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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                                 NITROMED, INC.

                      RESTATED 1993 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.       PURPOSE.

         The purpose of this plan (the "Plan") is to secure for NitroMed, Inc.
(the "Company") and its stockholders the benefits arising from capital stock
ownership by employees, officers and directors of, and consultants or advisors
to, the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations who are expected to
contribute to the Company's future growth and success. Except where the context
otherwise requires, the term "Company" shall include the parent and all present
and future subsidiaries of the Company as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or replaced from time to time
(the "Code").

2. TYPE OF OPTIONS AND AWARDS; ADMINISTRATION.

     (a) TYPES OF OPTIONS AND AWARDS. Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall
be authorized by action of the Board of Directors of the Company (or a Committee
designated by the Board of Directors) and may be either incentive stock options
("Incentive Stock Options") meeting the requirements of Section 422 of the Code
or non-statutory options which are not intended to meet the requirements of
Section 422 of the Code. Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall be authorized
by action of the Board of Directors of the Company (or a Committee designated by
the Board of Directors) and shall meet the requirements of Section 14 of the
Plan.

     (b) ADMINISTRATION. The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors
of the Company, whose construction and interpretation of the terms and
provisions of the Plan shall be final and conclusive. The Board of Directors may
in its sole discretion (i) grant options to purchase shares of the Company's
Common Stock (as defined in Section 4 of the Plan), and issue shares upon
exercise of such options as provided in the Plan and (ii) make awards for the
purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 14 of the Plan. The Board
shall have authority, subject to the express provisions of the Plan, to construe
the respective option agreements, awards and the Plan, to prescribe, amend and
rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and
provisions of the respective option agreements and awards, which need not be
identical, and to make all other determinations in the judgment of the Board of
Directors necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Board
of Directors may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan or in any option agreement or award in the manner and
to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall
be the sole and final judge of such expediency. No director or person acting
pursuant to authority delegated by the Board of Directors shall be liable for
any action or determination made in good faith. The Board of Directors may, to
the full extent permitted by or consistent with applicable laws or regulations
(including, without limitation, applicable state law and Rule 16b-3 promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), or any successor
rule ("Rule 16b-3")), delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to a
committee (the "Committee") appointed by the Board of Directors, and if the
Committee is so appointed all references to the Board of Directors in the Plan
shall mean and relate to such Committee to the extent authority is so delegated
to such Committee.

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     (c) APPLICABILITY OF RULE 16B-3. Those provisions of the Plan which make
express reference to Rule 16b-3 shall apply only to such persons as are required
to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (a "Reporting Person").

3. ELIGIBILITY.

     (a) GENERAL. Options and awards may be granted or made to persons who are,
at the time of grant, employees, officers or directors (so long as such officers
and directors are also employees) of, or consultants or advisors to, the
Company; PROVIDED, that the class of employees to whom Incentive Stock Options
may be granted shall be limited to all employees of the Company. A person who
has been granted an option or award may, if he or she is otherwise eligible, be
granted additional options or awards if the Board of Directors shall so
determine.

     (b) GRANT OF OPTIONS TO DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. From and after the
registration of the Common Stock of the Company under the Exchange Act, the
selection of a director or an officer (as the terms "director" and "officer" are
defined for purposes of Rule 16b-3) as a participant, the timing of the option
grant or award, the exercise price of the option or the sale price of the award
and the number of shares for which an option or award may be granted to such
director or officer shall be determined either (i) by the Board of Directors, of
which all members shall be "disinterested persons" (as hereinafter defined), or
(ii) by a committee of two or more directors having full authority to act in the
matter, of which all members shall be "disinterested persons." For the purposes
of the Plan, a director shall be deemed to be "disinterested" only if such
person qualifies as a "disinterested person" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3,
as such term is interpreted from time to time.

4. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.CTORS AND OF

         Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17 below, the total number
of shares which may be issued and sold under the Plan is 2,288,200 shares of
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"). If an option or award
granted under the Plan shall expire or terminate for any reason without having
been exercised in full, the unpurchased shares subject to such option shall
again be available for subsequent option grants or awards under the Plan.

5. FORMS OF OPTION AGREEMENTS.

         As a condition to the grant of an option under the Plan, each recipient
of an option shall execute an option agreement in such form not inconsistent
with the Plan as may be approved by the Board of Directors. Such option
agreements may differ among recipients.

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6.       PURCHASE PRICE UPON EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

     (a) GENERAL. The purchase price per share of Common Stock deliverable upon
the exercise of an option shall be determined by the Board of Directors,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the fair
market value of such stock, as determined by the Board of Directors, at the time
of grant of such option, or less than 110% of such fair market value in the case
of options described in Section 11(b).

     (b) PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE. Options granted under the Plan may provide
for the payment of the exercise price by delivery of cash or a check to the
order of the Company in an amount equal to the exercise price of such options,
or, to the extent provided in the applicable option agreement, (i) by delivery
to the Company of shares of Common Stock of the Company already owned by the
optionee having a fair market value equal in amount to the exercise price of the
options being exercised, (ii) by any other means (including without limitation
by delivery of a promissory note of the optionee payable on such terms as are
specified by the Board of Directors) which the Board of Directors determines are
consistent with the purpose of the Plan and with applicable laws and regulations
(including, without limitation, the provisions of Rule 16b-3 and Regulation T
promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board) or (iii) by any combination of such
methods of payment. The fair market value of any shares of the Company's Common
Stock or other non-cash consideration which may be delivered upon exercise of an
option shall be determined in such manner as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors.

7. OPTION PERIOD.

     Each option and all rights thereunder shall expire on such date as shall be
set forth in the applicable option agreement, except that such date shall in no
case be later than ten years after the date on which the option is granted.

8. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

     Each option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable either in full or
in installments at such time or times and during such period as shall be set
forth in the agreement evidencing such option, subject to the provisions of the
Plan.

9. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.

     Options shall not be assignable or transferable by the person to whom it is
granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws
of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the optionee, shall be
exercisable only by the optionee; provided, however, that non-statutory options
granted to Reporting Persons may be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order (as defined in Rule 16b-3).

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10. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP.

     Except as provided in Section 11(d) with respect to Incentive Stock Options
and Section 12 with respect to non-statutory options, and subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Board of Directors shall determine the period of
time during which an optionee may exercise an option following (i) the
termination of the optionee's employment or other relationship with the Company
or (ii) the death or disability of the optionee. Such periods shall be set forth
in the agreement evidencing such option.

11. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.

     Options granted under the Plan which are intended to be Incentive Stock
Options shall be subject to the following additional terms and conditions:

     (a) EXPRESS DESIGNATION. All Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan
shall, at the time of grant, be specifically designated as such in the option
agreement covering such Incentive Stock Options.

     (b) 10% STOCKHOLDER. If any employee to whom an Incentive Stock Option is
to be granted under the Plan is, at the time of the grant of such option, the
owner of stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company (after taking into account the attribution
of stock ownership rules of Section 424(d) of the Code), then the following
special provisions shall be applicable to the Incentive Stock Option granted to
such individual:

          (i) The purchase price per share of the Common Stock subject to such
     Incentive Stock option shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value
     of one share of Common Stock at the time of grant; and

          (ii) The option exercise period shall not exceed five years from the
     date of grant.

     (c) DOLLAR LIMITATION. For so long as the Code shall so provider options
granted to any employee under the Plan (and any other incentive stock option
plans of the Company) which are intended to constitute Incentive Stock Options
shall not constitute Incentive Stock Options to the extent that such options, in
the aggregate, become exercisable for the first time in any one calendar year
for shares of Common Stock with an aggregate fair market value (determined as of
the respective date or dates of grant) of more than $100,000.

     (d) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, DEATH OR DISABILITY. No Incentive Stock
Option may be exercised unless, at the time of such exercise, the optionee is,
and has been continuously since the date of grant of his or her option, employed
by the Company, except that:

          (i) an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised within the period of
     three months after the date the optionee ceases to be an employee of the
     Company (or within such lesser period as may be specified in the applicable
     option agreement), PROVIDED, that the agreement with respect to such
     option, may designate a longer exercise period and that the exercise after
     such three-month period shall be treated as the exercise of a non-statutory
     option under the Plan;

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          (ii) if the optionee dies while in the employ of the Company, or
     within three months after the optionee ceases to be such an employee, the
     Incentive Stock Option may be exercised, by the person to whom it is
     transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution, within the
     period of one year after the date of death (or within such lesser period as
     may be specified in the applicable option agreement); and

          (iii) if the optionee becomes disabled (within the meaning of Section
     22(e)(3) of the Code or any successor provision thereto) while in the
     employ of the Company, the Incentive Stock Option may be exercised within
     the period of one year after the date the optionee ceases to be such an
     employee because of such disability (or within such lesser period as may be
     specified in the applicable option agreement).

For all purposes of the Plan and any option or award granted hereunder,
"employment" shall be defined in accordance with the provisions of Section
1.421-7(h) of the Income Tax Regulations (or any successor regulations).
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, no stock option may be exercised after
its expiration date.

12. NON-STATUTORY OPTIONS.

     Non-statutory options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the
following additional terms and conditions with respect to the termination of
employment, death or disability:

     (a) If the holder of a non-statutory option is employed by the Company, a
non-statutory option held by such optionee may be exercised within the period of
three months after the date the optionee ceases to be an employee of the Company
(or within such lesser period as may be specified in the applicable option
agreement), PROVIDED, that the agreement with respect to such option may
designate a longer exercise period;

     (b) If the holder of a non-statutory option dies while in the employ of the
Company, or within three months after the optionee ceases to be such an
employee, the non-statutory option may be exercised, by the person to whom it is
transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution, within the period
of one year after the date of death (or within such lesser period as may be
specified in the applicable option agreement); and

     (c) If the holder of a non-statutory option becomes disabled (within the
meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code or any successor provision thereto)
while in the employ of the Company, the non-statutory option may be exercised
within the period of one year after the date the optionee ceases to be such an
employee because of such disability (or within such lesser period as may be
specified in the applicable option agreement).

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13. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.

     (a) ADDITIONAL OPTION PROVISIONS. The Board of Directors may, in its sole
discretion, include additional provisions in any option granted under the Plan,
including without limitation restrictions on transfer and repurchase rights or
such other provisions as shall be determined by the Board of Directors; PROVIDED
THAT such additional provisions shall not be inconsistent with any other term or
condition of the Plan.

     (b) ACCELERATION, EXTENSION, ETC. The Board of Directors may, in its sole
discretion, (i) accelerate the date or dates on which all or any particular
option or options granted under the Plan may be exercised or (ii) extend the
dates during which all or any particular option or options granted under the
Plan may be exercised; provided, however, that no such extension shall be
permitted if it would cause the Plan to fail to comply with Section 422 of the
Code or with Rule 16b-3.

14. AWARDS.

     A restricted stock award ("award") shall consist of the sale and issuance
by the Company of shares of Common Stock, and purchase by the recipient of such
shares, subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions described in the
document evidencing the award and in this Section 14 and elsewhere in the Plan.

     (a) EXECUTION OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT. As a condition to an
award under the Plan, each recipient of an award shall execute an agreement in
such form, which may differ among recipients, as shall be specified by the Board
of Directors at the time of such award.

     (b) PRICE. The Board of Directors shall determine the price at which shares
of Common Stock shall be sold to recipients of awards under the Plan. The
purchase price shall be paid in cash or by check payable to the order of the
Company at the time that the award is accepted by the recipient, or by such
other means as may be approved by the Board of Directors.

     (c) NUMBER OF SHARES. The award shall specify the number of shares of
Common Stock granted thereunder.

     (d) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. In addition to such other terms, conditions
and restrictions upon awards as shall be imposed by the Board of Directors, all
shares issued pursuant to an award shall be subject to the following
restrictions:

          (1) All shares of Common Stock subject to an award (including any
     shares issued pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section) shall be subject
     to certain restrictions on disposition and obligations of resale to the
     Company as provided in subparagraph (2) below for the period specified in
     the document evidencing the award, and shall not be sold, assigned,
     transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of until such
     restrictions lapse. The period during which such restrictions are
     applicable is referred to as the "Restricted Period."

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          (2) In the event that a recipient's employment with the Company (or
     consultancy or advisory relationship, as the case may be) is terminated
     within the Restricted Period, whether such termination is voluntary or
     involuntary, with or without cause, or because of the death or disability
     of the recipient, the Company shall have the right and option for a period
     of three months following such termination to buy for cash that number of
     the shares of Common Stock purchased under the award as to which the
     restrictions on transfer and the forfeiture provisions contained in the
     award have not then lapsed, at a price equal to the price per share
     originally paid by the recipient. If such termination occurs within the
     last three months of the applicable restrictions, the restrictions and
     repurchase rights of the Company shall continue to apply until the
     expiration of the Company's three month option period.

          (3) The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, impose upon the
     recipient of an award at the time of such award such other restrictions on
     any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to such award as the Board of
     Directors may deem advisable.

     (e) ADDITIONAL SHARES. Any shares received by a recipient of an award as a
stock dividend on, or as a result of stock splits, combinations, exchanges of
shares, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations or otherwise with respect to,
shares of Common Stock received pursuant to such award shall have the same
status and shall bear the same restrictions, all on a proportionate basis, as
the shares initially purchased pursuant to such award.

     (f) TRANSFERS IN BREACH OF AWARD. If any transfer of shares purchased
pursuant to an award is made or attempted contrary to the terms of the Plan and
of such award, the Board of Directors shall have the right to purchase for the
account of the Company those shares from the owner thereof or his or her
transferee at any time before or after the transfer at the price paid for such
shares by the person to whom they were awarded under the Plan. In addition to
any other legal or equitable remedies which it may have, the Company may enforce
its rights by specific performance to the extent permitted by law. The Company
may refuse for any purpose to recognize as a stockholder of the Company any
transferee who receives any shares contrary to the provisions of the Plan and
the applicable award or any recipient of an award who breaches his or her
obligation to resell shares as required by the provisions of the Plan and the
applicable award, and the Company may retain and/or recover all dividends on
such shares which were paid or payable subsequent to the date on which the
prohibited transferor breach was made or attempted.

     (g) ADDITIONAL AWARD PROVISIONS. The Board of Directors may, in its sole
discretion, include additional provisions in any award granted under the Plan as
shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

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15. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS.

     (a) INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. The Company may require any person to whom
an option or award is granted, as a condition of exercising such option or
purchasing the shares subject to the award, to give written assurances in
substance and form satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such person is
acquiring the Common Stock subject to the option or award for his or her own
account for investment and not with any present intention of selling or
otherwise distributing the same, and to such other effects as the Company deems
necessary or appropriate in order to comply with federal and applicable state
securities laws.

     (b) COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS. Each option and award shall be subject
to the requirement that if, at any time, counsel to the Company shall determine
that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares subject to such
option or award upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law,
or the consent or approval of any governmental or regulatory body, or that the
disclosure of non-public information or the satisfaction of any other condition
is necessary as a condition of, or in connections with, the issuance or purchase
of shares thereunder, such option or award may not be exercised, in whole or in
part, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval, or
satisfaction of such condition shall have been effected or obtained on
conditions acceptable to the Board of Directors. Nothing herein shall be deemed
to require the Company to apply for or to obtain such listing, registration, or
qualification, or to satisfy such condition.

16. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

     The holder of an option or recipient of an award shall have no rights as a
stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the option or award
(including, without limitation, any rights to receive dividends or non-cash
distributions with respect to such shares) until the date of issue of a stock
certificate to him or her for such shares. No adjustment shall be made for
dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such
stock certificate is issued.

17. ADJUSTMENT PROVISIONS FOR RECAPITALIZATIONS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

     (a) GENERAL. If, through or as a result of any merger, consolidation sale
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, reorganization,
recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split or other similar transaction, (i) the outstanding shares of Common Stock
are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of
shares or other securities of the Company, or (ii) additional shares or new or
different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are
distributed with respect to such, shares of Common Stock or other securities, an
appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made in (x) the maximum number
and kind of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (y) the number and kind
of shares or other securities subject to then outstanding options under the
Plan, and (z) the price for each share subject to any then outstanding options
under the Plan or repurchase rights of the Company, without changing the
aggregate purchase price as to which such options remain exercisable, provided
that no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 17 if such adjustment
would cause the Plan to fail to comply with Section 422 of the Code or with Rule
16b-3.

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     (b) BOARD AUTHORITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. Any adjustments under this Section
17 will be made by the Board of Directors, whose determination as to what
adjustments, if any, will be made and the extent thereof will be final, binding
and conclusive. No fractional shares will be issued under the Plan on account of
any such adjustments.

18. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, ASSET SALE, LIQUIDATION, ETC.

     (a) General. In the event of a consolidation or merger in which outstanding
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for securities, cash or other property of
any other corporation or business entity or in the event of a liquidation of the
Company or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the
Board of Directors of the Company, or the board of directors of any corporation
assuming the obligations of the Company, may, in its discretion, take any one or
more of the following actions, as to outstanding options and awards: (i) provide
that such options shall be assumed, or equivalent options shall be substituted,
by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), provided
that any such options substituted for incentive Stock Options shall meet
the-requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code, (ii) upon written notice to the
optionees, provide that all unexercised options will terminate immediately prior
to the consummation of such transaction unless exercised by the optionee within
a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) in the event of a
merger under the terms of which holders of the Common Stock of the Company will
receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in
the merger (the "Merger Price"), make or provide for a cash payment to the
optionees equal to the difference between (A) the Merger Price times the number
of shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding options (to the extent
then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Merger Price) and (B) the
aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding options in exchange for the
termination of such options, and (iv) provide that all or any outstanding
options shall become exercisable in full, any restrictions on exercising
outstanding options issued pursuant to the Plan prior to: any given date shall
terminate and any restrictions on and rights of the Company to repurchase shares
covered by outstanding awards issued pursuant to the Plan shall terminate.

     (b) SUBSTITUTE OPTIONS. The Company may grant options under the Plan in
substitution for options held by employees of another corporation who become
employees of the Company, or a subsidiary of the Company, as the result of a
merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or a
subsidiary of the Company, or as a result of the acquisition by the Company, or
one of its subsidiaries, of property or stock of the employing corporation. The
Company may direct that substitute options be granted am such terms and
conditions as the Board of Directors considers appropriate in the circumstances.

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19. NO SPECIAL EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.

     Nothing contained in the Plan or in any option or award shall confer upon
any recipient of an award or optionee any right with respect to the continuation
of his or her employment by the Company or interfere in any way with the right
of the Company at any time to terminate such employment or to increase or
decrease the compensation of the optionee.

20. OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

     Except as to plans which by their terms include such amounts as
compensation, neither the amount of any compensation deemed to be received by an
employee as a result of the exercise of an option or the sale of shares received
upon such exercise nor the value of an award granted to an employee will
constitute compensation with respect to which any other employee benefits of
such employee are determined, including, without limitation, benefits under any
bonus, pension, profit-sharing, life insurance or salary continuation plan,
except as otherwise specifically determined by the Board of Directors.

21. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.

     (a) The Board of Directors may at any time, and from time to time, modify
or amend the Plan in any respect, except that if at any time the approval of the
stockholders of the Company is required as to such modification or amendment
under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to
Incentive Stock Options or under Rule 16b-3 with respect to options held by or
awards made to Reporting Persons, the Board of Directors may not effect such
modification or amendment without such approval.

     (b) The termination or any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not,
without the consent of an optionee or recipient of an award, affect his or her
rights under an option or award previously granted to him or her. With the
consent of the optionee or recipient of the award affected, the Board of
Directors may amend outstanding option agreements or awards in a manner not
inconsistent with the Plan. The Board of Directors shall have the right to amend
or modify (i) the terms and provisions of the Plan and of any outstanding
Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan to the extent necessary to
qualify any or all such options for such favorable federal income tax treatment
(including deferral of taxation upon exercise) as may be afforded incentive
stock options under Section 422 of the Code and (ii) the terms and provisions of
the Plan and of any outstanding option or award to the extent necessary to
ensure the qualification of the Plan under Rule 16b-3 or any successor rule.

22. CANCELLATION AND NEW GRANT OF OPTIONS, ETC.

     The Board of Directors shall have the authority to effect, at any time and
from time to time, with the consent of the affected optionees, (i) the
cancellation of any or all outstanding options under the Plan and the grant in
substitution therefor of new options under the Plan covering the same or
different numbers of shares of Common Stock and having an option exercise price
per share which may be lower or higher than the exercise price per share of the
cancelled options or (ii) the amendment of the terms of any and all outstanding
options under the Plan to provide an option exercise price per share which is
higher or lower than the then current exercise price per share of such
outstanding options.

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23. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF THE PLAN.

     (a) EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall become effective when adopted by the
Board of Directors, but no Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall
become exercisable unless and until the Plan shall have been approved by the
Company's stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within
twelve months after the date of the Board's adoption of the Plan, no options
previously granted under the Plan shall be deemed to be Incentive Stock Options
and no Incentive Stock Options shall be granted thereafter. Amendments to the
Plan not requiring stockholder approval shall become effective when adopted by
the Board of Directors; amendments requiring stockholder approval (as provided
in Section 21) shall become effective when adopted by the Board of Directors,
but no Incentive Stock Option issued after the date of such amendment shall
become exercisable (to the extent that such amendment to the Plan was required
to enable the Company to grant such Incentive Stock Option to a particular
optionee) unless and until such amendment shall have been approved by the
Company's stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within
twelve months of the Board's adoption of such amendment, any Incentive Stock
Options granted on or after the date of such amendment shall terminate to the
extent that such amendment to the Plan was required to enable the Company to
grant such option to a particular optionee. Subject to this limitation, options
and awards may be granted under the Plan at any time after the effective date
and before the date fixed for termination of the Plan.

     (b) TERMINATION. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 17,
the Plan shall terminate, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, upon the
earlier of (i) the close of business on the day next preceding the tenth
anniversary of the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors, on (ii) the
date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been
issued pursuant to the exercise or cancellation of options or the final vesting
of awards granted under the Plan. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with
Section 17, the Plan shall terminate with respect to options which are not
Incentive Stock Options and awards on the date specified in (ii) above. If the
date of termination is determined under (i) above, then options outstanding on
such date shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the
provisions of the instruments evidencing such options.

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PROVISION FOR FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS.

     The Board of Directors may, without amending the Plan, modify awards or
options granted to participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside
the United States to recognize differences in laws, rules, regulations or
customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency,
employee benefit or other matters.

      ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:    AUGUST 18, 2003<Page>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                 NITROMED, INC.

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                            2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

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

1.   PURPOSE

     The purpose of this Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Plan") of NitroMed, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is to advance
the interests of the Company's stockholders by enhancing the Company's ability
to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make)
important contributions to the Company by providing such persons with equity
ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives and thereby better
aligning the interests of such persons with those of the Company's stockholders.
Except where the context otherwise requires, the term "Company" shall include
any of the Company's present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as
defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Code") and any other
business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited
liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board").

2.   ELIGIBILITY

     All of the Company's employees, officers, directors, consultants and
advisors are eligible to be granted options, restricted stock awards, or other
stock-based awards (each, an "Award") under the Plan. Each person who has been
granted an Award under the Plan shall be deemed a "Participant".

3.   ADMINISTRATION AND DELEGATION

     (a)    ADMINISTRATION BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Plan will be administered
by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend
and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the
Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may correct any defect, supply any
omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner
and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it
shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board
shall be made in the Board's sole discretion and shall be final and binding on
all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. No
director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall
be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Plan made in
good faith.

     (b)    APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. To the extent permitted by applicable
law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or
more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a "Committee"). All references in
the Plan to the "Board" shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the
executive officers referred to in Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board's
powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or
executive officers.

<Page>

     (c)    DELEGATION TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more executive officers of the
Company the power to grant Awards to employees or officers of the Company or any
of its present or future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other
powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall
fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such executive officers (including
the exercise price of such Awards, which may include a formula by which the
exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to
Awards that the executive officers may grant; provided further, however, that no
executive officer shall be authorized to grant Awards to any "executive officer"
of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) or to any "officer" of the Company (as
defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act).

4.   STOCK AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS.

     (a)    NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment under Section 8, Awards may
be made under the Plan for up to 2,500,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par
value per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). If any Award expires or is
terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is
forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock
subject to such Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance
price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right) or results in any Common Stock
not being issued, the unused Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be
available for the grant of Awards under the Plan, subject, however, in the case
of Incentive Stock Options, to any limitations under the Code. Shares issued
under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares
or treasury shares.

     (b)    PER PARTICIPANT LIMIT. Subject to adjustment under Section 8, for
Awards granted after the Common Stock is registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant
under the Plan shall be 500,000 per calendar year. The per Participant limit
described in this Section 4(b) shall be construed and applied consistently with
Section 162(m) of the Code ("Section 162(m)").

5.   STOCK OPTIONS

     (a)    GENERAL. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each,
an "Option") and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by
each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and
limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions
relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers
necessary or advisable. An Option which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock
Option (as hereinafter defined) shall be designated a "Nonstatutory Stock
Option".

     (b)    INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. An Option that the Board intends to be an
"incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an "Incentive
Stock Option") shall only be granted to employees of the Company, and any of the
Company's present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in
Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of
which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code, and shall
be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of
Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant,
or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is intended to be an
Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option.

                                       -2-
<Page>

     (c)    EXERCISE PRICE. The Board shall establish the exercise price at the
time each Option is granted and specify it in the applicable option agreement.

     (d)    DURATION OF OPTIONS. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times
and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the
applicable option agreement.

     (e)    EXERCISE OF OPTION. Options may be exercised by delivery to the
Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any
other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board
together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of
shares for which the Option is exercised.

     (f)    PAYMENT UPON EXERCISE. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of
an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:

            (1)   in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

            (2)   except as the Board may, in its sole discretion, otherwise
provide in an option agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and
unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the
Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax
withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of
irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver
promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and
any required tax withholding;

            (3)   when the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act, by
delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their fair
market value as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board in good
faith ("Fair Market Value"), provided (i) such method of payment is then
permitted under applicable law and (ii) such Common Stock, if acquired directly
from the Company, was owned by the Participant at least six months prior to such
delivery;

            (4)   to the extent permitted by the Board, in its sole discretion
by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms
determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such other lawful consideration as
the Board may determine; or

            (5)   by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.

     (g)    SUBSTITUTE OPTIONS. In connection with a merger or consolidation of
an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or
stock of an entity, the Board may grant Options in substitution for any options
or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate
thereof. Substitute Options may be granted on such terms as the Board deems
appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Options
contained in the other sections of this Section 5 or in Section 2.

6.   RESTRICTED STOCK

     (a)    GRANTS. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire
shares of Common Stock, subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or
part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to
require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in
the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not
satisfied prior to the

                                       -3-
<Page>

end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for
such Award (each, a "Restricted Stock Award").

     (b)    TERMS AND CONDITIONS. The Board shall determine the terms and
conditions of any such Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for
repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any.

     (c)    STOCK CERTIFICATES. Any stock certificates issued in respect of a
Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of the Participant and,
unless otherwise determined by the Board, deposited by the Participant, together
with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the
expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee)
shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the
Participant or if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated, in a
manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or
exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant's death (the
"Designated Beneficiary"). In the absence of an effective designation by a
Participant, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the Participant's estate.

7.   OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

     The Board shall have the right to grant other Awards based upon the Common
Stock having such terms and conditions as the Board may determine, including the
grant of shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of securities
convertible into Common Stock and the grant of stock appreciation rights.

8.   ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK AND CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS

     (a)    CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. In the event of any stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares,
reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization
or event, or any distribution to holders of Common Stock other than a normal
cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under this Plan,
(ii) the per Participant limit set forth in Section 4(b), (iii) the number and
class of securities and exercise price per share subject to each outstanding
Option, (iv) the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding
Restricted Stock Award, and (v) the terms of each other outstanding Award shall
be appropriately adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if
applicable) to the extent the Board shall determine, in good faith, that such an
adjustment (or substitution) is necessary and appropriate. If this Section 8(a)
applies and Section 8(b) also applies to any event, Section 8(b) shall be
applicable to such event, and this Section 8(a) shall not be applicable.

     (b)    REORGANIZATION EVENTS

            (1)   DEFINITION. A "Reorganization Event" shall mean: (a) any
merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result
of which all of the Common Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged
for the right to receive cash, securities or other property, (b) any exchange of
all of the Common Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property
pursuant to a share exchange transaction, or (c) a liquidation or dissolution of
the Company.

            (2)   CONSEQUENCES OF A REORGANIZATION EVENT ON OPTIONS. Upon the
occurrence of a Reorganization Event, or the execution by the Company of any
agreement with respect to a Reorganization Event, except to the extent
specifically provided for in any agreement evidencing an

                                       -4-
<Page>

Option hereunder, the Board shall in its discretion, take any one or more of the
following actions with respect to outstanding Options:

                  (a)   provide that all outstanding Options shall be assumed,
                        or equivalent options shall be substituted, by the
                        acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate
                        thereof). For purposes hereof, an Option shall be
                        considered to be assumed if, following consummation of
                        the Reorganization Event, the Option confers the right
                        to purchase, for each share of Common Stock subject to
                        the Option immediately prior to the consummation of the
                        Reorganization Event, the consideration (whether cash,
                        securities or other property) received as a result of
                        the Reorganization Event by holders of Common Stock for
                        each share of Common Stock held immediately prior to the
                        consummation of the Reorganization Event (and if holders
                        were offered a choice of consideration, the type of
                        consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the
                        outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however,
                        that if the consideration received as a result of the
                        Reorganization Event is not solely common stock of the
                        acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate
                        thereof), the Company may, with the consent of the
                        acquiring or succeeding corporation, provide for the
                        consideration to be received upon the exercise of
                        Options to consist solely of common stock of the
                        acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate
                        thereof) equivalent in fair market value to the per
                        share consideration received by holders of outstanding
                        shares of Common Stock as a result of the Reorganization
                        Event;

                  (b)   upon written notice to the Participants, provide that
                        all then unexercised Options will become exercisable in
                        full as of a specified time prior to the Reorganization
                        Event and will terminate immediately prior to the
                        consummation of such Reorganization Event, except to the
                        extent exercised by the Participants before the
                        consummation of such Reorganization Event; or

                  (c)   in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms
                        of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon
                        consummation thereof a cash payment for each share of
                        Common Stock surrendered pursuant to such Reorganization
                        Event (the "Acquisition Price"), then the Board may
                        provide that all outstanding Options shall terminate
                        upon consummation of such Reorganization Event and that
                        each Participant shall receive, in exchange therefor, a
                        cash payment equal to the amount (if any) by which (A)
                        the Acquisition Price multiplied by the number of shares
                        of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Options (to
                        the extent then exercisable), exceeds (B) the aggregate
                        exercise price of such Options.

            (3)   CONSEQUENCES OF A REORGANIZATION EVENT ON RESTRICTED STOCK
AWARDS. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event, except to the extent
specifically provided for in any agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award
hereunder, the repurchase and other rights of the Company under

                                       -5-
<Page>

each outstanding Restricted Stock Award shall inure to the benefit of the
Company's successor and shall apply to the cash, securities or other property
which the Common Stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such
Reorganization Event in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied
to the Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Award.

            (4)   CONSEQUENCES OF A REORGANIZATION EVENT ON OTHER AWARDS. The
Board shall specify the effect of a Reorganization Event on any other Award
granted under the Plan at the time of the grant of such Award.

9.   REPRICING OF OPTIONS. The Board shall have the authority, at any time and
from time to time, with the consent of the affected option holders, to amend any
or all outstanding options granted under the Plan to provide an option exercise
price per share which may be lower or higher than the original option exercise
price, and/or cancel any such options and grant in substitution therefor new
options covering the same or different numbers of shares of Common Stock having
an option exercise price per share which may be lower or higher than the
exercise price of the canceled options.

10.  GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

     (a)    TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS. Except as the Board may otherwise
determine or provide in an Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are
granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws
of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be
exercisable only by the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent
relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

     (b)    DOCUMENTATION. Each Award shall be evidenced in such form (written,
electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain
terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

     (c)    BOARD DISCRETION. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each
Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The
terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat
Participants uniformly.

     (d)    TERMINATION OF STATUS. The Board shall determine the effect on an
Award of the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or other
change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to
which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant's legal
representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise
rights under the Award.

     (e)    WITHHOLDING. Each Participant shall pay to the Company, or make
provision satisfactory to the Board for payment of, any taxes required by law to
be withheld in connection with Awards to such Participant no later than the date
of the event creating the tax liability. Except as the Board may otherwise
provide in an Award, when the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act,
Participants may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of
shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the
tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value; provided, however, that the
total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations
cannot exceed the Company's minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on
minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes,
including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such

                                       -6-
<Page>

supplemental taxable income). The Company may, to the extent permitted by law,
deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a
Participant.

     (f)    AMENDMENT OF AWARD. The Board may amend, modify or terminate any
outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another
Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or
realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock
Option, provided that the Participant's consent to such action shall be required
unless the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related
action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant.

     (g)    CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK. The Company will not be obligated
to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove
restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all
conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the
Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company's counsel, all other legal matters
in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied,
including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or
stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and
delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may
consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules
or regulations.

     (h)    ACCELERATION. The Board may at any time provide that any Award shall
become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or all
restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the
case may be.

     (i)    DEFERRED DELIVERY OF SHARES ISSUABLE PURSUANT TO AN AWARD. The Board
may, at the time any Award is granted, provide that, at the time Common Stock
would otherwise be delivered pursuant to the Award, the Participant shall
instead receive an instrument evidencing the right to future delivery of Common
Stock at such time or times, and on such conditions, as the Board shall specify.
The Board may at any time accelerate the time at which delivery of all or any
part of the Common Stock shall take place.

11.  MISCELLANEOUS

     (a)    NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER STATUS. No person shall have any
claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be
construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other
relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any
time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free
from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the
applicable Award.

     (b)    NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. Subject to the provisions of the
applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights
as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed
with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the
Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the
number of shares subject to such Option are adjusted as of the date of the
distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such
dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and
the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on
the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common
Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such
shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for
such stock dividend.

                                       -7-
<Page>

     (c)    EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective on
the date on which it is adopted by the Board. No Awards shall be granted under
the Plan after the completion of ten years from the earlier of (i) the date on
which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved
by the Company's stockholders, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond
that date.

     (d)    AMENDMENT OF PLAN. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the
Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that to the extent required by
Section 162(m), no Award granted to a Participant that is intended to comply
with Section 162(m) after the date of such amendment shall become exercisable,
realizable or vested, as applicable to such Award, unless and until such
amendment shall have been approved by the Company's stockholders as required by
Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Section 162(m)).

     (e)    AUTHORIZATION OF SUB-PLANS. The Board may from time to time
establish one or more sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying
applicable blue sky, securities or tax laws of various jurisdictions. The Board
shall establish such sub-plans by adopting supplements to this Plan containing
(i) such limitations on the Board's discretion under the Plan as the Board deems
necessary or desirable or (ii) such additional terms and conditions not
otherwise inconsistent with the Plan as the Board shall deem necessary or
desirable. All supplements adopted by the Board shall be deemed to be part of
the Plan, but each supplement shall apply only to Participants within the
affected jurisdiction and the Company shall not be required to provide copies of
any supplement to Participants in any jurisdiction which is not the subject of
such supplement.

     (f)    GOVERNING LAW. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made
hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of
the State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law.

                                      * * *

                                       APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                          AUGUST 18, 2003

                                       APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS ON
                                          [_________], 2003

                                       -8-

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