Document:

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                                  EXHIBIT 10.08

                       ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

         THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated
August 18, 2000 is by and between Xcel Energy Inc., a Minnesota corporation,
formerly known as Northern States Power Company, (the "Assignor"), and Northern
States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation, formerly known as Northern Power
Corporation (the "Assignee").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, in connection with that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated March 24, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement") between Assignor, then known as
Northern States Power Company and New Century Energies, Inc. ("NCE"), subject to
certain conditions, the Assignor agreed to contribute, transfer, assign, convey
and deliver to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Assignor, now identified as the
Assignee, as a capital contribution or in exchange for shares of such
subsidiary's capital stock, all of Assignor's assets other than the stock of the
Assignor's subsidiaries (the "Assets"), and such subsidiary will assume all of
the Assignor's liabilities and obligations in respect of the Assets (the
"Assumed Obligations"); and

         WHEREAS, Assignor desires to assign the Assets to Assignee, and
Assignee wishes to assume the Assumed Obligations as contemplated by the Merger
Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises herein made and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the parties hereto agree
as follows:

         1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Merger Agreement.

         2. ASSIGNMENT. Subject to the fulfillment or waiver of all conditions
to Assignor's obligation to effect the merger under the Merger Agreement,
Assignor hereby assigns, transfers and conveys to Assignee all of Assignor's
rights, title and interest in and to the Assets, effective as of 6:00 p.m.
Minneapolis, Minnesota time on August 18, 2000 (the "Effective Time").

                  In addition, as of the Effective Time and as part of the Asset
Contribution, Assignor hereby assigns, transfers and conveys to Assignee all of
Assignor's rights, obligations and benefits under all executory contracts,
permits, leases and other agreements entered by Assignor in the ordinary course
of its business, including, but not

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limited to easements, permits or other land rights for right-of-way, access
or other occupancy or usage purposes, all municipal and other franchises,
leaseholds, licenses, permits, privileges, patents and patent rights,
evidence of indebtedness, contracts, claims, accounts receivable, all books
of account and other corporate records, choses in action and other
intangibles. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Assignor
specifically assigns all rights, obligations and benefits under all
certificates of need, franchises, rate schedules and other authorities
provided or issued by operation of law or by order or consent of a regulatory
or governmental body to Assignor with the intent that as of the Effective
Time Assignor's status under such certificates, franchises, rate schedules
and other authorities shall be treated as if such were initially issued to or
acquired directly by Assignee.

         3. ASSUMPTION. As of the Effective Time, Assignee hereby accepts the
foregoing assignment and agrees to assume and be bound by all of the terms of,
and to undertake all of the obligations and liabilities of the Assumed
Obligations.

         4. SUPPLEMENTAL TRUST INDENTURE. In furtherance of the foregoing
assignment and assumption and as a condition precedent to the following release,
the parties hereby agree to enter a Supplemental Trust Indenture with Harris
Trust and Savings Bank, whereby, in accordance with the original Trust Indenture
dated February 1, 1937, the Assignee in consideration of the transfer by
Assignor of all the mortgaged and pledged property under the Trust Indenture,
assumes all the obligations of the Assignor under said February 1, 1937 Trust
Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto.

         5. RELEASE OF ASSIGNOR. Simultaneously with the effectiveness of this
Agreement, Assignor shall be released from all Assumed Obligations with the
exception of Assignor's obligations under that certain Indenture dated as of
January 30, 1997, as supplemented, between Assignor and Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, National Association (formerly, Norwest Bank Minnesota, National
Association), as Trustees pertaining to Assignor's 7-7/8% Junior Subordinated
Debentures due 2037.

         6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. As inducement for the other party to
enter into this Agreement, Assignor and Assignee, as applicable, represent and
warrant the following:

                  6.1. EXISTENCE. It is duly organized, validly existing and in
         good standing in its respective state of incorporation and duly
         qualified to carry on its business as it has been and is currently
         conducted.

                  6.2. AUTHORITY; NO CONFLICT. It has all requisite power and
         authority to enter into this Agreement, and its execution, delivery and
         performance of this Agreement does not and will not (a) violate,
         conflict with or result in the breach of

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         any provision of its corporate or company organizational documents,
         (b) conflict with or violate any law or governmental order
         applicable to it or any of its assets, properties or businesses, or
         (c) conflict with, result in any breach of, constitute a default (or
         event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both,
         would become a default) under, require any consent under, or give to
         others any rights to or termination, amendment, acceleration,
         suspension, revocation or cancellation of, or result in the creation
         on any encumbrance on the Units or any of its assets or properties
         pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage or indenture, contract,
         agreement, lease, sublease, license, permit, franchise or other
         instrument or arrangement to which it is a party or any of its
         assets or properties is bound or affected which could have a
         material adverse effect upon its business, assets or properties.

                  6.3 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS. This
         Agreement has been made in accordance with all applicable laws and
         regulations and the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement.

         7. FURTHER ASSURANCES. As additional consideration for entering this
Agreement, each party hereto agrees that from time to time after the date
hereof, it shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such
deeds, assignments of easements, permits, contracts or other agreements, bills
of sale or other instruments, documents and papers, and take all such further
action as may be reasonably required in order to consummate more effectively the
purposes of this Agreement and to implement the transactions contemplated
hereby.

         8. AMENDMENT. No waiver, modification or amendment of any provision of
this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by Assignor
and Assignee.

         9. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAW OF CONFLICTS) OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

         10. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

              [The remainder of this page is intentionally blank.]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered on the date first above written.

                                XCEL ENERGY INC.

                                By:
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    Edward J. McIntyre
                                    Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

                                NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY

                                By:
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    Wayne H. Brunetti
                                    Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                                    Officer

                                       4<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.4

                                AEROGEN, INC.

                          2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

                           ADOPTED AUGUST 24, 2000
         AMENDED FOR 3 FOR 1 REVERSE STOCK SPLIT _____________, 2000
                APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS _______________, 2000
                    TERMINATION DATE: _______________, 2010

1.       PURPOSES.

         (a) ELIGIBLE STOCK AWARD RECIPIENTS. The persons eligible to receive
Stock Awards are the Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and
its Affiliates.

         (b) AVAILABLE STOCK AWARDS. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a
means by which eligible recipients of Stock Awards may be given an
opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through
the granting of the following Stock Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii)
Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) stock bonuses and (iv) rights to acquire
restricted stock.

         (c) GENERAL PURPOSE. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to
retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards,
to secure and retain the services of new members of this group and to provide
incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the
Company and its Affiliates.

2.       DEFINITIONS.

         (a) "AFFILIATE" means any parent corporation or subsidiary
corporation of the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms
are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.

         (b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         (d) "COMMITTEE" means a committee of one or more members of the
Board appointed by the Board in accordance with subsection 3(c).

         (e) "COMMON STOCK" means the common stock of the Company.

         (f) "COMPANY" means AeroGen, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         (g) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, (i) engaged
by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and
who is compensated for

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such services or (ii) who is a member of the Board of Directors of an
Affiliate. However, the term "Consultant" shall not include either Directors
who are not compensated by the Company for their services as Directors or
Directors who are merely paid a director's fee by the Company for their
services as Directors.

         (h) "CONTINUOUS SERVICE" means that the Participant's service with
the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant,
is not interrupted or terminated. The Participant's Continuous Service shall
not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity
in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an
Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the
Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or
termination of the Participant's Continuous Service. For example, a change in
status from an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or a
Director will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Board
or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party's sole
discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered
interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party,
including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave.

         (i) "COVERED EMPLOYEE" means the chief executive officer and the
four (4) other highest compensated officers of the Company for whom total
compensation is required to be reported to stockholders under the Exchange
Act, as determined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

         (j) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board of Directors of the
Company.

         (k) "DISABILITY" means the permanent and total disability of a
person within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

         (l) "EMPLOYEE" means any person employed by the Company or an
Affiliate. Mere service as a Director or payment of a director's fee by the
Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by
the Company or an Affiliate.

         (m) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         (n) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of the
Common Stock determined as follows:

                  (i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or traded on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing
sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as
quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the
greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the last market trading
day prior to the day of determination, as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
or such other source as the Board deems reliable.

                  (ii) In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock,
the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board.

                                       2.
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         (o) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder.

         (p) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a
current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or a subsidiary,
does not receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or
its parent or a subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any
capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which
disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act ("Regulation S-K")), does not
possess an interest in any other transaction as to which disclosure would be
required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K and is not engaged in a business
relationship as to which disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of
Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for
purposes of Rule 16b-3.

         (q) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

         (r) "OFFICER" means a person who is an officer of the Company within
the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

         (s) "OPTION" means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock
Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

         (t) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company
and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual
Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan.

         (u) "OPTIONHOLDER" means a person to whom an Option is granted
pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an
outstanding Option.

         (v) "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a
current employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" (within the
meaning of Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the
Code), is not a former employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation"
receiving compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax
qualified pension plan), was not an officer of the Company or an "affiliated
corporation" at any time and is not currently receiving direct or indirect
remuneration from the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for services in
any capacity other than as a Director or (ii) is otherwise considered an
"outside director" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

         (w) "PARTICIPANT" means a person to whom a Stock Award is granted
pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an
outstanding Stock Award.

         (x) "PLAN" means this AeroGen, Inc. 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.

         (y) "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act
or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.

         (z) "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       3.
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         (aa) "STOCK AWARD" means any right granted under the Plan, including
an Option, a stock bonus and a right to acquire restricted stock.

         (bb) "STOCK AWARD  AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the
Company and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of
an individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject
to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

         (cc) "TEN PERCENT STOCKHOLDER" means a person who owns (or is deemed
to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the Company or of any of its Affiliates.

3.       ADMINISTRATION.

         (a) ADMINISTRATION BY BOARD. The Board shall administer the Plan
unless and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as
provided in subsection 3(c).

         (b) POWERS OF BOARD. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and
within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

                  (i) To determine from time to time which of the persons
eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how each
Stock Award shall be granted; what type or combination of types of Stock
Award shall be granted; the provisions of each Stock Award granted (which
need not be identical), including the time or times when a person shall be
permitted to receive Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award; and the number
of shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Award shall be
granted to each such person.

                  (ii) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards
granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations
for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct
any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award
Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient
to make the Plan fully effective.

                  (iii) To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in
Section 12.

                  (iv) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such
acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests
of the Company which are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.

         (c) DELEGATION TO COMMITTEE.

                  (i) GENERAL. The Board may delegate administration of the
Plan to a Committee or Committees of one (1) or more members of the Board,
and the term "Committee" shall apply to any person or persons to whom such
authority has been delegated. If administration is delegated to a Committee,
the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan,
the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to
delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is
authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall
thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such
resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the

                                       4.
<PAGE>

Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish
the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the
Plan.

                  (ii) COMMITTEE COMPOSITION WHEN COMMON STOCK IS PUBLICLY
TRADED. At such time as the Common Stock is publicly traded, in the
discretion of the Board, a Committee may consist solely of two or more
Outside Directors, in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code, and/or
solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3.
Within the scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may (1)
delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not
Outside Directors the authority to grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who
are either (a) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered
Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Stock
Award or (b) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply
with Section 162(m) of the Code and/or) (2) delegate to a committee of one or
more members of the Board who are not Non-Employee Directors the authority to
grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16
of the Exchange Act.

         (d) EFFECT OF BOARD'S DECISION. All determinations, interpretations
and constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to
review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all
persons.

4.       SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

         (a) SHARE RESERVE. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating
to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, the Common Stock that may be
issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate one million
(1,000,000) shares of Common Stock.

         (b) EVERGREEN SHARE RESERVE INCREASE.

                  (i) Notwithstanding subsection 4(a) hereof, on the day of
each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (the "Calculation Date")
for a period of ten (10) years, commencing with the annual meeting of
stockholders in 2001, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that is
available for issuance under the Plan shall automatically be increased by
that number of shares equal to the least of (1) four and one-half percent (4
1/2 %) of the Diluted Shares Outstanding; (2) two million (2,000,000) number
of shares of Common Stock; or (3) such lesser number of shares as determined
by the Board.

                  (ii) "Diluted Shares Outstanding" shall mean, as of any
date, (1) the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company on
such Calculation Date, plus (2) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon such Calculation Date assuming the conversion of all outstanding
Preferred Stock and convertible notes, plus (3) the additional number of
dilutive Common Stock equivalent shares outstanding as the result of any
options or warrants outstanding during the fiscal year, calculated using the
treasury stock method.

         (c) REVERSION OF SHARES TO THE SHARE RESERVE. If any Stock Award
shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part,
without having been exercised in full, the shares of Common Stock not
acquired under such Stock Award shall revert to and again become available
for issuance under the Plan. If any shares are repurchased, such repurchased

                                       5.
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shares shall revert back to and again become available for issuance under the
Plan for all Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options.

         (d) SOURCE OF SHARES. The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan
may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or
otherwise.

5.       ELIGIBILITY.

         (a) ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIFIC STOCK AWARDS. Incentive Stock Options
may be granted only to Employees. Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock
Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants.

         (b) TEN PERCENT STOCKHOLDERS. A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be
granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is
at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the
Common Stock at the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.

         (c) SECTION 162(m) LIMITATION. Subject to the provisions of Section
11 relating to adjustments upon changes in the shares of Common Stock, no
Employee shall be eligible to be granted Options covering more than one
million (1,000,000) shares of Common Stock during any calendar year.

         (d)      CONSULTANTS.

                  (i) A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a
Stock Award if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under
the Securities Act ("Form S-8") is not available to register either the offer
or the sale of the Company's securities to such Consultant because of the
nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, or
because the Consultant is not a natural person, or as otherwise provided by
the rules governing the use of Form S-8, unless the Company determines both
(i) that such grant (A) shall be registered in another manner under the
Securities Act (E.G., on a Form S-3 Registration Statement) or (B) does not
require registration under the Securities Act in order to comply with the
requirements of the Securities Act, if applicable, and (ii) that such grant
complies with the securities laws of all other relevant jurisdictions.

                  (ii) Form S-8 generally is available to consultants and
advisors only if (i) they are natural persons; (ii) they provide bona fide
services to the issuer, its parents, its majority-owned subsidiaries or
majority-owned subsidiaries of the issuer's parent; and (iii) the services
are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a
capital-raising transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or
maintain a market for the issuer's securities.

6.       OPTION PROVISIONS.

         Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be
separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options
at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate
or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on
exercise of each type of Option. The provisions of separate Options need not
be identical, but

                                      6.
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each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by
reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following
provisions:

         (a) TERM. Subject to the provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten
Percent Stockholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after
the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.

         (b) EXERCISE PRICE OF AN INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION. Subject to the
provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the
exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one
hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject
to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may be granted with an exercise price
lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted
pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner
satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

         (c) EXERCISE PRICE OF A NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION. The exercise
price of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than eighty-five
percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the
Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
Nonstatutory Stock Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than
that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant
to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying
the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

         (d) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired
pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable
statutes and regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is
exercised or (ii) at the discretion of the Board at the time of the grant of
the Option (or subsequently in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option) (1)
by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock, (2) according to a deferred
payment or other similar arrangement with the Optionholder or (3) in any
other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board. Unless
otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the purchase price of Common
Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery to the Company
of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company,
shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have
been held for more than six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of
time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting
purposes). At any time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, payment
of the Common Stock's "par value," as defined in the Delaware General
Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.

         In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be
compounded at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of
interest necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable
provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be
interest under the deferred payment arrangement.

         (e) TRANSFERABILITY OF AN INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION. An Incentive Stock
Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder
only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding

                                       7.
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the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the
Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who,
in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled
to exercise the Option.

         (f) TRANSFERABILITY OF A NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION. A Nonstatutory
Stock Option shall be transferable to the extent provided in the Option
Agreement. If the Nonstatutory Stock Option does not provide for
transferability, then the Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be
exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written
notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a
third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall
thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

         (g) VESTING GENERALLY. The total number of shares of Common Stock
subject to an Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable
in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be
subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may
be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the
Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may
vary. The provisions of this subsection 6(g) are subject to any Option
provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which
an Option may be exercised.

         (h) TERMINATION OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE. In the event an
Optionholder's Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the
Optionholder's death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her
Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such
Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time
ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months following the
termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service (or such longer or
shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of
the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after
termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the
time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

         (i) EXTENSION OF TERMINATION DATE. An Optionholder's Option
Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the
termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service (other than upon the
Optionholder's death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely
because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration
requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in
subsection 6(a) or (ii) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after
the termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service during which the
exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration
requirements.

         (j) DISABILITY OF OPTIONHOLDER. In the event that an Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's Disability,
the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the
Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of
termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of
(i) the date twelve (12) months following such termination (or such longer or
shorter period specified in the Option Agreement) or (ii) the expiration of
the term of the Option as set forth in the Option

                                       8.
<PAGE>

Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or
her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

         (k) DEATH OF OPTIONHOLDER. In the event (i) an Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's death or (ii)
the Optionholder dies within the period (if any) specified in the Option
Agreement after the termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service for
a reason other than death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent
the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of
death) by the Optionholder's estate, by a person who acquired the right to
exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to
exercise the Option upon the Optionholder's death pursuant to subsection 6(e)
or 6(f), but only within the period ending on the earlier of (1) the date
eighteen (18) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter
period specified in the Option Agreement) or (2) the expiration of the term
of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after death, the
Option is not exercised within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate.

         (l) EARLY EXERCISE. The Option may, but need not, include a
provision whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the
Optionholder's Continuous Service terminates to exercise the Option as to any
part or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option prior to the
full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased
may be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other
restriction the Board determines to be appropriate.

7.       PROVISIONS OF STOCK AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS.

         (a) STOCK BONUS AWARDS. Each stock bonus agreement shall be in such
form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem
appropriate. The terms and conditions of stock bonus agreements may change
from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate stock bonus
agreements need not be identical, but each stock bonus agreement shall
include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the
agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

                  (i) CONSIDERATION. A stock bonus may be awarded in
consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or an
Affiliate for its benefit.

                  (ii) VESTING. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the
stock bonus agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share reacquisition
option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be
determined by the Board.

                  (iii) TERMINATION OF PARTICIPANT'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE. In
the event a Participant's Continuous Service terminates, the Company may
reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant
which have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the
stock bonus agreement.

                  (iv) TRANSFERABILITY. Rights to acquire shares of Common
Stock under the stock bonus agreement shall be transferable by the
Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the stock
bonus agreement, as the Board shall determine in its

                                       9.
<PAGE>

discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the stock bonus agreement
remains subject to the terms of the stock bonus agreement.

         (b) RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE AWARDS. Each restricted stock purchase
agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions
as the Board shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of the
restricted stock purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the
terms and conditions of separate restricted stock purchase agreements need
not be identical, but each restricted stock purchase agreement shall include
(through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or
otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

                  (i) PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price under each
restricted stock purchase agreement shall be such amount as the Board shall
determine and designate in such restricted stock purchase agreement. The
purchase price shall not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Common
Stock's Fair Market Value on the date such award is made or at the time the
purchase is consummated.

                  (ii) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of Common Stock
acquired pursuant to the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be paid
either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the
Board, according to a deferred payment or other similar arrangement with the
Participant; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be
acceptable to the Board in its discretion; provided, however, that at any
time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, then payment of the Common
Stock's "par value," as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law,
shall not be made by deferred payment.

                  (iii) VESTING. Shares of Common Stock acquired under the
restricted stock purchase agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share
repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting
schedule to be determined by the Board.

                  (iv) TERMINATION OF PARTICIPANT'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE. In
the event a Participant's Continuous Service terminates, the Company may
repurchase or otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock
held by the Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination
under the terms of the restricted stock purchase agreement.

                  (v) TRANSFERABILITY. Rights to acquire shares of Common
Stock under the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be transferable by
the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the
restricted stock purchase agreement, as the Board shall determine in its
discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the restricted stock
purchase agreement remains subject to the terms of the restricted stock
purchase agreement.

8.       COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

         (a) AVAILABILITY OF SHARES. During the terms of the Stock Awards,
the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common
Stock required to satisfy such Stock Awards.

         (b) SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. The Company shall seek to obtain from
each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such
authority as may be

                                       10.
<PAGE>

required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock
upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking
shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan,
any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such
Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain
from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for
the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock
under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure
to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and
until such authority is obtained.

9.       USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

         Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards
shall constitute general funds of the Company.

10.      MISCELLANEOUS.

         (a) ACCELERATION OF EXERCISABILITY AND VESTING. The Board shall have
the power to accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be
exercised or the time during which a Stock Award or any part thereof will
vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock
Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during
which it will vest.

         (b) STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. No Participant shall be deemed to be the
holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any
shares of Common Stock subject to such Stock Award unless and until such
Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award
pursuant to its terms.

         (c) NO EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER SERVICE RIGHTS. Nothing in the Plan or
any instrument executed or Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer
upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an
Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Stock Award was granted
or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the
employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause,
(ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant's
agreement with the Company or an Affiliate or (iii) the service of a Director
pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable
provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the
Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.

         (d) INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION $100,000 LIMITATION. To the extent that
the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common
Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the
first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of
the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000), the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit
(according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as
Nonstatutory Stock Options.

         (e) INVESTMENT ASSURANCES. The Company may require a Participant, as
a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award,
(i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the
Participant's knowledge and experience in financial and business matters
and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the

                                       11.
<PAGE>

Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business
matters and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with
the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock
Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company
stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock
Award for the Participant's own account and not with any present intention of
selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing
requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall
be inoperative if (1) the issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon the
exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award has been
registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the
Securities Act or (2) as to any particular requirement, a determination is
made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the
circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may,
upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates
issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order
to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to,
legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock.

         (f) WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS. To the extent provided by the terms of
a Stock Award Agreement, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or
local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of
Common Stock under a Stock Award by any of the following means (in addition
to the Company's right to withhold from any compensation paid to the
Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (i) tendering
a cash payment; (ii) authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common
Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant
as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock
Award, provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a
value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; or
(iii) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock.

11.      ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK.

         (a) CAPITALIZATION ADJUSTMENTS. If any change is made in the Common
Stock subject to the Plan, or subject to any Stock Award, without the receipt
of consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend
in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination
of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other
transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company), the
Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the nature, class(es) and maximum
number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 4 and the
maximum number of securities subject to award to any person pursuant to
subsection 5(c), and the outstanding Stock Awards will be appropriately
adjusted in the nature, class(es) and number of securities and price per
share of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. The Board
shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding
and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company
shall not be treated as a transaction "without receipt of consideration" by
the Company.)

         (b) DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. In the event of a dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Stock Awards shall terminate
immediately prior to such event.

                                       12.

<PAGE>

         (c) ASSET SALE, MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR REVERSE MERGER. In the
event of (i) a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the
Company is not the surviving corporation and in which beneficial ownership of
securities of the Company representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of the members of the
Board of Directors has changed; (iii) a reverse merger in which the Company
is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's Common Stock
outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the
merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or
otherwise, and in which beneficial ownership of securities of the Company
representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power
entitled to vote in the election of the member of the Board of Directors has
changed; (iv) an acquisition by any entity (other than (A) a controlled
affiliate of the Company, (B) any employee benefit plan, or related trust,
sponsored or maintained by the Company or subsidiary of the Company or other
entity controlled by the Company, or (C) any company owned directly or
indirectly by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of Common Stock interest of the Company,
immediately prior to the occurrence with respect to which the evaluation of
the Change in Control is being made) of the beneficial ownership, directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing at least fifty percent
(50%) of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
securities; or (v) in the event that the individuals who, as of the date of
adoption of the Plan, are members of the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Incumbent Board"), cease for any reason to constitute at least fifty percent
(50%) of the Board of Directors (if the election, or nomination for election
by the Company's stockholders, of any new Director is approved by a vote of
at least fifty percent (50%) of the Incumbent Board, such new Director shall
be considered to be a member of the Incumbent Board in the future), then any
surviving corporation or acquiring corporation shall assume any Stock Awards
outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar stock awards
(including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the
stockholders in the transaction described in this subsection 11(c) for those
outstanding under the Plan). In the event any surviving corporation or
acquiring corporation refuses to assume such Stock Awards or to substitute
similar stock awards for those outstanding under the Plan, then with respect
to Stock Awards held by Participants whose Continuous Service has not
terminated, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time
during which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall be accelerated in
full, and the Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable)
at or prior to such event. With respect to any other Stock Awards outstanding
under the Plan, such Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if
applicable) prior to such event.

12.      AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.

         (a) AMENDMENT OF PLAN. The Board at any time, and from time to time,
may amend the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11 relating to
adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, no amendment shall be effective
unless approved by the stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder
approval is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code,
Rule 16b-3 or any Nasdaq or securities exchange listing requirements.

         (b) STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. The Board may, in its sole discretion,
submit any other amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including,
but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the
requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations

                                       13.
<PAGE>

thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the
limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive
officers.

         (c) CONTEMPLATED AMENDMENTS. It is expressly contemplated that the
Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or
advisable to provide eligible Employees with the maximum benefits provided or
to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring
the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance
therewith.

         (d) NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS. Rights under any Stock Award granted
before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the
Plan unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii)
the Participant consents in writing.

         (e) AMENDMENT OF STOCK AWARDS. The Board at any time, and from time
to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards; provided,
however, that the rights under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any
such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant
and (ii) the Participant consents in writing.

13.      TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

         (a) PLAN TERM. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any
time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before
the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or
approved by the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Stock
Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it
is terminated.

         (b) NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS. Suspension or termination of the Plan
shall not impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while
the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the Participant.

14.      EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

         The Plan shall become effective upon the effective date of the
initial public offering of the Company's Common Stock, but no Stock Award
shall be exercised (or, in the case of a stock bonus, shall be granted)
unless and until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the
Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after
the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

15.      CHOICE OF LAW.

         The law of the State of California shall govern all questions
concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan,
without regard to such state's conflict of laws rules.

                                       14.
<PAGE>

                                 AEROGEN, INC.
                          2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

                            STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
             (INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION OR NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION)

         Pursuant to your Stock Option Grant Notice ("Grant Notice") and this
Stock Option Agreement, AeroGen, Inc. (the "Company") has granted you an
option under its 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") to purchase the
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock indicated in your Grant Notice
at the exercise price indicated in your Grant Notice. Defined terms not
explicitly defined in this Stock Option Agreement but defined in the Plan
shall have the same definitions as in the Plan.

         The details of your option are as follows:

         1. VESTING. Subject to the limitations contained herein, your option
will vest as provided in your Grant Notice, provided that vesting will cease
upon the termination of your Continuous Service.

         2. NUMBER OF SHARES AND EXERCISE PRICE. The number of shares of
Common Stock subject to your option and your exercise price per share
referenced in your Grant Notice may be adjusted from time to time for
Capitalization Adjustments, as provided in the Plan.

         3. METHOD OF PAYMENT. Payment of the exercise price is due in full
upon exercise of all or any part of your option. You may elect to make
payment of the exercise price in cash or by check or in any other manner
PERMITTED BY YOUR GRANT NOTICE, which may include one or more of the
following:

         a. In the Company's sole discretion at the time your option is
exercised and provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is
publicly traded and quoted regularly in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, pursuant to
a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve
Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the
receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable
instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the
sales proceeds.

         b. Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is
publicly traded and quoted regularly in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, by delivery
of already-owned shares of Common Stock either that you have held for the
period required to avoid a charge to the Company's reported earnings
(generally six months) or that you did not acquire, directly or indirectly
from the Company, that are owned free and clear of any liens, claims,
encumbrances or security interests, and that are valued at Fair Market Value
on the date of exercise. "Delivery" for these purposes, in the sole
discretion of the Company at the time you exercise your option, shall include
delivery to the Company of your attestation of ownership of such shares of
Common Stock in a form approved by the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, you may not exercise your option by tender to the Company of
Common Stock to the extent such tender

                                       1.
<PAGE>

would violate the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting
the redemption of the Company's stock.

         c. Pursuant to the following deferred payment alternative:

                  1) Not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the
aggregate exercise price, plus accrued interest, shall be due four (4) years
from date of exercise or, at the Company's election, upon termination of your
Continuous Service.

                  2) Interest shall be compounded at least annually and shall
be charged at the minimum rate of interest necessary to avoid the treatment
as interest, under any applicable provisions of the Code, of any portion of
any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the deferred
payment arrangement.

                  3) At any time that the Company is incorporated in
Delaware, payment of the Common Stock's "par value," as defined in the
Delaware General Corporation Law, shall be made in cash and not by deferred
payment.

                  4) In order to elect the deferred payment alternative, you
must, as a part of your written notice of exercise, give notice of the
election of this payment alternative and, in order to secure the payment of
the deferred exercise price to the Company hereunder, if the Company so
requests, you must tender to the Company a promissory note and a security
agreement covering the purchased shares of Common Stock, both in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company, or such other or additional
documentation as the Company may request.

         4. WHOLE SHARES. You may exercise your option only for whole shares
of Common Stock. The minimum number of shares you may exercise is one hundred
(100).

         5. SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, you may not exercise your option unless the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise are then registered under the
Securities Act or, if such shares of Common Stock are not then so registered,
the Company has determined that such exercise and issuance would be exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The exercise of
your option must also comply with other applicable laws and regulations
governing your option, and you may not exercise your option if the Company
determines that such exercise would not be in material compliance with such
laws and regulations.

         6. TERM. You may not exercise your option before the commencement of
its term or after its term expires. The term of your option commences on the
Date of Grant and expires upon the EARLIEST of the following:

         a. three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous Service
for any reason other than your Disability or death, provided that if during
any part of such three (3) month period your option is not exercisable
solely because of the condition set forth in the preceding paragraph relating
to "Securities Law Compliance," your option shall not expire until the
earlier of the Expiration Date or until it shall have been exercisable for an
aggregate period of three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous
Service;

                                      2
<PAGE>

         b. twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous
Service due to your Disability;

         c. eighteen (18) months after your death if you die either during
your Continuous Service or within three (3) months after your Continuous
Service terminates;

         d. the Expiration Date indicated in your Grant Notice; or

         e. the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant.

         If your option is an incentive stock option, note that, to obtain
the federal income tax advantages associated with an "incentive stock
option," the Code requires that at all times beginning on the date of grant
of your option and ending on the day three (3) months before the date of your
option's exercise, you must be an employee of the Company or an Affiliate,
except in the event of your death or Disability. The Company has provided for
extended exercisability of your option under certain circumstances for your
benefit but cannot guarantee that your option will necessarily be treated as
an "incentive stock option" if you continue to provide services to the
Company or an Affiliate as a Consultant or Director after your employment
terminates or if you otherwise exercise your option more than three (3)
months after the date your employment terminates.

         7. EXERCISE.

         a. You may exercise the vested portion of your option (and the
unvested portion of your option if your Grant Notice so permits) during its
term by delivering a Notice of Exercise (in a form designated by the Company)
together with the exercise price to the Secretary of the Company, or to such
other person as the Company may designate, during regular business hours,
together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.

         b. By exercising your option you agree that, as a condition to any
exercise of your option, the Company may require you to enter into an
arrangement providing for the payment by you to the Company of any tax
withholding obligation of the Company arising by reason of (1) the exercise
of your option, (2) the lapse of any substantial risk of forfeiture to which
the shares of Common Stock are subject at the time of exercise, or (3) the
disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise.

         c. If your option is an incentive stock option, by exercising your
option you agree that you will notify the Company in writing within fifteen
(15) days after the date of any disposition of any of the shares of the
Common Stock issued upon exercise of your option that occurs within two (2)
years after the date of your option grant or within one (1) year after such
shares of Common Stock are transferred upon exercise of your option.

         8. TRANSFERABILITY. Your option is not transferable, except by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your
life only by you. Notwithstanding the foregoing, by delivering written notice
to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, you may designate a
third party who, in the event of your death, shall thereafter be entitled to
exercise your option.

                                       3.
<PAGE>

         9. RIGHT OF REPURCHASE. To the extent provided in the Company's
bylaws as amended from time to time, the Company shall have the right to
repurchase all or any part of the shares of Common Stock you acquire pursuant
to the exercise of your option.

         10. OPTION NOT A SERVICE CONTRACT. Your option is not an employment
or service contract, and nothing in your option shall be deemed to create in
any way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ of
the Company or an Affiliate, or of the Company or an Affiliate to continue
your employment. In addition, nothing in your option shall obligate the
Company or an Affiliate, their respective stockholders, Boards of Directors,
Officers or Employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a
Director or Consultant for the Company or an Affiliate.

         11. WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS.

         a. At the time you exercise your option, in whole or in part, or at
any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize
withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to you, and otherwise
agree to make adequate provision for (including by means of a "cashless
exercise" pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated
by the Federal Reserve Board to the extent permitted by the Company), any
sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax
withholding obligations of the Company or an Affiliate, if any, which arise
in connection with your option.

         b. Upon your request and subject to approval by the Company, in its
sole discretion, and compliance with any applicable conditions or
restrictions of law, the Company may withhold from fully vested shares of
Common Stock otherwise issuable to you upon the exercise of your option a
number of whole shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value, determined
by the Company as of the date of exercise, not in excess of the minimum
amount of tax required to be withheld by law. If the date of determination of
any tax withholding obligation is deferred to a date later than the date of
exercise of your option, share withholding pursuant to the preceding sentence
shall not be permitted unless you make a proper and timely election under
Section 83(b) of the Code, covering the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock acquired upon such exercise with respect to which such determination is
otherwise deferred, to accelerate the determination of such tax withholding
obligation to the date of exercise of your option. Notwithstanding the filing
of such election, shares of Common Stock shall be withheld solely from fully
vested shares of Common Stock determined as of the date of exercise of your
option that are otherwise issuable to you upon such exercise. Any adverse
consequences to you arising in connection with such share withholding
procedure shall be your sole responsibility.

         c. You may not exercise your option unless the tax withholding
obligations of the Company and/or any Affiliate are satisfied. Accordingly,
you may not be able to exercise your option when desired even though your
option is vested, and the Company shall have no obligation to issue a
certificate for such shares of Common Stock or release such shares of Common
Stock from any escrow provided for herein.

         12. NOTICES. Any notices provided for in your option or the Plan
shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt
or, in the case of notices delivered by

                                       4.
<PAGE>

mail by the Company to you, five (5) days after deposit in the United States
mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address you provided to
the Company.

         13. GOVERNING PLAN DOCUMENT. Your option is subject to all the
provisions of the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby made a part of
your option, and is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules
and regulations which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted
pursuant to the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of
your option and those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control.

                                       5.
<PAGE>

                                AEROGEN, INC.
                          STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE
                         (2000 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN)

         AeroGen, Inc. (the "Company"), pursuant to its 2000 Equity Incentive
Plan (the "Plan"), hereby grants to Optionholder an option to purchase the
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock set forth below. This option
is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein and in the
Stock Option Agreement, the Plan and the Notice of Exercise, all of which are
attached hereto and incorporated herein in their entirety.

Optionholder:
                                       ---------------------------------------
Date of Grant:
                                       ---------------------------------------
Vesting Commencement Date:
                                       ---------------------------------------
Number of Shares Subject to Option:
                                       ---------------------------------------
Exercise Price (Per Share):
                                       ---------------------------------------
Total Exercise Price:
                                       ---------------------------------------
Expiration Date:
                                       ---------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<S>                   <C>                                     <C>
TYPE OF GRANT:        |_|  Incentive Stock Option             |_|  Nonstatutory Stock Option

EXERCISE SCHEDULE:    |_|  Same as Vesting Schedule           |_|  Early Exercise Permitted

VESTING SCHEDULE:     1/4th  of the shares vest one year after the Vesting Commencement Date.
                      1/48th of the shares vest monthly thereafter over the next three years.

PAYMENT:              By one or a combination of the following items (described in the Stock Option Agreement):

                                 By cash or check
                                 Pursuant to a Regulation T Program if the Shares are publicly traded
                                 By delivery of already-owned shares if the Shares are publicly traded
</TABLE>

         ADDITIONAL TERMS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The undersigned Optionholder
acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to, this Grant Notice,
the Stock Option Agreement and the Plan. Optionholder further acknowledges
that as of the Date of Grant, this Grant Notice, the Stock Option Agreement
and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between Optionholder and the
Company regarding the acquisition of stock in the Company and supersede all
prior oral and written agreements on that subject with the exception of (i)
options previously granted and delivered to Optionholder under the Plan, and
(ii) the following agreements only:

Other Agreements:                          -----------------------------------

                                           -----------------------------------

AEROGEN, INC.                                  OPTIONHOLDER:

By: -----------------------------------    -----------------------------------
               Signature                               Signature

Title: --------------------------------    Date: -----------------------------

Date: ---------------------------------

ATTACHMENTS:  Stock Option Agreement, 2000 Equity Incentive Plan and Notice
of Exercise

<PAGE>

                                                NOTICE OF EXERCISE

AeroGen, Inc
1310 Orleans Drive
Sunnyvale, California  94089                   Date of Exercise: _______________

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This constitutes notice under my stock option that I elect to
purchase the number of shares for the price set forth below.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>                        <C>
         Type of option (check one):                 Incentive  |_|             Nonstatutory  |_|

         Stock option dated:                         _______________

         Number of shares as
         to which option is
         exercised:                                  _______________

         Certificates to be
         issued in name of:                          _______________

         Total exercise price:                       $______________

         Cash payment delivered
         herewith:                                   $______________

         Value of ________ shares of
         AeroGen, Inc. common
         stock delivered herewith(1):                $______________
</TABLE>

-------------------------------
(1)      Shares must meet the public trading requirements set forth in the
option. Shares must be valued in accordance with the terms of the option
being exercised, must have been owned for the minimum period required in the
option, and must be owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances
or security interests. Certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by an
executed assignment separate from certificate.

<PAGE>

         By this exercise, I agree (i) to provide such additional documents as
you may require pursuant to the terms of the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, (ii) to
provide for the payment by me to you (in the manner designated by you) of your
withholding obligation, if any, relating to the exercise of this option, and
(iii) if this exercise relates to an incentive stock option, to notify you in
writing within fifteen (15) days after the date of any disposition of any of the
shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of this option that occurs within
two (2) years after the date of grant of this option or within one (1) year
after such shares of Common Stock are issued upon exercise of this option.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       ---------------------------------------

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