Document:

Unassociated Document

Exhibit 10.36

 

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

Adopted by the Board of Directors: October 25, 2010

and Amended on March 8, 2011

Approved by the Shareholders: March 16, 2011

 

1.           General.

 

(a)          The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which Eligible Employees of the Company and certain designated Related Corporations may be given an opportunity to purchase shares of Common Stock.  The Plan is intended to permit the Company to grant a series of Purchase Rights to Eligible Employees under an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

(b)          The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of such Employees, to secure and retain the services of new Employees and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Related Corporations.

 

2.           Administration.

 

(a)          The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees, as provided in Section 2(c).

 

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

 

(i)           To determine how and when Purchase Rights to purchase shares of Common Stock shall be granted and the provisions of each Offering of such Purchase Rights (which need not be identical).

 

(ii)          To designate from time to time which Related Corporations of the Company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

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

 

(iv)         To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Purchase Rights granted under it.

 

  

1

  

 

(v)           To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time as provided in Section 12.

 

(vi)         To amend the Plan at any time as provided in Section 12.

 

(vii)        Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as it deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and its Related Corporations and to carry out the intent that the Plan be treated as an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

(viii)       To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States.

 

(c)          The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees.  If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board.  The Board
may retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated.  Whether or not the Board has delegated administration of the Plan to a Committee, the Board shall have the final power to determine all questions of policy and expediency that may arise in the administration of the Plan.

 

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

 

3.           Shares of Common Stock Subject to the Plan.

 

(a)          Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the shares of Common Stock that may be sold pursuant to Purchase Rights shall not exceed in the aggregate five hundred thousand (500,000) shares of Common Stock.  In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall automatically increase on January 1st of each year, commencing in 2012 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2021, in an amount equal to one hundred thousand (100,000) shares of Common Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may act prior to the first day of any calendar year, to provide that there shall be no increase in the
share reserve for such calendar year or that the increase in the share reserve for such calendar year shall be a lesser number of shares of Common Stock than would otherwise occur pursuant to the preceding sentence.

 

(b)          If any Purchase Right granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the shares of Common Stock not purchased under such Purchase Right shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

(c)          The stock purchasable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Company on the open market.

 

  

2

  

 

4.           Grant of Purchase Rights; Offering.

 

(a)           The Board may from time to time grant or provide for the grant of Purchase Rights to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan to Eligible Employees in an Offering (consisting of one or more Purchase Periods) on an Offering Date or Offering Dates selected by the Board.  Each Offering shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate, which shall comply with the requirement of Section 423(b)(5) of the Code that all Employees granted Purchase Rights shall have the same rights and privileges.  The terms and conditions of an Offering shall be incorporated by reference into the Plan and treated as part of the
Plan.  The provisions of separate Offerings need not be identical, but each Offering shall include (through incorporation of the provisions of this Plan by reference in the document comprising the Offering or otherwise) the period during which the Offering shall be effective, which period shall not exceed twenty-seven (27) months beginning with the Offering Date, and the substance of the provisions contained in Sections 5 through 8, inclusive.

 

(b)           If a Participant has more than one Purchase Right outstanding under the Plan, unless he or she otherwise indicates in agreements or notices delivered hereunder: (i) each agreement or notice delivered by that Participant shall be deemed to apply to all of his or her Purchase Rights under the Plan, and (ii) a Purchase Right with a lower exercise price (or an earlier-granted Purchase Right, if different Purchase Rights have identical exercise prices) shall be exercised to the fullest possible extent before a Purchase Right with a higher exercise price (or a later-granted Purchase Right if different Purchase Rights have identical exercise prices) shall be exercised.

 

(c)           The Board shall have the discretion to structure an Offering so that if the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the first day of a new Purchase Period within that Offering is less than or equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the Offering Date, then (i) that Offering shall terminate immediately, and (ii) the Participants in such terminated Offering shall be automatically enrolled in a new Offering beginning on the first day of such new Purchase Period.

 

5.           Eligibility.

 

(a)           Purchase Rights may be granted only to Employees of the Company or, as the Board may designate as provided in Section 2(b), to Employees of a Related Corporation.  Except as provided in Section 5(b), an Employee shall not be eligible to be granted Purchase Rights under the Plan unless, on the Offering Date, such Employee has been in the employ of the Company or the Related Corporation, as the case may be, for such continuous period preceding such Offering Date as the Board may require, but in no event shall the required period of continuous employment be greater than two (2) years.  In addition, the Board may provide that no Employee shall be eligible to be granted
Purchase Rights under the Plan unless, on the Offering Date, such Employee’s customary employment with the Company or the Related Corporation is more than twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months per calendar year or such other criteria as the Board may determine consistent with Section 423 of the Code.

 

  

3

  

 

(b)          The Board may provide that each person who, during the course of an Offering, first becomes an Eligible Employee shall, on a date or dates specified in the Offering which coincides with the day on which such person becomes an Eligible Employee or which occurs thereafter, receive a Purchase Right under that Offering, which Purchase Right shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of that Offering.  Such Purchase Right shall have the same characteristics as any Purchase Rights originally granted under that Offering, as described herein, except that:

 

(i)           the date on which such Purchase Right is granted shall be the “Offering Date” of such Purchase Right for all purposes, including determination of the exercise price of such Purchase Right;

 

(ii)          the period of the Offering with respect to such Purchase Right shall begin on its Offering Date and end coincident with the end of such Offering; and

 

(iii)         the Board may provide that if such person first becomes an Eligible Employee within a specified period of time before the end of the Offering, he or she shall not receive any Purchase Right under that Offering.

 

(c)          No Employee shall be eligible for the grant of any Purchase Rights under the Plan if, immediately after any such Purchase Rights are granted, such Employee owns stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Related Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 5(c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in determining the stock ownership of any Employee, and stock which such Employee may purchase under all outstanding Purchase Rights and options shall be treated as stock owned by such Employee.

 

(d)          As specified by Section 423(b)(8) of the Code, an Eligible Employee may be granted Purchase Rights under the Plan only if such Purchase Rights, together with any other rights granted under all Employee Stock Purchase Plans of the Company and any Related Corporations, do not permit such Eligible Employee’s rights to purchase stock of the Company or any Related Corporation to accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000) of Fair Market Value of such stock (determined at the time such rights are granted, and which, with respect to the Plan, shall be determined as of their respective Offering Dates) for each calendar year in which such rights are outstanding at any
time.

 

(e)          Officers of the Company and any designated Related Corporation, if they are otherwise Eligible Employees, shall be eligible to participate in Offerings under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may provide in an Offering that Employees who are highly compensated Employees within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code shall not be eligible to participate.

 

6.           Purchase Rights; Purchase Price.

 

(a)          On each Offering Date, each Eligible Employee, pursuant to an Offering made under the Plan, shall be granted a Purchase Right to purchase up to that number of shares of Common Stock purchasable either with a percentage or with a maximum dollar amount, as designated by the Board, but in either case not exceeding fifteen percent (15%) of such Employee’s earnings (as defined by the Board in each Offering) during the period that begins on the Offering Date (or such later date as the Board determines for a particular Offering) and ends on the date stated in the Offering, which date shall be no later than the end of the Offering.

 

  

4

  

 

(b)          The Board shall establish one (1) or more Purchase Dates during an Offering as of which Purchase Rights granted pursuant to that Offering shall be exercised and purchases of shares of Common Stock shall be carried out in accordance with such Offering.

 

(c)          In connection with each Offering made under the Plan, the Board may specify a maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased by any Participant on any Purchase Date during such Offering.  In connection with each Offering made under the Plan, the Board may specify a maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased by all Participants pursuant to such Offering.  In addition, in connection with each Offering that contains more than one Purchase Date, the Board may specify a maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased by all Participants on any Purchase Date under the Offering.  If the aggregate
purchase of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Purchase Rights granted under the Offering would exceed any such maximum aggregate number, then, in the absence of any Board action otherwise, a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available shall be made in as nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and equitable.

 

(d)          The purchase price of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to Purchase Rights shall be not less than the lesser of:

 

(i)           an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the Offering Date; or

 

(ii)          an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the applicable Purchase Date.

 

7.           Participation; Withdrawal; Termination.

 

(a)          A Participant may elect to authorize payroll deductions pursuant to an Offering under the Plan by completing and delivering to the Company, within the time specified in the Offering, an enrollment form (in such form as the Company may provide). Each such enrollment form shall authorize an amount of Contributions expressed as a percentage of the submitting Participant’s earnings (as defined in each Offering) during the Offering (not to exceed the maximum percentage specified by the Board). Each Participant’s Contributions shall be credited to a bookkeeping account for such Participant under the Plan and shall be deposited with the general funds of the Company except where applicable
law requires that Contributions be deposited with a third party. To the extent provided in the Offering, a Participant may begin such Contributions after the beginning of the Offering.  To the extent provided in the Offering, a Participant may thereafter reduce (including to zero) or increase his or her Contributions.  To the extent specifically provided in the Offering, in addition to making Contributions by payroll deductions, a Participant may make Contributions through the payment by cash or check prior to each Purchase Date of the Offering.

 

  

5

  

 

(b)          During an Offering, a Participant may cease making Contributions and withdraw from the Offering by delivering to the Company a notice of withdrawal in such form as the Company may provide.  Such withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of the Offering, except as provided otherwise in the Offering.  Upon such withdrawal from the Offering by a Participant, the Company shall distribute to such Participant all of his or her accumulated Contributions (reduced to the extent, if any, such Contributions have been used to acquire shares of Common Stock for the Participant) under the Offering, and such Participant’s Purchase Right in that Offering shall thereupon
terminate.  A Participant’s withdrawal from an Offering shall have no effect upon such Participant’s eligibility to participate in any other Offerings under the Plan, but such Participant shall be required to deliver a new enrollment form in order to participate in subsequent Offerings.

 

(c)          Purchase Rights granted pursuant to any Offering under the Plan shall terminate immediately upon a Participant ceasing to be an Employee for any reason or for no reason (subject to any post-employment participation period required by law) or other lack of eligibility. The Company shall distribute to such terminated or otherwise ineligible Employee all of his or her accumulated Contributions (reduced to the extent, if any, such Contributions have been used to acquire shares of Common Stock for the terminated or otherwise ineligible Employee) under the Offering.

 

(d)          Purchase Rights shall not be transferable by a Participant except by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or by a beneficiary designation as provided in Section 10.  During a Participant’s lifetime, Purchase Rights shall be exercisable only by such Participant.

 

(e)          Unless otherwise specified in an Offering, the Company shall have no obligation to pay interest on Contributions.

 

8.           Exercise of Purchase Rights.

 

(a)          On each Purchase Date during an Offering, each Participant’s accumulated Contributions shall be applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock up to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock permitted pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Offering, at the purchase price specified in the Offering.  No fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of Purchase Rights unless specifically provided for in the Offering.

 

(b)          If any amount of accumulated Contributions remains in a Participant’s account after the purchase of shares of Common Stock and such remaining amount is less than the amount required to purchase one share of Common Stock on the final Purchase Date of an Offering, then such remaining amount shall be held in such Participant’s account for the purchase of shares of Common Stock under the next Offering under the Plan, unless such Participant withdraws from such next Offering, as provided in Section 7(b), or is not eligible to participate in such Offering, as provided in Section 5, in which case such amount shall be distributed to such Participant after the final Purchase Date, without
interest.  If the amount of Contributions remaining in a Participant’s account after the purchase of shares of Common Stock is at least equal to the amount required to purchase one (1) whole share of Common Stock on the final Purchase Date of the Offering, then such remaining amount shall be distributed in full to such Participant at the end of the Offering without interest.

 

  

6

  

 

(c)          No Purchase Rights may be exercised to any extent unless the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon such exercise under the Plan are covered by an effective registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act and the Plan is in material compliance with all applicable federal, state, foreign and other securities and other laws applicable to the Plan.  If on a Purchase Date during any Offering hereunder the shares of Common Stock are not so registered or the Plan is not in such compliance, no Purchase Rights or any Offering shall be exercised on such Purchase Date, and the Purchase Date shall be delayed until the shares of Common Stock are subject to such an effective registration
statement and the Plan is in such compliance, except that the Purchase Date shall not be delayed more than twelve (12) months and the Purchase Date shall in no event be more than twenty-seven (27) months from the Offering Date.  If, on the Purchase Date under any Offering hereunder, as delayed to the maximum extent permissible, the shares of Common Stock are not registered and the Plan is not in such compliance, no Purchase Rights or any Offering shall be exercised and all Contributions accumulated during the Offering (reduced to the extent, if any, such Contributions have been used to acquire shares of Common Stock) shall be distributed to the Participants without interest.

 

9.           Covenants of the Company.

 

The Company shall seek to obtain from each federal, state, foreign or other regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Purchase Rights.  If, after commercially reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Purchase Rights unless and until such authority is obtained.

 

10.         Designation of Beneficiary.

 

(a)          A Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares of Common Stock and/or cash, if any, from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death subsequent to the end of an Offering but prior to delivery to the Participant of such shares of Common Stock or cash.  In addition, a Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death during an Offering.  Any such designation shall be on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Company.

 

(b)          The Participant may change such designation of beneficiary at any time by written notice to the Company.  In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant’s death, the Company shall deliver such shares of Common Stock and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its sole discretion, may deliver such shares of Common Stock and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or if no spouse,
dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.

 

  

7

  

 

11.         Adjustments upon Changes in Common Stock; Corporate Transactions.

 

(a)          In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board shall appropriately and proportionately adjust: (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a), (ii) the class(es) and maximum number of securities by which the share reserve is to increase automatically each year pursuant to Section 3(a), (iii) the class(es) and number of securities subject to, and the purchase price applicable to outstanding Offerings and Purchase Rights, and (iv) the class(es) and number of securities imposed by purchase limits under each ongoing Offering.  The Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

(b)          In the event of a Corporate Transaction, then: (i) any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company) may assume or continue Purchase Rights outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar rights (including a right to acquire the same consideration paid to the shareholders in the Corporate Transaction) for those outstanding under the Plan, or (ii) if any surviving or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or continue such Purchase Rights or does not substitute similar rights for Purchase Rights outstanding under the Plan, then the
Participants’ accumulated Contributions shall be used to purchase shares of Common Stock within ten (10) business days prior to the Corporate Transaction under any ongoing Offerings, and the Participants’ Purchase Rights under the ongoing Offerings shall terminate immediately after such purchase.

 

12.         Amendment, Termination or Suspension of the Plan.

 

(i)           The Board may amend the Plan at any time in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable.  However, except as provided in Section 11(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, shareholder approval shall be required for any amendment of the Plan for which shareholder approval is required by applicable law or listing requirements, including any amendment that either (i) materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan, (ii) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to become Participants and receive Purchase Rights under the Plan, (iii) materially increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan or
materially reduces the price at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased under the Plan, (iv) materially extends the term of the Plan, or (v) expands the types of awards available for issuance under the Plan, but in each of (i) through (v) above only to the extent shareholder approval is required by applicable law or listing requirements.

 

(b)          The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.  No Purchase Rights may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

 

(c)          Any benefits, privileges, entitlements and obligations under any outstanding Purchase Rights granted before an amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall not be impaired by any such amendment, suspension or termination except (i) with the consent of the person to whom such Purchase Rights were granted, (ii) as necessary to comply with any laws, listing requirements, or governmental regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 423 of the Code and the regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder relating to Employee Stock Purchase Plans) including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued or amended after the
Effective Date, or (iii) as necessary to obtain or maintain favorable tax, listing, or regulatory treatment.

 

  

8

  

 

13.         Effective Date of Plan.

 

The Plan shall become effective on the IPO Date, but no Purchase Rights shall be exercised unless and until the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

14.         Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a)           Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Purchase Rights shall constitute general funds of the Company.

 

(b)           A Participant shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, shares of Common Stock subject to Purchase Rights unless and until the Participant’s shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of Purchase Rights are recorded in the books of the Company (or its transfer agent).

 

(c)           The Plan and Offering do not constitute an employment contract.  Nothing in the Plan or in the Offering shall in any way alter the at will nature of a Participant’s employment or  be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on the part of any Participant to continue in the employ of the Company or a Related Corporation, or on the part of the Company or a Related Corporation to continue the employment of a Participant.

 

(d)           The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without resort to that state’s conflicts of laws rules.

 

15.         Definitions.

 

As used in the Plan, the following definitions shall apply to the capitalized terms indicated below:

 

(a)           “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(b)           “Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to, the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Purchase Right after the Effective Date without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other similar transaction).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible
securities of the Company shall not be treated as a Capitalization Adjustment.

 

(c)           “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

  

9

  

 

(d)          “Committee” means a committee of two (2) or more members of the Board to whom authority has been delegated by the Board in accordance with Section 2(c).

 

(e)          “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

(f)           “Company” means Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a California corporation.

 

(g)          “Contributions” means the payroll deductions and other additional payments specifically provided for in the Offering, that a Participant contributes to fund the exercise of a Purchase Right. A Participant may make additional payments into his or her account, if specifically provided for in the Offering, and then only if the Participant has not already had the maximum permitted amount withheld during the Offering through payroll deductions.

 

(h)          “Corporate Transaction” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

 

(i)           the consummation of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(ii)          the consummation of a sale or other disposition of at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding securities of the Company;

 

(iii)         the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or

 

(iv)          the consummation of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.

 

(i)           “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(j)           “Eligible Employee” means an Employee who meets the requirements set forth in the Offering for eligibility to participate in the Offering, provided that such Employee also meets the requirements for eligibility to participate set forth in the Plan.

 

(k)          “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, who is employed for purposes of Section 423(b)(4) of the Code by the Company or a Related Corporation.  However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such services, shall not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.

 

(l)           “Employee Stock Purchase Plan” means a plan that grants Purchase Rights intended to be options issued under an “employee stock purchase plan,” as that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the Code.

 

(m)         “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

  

10

  

 

(n)           “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(i)           If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on any established market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as reported in such source as the Board deems reliable.  Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if there is no closing sales price for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price (or closing bid if no sales were reported) on the last preceding date for which such quotation
exists.

 

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

 

(iii)         Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Offering that commences on the IPO Date, the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock at the time when the Offering commences shall be the price per share at which shares are first sold to the public in the Company’s initial public offering as specified in the final prospectus for that initial public offering or the attributed price per share (determined without regard to underwriter/ distributor commissions and expenses, and, in the case of a concurrent offering of Common Stock and warrants, using the Black-Scholes model prescribed by the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange to attribute value to such warrants separately from such shares of common stock) (as
adjusted for Capitalization Adjustments and calculated according to the last Shekel/ $US official exchange rate published by Bank of Israel at the time of the offering).

 

(o)          “IPO Date” means the (1) date of the underwriting agreement between the Company and the underwriter(s) managing the initial public offering of the Common Stock, pursuant to which the Common Stock is priced for the initial public offering; or (2) the date of the publication of the results of a public offering in Israel of Common Stock, which may be offered concurrently with warrants convertible into Common Stock, pursuant to a prospectus that has been approved for publication under Israel Securities Law and satisfying the listing requirements of the
Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (but prior to the actual listing of such securities).

 

(p)          “Offering” means the grant of Purchase Rights to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan to Eligible Employees.

 

(q)          “Offering Date” means a date selected by the Board for an Offering to commence.

 

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

 

(s)          “Participant” means an Eligible Employee who holds an outstanding Purchase Right granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(t)           “Plan” means this Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

  

11

  

 

(u)          “Purchase Date” means one or more dates during an Offering established by the Board on which Purchase Rights shall be exercised and as of which purchases of shares of Common Stock shall be carried out in accordance with such Offering.

 

(v)           “Purchase Period” means a period of time specified within an Offering beginning on the Offering Date or on the next day following a Purchase Date within an Offering and ending on a Purchase Date.  An Offering may consist of one or more Purchase Periods.

 

(w)          “Purchase Right” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(x)          “Related Corporation” means any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company whether now or subsequently established, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.

 

(y)          “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(z)           “Trading Day” means any day on which the exchange(s) or market(s) on which shares of Common Stock are listed, including the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, or the Nasdaq Capital Market, is open for trading.

 

  

12[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Exhibit 10.44

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO LICENSE AGREEMENT

This Amendment No. 2 to License Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) is made and entered into as of March 4, 2011 (the “Second Amendment Effective Date”) by and between Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (formerly Quark Biotech, Inc.) a California corporation having a place of business at 6501 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont, CA 94555 (“Quark”), and Pfizer Inc., a Delaware corporation having a place of business at 235 East 42nd Street, New York, New York 10017 (“Pfizer”).  Quark and Pfizer are individually referred to as a “Party” or collectively as the “Parties”.

Whereas, Quark and Pfizer are parties to a License Agreement dated as of September 25, 2006, as previously amended by the Letter Amendment dated May 19, 2008 (the “Agreement”);

Whereas, the Parties desire to amend the Agreement to allow Quark to conduct an additional Phase IIB trial of PF-655 (previously REDD14) at its own expense, and to set forth certain rights and responsibilities of the Parties in that regard; and

Whereas, in consideration of Quark conducting such trial, the Parties have agreed to increase the economic return to Quark in the event that Pfizer, after its review of the Phase IIB data,  thereafter elects to continue to develop and commercialize PF-655;

Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreement set forth herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

1.           Additional Phase IIB Trial.  After the Second Amendment Effective Date, Quark shall use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct, at Quark’s sole expense, a Phase IIB trial of PF-655 in diabetic macular edema (DME) (the “Additional Trial”) under a protocol attached hereto as Exhibit A (such protocol, together with such amendments as may be permitted under Section 3 below, is referred to herein as the “Protocol”).

 

2.           Conduct of Additional Trial;  Completion of Existing Trials.  Quark shall conduct the Additional Trial in accordance with the Protocol and ICH Good Clinical Practices.  Except as specified in this Second Amendment, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with such trial shall be borne exclusively by Quark.  Pfizer shall not be obligated to contribute funds or other resources for the conduct of the Additional Trial other than (i) as provided below in Section 7 (Materials; Inventory; Documents), and for a reasonable amount of informational consulting (not to exceed [*] man-hours of time prior

to the delivery of the data from the Additional Trial, unless otherwise agreed by Pfizer), and (ii) as required for continued participation in the JDC.  To the extent that Quark engages any Third Party in conducting the Additional Trial, Quark shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to ensure that any contracts related to the Additional Trials and any future planned trials are assignable to Pfizer without further consent required or additional costs.  Pfizer shall continue to be solely responsible, at its own expense, for the completion of the existing DEGAS and MONET trials of PF-655 as well as the Phase I 1008 safety study (collectively, the “Existing Trials”), including the preparation of data analysis and final study reports.

 

  

  

  

 

3.           Decision Making Regarding Additional Trial; Modification of JDC Governance.  The JDC shall remain in effect.  However, from the Second Amendment Effective Date until the earlier of the payment by Pfizer of the Additional Milestone Payment described in Section 9(b) below, or termination of the Agreement by Pfizer as provided in Section 13.1(b) of the Agreement, Section 4.1(e) of the Agreement is hereby amended to provide that in the event the Committee is unable to reach agreement on any matter related to the Additional Trial, Quark shall have the right to decide such matter through a decision of its senior
representative on the JDC.  In the event of proposed changes to the Protocol, Quark shall submit such proposed changes to the JDC for review and approval.  In the event the JDC does not reach agreement on a proposed change to the Protocol, Quark shall have the right to approve such changes, provided however, that Quark shall not materially change the sample size or the dosing regime, or change the comparator drug, without unanimous consent of the JDC.  For clarity, the decision making mechanism set forth in Sections 4.1(e) and 4.1(f) of the Agreement shall otherwise remain unchanged, [*].

 

4.           Regulatory Filings.  Pfizer shall maintain its existing IND [*] for PF-655 for the purpose of completing the Existing Trials.  In the event that the Existing Trials are closed out before the proposed commencement of the Additional Trial then, at that stage, Pfizer shall transfer the existing IND to Quark  to enable the Additional Trial to be performed under such IND.  In the event that it is determined by the JDC that the Additional Trial will be commenced prior to the completion of the Existing Trials (or any Regulatory Authority requires the establishment of a new IND for the Additional Trial),

then Quark shall establish its own IND for PF-655 for purposes of the Additional Trial.  Quark shall own and be responsible for preparing and submitting any such IND and for compliance with the obligations of an IND holder.  In such circumstances, Pfizer will grant Quark a right of reference to its own IND for PF-655 for purposes of establishing Quark’s IND and, upon written request from Quark, Pfizer shall execute and deliver to Quark a reference letter in a mutually acceptable form.  If Pfizer makes the Additional Milestone Payment as set forth below, Quark shall thereafter, upon the request of Pfizer, promptly transfer any such IND for PF-655 to Pfizer.  If Pfizer does not make the Additional Milestone Payment within the prescribed time period and the Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 13.1(b) of the Agreement, Pfizer shall transfer its IND to Quark as provided in Section 13.3 of the Agreement in the event it has not already
done so  as provided in this Section.

 

5.           Pharmacovigilance.  During any period of time during which both Quark’s and Pfizer’s INDs are operative, the Parties shall cooperate with respect to the exchange of safety information.  The Parties shall negotiate and enter into a mutually acceptable pharmacovigilance agreement prior to Quark initiating any clinical activity pursuant to the IND implicating pharmacovigilance obligations for PF-655.  For clarity, a pharmacovigilance agreement will not be required if both Parties do not have INDs opened at the same time.

 

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

  

2

  

 

6.           Satisfaction of Pfizer’s Diligence Obligations.  The Parties hereby agree that all obligations to be performed under the Agreement as of the Second Amendment Effective Date have been fully performed and discharged and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, [*].  Without limiting the foregoing, provided that Pfizer continues with the Existing Trials in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement and fulfills its obligations under this Second Amendment, Pfizer shall be deemed to have satisfied its diligence obligations under the Agreement with respect to the development of the Licensed
Product through the date on which the Additional Milestone Payment is due.

 

7.           Materials; Inventory; Documents.  Quark shall be solely responsible for the procurement, at its sole expense, of clinical materials required for the Additional Trial.  Pfizer shall transfer to Quark [*] drug product [*] for the [*], and shall, if necessary, provide reasonable cooperation with Quark in the establishment of contractual relationships with Pfizer’s suppliers of PF-655 materials.  Pfizer shall also deliver to Quark, upon the request of Quark, copies of any documents or data which would be reasonably useful to Quark in the preparation or conduct of the Additional Trial, including, but not

limited to, those documents and data more fully referenced in Exhibit B.

 

8.           Modification of Licenses.  Section 3.1 of the Agreement is hereby amended so that the license by Quark to Pfizer to develop, make and have made Biomolecules and Licensed Products shall be co-exclusive with Quark during the period of time from the Second Amendment Effective Date to the date of payment of the Additional Milestone Payment.  In addition, Pfizer hereby grants to Quark a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license under Pfizer Patent Rights and Pfizer Technology to develop, make and have made Biomolecules and Licensed Products during the period of time from the Second Amendment Effective Date to the
date of payment of the Additional Milestone Payment.  Quark agrees that it shall not use the rights provided for in this Section 8 for any purpose other than carrying out the Additional Trial or otherwise conducting activities with the unanimous prior approval of the JDC.  In this regard, it is expressly understood that if Quark seeks to conduct studies of PF-655 prior to the due date of the Additional Milestone Payment which are not for the purpose of carrying out the Additional Trial, Quark needs to obtain the prior consent of the Pfizer representatives on the JDC.  Quark may grant licenses or sublicenses of its rights provided for in this Section 8, but solely within the scope of this section and for a time period which shall terminate with the payment of the Additional Milestone Payment.  If Quark conducts any studies of PF-655 prior to the due date for the Additional Milestone Payment which are not for the purpose of carrying out the
Additional Trial, Quark shall report the results of such studies to the members of the JDC as soon as practicable.

 

9.           Data Sharing During Additional Trial.  Quark shall keep Pfizer regularly informed of the progress of the Additional Trial through the JDC and shall promptly provide Pfizer with copies of all data and results generated from its activities hereunder related to the Additional Trial, including pre-clinical and pharmaceutical science data to the extent generated.

 

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

  

3

  

10.         Results of Additional Trial.  An independent, externally constituted data monitoring committee (the “DMC”) will conduct an interim data review of the Additional Trial in accordance with the Protocol and will advise Quark, on an arm-by-arm basis and pursuant to pre-defined criteria defined in the Protocol, whether futility has been demonstrated or the trial should continue.  Quark shall deliver to Pfizer the verbatim report of the DMC together with any trial data delivered to Quark at that time.

 

(a)           Early Futility.  If the DMC determines at the interim review point that futility has been demonstrated in all arms, Quark may terminate the Additional Trial, subject to regulatory compliance, unless Pfizer elects to continue the Additional Trial at its cost notwithstanding the DMC determination.  If the DMC determines at the interim review point that futility has been demonstrated in one or two arms, but not all, Quark may terminate the trial arms as to which futility has been demonstrated, subject to regulatory compliance, unless Pfizer elects to continue such arms at its cost notwithstanding the DMC
determination.

 

(b)           Data Report; Additional Milestone Payment.  Upon the conclusion of the Additional Trial (whether pursuant to an early termination for futility as determined by the DMC or otherwise), Quark shall provide to Pfizer a report of the statistical results of the trial in accordance with the data table list set forth on Exhibit A, with such modifications to such data table list as may be unanimously approved by the JDC after the Second Amendment Effective Date (the “Data Report”).  Following delivery

of the Data Report, Quark shall also provide any further analysis of the primary and secondary efficacy and safety end points reasonably requested by Pfizer within the [*] period following the delivery of the Data Report.  Not later than [*] following Pfizer’s receipt of the Data Report, Pfizer shall pay Quark an additional milestone of $[*] (the “Additional Milestone Payment”) unless Pfizer exercises its termination rights under Section 13.1(b) of the Agreement.  For clarity, even in the event of a successful trial result, Pfizer may elect to terminate the Agreement under Section 13.1(b) of the Agreement rather than make the Additional Milestone Payment.  The Additional Milestone Payment shall be non-creditable and non-refundable.  If Pfizer does not pay the Additional Milestone Payment within [*] following its receipt of the Data Report or Pfizer advises Quark in writing

prior to the expiry of the said [*] period that it does not intend to exercise its rights and pay the Additional Milestone Payment, Pfizer shall be deemed to have terminated the Agreement pursuant to Section 13.1(b) of the Agreement, which termination shall be effective, notwithstanding the termination period set forth in Section 13.1(b) of the Agreement, as of the [*] following Pfizer’s receipt of the Data Report.

 

(c)           Subsequent Development.  If Pfizer makes the Additional Milestone Payment, Pfizer shall thereafter become responsible for the remaining costs of completion of the Additional Trial (including by way of example continued patient monitoring, data collection and report writing).  Pfizer may, at its option, either have its own personnel conduct such further work or may instruct Quark to carry out such work at mutually-agreed FTE rates which shall approximate Quark’s fully-loaded costs.  Following payment of the Additional Milestone Payment, Pfizer shall once again be responsible for the further
development and commercialization of the Licensed Product(s) at its own costs in accordance with the Agreement.  Quark shall cooperate with Pfizer in all reasonable respects in transferring the Additional Trial to Pfizer, including transfer of any IND for PF-655 in its name to Pfizer and, to the extent permitted by its contracts, assigning any Third Party agreement related to the Additional Trial to Pfizer at Pfizer’s request.

 

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

  

4

  

 

11.         Changes to Existing Milestone Payments.  The final five of the First Ophthalmic Use Milestone Payments set forth Section 5.1 of the Agreement, which are applicable to the first Licensed Product developed for the first Ophthalmic Use, are hereby amended as follows:

 

	
First Ophthalmic Use Milestone

	  	
First Ophthalmic Use

Milestone Payment

	
[*]

	  	
$[*]

	
[*]

	  	
$[*]

	
[*]

	  	
$[*]

	
[*]

	  	
$[*]

	
[*]

	
  

	
$[*]

For clarity, the milestone payments set forth in Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.5 of the Agreement shall remain unchanged.

 

12.         Changes to Existing Royalty Rates.  Each of the royalty rates set forth in Sections 5.7 and 5.8 of the Agreement is hereby amended to [*].  Thus, the royalty rate in Section 5.7(a) is hereby amended [*] from [*] percent ([*]%) to [*] percent ([*]%), the royalty rate in Section 5.7(b) is hereby amended [*] from [*] percent ([*]%) to [*] percent ([*]%), and the rates of Section 5.7(c), 5.8(a), 5.8(b) and 5.8(c) are similarly amended.

 

13.         Changes to Prosecution of Quark Patent Rights.  Notwithstanding Section 7.3(a) of the Agreement, which requires Pfizer to share the patent prosecution costs for Quark Patent Rights, effective with the Second Amendment Effective Date and until the payment by Pfizer of the Additional Milestone Payment, Quark shall be solely responsible for 100% of the out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Quark to obtain, prosecute, and maintain Quark Patent Rights that are solely owned or controlled by Quark and that cover Biomolecules or Licensed Products.  If Pfizer makes the Additional Milestone Payments, Pfizer and Quark shall
thereafter share the patent prosecution costs for Quark Patent Rights as provided in Section 7.3(a) of the Agreement.  For clarity, these changes in cost sharing ratios shall apply on the basis of when costs were incurred rather than when they were paid.  In addition, during the period from the Second Amendment Effective Date until the payment by Pfizer of the Additional Milestone Payment, Pfizer shall be relieved of any obligation to reimburse Quark for a portion of its payments to Third Party licensees pursuant to the third sentence of Section 5.11(b) of the Agreement.  In the event Pfizer pays the Additional Milestone Payment, Pfizer shall thereafter reimburse Quark for the amounts that would otherwise have been paid by Pfizer pursuant to Section 5.11(b) during such period of time, within [*] following receipt of an invoice from Quark.

 

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

  

5

  

 

14.         Indemnification.  Section 14.2 of the Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to all activities undertaken by Quark in conducting the Additional Trial or any other additional studies the parties may agree that Quark is to undertake under the Agreement.

 

15.         Miscellaneous.  This Second Amendment amends the terms of the Agreement as expressly provided above, and the Agreement as so amended remains in full force and effect.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.  The validity, performance, construction, and effect of this Second Amendment shall be governed by and construed under the substantive laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of law rules that would cause the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.  This Second Amendment may be executed in counterparts, all of which
taken together shall be regarded as one and the same instrument.

 

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

  

6

  

In Witness Whereof, the Parties have executed this Second Amendment in duplicate originals by their proper officers as of the Second Amendment Effective Date.

 

	
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

	  	
Pfizer Inc.

	  	  	  
	
By:

	
/s/ D. Zurr

	  	
By:

	
/s/ Adam Woodrow

	  	  	  	  	  
	
Name:

	
Daniel Zurr

	  	
Name:

	
Adam Woodrow

	  	  	  	  	  
	
Title:

	
CEO & President

	
  

	
Title:

	
VP Commercial Development

 

[Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to License Agreement]

 

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

  

 

  

Exhibit A

 

Protocol of the Additional Trial

Including Futility Criteria and Data Table List

 

[*]

 

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

  

 

  

Exhibit B

 

Documents and Data Summary

 

[*]

 

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00186-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00186-of-00352.parquet"}]]