Document:

Employment
        Agreement

      

      THIS
        EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of September
        1, 2007 and is effective as of August 22nd,
        2007
        (the “Effective Date”) by and between
        Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a
        New
        York corporation, with an office located at 1 Duncan Drive Cranbury NJ 08512
        (the “Company”) and Clifford H. Straub, Jr.  an
        individual with an address 24 Deerfield Road, Mendham, NJ 07945 (“[EMPLOYEE]”).

      

      WHEREAS,
        the Company is in the business of researching,
        developing and commercializing unique, value-added, cancer chemotherapies
        for
        the most difficult to treat cancers
        (the
        Company's Business); and

      

      WHEREAS,
        EMPLOYEE has had significant experience in the financial operations of
        pharmaceutical and biotech companies; and

      

      WHEREAS,
        the Company desires to retain the services of EMPLOYEE; and

      

      WHEREAS,
        EMPLOYEE is willing to be employed by the Company.

      

      NOW,
        THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the
        parties agree as follows:

      

      EMPLOYEE
        is hereby employed and engaged to serve the Company as the Chief Financial
        Officer, and Vice President of the Company or such additional titles as the
        Company shall specify from time to time, though no change is to be made to
        title
        and any related duties without the explicit written approval of the EMPLOYEE,
        and EMPLOYEE does hereby accept, and EMPLOYEE hereby agrees to such engagement
        and employment. 

      

      1.
        Duties.
        EMPLOYEE
        shall be responsible for the overall financial and accounting needs of the
        Company. In addition, EMPLOYEE’s duties shall be such duties and
        responsibilities as the Company’s Board of Directors shall specify from time to
        time, and shall entail those duties customarily performed by the Chief Financial
        Officer of a similarly situated company EMPLOYEE shall diligently and faithfully
        execute and perform such duties and responsibilities, subject to the general
        supervision and control of the Company’s Board of Directors. EMPLOYEE shall be
        responsible and report only to the Company’s Board of Directors, in its sole and
        absolute discretion, shall determine EMPLOYEE’s duties and responsibilities and
        may assign or reassign EMPLOYEE to such duties and responsibilities as it
        deems
        in the Company's best interest. EMPLOYEE shall devote his full-time attention,
        energy, and skill during normal business hours to the business and affairs
        of
        the Company and shall not, during the Employment Term, as that term is defined
        below, be actively engaged in any other business activity, except with the
        prior
        written consent of the Company’s Board of Directors. 

      

      Nothing
        in this Agreement shall preclude EMPLOYEE from devoting reasonable periods
        required for:

      

      
        	 	
                (a)

              	
                serving
                  as a director or member of a committee of any organization or corporation
                  involving no conflict of interest with the interests of the
                  Company;

              

      

       

      
        
           

        

        
           

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      
        	 	
                (b)

              	
                serving
                  as a consultant in his area of expertise (in areas other than in
                  connection with the Company’s Business), to government, industrial, and
                  academic panels where it does not conflict with the interests of
                  the
                  Company; and

              

      

      

      
        	 	
                (c)

              	
                managing
                  his personal investments or engaging in any other non-competing
                  business;
                  provided
                  that such activities do not materially interfere with the regular
                  performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement
                  as
                  determined by the Company.

              

      

      

      2.
        Best Efforts of EMPLOYEE.
        During
        his employment hereunder, EMPLOYEE shall, subject to the direction and
        supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, devote his full business time,
        best efforts, business judgment, skill, and knowledge to the advancement
        of the
        Company's interests and to the discharge of his duties and responsibilities
        hereunder. 

      

      3.
        Employment Term.
        Unless
        terminated pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement, the term of this Agreement
        shall commence as of the Effective Date of this Agreement and shall continue
        for
        a term of twenty nine (29) months (the “Initial Term”), and shall be
        automatically renewed for successive two (2) year terms (the “Renewal Term”)
        unless a party hereto notifies the other that it does not wish to renew the
        Agreement at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the then current term
        (the
        terms “Initial Term” and “Renewal Term” are collectively hereinafter referred to
        as the “Employment Term”). 

      

      5.
        Compensation of EMPLOYEE. 

      

      
        	 	
                (a)

              	
                Base
                  Compensation.
                  As
                  compensation for the services provided by EMPLOYEE under this Agreement,
                  the Company shall pay EMPLOYEE an annual salary of One Hundred
                  and Fifty
                  Thousand Dollars ($150,000) (the “Base Compensation”). The Base
                  Compensation shall be reviewed each year and may be increased in
                  the sole
                  discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors (or its Audit
                  Committee).Compensation Committee).  The compensation of EMPLOYEE
                  under this Section shall be paid in accordance with the Company's
                  usual
                  payroll procedures. EMPLOYEE is also eligible to receive a bonus
                  per the
                  discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors.

              

      

      

      
        	 	
                (b)

              	
                IPO
                  Bonus.
                  Upon the completion of an underwritten Initial Public Offering
                  of the
                  Company's shares, the Company shall increase the Base Compensation
                  of the
                  EMPLOYEE by $25,000. 

              

      

      

      

      
        	 	
                (c)

              	
                Incentive
                  Stock and Stock Options.
                  EMPLOYEE shall also be eligible to receive shares of the Company’s
                  authorized common stock and options to purchase shares of the Company’s
                  authorized common stock in accordance with the terms of the 2005
                  Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Incentive Stock Plan
                  .

              

      

      

      5.
        Benefits. EMPLOYEE
        shall be entitled to participate in any and all Company benefit plans, from
        time
        to time, in effect for employees of the Company. Such participation shall
        be
        subject to the terms of the applicable plan documents and generally applicable
        Company policies.

       

      
        
           

        

        
          2

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      6.
        Vacation, Sick Leave and Holidays.
        EMPLOYEE
        shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation, with such vacation
        to be
        scheduled and taken in accordance with the Company's standard vacation policies.
        In addition, EMPLOYEE shall be entitled to such sick leave and holidays at
        full
        pay in accordance with the Company's policies established and in effect from
        time to time.

      

      7.
        Business Expenses.
        The
        Company shall reimburse EMPLOYEE for all reasonable out-of-pocket business
        expenses incurred in performing EMPLOYEE’s duties and responsibilities hereunder
        in accordance with the Company's policies, provided EMPLOYEE promptly furnishes
        to the Company adequate records of each such business expense.

      

      8.
        Location of EMPLOYEE's Activities. EMPLOYEE’s
        principal place of business in the performance of his duties and obligations
        under this Agreement shall be determined by the Board of Directors within
        the Central New Jersey area.  Notwithstanding
        the preceding sentence, EMPLOYEE will engage in such travel and spend such
        time
        in other places as may be necessary or appropriate in furtherance of his
        duties
        hereunder.

      

      9.
        Confidentiality.
        EMPLOYEE
        recognizes that the Company has and will have business affairs, products,
        future
        plans, trade secrets, customer lists, and other vital, non-publicly disclosed
        information (collectively "Confidential Information") that are valuable assets
        of the Company. EMPLOYEE agrees that he shall not at any time or in any manner,
        either directly or indirectly, divulge, disclose, or communicate, or use
        in any
        manner (except in performance of his services to the Company pursuant to
        the
        terms of this Agreement) any Confidential Information to any third party
        without
        the prior written consent of the Company’s Board of Directors. EMPLOYEE will
        protect the Confidential Information and treat it as strictly
        confidential.

      

      10. Non-Competition.
        EMPLOYEE
        acknowledges that he has gained, and will gain extensive knowledge in the
        business conducted by the Company and has had, and will have, extensive contacts
        with customers of the Company. Accordingly, EMPLOYEE agrees that he shall
        not
        compete directly or indirectly with the Company, either during the Employment
        Term or during the twelve
        (12)
        month
        period immediately after the termination of EMPLOYEE’s employment under Section
        11 and shall not, during such period, make public statements in derogation
        of
        the Company. For the purposes of this Section 11, competing directly or
        indirectly with the Company shall mean engaging, directly or indirectly,
        as
principal
        owner,
        officer, partner, consultant, advisor, or otherwise, either alone or in
        association with others, in the operation of any entity engaged in the Company's
        Business. Other than in the connection with a legal proceeding or a proceeding
        of a regulatory body EMPLOYEE and Company shall not, for a 5 year period
        after
        the Employment Term, make public statements in derogation of the other.

      

      11.
        Termination.
        Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof to the contrary, EMPLOYEE’s
        employment hereunder shall terminate under the following
        circumstances:

      

      
        	 	
                (a)

              	
                Voluntary
                  Termination by EMPLOYEE.
                  EMPLOYEE shall have the right to voluntarily terminate this Agreement
                  and
                  his employment hereunder at any time during the Employment Term.
                  

              

      

       

      
        
           

        

        
          3

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      
        	 	
                (b)

              	
                Termination
                  by EMPLOYEE for GOOD REASON. EMPLOYEE
                  shall have the right to terminate this Agreement upon 30 days notice
                  to
                  Company for Good Reason, which shall not be affected by the EMPLOYEE's
                  incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The EMPLOYEE's continued
                  employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights
                  with
                  respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason hereunder
                  though
                  EMPLOYEE shall provide notice to the Company within 60 days of
                  such
                  material adverse change constituting GOOD REASON. GOOD REASON shall
                  mean
                  the occurrence, without the EMPLOYEE's express written consent,
                  of any of
                  the following circumstances unless, in the case of paragraphs (i)
                  through
                  (iv), such circumstances are fully corrected prior to the Date
                  of
                  Termination specified in the Notice of Termination given in respect
                  thereof which shall be no less than twenty (20)
                  days:

              

      

       

      (i) the
        assignment to the EMPLOYEE of any significant duties materially inconsistent
        with the EMPLOYEE's status as a senior executive officer of the Company or
        a
        materially adverse alteration in the nature or status of the EMPLOYEE's
        responsibilities;

      

      (ii) the
        relocation of the Company's principal executive offices to a location outside
        the Metropolitan New York or New Jersey area or the Company's requiring the
        EMPLOYEE to be based anywhere other than the Company's principal executive
        offices, excluding required travel on the Company's business to an extent
        materially consistent with the EMPLOYEE's present business travel obligations;
        

      

      (iii) the
        act
        by the Company, without the EMPLOYEE's consent, to reduce by more than 10%
        any
        portion of the EMPLOYEE's current compensation except pursuant to an
        across-the-board compensation deferral similarly affecting all senior executives
        of the Company and all senior executives of any person in control of the
        Company, or failure to pay to the EMPLOYEE any portion of an installment
        of
        deferred compensation under any deferred compensation program of the Company,
        within seven (7) days of the date such compensation is due; 

      

      (iv) the
        material breach by the Company of any material term of this
        Agreement.

      

      
        	 	
                (c)

              	
                Voluntary
                  Termination by the Company. The
                  Company shall have the right to voluntarily terminate this Agreement
                  and
                  EMPLOYEE’s employment hereunder at any time during the Employment
                  Term.

              

      

      

      
        	 	
                (d)

              	
                Termination
                  for Cause.
                  The Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement and
                  EMPLOYEE’s employment hereunder at any time for cause. As used in this
                  Agreement, "cause" shall mean refusal by EMPLOYEE to implement
                  or adhere
                  to lawful policies or directives of the Company’s Board of Directors, in
                  accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, breach
                  of this
                  Agreement, EMPLOYEE’s conviction of a felony, other conduct of a criminal
                  nature as determined by governmental authorities that may have
                  a material
                  adverse impact on the Company's reputation, breach of fiduciary
                  duty or
                  the criminal misappropriation by EMPLOYEE of funds from or resources
                  of
                  the Company. Cause shall not be deemed to exist unless the Company
                  shall
                  have first given EMPLOYEE a written notice thereof specifying in
                  reasonable detail the facts and circumstances alleged to constitute
                  "cause" and thirty (30) days after such notice such conduct has,
                  or such
                  circumstances have, as the case may be, not entirely ceased and
                  not been
                  entirely remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of the
                  Company.

              

      

       

      
        
           

        

        
          4

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      
        	 	
                (e)

              	
                Termination
                  Upon Death or for Disability.
                  This Agreement and EMPLOYEE’s employment hereunder, shall automatically
                  terminate upon EMPLOYEE’s death or upon written notice to EMPLOYEE and
                  certification of EMPLOYEE’s disability by a qualified physician or a panel
                  of qualified physicians if EMPLOYEE will be disabled continuously
                  beyond a
                  period of twelve (12) months and will be unable to perform the
                  duties
                  contained in this Agreement. 

              

      

      

      
        	 	
                (f)

              	
                Effect
                  of Termination.
                  In
                  the event that this Agreement and EMPLOYEE’s employment is voluntarily
                  terminated by EMPLOYEE pursuant to Section 11(a), or in the event
                  the
                  Company voluntarily terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section
                  11(d)
                  all obligations of the Company shall cease except for the obligations
                  of
                  both parties under Section 17. In the event that this Agreement
                  and
                  EMPLOYEE’s employment is terminated under Sections 11(a) through 11(e) all
                  duties, responsibilities and obligations of EMPLOYEE under this
                  Agreement
                  shall cease except for the restrictions and/or obligations of Sections
                  9,
                  10, 11 and 17. 

              

      

      

      (i)Upon
        such termination pursuant to Sections 11(b), Termination by EMPLOYEE for
        GOOD
        REASON or 11(c), Voluntary Termination by the Company, the Employee shall
        receive all accrued Base Compensation through the date of termination plus
        all
        accrued vacation pay and bonuses, if any, plus twelve (12) months of the
        annualized salary based on the EMPLOYEE’s
        Base
        Compensation including benefits such as health and other insurance benefits
        made
        available to Company employees or made available to the company by its
        professional employer organization for terminated employees as the case may
        be
        (provided
        that the
        EMPLOYEE shall not be entitled to any benefits under this Section 11 (f)(i)
        while the EMPLOYEE is a full-time employee of any other company providing
        reasonably similar benefits) as severance compensation. In the event the
        termination under section 11(b) occurs within twelve (12) months of a Change
        of
        Control (which shall mean any merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other
        similar transaction or series of transactions involving the Company, which
        excludes any transaction or transactions following which the Company or its
        stockholders continue to own a majority of the combined voting power of the
        outstanding securities of the corporation or other entity surviving or
        succeeding to the business of the Company, then the severance compensation
        shall
        be increased to eighteen (18) months of Employee’s Base Compensation.

      

      (ii)In
        the event this Agreement is terminated upon the death or disability of EMPLOYEE
        pursuant to Section 11(e),
        EMPLOYEE
        shall be entitled to all compensation and
        benefits pursuant
        to Section 5 of this
        Agreement
        for the
        period between the effective termination date to the end of the Employment
        Term
        (up to a maximum of twelve
        (12)
        months
        pay) pursuant to Section 4. Payment will be made to EMPLOYEE or EMPLOYEE’s
        appointed trustee. 

       

      
        
           

        

        
          5

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      12.
        Resignation as Officer.
        In the
        event that EMPLOYEE’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason
        whatsoever, EMPLOYEE agrees to immediately resign as an officer and/or director
        of the Company and any related entities. For the purposes of this Section
        13,
        the term the "Company" shall be deemed to include subsidiaries, parents,
        and
        affiliates of the Company. 

      

      13.No
        Mitigation. The
        Company agrees that, if the EMPLOYEE's employment is terminated during the
        term
        of this Agreement, the EMPLOYEE is not required to seek other employment
        or to
        attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable and benefits due to the
        EMPLOYEE by the Company under this Agreement. However benefits payable by
        the
        Company on behalf of the EMPLOYEE shall be replaced by the benefit plan earned
        by the EMPLOYEE if EMPLOYEE has accepted a full time employment with another
        company.

      

      14.
        Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Venue.
        This
        Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
        of the
        State of Incorporation of the Company without giving effect to any applicable
        conflicts of law provisions.

      

      15.
        Business Opportunities.
        During
        the Employment Term EMPLOYEE agrees to bring to the attention of the Company’s
        Board of Directors all written business proposals that come to EMPLOYEE’s
        attention and all business or investment opportunities of whatever nature
        that
        are created or devised by EMPLOYEE and that relate to areas in which the
        Company
        conducts business and might reasonably be expected to be of interest to the
        Company or any of its subsidiaries.

      

      16.
        Employee’s Representations and Warranties.
        EMPLOYEE
        hereby represents and warrants that he is not under any contractual obligation
        to any other company, entity or individual that would prohibit or impede
        EMPLOYEE from performing his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement
        and that he is free to enter into and perform the duties and responsibilities
        required by this Agreement. EMPLOYEE hereby agrees to indemnify and hold
        the
        Company and its officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents harmless
        in connection with the representations and warranties made by EMPLOYEE in
        this
        Section 16.

       

      17.
        Indemnification.

      

      
        	 	
                (a)

              	
                The
                  Company agrees that if EMPLOYEE is made a party, or is at any time
                  threatened to be made a party, to any action, suit or proceeding,
                  whether
                  civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "Proceeding"),
                  by
                  reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee
                  of
                  the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company
                  as a
                  director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation,
                  partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including
                  service
                  with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis
                  of such
                  Proceeding is EMPLOYEE’s alleged action in an official capacity while
                  serving as a director, officer, member, employee or agent, EMPLOYEE
                  shall
                  be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest
                  extent
                  permitted or authorized by the Company's certificate of incorporation
                  or
                  bylaws or, if greater, by the laws of the State of New York, or
                  the
                  Company’s State of Incorporation (whichever is broader), against all cost,
                  expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney's
                  fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts
                  paid
                  or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by
                  EMPLOYEE
                  in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue
                  as to
                  EMPLOYEE even if he has ceased to be a director, member, employee
                  or agent
                  of the Company or other entity and shall inure to the benefit of
                  EMPLOYEE’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall advance
                  to EMPLOYEE or to his heirs, executors and administrators to the
                  extent
                  permitted by law all reasonable costs and expenses which may be
                  reasonably
                  incurred by him in connection with a Proceeding within 20 days
                  after
                  receipt by the Company of a written request, with appropriate
                  documentation, for such advance. Such request shall include an
                  undertaking
                  by EMPLOYEE or EMPLOYEE’s heirs, executors and administrators to repay the
                  amount of such advance if it shall ultimately be determined that
                  EMPLOYEE
                  or his heirs, executors and administrators is not entitled to be
                  indemnified against such costs and
                  expenses.

              

      

       

      
        
           

        

        
          6

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      
        	 	
                (b)

              	
                Neither
                  the failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors, independent
                  legal counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior
                  to the
                  commencement of any proceeding concerning payment of amounts claimed
                  by
                  EMPLOYEE that indemnification of EMPLOYEE is proper because he
                  has met the
                  applicable standard of conduct, nor a determination by the Company
                  (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel or
                  stockholders) that EMPLOYEE has not met such applicable standard
                  of
                  conduct, shall create a presumption that EMPLOYEE has not met the
                  applicable standard of conduct.

              

      

      

      
        	 	
                (c)

              	
                The
                  Company agrees to continue and maintain appropriate
                  directors' and officers' liability insurance policy covering EMPLOYEE
                  to
                  the extent the Company provides such coverage for its other executive
                  officers.

              

      

      

      
        	 	
                (d)

              	
                Promptly
                  after receipt by EMPLOYEE of notice of any claim or the commencement
                  of
                  any action or proceeding with respect to which EMPLOYEE is entitled
                  to
                  indemnity hereunder, EMPLOYEE shall notify the Company in writing
                  of such
                  claim or the commencement of such action or proceeding, and the
                  Company
                  shall (i) assume the defense of such action or proceeding, (ii)
                  employ
                  counsel reasonably satisfactory to EMPLOYEE, and (iii) pay the
                  reasonable
                  fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding the preceding
                  sentence,
                  EMPLOYEE shall be entitled to employ counsel separate from counsel
                  for the
                  Company and from any other party in such action if EMPLOYEE reasonably
                  determines that a conflict of interest exists which makes representation
                  by counsel chosen by the Company not advisable. In such event,
                  the
                  reasonable fees and disbursements of such separate counsel for
                  EMPLOYEE
                  shall be paid by the Company to the extent permitted by
                  law.

              

      

       

      
        
           

        

        
          7

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      
        	 	
                (e)

              	
                After
                  the termination of this Agreement and upon the request of EMPLOYEE,
                  the
                  Company agrees to reimburse EMPLOYEE for all reasonable travel,
                  legal and
                  other out-of-pocket expenses related to assisting the Company to
                  prepare
                  for or defend against any action, suit, proceeding or claim brought
                  or
                  threatened to be brought against the Company or to prepare for
                  or
                  institute any action, suit, proceeding or claim to be brought or
                  threatened to be brought against a third party arising out of or
                  based
                  upon the transactions contemplated herein and in providing evidence,
                  producing documents or otherwise participating in any such action,
                  suit,
                  proceeding or claim. In the event EMPLOYEE is required to appear
                  after
                  termination of this Agreement at a judicial or regulatory hearing
                  in
                  connection with EMPLOYEE's employment hereunder, or EMPLOYEE's
                  role in
                  connection therewith, the Company agrees to pay EMPLOYEE a reasonable
                  sum,
                  to be mutually agreed upon by EMPLOYEE and the Company, per diem
                  for each
                  day of his appearance and each day of preparation
                  therefor.

              

      

      

      18.
        Notices.
        All
        demands, notices, and other communications to be given hereunder, if any,
        shall
        be in writing and shall be sufficient for all purposes if personally delivered,
        sent by facsimile or sent by United States mail to the address below or such
        other address or addresses as such party may hereafter designate in writing
        to
        the other party as herein provided.

      

        
          	
                  Company:

                	
                  EMPLOYEE:

                
	
                  Cornerstone
                    Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

                	
                  Clifford
                    H. Straub Jr.

                
	
                   

                	
                  24
                    Deerfield Road

                
	
                  Attn:
                    General Counsel 

                	
                  Mendham,
                    NJ 07945

                
	
                  1
                    Duncan Drive Cranbury NJ 08512

                	 

        

      

      

      

      19.
        Entire Agreement.
        This
        Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and there are no other
        promises or conditions in any other agreement, whether oral or written. This
        Agreement supersedes any prior written or oral agreements between the parties.
        This Agreement may be modified or amended, if the amendment is made in writing
        and is signed by both parties. This Agreement is for the unique personal
        services of EMPLOYEE and is not assignable or delegable, in whole or in part,
        by
        EMPLOYEE. This Agreement may be assigned or delegated, in whole or in part,
        by
        the Company and, in such case, shall be assumed by and become binding upon
        the
        person, firm, company, corporation or business organization or entity to
        which
        this Agreement is assigned. The headings contained in this Agreement are
        for
        reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation
        of
        this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid
        or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall continue
        to be
        valid and enforceable and any such provision that is held to be invalid or
        unenforceable shall be substituted by a valid or enforceable provision that
        is
        as similar in its intent as to the invalid or unenforceable provision. The
        failure of either party to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall
        not be
        construed as a waiver or limitation of that party's right to subsequently
        enforce and compel strict compliance with every provision of this Agreement.
        This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
        shall
        be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
        the
        same instrument and, in pleading or proving any provision of this Agreement,
        it
        shall not be necessary to produce more than one of such counterparts.

      
        
           

        

        
          8

          
            

          

        

        
           

        

      

       

      IN
        WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and
        year
        first above written.

       

      

        
          	
                  CORNERSTONE
                    PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.:

                	 	
                  EMPLOYEE:

                
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
                  By: 

                	  
	
                  /s/
                    Robert Rodriguez

                	 	
                  By:  

                	
                  /s/
                    Clifford H. Straub, Jr.

                
	
                  Name:

                	
                  Robert
                    Rodriguez

                	 	 	
                  EMPLOYEE

                
	
                  Title:

                	
                  President

                	 	 	 

        

         

        
          
             

          

          
            9CORNERSTONE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    

    January
      10, 2007

    

    Zuzana
      Zachar

    23
      Dave
      Lane,

    Centereach
      NY 11721

    

    Dear
      Dr.
      Zachar,

    I
      am
      pleased to offer you the part time position of Director of Research with
      Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. You will report directly to Dr. Paul Bingham,
      VP of Research. Your start date will be January 15, 2007. Your salary will
      be
      $12,000 annually. 

    

    You
      will
      be eligible to participate in the Company’s royalty pool which shall be
      established by the Company to provide for the payment of a 3% royalty to be
      shared, as determined by the Company’s Board of Director’s, by selected
      inventors based upon the net sales of products whose use, manufacture or sale
      infringes upon a valid claim contained within one or more Company owned and
      issued patent(s) in which you are named as an Inventor.

    

    This
      offer also is made contingent upon your signing the attached Employment
      Terms.

    

    This
      offer will remain effective for seven days from the date shown above. If you
      wish to accept this offer, and we hope that you do, please sign and date this
      letter at the appropriate places and call me to arrange returning it to
      me.

    

    If
      you
      have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

     

    Sincerely,

    

    David
      Polinsky

    General
      Counsel

    

    Accepted:

    
      
        	
                  
                  /s/ Zuzana Zachar

              	 	
                1/14/07

              	 
	
                Zuzana
                  Zachar

              	 	
                Dated

              	 

      

    

    

    
      
        
          
          

        

        
          2

          
            

          

        

        
          
          

        

      

    

     

    
        
        CORNERSTONE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

       

    

    TERMS
      OF PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT

    

    As
      a
      condition of my employment with Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the
      "Company"), I agree to the following Terms of Part-Time Employment:

    

    1.
      Employment
      at Will.

    I
      agree
      that unless specifically stated in writing and signed by both me and an
      authorized officer of the Company, any employment granted to me is at will
      and
      for an indefinite term, and that such employment may be terminated at any time
      either by me or by the Company for any or no reason whatsoever, and I hereby
      waive and disclaim any express or implied covenants to the contrary. In
      accepting employment by Company, I have not relied and will not rely on any
      statements or representations, whether oral or in writing, by any officers,
      employees or agents of Company concerning the duration or term of employment,
      grounds and procedures for discharge or termination of employment, or any other
      terms and conditions of employment except those specifically stated in writing
      and signed by both me and an authorized officer of Company. I further understand
      that the provisions of any employee handbooks, personnel manuals and any and
      all
      other written statements of or regarding personnel policies, practices or
      procedures that are or may be issued by Company or any official or department
      thereof from time to time do not and shall not constitute a contract of
      employment and create no vested rights; that any such provisions may be changed,
      revised, modified, suspended, cancelled, or eliminated by Company at any time
      without notice; and that they constitute guidelines only and may be disregarded
      either in individual or Company-wide situations when in the sole opinion and
      judgment of Company circumstances so require.

    

    2.
      Confidential
      Information.

    A.
      Company
      Information.
      I agree
      at all times during the term of employment and thereafter, to hold in strictest
      confidence, and not to use, except for the benefit of Company, or to disclose
      to
      any person, firm or corporation without written authorization of Company, the
      Confidential Information of Company. I understand that "Confidential
      Information" means any Company proprietary information, Inventions (as defined
      below), technical data, trade secrets or know-how, including, but not limited
      to, research, product plans, products, services, customer lists and customers
      (including, but not limited to, customers of the Company on whom I call or
      with
      whom I became acquainted during the term of my employment), software,
      developments, inventions, processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings,
      engineering, hardware configuration information, marketing, financial or other
      business information disclosed to me by Company either directly or indirectly
      in
      writing, orally or by drawings or observation of parts or equipment. Company
      acknowledges that Confidential Information does not include any of the foregoing
      items that have become publicly known and made generally available through
      no
      wrongful act of me or of others who were under confidentiality obligations
      as to
      the item or items involved. The
      obligations set forth in this Section shall survive the expiration or
      termination of my employment for whatever reason for a period of five (5) years
      after such expiration or termination

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        3

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    

        
        CORNERSTONE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 

    

    B.
      Former
      Employer Information.
      I agree
      not to improperly use or disclose any proprietary information or trade secrets
      of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity and I will not
      bring onto the premises of the Company any unpublished document or
      proprietary information
      belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing
      by such employer, person or entity.

    

    C.
      Third
      Party Information.
      I
      recognize that Company has received and in the future will receive from third
      parties their confidential or proprietary information (such as, but not limited
      to, software programs provided by license) subject to a duty on Company's part
      to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for
      certain limited purposes. Employee agrees to hold all such confidential or
      proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it
      to
      any person, firm or corporation or to use it except as necessary in carrying
      out
      my work for Company consistent with Company's agreement with such third party.
      I
      agree to comply with Company's policies and procedures, as applicable from
      time
      to time, with respect to such information.

    

    3.
      Inventions.

    A.
      Inventions
      Retained and Licensed.
      Attached
      hereto, as Exhibit A, is a list describing all inventions, original works of
      authorship, developments, improvements, and trade secrets which I made prior
      to
      employment or consultancy with Company (collectively referred to as "Prior
      Inventions"), which belong to me, which relate to the Company's proposed
      business, products or research and development, and which are not assigned
      to
      the Company hereunder (or not licensed to the Company through the Exclusive
      License Agreement entered into between the Company and the Research Foundation
      of the State University of New York pursuant to an agreement dated June 21,
      2001
      (“License Agreement”)); or, if no such list attached, I represent that there are
      no such Prior Inventions. If in the course of employment with the Company,
      I
      incorporate into a Company product, process or machine a Prior Invention owned
      by me or in which I have has an interest, Company is hereby granted and shall
      have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license
      to
      make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention as part of or in
      connection with such product, process or machine.

    

    B.
      Assignment
      of Inventions.
      The
      Employee shall make full and prompt disclosure to the Company of any and all
      inventions, discoveries, developments, processes, improvements and or concepts
      created, conceived, originated or reduced to practice by the Employee or his
      employees or approved collaborators (“Inventions”), arising, in whole or in
      part, from the Employee’s services provided hereunder and shall promptly supply
      to the Company any and all such materials and document(s) documenting any and
      all Inventions created, conceived, originated or reduced to practice. This
      obligation shall apply whether or not the Employee has conceived, created,
      originated or reduced to practice Invention(s) on the Company’s premises or
      during normal consulting hours.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        4

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    

        
        CORNERSTONE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

       

    

    C.
      Filings.
      The
      employee shall not make any filings for patents, patent applications,
      continuations-in-part, division or continuation applications, reissuances,
      reexaminations or extensions thereof or their foreign counterparts or
      equivalents in respect of any Inventions made subject to Section 3 (B)
      hereunder. Any and all such filings shall be made by the Company and any
      resulting patent rights shall be owned by the Company

     

    D.
      Further
      Acts.
      The
      Employee shall assign to the Company (or any person or entity designated by
      the
      Company) all the Employee’s right, title and interest in and to any and all
      Inventions subject to Section 3 (B) hereunder and any and all related materials
      and document(s). The Employee agrees both during and after the term of this
      Agreement to do or procure the doing of all such acts and things and to sign
      or
      procure the signing of all such deeds and documents as the Company may in its
      sole discretion require from time to time, without limitation, in connection
      with the filing, prosecution, maintenance and renewal of patents, patent
      applications, continuations-in-part, division or continuation applications,
      reissuances, reexaminations or extensions thereof or their foreign counterparts
      or equivalents and the making of assignments. The Employee further agrees that
      she irrevocably designates and appoints each director of the Company other
      than
      the Employee as the agent and attorney-in-fact of her to do such acts and things
      and execute all such deeds and documents as the Company may deem necessary
      or
      desirable in order to protect its rights and interest in any Invention, material
      or document. Employee shall be notified in writing within five (5) working
      days
      of any and all actions taken by the Company as the agent or attorney -in-fact
      under this Section 3 (D).

    

    E.
      Duty
      to Maintain.
      The
      Employee hereby expressly acknowledges that the Company is under no duty or
      obligation under the terms of this Agreement to file, prosecute, maintain or
      renew any or any other patent related document where the Company’s
      considerations, objectives or priorities from time to time do not support such
      action in any particular country.

    

    F.
      Inventions
      Assigned to the United States.
      I agree
      to assign to the United States government all of my right, title, and interest
      in and to any and all Inventions whenever such full title is required to be
      in
      the United States by a contract between Company and the United States or any
      of
      its agencies.

    

    G.
      Research
      Foundation.
      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and in accordance
      with § 11, of these Term and Conditions and § 9.2 of License Agreement, during
      the Employee services and the Employee’s employment with the State University of
      New York or the FOUNDATION, as the case may be, the Employee shall not be
      restricted from reporting material INVENTIONS (as defined in that License
      Agreement) to the State University of New York or the FOUNDATION, as the case
      may be, as required by the Employee’s employment agreement with the State
      University of New York or the FOUNDATION, as the case may be, and the Employee
      shall provide a copy of such reports to the Company and agrees to reference
      in
      such report the State University of New York’s or the FOUNDATION’s obligation,
      as the case may be, to maintain any such reports made to the State University
      of
      New York or the FOUNDATION, as the case may be, by the Employee
      confidential.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        5

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    

        
        CORNERSTONE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

       

    

    4.
      Conflicting
      Employment.
      

    I
      agree
      that, during the term of my employment with Company, I will not engage in any
      other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly
      related to the business in which the Company is now involved or becomes involved
      during the term of my employment, nor will I engage in any other activities
      that
      conflict with my obligations to Company or will impair my ability to act at
      all
      times in the best interest of the Company.

    

    5.
      Returning
      Company Documents.
      

    I
      agree
      that, at the time I leave the employ of Company, I will deliver to Company
      (and
      will not keep in possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) any and all
      devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence,
      specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other
      documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items developed
      by
      me pursuant to employment with Company or otherwise belonging to Company, its
      successors or assigns. Upon termination of my employment for any reason, I
      agree
      to sign and deliver the "Termination Certification" attached hereto as Exhibit
      B.

    

    6.
      Notification
      of New Employer.
      

    Upon
      termination of my employment for any reason, I hereby grant consent to
      notification by the Company to any subsequent employer about rights and
      obligations under this Agreement.

    

    7.
      Solicitation
      of Employees.
      

    I
      agree
      that for a period of twelve months immediately following the termination of
      my
      employment with Company for any reason, whether with or without cause, I shall
      not either directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any
      of
      Company's employees to leave their employment, or take away such employees,
      or
      attempt to solicit, induce, recruit, encourage or take away employees of
      Company, either for me or for any other person or entity.

    

    8.
      Other
      Policies.
      

    I
      agree
      to comply with all Company policies, rules and procedures that are generally
      applicable to
      Company employees, as they may be implemented, revised or rescinded from time
      to
      time in the Company’s sole discretion.

    

    9.
      Equitable
      Relief.

    I
      agree
      that it would be impossible or inadequate to measure and calculate Company's
      damages from any breach of the covenants set forth in Sections 2, 3, 4, 5,
      and 7
      herein. Accordingly, I agree that upon breach of any of such Sections, Company
      will have available, in addition to any other right or remedy available, the
      right to obtain an injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction restraining
      such breach or threatened breach and to specific performance of any such
      provision of this Terms of Part -Time Employment. I further agree that no bond
      or other surety shall be required in order to obtain such relief and I hereby
      consent to the issuance of such injunction and to any order of specific
      performance.

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        6

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    

        
        CORNERSTONE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

       

    

    10.
      General
      Provisions.

    A.
      Governing
      Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction.
      The laws
      of the State of New York will govern the Terms of Part-Time Employment, and
      I
      hereby expressly consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal
      courts located therein for any lawsuit filed there by the Company arising from
      or relating to my employment.

    

    B.
      Entire
      Agreement.
      This
      agreement is the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject
      matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous oral and
      prior
      written agreements and understandings. There are no oral promises, conditions,
      representation, understandings, interpretations or terms of any kind as
      conditions or inducements to the execution hereof or in effect among the
      parties. No customer or trade usage, nor course of conduct among the parties,
      shall be relied upon to vary the terms hereof. This agreement may not be
      amended, and no provision hereof shall be waived, except by a writing signed
      by
      all the parties to this Agreement, which states that it is intended to amend
      or
      waive a provision of this Agreement. The failure of either party at any time
      to
      require performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect its rights
      at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by either party of any condition
      or term in any one or more instances shall be construed as a further or
      continuing waiver of such condition or term or any other condition or
      term.

    

    C.
      Severability.
      If one
      or more of the clauses in this Terms of Part-Time Employment are deemed
      unenforceable, then the remaining clauses will continue in full force and
      effect.

    

    D.
      Successors
      and Assigns.
      This
      Terms of Part-Time Employment will be binding upon my heirs, executors,
      administrators and other legal representatives and will be for the benefit
      of
      the Company, its successors, and its assigns.

    

    11.
      Foundation.
       Employee
      covenants that, during the employment term and her employment with the Research
      Foundation of the State of New York, (the “FOUNDATION”) and in accordance with
      the provisions of FOUNDATION’s policies on intellectual property she will only
      provide services on her “own time” and will not utilize university research
      facilities in the performance of the services unless such use falls under the
      State University of New York Board of Trustees’ policy of cooperative use of
      research equipment or policy on use of State University facilities by emerging
      technology enterprises and then, such use of university research facilities
      shall only be performed by Employee with the prior written consent of the
      CEO.

    

    Date:
      ______________   _________________________________

    Zuzana
      Zachar

    

    
      
        
          
          

        

        
          7

          
            

          

        

        
          
          

        

      

    

    

        
        CORNERSTONE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    

    

    EXHIBIT
      A

    

    LIST
      OF PRIOR INVENTIONS

    AND
      ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

     

    

      
        	
                Title

              	
                Date

              	
                Identifying
                  Name or Number

                or
                  Brief Description

              

      ______
        No
        inventions or improvements

      

      ______
        Additional Sheets Attached

    

    

    

      
        	
                Date:
                  

              	
                   
                  

              	 	
                   
                  

              
	 	 	 	
                Zuzana
                  Zachar

              

      

    

    

    
      
        
          
          

        

        
          8

          
            

          

        

        
          
          

        

      

    

    

        
        CORNERSTONE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

       

      EXHIBIT
        B

    

    

    TERMINATION
      CERTIFICATION

    

    The
      undersigned Employee certifies that Employee does not have in possession, and
      has not failed to return, any devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals,
      lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches,
      materials, equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any
      aforementioned items belonging to
      Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
      its
      subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns (together, the
      "Company").

    

    Employee
      further certifies compliance with all the Terms of Part-Time Employment signed
      by Employee, including the reporting of any inventions and original works of
      authorship (as defined therein), conceived or made by Employee (solely or
      jointly with others) covered by that agreement.

    

    Employee
      further agrees that, in compliance with the Terms of Part-Time Employment,
      Employee will preserve as confidential all trade secrets, confidential
      knowledge, data or other proprietary information relating to products,
      processes, know-how, designs, formulas, developmental or experimental work,
      computer programs, data bases, other original works of authorship, customer
      lists, business plans, financial information or other subject matter pertaining
      to any business of the Company or any of its employees, clients, employees
      or
      licensees.

    

    
      

        
          	
                  Date:
                    

                	
                     
                    

                	 	
                     
                    

                
	 	 	 	
                  Zuzana
                    Zachar

                

        

         

      

    

    
      
        
        

      

      
        9

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