in accordance with Section 6 below,
            which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this
            Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the
            facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination
            of your employment under the provision so indicated.

      (j)   "Potential Change in Control" of the Corporation shall be deemed to
            have occurred if:

            (i)   the Corporation enters into an agreement, the consummation of
                  which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;

            (ii)  any person (including the Corporation) publicly announces an
                  intention to take or to consider taking actions which if
                  consummated would constitute a Change in Control; or

<PAGE>
                                     - 4 -

            (iii) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for the
                  purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control of
                  the Corporation has occurred.

3.    POTENTIAL CHANGE IN CONTROL.

      You agree that, in the event of a Potential Change in Control of the
Corporation occurring after the Effective Date, and until 12 months after a
Change in Control, subject to your right to terminate your employment by issuing
and delivering a Notice of Termination for Good Reason, you will continue to
diligently carry out your duties and obligations, on the terms set out in the
Employment Agreement.

4.    COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION FOLLOWING CHANGE IN CONTROL.

      Subject to compliance by you with Section 3, upon your employment
terminating pursuant to a Notice of Termination within 12 months after a Change
in Control, the Corporation agrees that you shall receive and you agree to
accept, the following payments in full satisfaction of any and all claims you
may have or then may have against the Corporation, for remuneration, fees,
salary, benefits, bonuses or severance, arising out of or in connection with
your employment by the Corporation or the termination of your employment:

      (a)   If your employment shall be terminated by the Corporation for Cause
            or by you other than for Good Reason, the terms of the Employment
            Agreement shall govern and the Corporation shall have no further
            obligations to you under this Agreement.

      (b)   If your employment by the Corporation shall be terminated by you for
            Good Reason or by the Corporation other than for Cause, then you
            shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided below:

            (i)   subject to the withholding of all applicable statutory
                  deductions, the Corporation shall pay you a lump sum equal to
                  12 months' Base Salary, as referred to in Section 3 (Base
                  Salary) and as adjusted from time to time in accordance with
                  Section 5 (Annual Review) of the Employment Agreement, plus
                  other sums owed for arrears of salary, vacation pay and, if
                  awarded, Bonus;

            (ii)  to the extent permitted by law and subject to the terms and
                  conditions of any benefit plans in effect from time to time,
                  the Corporation shall maintain the benefits and payments set
                  out in Section 7 (Benefits) of the Employment Agreement during
                  the 12 month period;

            (iii) the Corporation shall arrange for you to be provided with such
                  outplacement career counselling services as are reasonable and
                  appropriate, to assist you in seeking new executive level
                  employment; and

            (iv)  all incentive stock options and trust shares granted to you by
                  the Corporation under any stock option and/or trust share
                  agreement that is

<PAGE>
                                     - 5 -

                  entered into between you and the Corporation and is
                  outstanding at the time of termination of your employment,
                  which incentive stock options and or trust shares have not yet
                  vested, shall immediately vest upon the termination of your
                  employment and shall be fully exercisable by you in accordance
                  with the terms of the agreement or agreements under which such
                  options were granted.

You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in
this Section 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any sums
actually received be deducted.

5.    BINDING AGREEMENT.

      This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be enforceable by your
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees. If you die while any amount would still be
payable to you under this Agreement if you had continued to live, that amount
shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee,
legatee or other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your estate.

6.    NOTICES.

      All notices and other communications that are required or permitted by
this Agreement must be in writing and shall be hand delivered or sent by express
delivery service or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, or by
facsimile transmission (with written confirmation copy by registered mail) to
the parties at the addresses indicated below.

                  IF TO ASPREVA:

                  Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation
                  Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy
                  26th Floor, 700 West Georgia Street
                  Vancouver, BC  V7Y 1B3

                  Attn:  R. Hector MacKay-Dunn

                  IF TO STEVEN PIAZZA:

                  ATTN HENRY A. GLADSTONE

                  AND
                  Steven Piazza,
                  831 Kenmore Drive,
                  West Chester, PA 19380
                  USA

Any such notice shall be deemed to have been received on the earlier of the date
actually received or the date five (5) days after the same was posted or sent.
Either party may change its address or its facsimile number by giving the other
party written notice, delivered in accordance with this Section.

<PAGE>
                                     - 6 -

7.    MODIFICATION: AMENDMENTS: ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

      This Agreement may not be modified, waived or discharged unless such
waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by you and
such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either
party at any time of any breach by the other party of, or compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the
same or at any prior or subsequent time. Except as set forth in your Employment
Agreement, 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 this Agreement.

8.    GOVERNING LAW.

      This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the
laws of the Province of British Columbia and applicable laws of Canada and the
parties hereto attorn to the exclusive jurisdiction of the provincial and
federal courts of such province.

9.    VALIDITY.

      The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

10.   NO EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE CONTRACT

      Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon you any right to continue in
the employment of the Corporation for any period of specific duration or
interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation or
you, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate your
employment at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.

<PAGE>
                                     - 7 -

      If the foregoing sets forth our agreement on this matter, kindly sign and
return to the Corporation a copy of this letter.

                                                  Yours truly,

                                                  ASPREVA PHARMACEUTICALS
                                                  CORPORATION

                                                  By:  /s/ NOEL HALL
                                                       -------------------------
                                                       Authorized Signatory

Accepted and agreed to by Steven Piazza as of the 7th day of December, 2004

/s/ STEVEN PIAZZA
------------------------------------------
STEVEN PIAZZA

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