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                                                                    Exhibit 10.4

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made effective as of the 11th
day of April, 2005(the "Effective Date"), by and between Advanced Life Sciences,
Inc., an Illinois corporation (the "Company"), and R. Richard Wieland, II (the
"Executive").

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive previously entered into an
employment contract (the "Existing Employment Contract"); and

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into this Agreement,
effective as of the Effective Date, to replace the Existing Employment Contract;
and

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive in accordance with the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth and the Executive desires to be so
employed; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has agreed with the Executive that this Agreement
shall set forth the terms and conditions of the Executive's employment with the
Company;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein,
the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

     1.   TERM. The employment of the Executive by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement shall begin as of the Effective Date and shall expire on the third
anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Term"), unless extended, as set forth
below, or otherwise terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that commencing on the third anniversary of the Effective
Date and on each anniversary thereafter, the Term of this Agreement shall
automatically be extended for one additional year unless, not later than 90 days
prior to such anniversary, the Executive or the Company shall have given notice
in writing that he or it does not wish to extend this Agreement.

     2.   POSITION AND DUTIES. The Executive shall serve as the Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and shall have such
responsibilities, duties and authority as are assigned by the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and are customarily associated with such position,
including but not limited to, those he may have as of the Effective Date. The
Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The
Executive shall devote such time to the performance of his duties as is
necessary to satisfactorily perform his responsibilities and duties.

     3.   PLACE OF PERFORMANCE. In connection with the Executive's employment by
the Company, the Executive shall be based at the principal executive offices of
the Company currently in Woodridge, Illinois, except for required travel on the
Company's business.

     4.   COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS. During the Term of the Executive's
employment, as compensation and consideration for the performance by the
Executive of the Executive's duties, responsibilities and covenants pursuant to
this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Executive and the Executive agrees to
accept in full payment for such performance the amounts and benefits set forth
below.

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          (a)  SALARY. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base
     salary of $140,000 ("Base Salary"), payable in substantially equal
     installments no less frequently than monthly in accordance with the
     Company's applicable payroll practices. The amount of Base Salary shall be
     reviewed annually by the Chief Executive Officer (with the first review to
     occur prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date) to determine
     whether to increase the Base Salary on a prospective basis. The Executive's
     Base Salary shall not be reduced after any increase, without the
     Executive's consent.

          (b)  BONUS. The Executive shall be eligible to participate throughout
     the Term in the Company's annual bonus plan or any similar or successor
     bonus plan ("BONUS PLAN") in accordance with the Company's compensation
     practices and the terms and provisions of the Bonus Plan. During the 2005
     fiscal year of the Company, if the Executive achieves a financing milestone
     event as may be established in the Bonus Plan, the Executive's Base Salary
     shall increase up to a maximum annual Base Salary of $180,000 and the
     Severance Period (as defined in Section 6(d) of this Agreement) shall
     increase to twelve (12) months concurrent with the achievement of such a
     financing milestone event. Further and in addition to any increase in Base
     Salary, during the 2005 fiscal year of the Company, the Executive is
     eligible for up to a maximum bonus that the Executive may receive under the
     Bonus Plan is $175,000.

          (c)  STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN. As of the Effective Date, the Executive
     shall be shall be eligible to receive additional awards of the Company's
     common stock under the Stock Incentive Plan or under any other equity plan
     of the Company as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
     "Board") in its discretion.

          (d)  OTHER BENEFITS AND PERQUISITES. During the Term of the
     Executive's employment hereunder:

               (i)    BENEFIT PLANS. The Executive shall be entitled to
          participate in or receive benefits under any employee pension or
          welfare benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Company at
          any time during his employment hereunder to its employees
          (collectively the "Benefit Plans"), including without limitation each
          qualified retirement plan, life insurance and accident plan, medical,
          dental insurance plans, and disability plan, subject to and on a basis
          consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of
          such plans and arrangements, as they may be amended from time to time.

               (ii)   VACATION. The Executive shall be entitled to not less than
          25 days of paid vacation in each calendar year, in accordance with the
          Company's vacation policy.

               (iii)  EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. The Executive shall be entitled to
          receive reimbursement for all reasonable business, travel or other
          out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Executive in fulfilling the
          Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder, provided that such
          expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the
          policies and procedures established by the Company. Additionally, the
          Company will reimburse the Executive upon expense receipt submission,
          the annual expenses of membership in two (2)

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          financial groups and the annual costs of a health club membership and
          physical examination up to an amount of $2,000 of total expenses per
          year.

     5.   TERMINATION.

          (a)  The Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated under the
     following circumstances:

               (i)    The death of the Executive;

               (ii)   By the Company for "Cause", which shall mean any of the
          following:, as determined by the Board in its discretion: (A)
          conviction of or plea of guilty or NOLO CONTENDERE to any criminal
          violation involving dishonesty or fraud; (B) engagement in conduct
          that is injurious to the Company; (C) engagement in any act of
          dishonesty or misconduct that results in damage to the Company or its
          business or reputation or that the Board determines to adversely
          affect the value, reliability or performance of the Executive to the
          Company; (D) refusal or failure to substantially comply with the
          Company's human resources rules, policies, directions and/or
          restrictions relating to harassment and/or discrimination, or with
          compliance or risk management rules, policies, directions and/or
          restrictions; (E) unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential
          Information (as defined below) or other trade secrets of the Company;
          (F) loss of any license or registration that is necessary for the
          Executive to perform his duties to the Company, or commission of any
          act that could result in the legal disqualification of the Executive
          from being employed by the Company or any of its affiliates; (G)
          failure to cooperate with the Company or any of its affiliates in any
          internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial
          proceeding; or (H) continuous failure by the Executive to perform his
          duties to the Company (which may include any sustained and unexcused
          absence of the Executive from the performance of such duties, which
          absence has not been certified in writing as due to physical or mental
          illness or disability), after a written demand for performance has
          been delivered to the Executive identifying the manner in which the
          Executive has failed to substantially perform such duties. The
          application of any part of the definition of Cause set forth in
          clauses (A) through (H) above to the Executive shall not preclude or
          prevent the reliance by the Company or the Board on any other part of
          the definition that also may be applicable. In addition, the
          Executive's employment shall be deemed to have terminated for Cause
          if, after the Executive's employment has terminated, facts and
          circumstances are discovered that would have justified a termination
          for Cause.

               (iii)  By mutual agreement between the Company and the Executive;
          or

               (iv)   By the Executive or the Company for any reason other than
          as stated in Sections 5(a)(i) through 5(a)(iii) above, upon providing
          a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 5(b)).

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          (b)  NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination of the Executive's
     employment by the Company or by the Executive (other than a termination
     pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) above) shall be communicated by written Notice
     of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 10. For
     purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice
     that shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
     relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
     circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
     employment under the provision so indicated.

          (c)  "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's
     employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) above, the date of his
     death; (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section
     5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) above, the date such Notice of Termination is given
     (or such later date as provided therein); (iii) if the Executive's
     employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5(a)(iii) above, the date
     mutually agreed to by the parties; (iv) the date the Term of this Agreement
     expires, if either the Company or the Executive provides notice in
     accordance with Section 1; or (v) if the Executive terminates his
     employment and fails to provide written notice to the Company of such
     termination, the date of such termination.

     6.   COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.

          (a)  The following payments shall be made upon the Executive's
     termination of employment for any reason: (i) earned but unpaid Base Salary
     through the Executive's Date of Termination; (ii) any accrued but unpaid
     vacation; (iii) unreimbursed business expenses owed pursuant to Section
     4(d)(iii); and (iv) any amounts payable under any of the Company's Benefit
     Plans in accordance with the terms of those plans. All amounts under
     clauses (i) through (iii) shall be paid in a lump sum on the Executive's
     Date of Termination or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter.

          (b)  In the event the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to
     Sections 5(a)(i) or 5(a)(ii), or by the Executive for any reason pursuant
     to Section 5(a)(iv), above, the Company shall have no further obligation to
     the Executive under this Agreement, other than the payments in Section
     6(a).

          (c)  If the Executive's employment is terminated by the parties
     pursuant to Section 5(a)(iii) above, the Executive shall be entitled to
     receive the compensation the parties specify in any written agreement that
     the Company and the Executive execute regarding the Executive's
     termination.

          (d)  In addition to the payments made under Section 6(a), if the
     Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant
     to Section 5(a)(iv) above, the Company shall, for a period of nine (9)
     months (the "Severance Period") following the Date of Termination, (i)
     provide to Executive salary continuation, at Executive's Base Salary rate
     then in effect, and (ii) continue the Executive's coverage under the
     Benefit Plans in which the Executive participated immediately prior to the
     Date of Termination, provided, however, that if the Company cannot continue
     such coverage, the Company shall provide or arrange to provide, at its
     expense, similar coverage to the

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     Executive. Notwithstanding the forgoing, vacation days shall not accrue
     during the Severance Period.

          (e)  The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any
     payment provided for in this Section 6 by seeking other employment or
     otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in
     this Section 6 be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as
     the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by
     offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the
     Company, or otherwise.

          (f)  The obligations of the Company to make payments and provide
     benefits under this Section 6 shall survive the termination of this
     Agreement.

     7.   Change in Control.

          (a)  Payments and Benefits Upon Employment Termination Upon a Change
     in Control. If the Executive's employment is terminated other than for
     Cause within 24 months after a Change in Control (as defined below), the
     Company shall provide the following payments and benefits to the Executive,
     in lieu of those payments and benefits provided under Sections 6(d), but in
     addition to the amounts payable under Section 6(a):

               (i)    The Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum cash amount
          equal to two (2) times the sum of (A) the Executive's Base Salary as
          in effect on the date of the Executive's termination of employment and
          (B) the Executive's target bonus amount for the fiscal year in which
          the Executive's employment is terminated OR an amount equal to the
          annual bonus paid to the Executive during the fiscal year immediately
          preceding the Executive's termination of employment.

               (ii)   The Company shall continue the Executive's coverage under
          the Benefit Plans in which the Executive participated immediately
          prior to the Executive's termination of employment for a period of 24
          months, provided, however, that if the Company cannot continue such
          coverage, the Company shall provide or arrange to provide, at its
          expense, similar coverage to the Executive.

          (b)  Timing of Payment. All payments under Section 7(a) shall be made
     in a lump sum cash payment as soon as practicable, but in no event more
     than 10 days after the Executive's termination of employment.

          (c)  Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
     shall have the following definitions:

               (i)    "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any one or
          more of the following:

                      (A)  Any "person" (as such term is defined in Section
               3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
               "Exchange Act") and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of
               the Exchange Act), including a "group" (as defined in Section
               13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act),

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               other than (I) the Company, (II) any wholly-owned subsidiary of
               the Company, (III) any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
               sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates,
               or (IV) a "Permitted Holder" (as defined below), becomes a
               "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
               Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company having
               fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the
               then-outstanding securities of the Company that may be cast for
               the election of directors of the Company (other than as a result
               of an issuance of securities initiated by the Company in the
               ordinary course of business) (the "Company Voting Securities");
               provided, however, that the event described in this Section
               7(c)(i) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control by virtue
               of any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an
               offering of such securities;

                      (B)  During any period of two consecutive years,
               individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute
               the Board (the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason to
               constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election,
               or the nomination for election by the stockholders of the
               Company, of each new director of the Company during such period
               was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent
               Directors then still in office;

                      (C)  As the result of, or in connection with, any cash
               tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination,
               sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or
               contested election, or any combination of the foregoing
               transactions, less than a majority of the combined voting power
               of the then-outstanding securities of the Company or any
               successor corporation or entity entitled to vote generally in the
               election of the directors of the Company or such other
               corporation or entity after such transaction is held in the
               aggregate by the holders of the securities of the Company
               entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the
               Company immediately prior to such transaction; or

                      (D)  The stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
               complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

                      Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall
               not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires
               beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the
               Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of
               Company Voting Securities by the Company which reduces the number
               of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided, however, that
               if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the
               beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that
               increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities
               beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control
               transaction shall then occur.

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                      Further notwithstanding the foregoing, unless a majority
               of the Incumbent Directors determines otherwise, no Change in
               Control shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to the
               Executive if the Change in Control results from actions or events
               in which the Executive is a participant in a capacity other than
               solely as an officer, employee or director of the Company or any
               of its affiliates.

               (ii)   "Permitted Holders" means (A) Michael T. Flavin (the
          "Principal"), (B) the spouse or any immediate family member of the
          Principal and any child or spouse of any spouse or immediate family
          member of the Principal, (C) a trust, corporation, partnership or
          other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or
          persons beneficially holding, directly or indirectly, a controlling
          interest of which consists of the Principal and/or such other persons
          referred to in the immediately preceding clause (B), or (D) the
          trustees of any trust referred to in clause (D).

          (d)  Treatment of Parachute Payments.

               (i)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement,
          and except as set forth below, in the event that any payment or
          benefit received or to be received by the Executive in connection with
          a Change in Control or the termination of the Executive's employment
          (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan,
          arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions
          result in a Change in Control or any person affiliated with the
          Company or such person) (all such payments and benefits, including
          payments under Section 7(a) above, being hereinafter called "Total
          Payments") is determined to be an "excess parachute payment" pursuant
          to Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
          "Code"), or any successor or substitute provision of the Code, with
          the effect that the Executive is liable for the payment of the excise
          tax described in Code Section 4999 or any successor or substitute
          provision of the Code (the "Excise Tax"), then, after taking into
          account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Code
          Section 280G in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash
          payments provided in Section 7(a)(i) of this Agreement shall first be
          reduced, and the noncash payments and benefits shall thereafter be
          reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total
          Payments is subject to the Excise Tax; provided, however, that the
          Executive may elect (at any time prior to the payment of any Total
          Payment under this Agreement) to have the noncash payments and
          benefits reduced (or eliminated) prior to any reduction of the cash
          payments under this Agreement.

               (b)    All determinations required to be made under this Section
          7(d), and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such
          determination, shall be made by the certified public accounting firm
          used for auditing purposes by the Company immediately prior to the
          date of the Executive's termination of employment or, if the parties
          determine that such certified public accounting firm cannot make such
          determination because of legal restrictions, the parties shall agree
          on a different certified public accounting firm (such certified public

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          accounting firm is hereinafter referred to as the "Accounting Firm"),
          which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the
          Company and the Executive not later than 5 days prior to the date of
          the Executive's termination of employment. The Company shall pay all
          fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm. Any determination by the
          Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive,
          except as provided in paragraph (c) below.

               (c)    As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Code
          Sections 280G and 4999 at the time of the initial determination by the
          Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that the Internal Revenue
          Service (the "IRS") or other agency will claim that an Excise Tax, or
          a greater Excise Tax, is due. If the Executive is required to make a
          payment of any such Excise Tax, the Company will promptly pay the
          Executive an additional amount equal to the amount, or greater amount,
          of Excise Tax the Executive is required to pay (plus a gross up
          payment for any income taxes, interest, penalties or additional Excise
          Tax payable by Executive with respect to such Excise Tax or additional
          payment), as determined by the Accounting Firm. The Executive will
          notify the Company in writing of any claim by the IRS or other agency
          that, if successful, would require payment by the Company of the
          additional payments under this paragraph. The Executive and the
          Company shall each reasonably cooperate with the other in connection
          with any administrative or judicial proceedings concerning the
          existence or amount of liability for Excise Tax with respect to the
          Total Payments. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses of the
          Executive relating to a claim by the IRS or other agency.

     8.   Restrictive Covenants.

          (a)  Trade Secrets. The Executive acknowledges that he has had and
     shall have access to confidential information of the Company, whether or
     not reduced to writing and whether in paper, electronic, digital, analog or
     other format (including, but not limited to, trade secrets, know-how,
     Inventions (as defined below), new product and product development
     information, research results, marketing and sales programs, customer and
     supplier information, financial data, employee records, cost information,
     pricing information, sales and marketing strategies, the identity of
     customers, information received by the Company under an obligation of
     confidentiality to customers, and all information generated by the Company
     for customers) relating to the past, present or planned business,
     customers, clients, contacts, prospects and assets of the Company that is
     unique, valuable and has not purposefully been made generally known to the
     public by the Company ("Confidential Information"). Confidential
     Information shall not include any information that: (i) is now, or
     hereafter becomes, through no act or failure to act on the part of the
     Executive that constitutes a breach of this Section 8, generally known or
     available to the public; (ii) is hereafter furnished without restriction on
     disclosure to the Executive by a third party, other than an employee or
     agent of the Company, who is not under any obligation of confidentiality to
     the Company; (iii) is disclosed with the written approval of the Company;
     or (iv) is required to be disclosed or provided by law, court order, or
     similar compulsion, including pursuant to or in connection with any legal
     proceeding involving the parties hereto; provided, however, that such
     disclosure shall be

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     limited to the extent so required or compelled; and provided further,
     however, that if the Executive is required to disclose such Confidential
     Information, the Executive shall give the Company notice of such disclosure
     and cooperate in seeking suitable protections. The Executive acknowledges
     that all Confidential Information, and all documents, files, reports,
     drawings, designs, specifications, formulae, samples, data, writings,
     tools, equipment, memory devices or any other tangible objects that
     incorporate, contain, refer to or embody any Confidential Information
     ("Items"), acquired by the Executive in connection with the Executive's
     employment with the Company are the property of the Company. Other than in
     the course of performing services for the Company or otherwise authorized
     in writing by the Company, the Executive shall not, at any time, directly
     or indirectly use, divulge, furnish or make accessible to any person any
     Confidential Information, but instead shall keep all Confidential
     Information strictly and absolutely confidential. The Executive shall
     deliver promptly to the Company, at the termination of his employment or at
     any other time at the request of the Company, without retaining any copies,
     all Items and any other documents or materials in the Executive's
     possession relating, directly or indirectly, to any Confidential
     Information.

          (b)  Non-competition. Beginning on the Effective Date and for a period
     of twelve (12) months following Executive's Date of Termination (the
     "Restricted Period"), Executive shall not directly or indirectly, alone or
     in conjunction with any other party, own any interest in, operate, control,
     engage in or participate as a partner, director, principal, officer,
     employee, independent contractor or agent of, act as a consultant to,
     perform any services for, or assist in any way any company, person, or
     entity in the United States that is engaged in "Competing Services" (as
     defined herein). Competing Services shall mean chemistry and biology
     research and development relating to, arising from, connected with, or
     competitive with or intended to be competitive with, any product or
     research project as to which the Executive performed services for the
     Company, or about which the Executive received access to Confidential
     Information while employed by the Company. If the Executive obtains other
     employment during the twelve-month period after the Executive's Date of
     Termination, the Executive agrees to notify the Company in writing of the
     name and address of such employer. The Executive understands, and the
     Company agrees, that the Company shall pay to the Executive a monthly
     amount equal to one month of the Executive's final Base Salary if the
     Executive is unable to secure other employment as a direct result of this
     Section 8(b). The Executive agrees and acknowledges that (i) the Company
     shall be obligated to make such payment only upon a written request by the
     Executive containing sufficient information for the Company to make a
     determination that this Section 8(b) caused the Executive's inability to
     secure other employment, and (ii) the Company shall be released from the
     obligation to make such payment if the Company provides the Executive a
     written release from this Section 8(b). The Company's obligation to make
     payments under this Section 8(b) shall be made only for the period
     beginning with the Executive's inability to secure other employment as a
     result of this Section 8(b) and ending no later than the expiration of the
     twelve-month period following the Executive's Date of Termination.

          (c)  Non-Solicitation of Employees. During the Restricted Period, the
     Executive shall not, directly or indirectly solicit or induce, or attempt
     to solicit or induce, any current employee of the Company, or any
     individual who becomes an employee

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     during the Restricted Period, to leave his or her employment with the
     Company or join or become affiliated with any other business or entity,
     hire any employee of the Company or in any way interfere with the
     relationship between any employee and the Company.

          (d)  Non-Solicitation of Customers. During the Restricted Period, the
     Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or induce, or attempt
     to solicit or induce, any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor or other
     business relation of the Company to terminate its relationship or contract
     with the Company, to cease doing business with the Company, or in any way
     interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier,
     licensee or business relation and the Company (including making any
     negative statements or communications concerning the Company or their
     employees).

          (e)  Inventions. The Executive acknowledges all inventions of the
     Company (including, but not limited to, procedures, systems, machines,
     methods, processes, uses, apparatuses, compositions of matter, designs, or
     configurations of any kind, discovered, conceived, reduced to practice,
     developed, made or produced) ("Inventions") that (i) relate to the present
     or planned business of the Company or the work performed by the Company for
     its customers, and (ii) are conceived or reduced to practice by the
     Executive, either alone or with others, during the Executive's employment
     with the Company or during a period of 120 days after the Executive's Date
     of Termination, whether or not done during the Executive's regular working
     hours, are the sole property of the Company, including, without limitation,
     all domestic and foreign patent rights, rights of registration or other
     protection under the copyright laws, or other rights pertaining to the
     Inventions. For purposes of this Agreement, Inventions shall include any
     improvements to an Invention and shall not be limited to the definition of
     a patentable invention or copyrightable work of authorship as contained in
     the United States patent or copyright laws. The Executive shall disclose
     promptly and fully in writing to the Company each Invention, whether or not
     reduced to practice, that the Executive conceives or learns (either alone
     or jointly with others) during the Term of Employment. The Executive hereby
     assigns to the Company, or its nominee, all of the Executive's right, title
     and interest, including international priority rights, in and to all
     Inventions (other than any Invention that was developed entirely on the
     Executive's own time and for which no equipment, supplies, facilities or
     trade secret information of the Company was used, unless such Invention
     relates directly to the Company's business or to the Company's actual or
     demonstrably anticipated research or development), and in and to all United
     States or foreign patents, copyrights and other proprietary rights granted
     thereon or resulting therefrom, and in and to all applications for United
     States or foreign copyrights, patents and other proprietary rights. The
     Executive shall execute all papers, perform all lawful acts or assist the
     Company in any way the Company deems necessary or advisable (at the
     Company's expense) for the preparation, filing, prosecution, issuance,
     procurement, maintenance or enforcement of patents applications and patents
     of the United States and foreign countries, and for obtaining and enforcing
     copyright protection and registration, of any Invention. To that end, the
     Executive shall at the Company's request and without limitation, testify in
     any suit or other proceeding involving any of the Inventions, execute all
     documents that the Company reasonably determines to be necessary or
     convenient for use in applying for and obtaining patent or copyright
     protection and registration on any of the Inventions and enforcement of
     that protection

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     and registration, and execute all necessary documents and papers required
     to vest title in and assign to the Company (or its nominee) patent or
     copyright protection and registration. The Executive's obligation to assist
     the Company in obtaining and enforcing patent or copyright protection and
     registration for the Inventions shall continue following termination of
     this Agreement, but Company shall compensate the Executive following the
     expiration or termination of this Agreement at a rate of $10 for the
     execution of each document and $150 per day for each day or portion thereof
     spent at the Company's request in rendering assistance, plus reimbursement
     for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Executive for
     such assistance. The Executive hereby irrevocably appoints the Company and
     its duly authorized officers and agents as his agent and attorney-in-fact
     to act for and on behalf of the Executive in filing all patent
     applications, applications for copyright protection and registration
     amendments, renewals and all other appropriate documents in any way related
     to the Inventions.

          (f)  Survival. The provisions set forth in this Section 8 shall
     survive termination of this Agreement.

          (g)  Scope Limitations. If the scope, period of time or area of
     restriction specified in this Section 8 are or would be judged to be
     unreasonable in any court proceeding, then the period of time, scope or
     area of restriction shall be reduced or limited in the manner and to the
     extent necessary to make the restriction reasonable, so that the
     restriction may be enforced in those areas, during the period of time and
     in the scope that are or would be judged to be reasonable.

     9.   Binding Agreement; Successors. This Agreement and all rights of the
Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had
continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee,
legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's
estate. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, any
successors or assigns of the Company. This Agreement is not intended to confer
upon any person other than the parties hereto (and the Executives' Spouse and
dependents) any rights or remedies, except as specifically provided in this
Section 9.

     10.  NOTICE. Notices, demands and all other communications provided for in
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
when delivered, if delivered personally, or (unless otherwise specified) when
received, if mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, by Federal Express or other reputable
overnight courier service or by facsimile, addressed as follows:

          If to the Executive:

                   R. Richard Wieland
                   10Ambrose Lane
                   Barrington, IL 60010

<Page>

          If to the Company:

                  Advanced Life Sciences, Inc.
                  1440 Davey Road
                  Woodridge, Illinois 60517
                  Attn: Chief Executive Officer

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing
in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.

     11.  GENERAL PROVISIONS. No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing signed by the Executive and such officer of the Company as may be
specifically designated by the Company's Board. No waiver by either party hereto
at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at
the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations,
oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof
have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this
Agreement.

     12.  VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or
unenforceable, in whole or in part, then it shall be deemed to be modified or
restricted to the extent and in the manner necessary to render it valid and
enforceable, or shall be deemed excised from this Agreement, as the case may
require, and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced to the maximum
extent permitted by law, as if the provision had been originally incorporated
herein as so modified or restricted, or as if it had not originally been
incorporated herein, as the case may be.

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

     14.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of
the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and
supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements,
communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any
officer, employee or representative of any party hereto; and any prior agreement
of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein is
hereby terminated and canceled. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company and the
Executive hereby agree that this Agreement shall replace and supercede the
Existing Employment Contract and govern the relationship of the parties.

     15.  IRREPARABLE HARM. The Executive acknowledges that: (i) the Executive's
compliance with this Agreement is necessary to preserve and protect the
proprietary rights, Confidential Information and the goodwill of the Company and
its subsidiaries as going concerns; (ii) any failure by the Executive to comply
with the provisions of this Agreement shall

<Page>

result in irreparable and continuing injury for which there will be no adequate
remedy at law; and (iii) in the event that the Executive should fail to comply
with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled,
in addition to such other relief as may be proper, to all types of equitable
relief (including, but not limited to, the issuance of an injunction and/or
temporary restraining order) as may be necessary to cause the Executive to
comply with this Agreement, to restore to the Company its property, and to make
the Company whole.

     16.  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND FORUM; LEGAL FEES AND COSTS. The Company
and the Executive hereby expressly and irrevocably agree that any action,
whether at law or in equity, arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the
Executive's employment by the Company shall only be brought in a federal or
state court located in Cook County, Illinois. The Executive hereby irrevocably
consents to personal jurisdiction in such court and to accept service of process
in accordance with the provisions of such court. In connection with any dispute
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the Executive's employment by the
Company, each party shall be responsible for its or his own legal fees and
expenses and all court costs shall be shared equally by the Company and the
Executive unless the court apportions such legal fees or court costs in a
different manner.

     17.  WITHHOLDING. All payments made to the Executive pursuant to this
Agreement shall be subject to applicable withholding taxes, if any, and any
amount so withheld shall be deemed to have been paid to the Executive for
purposes of amounts due to the Executive under this Agreement.

     18.  GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement is governed by and is to be construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without
regard to its conflict of law provisions.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date
and year first above written.

EXECUTIVE                              ADVANCED LIFE SCIENCES, INC.

By: /s/ R. Richard Wieland, II         By: /s/ Michael T. Flavin
   -------------------------------        ------------------------------
Name: R. Richard Wieland, II           Name:  Michael T. Flavin
                                       Title: Chief Executive Officer<Page>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.5

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made effective as of the 11th
day of April 2005(the "Effective Date"), by and between Advanced Life Sciences,
Inc., an Illinois corporation (the "Company"), and Suseelan Pookote (the
"Executive").

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive previously entered into an
employment contract (the "Existing Employment Contract"); and

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into this Agreement,
effective as of the Effective Date, to replace the Existing Employment Contract;
and

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive in accordance with the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth and the Executive desires to be so
employed; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has agreed with the Executive that this Agreement
shall set forth the terms and conditions of the Executive's employment with the
Company;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein,
the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

     1.   TERM. The employment of the Executive by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement shall begin as of the Effective Date and shall expire on the third
anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Term"), unless extended, as set forth
below, or otherwise terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that commencing on the third anniversary of the Effective
Date and on each anniversary thereafter, the Term of this Agreement shall
automatically be extended for one additional year unless, not later than 90 days
prior to such anniversary, the Executive or the Company shall have given notice
in writing that he or it does not wish to extend this Agreement.

     2.   POSITION AND DUTIES. The Executive shall serve as the Executive Vice
President of Corporate Development of the Company, and shall have such
responsibilities, duties and authority as are assigned by the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and are customarily associated with such position,
including but not limited to, those he may have as of the Effective Date. The
Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The
Executive shall devote such time to the performance of his duties as is
necessary to satisfactorily perform his responsibilities and duties.

     3.   PLACE OF PERFORMANCE. In connection with the Executive's employment by
the Company, the Executive shall be based at the principal executive offices of
the Company currently in Woodridge, Illinois, except for required travel on the
Company's business.

     4.   COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS. During the Term of the Executive's
employment, as compensation and consideration for the performance by the
Executive of the Executive's duties, responsibilities and covenants pursuant to
this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Executive and the Executive agrees to
accept in full payment for such performance the amounts and benefits set forth
below.

<Page>

          (a)  SALARY. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base
     salary of $150,000 ("Base Salary"), payable in substantially equal
     installments no less frequently than monthly in accordance with the
     Company's applicable payroll practices. The amount of Base Salary shall be
     reviewed annually by the Chief Executive Officer (with the first review to
     occur prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date) to determine
     whether to increase the Base Salary on a prospective basis. The Executive's
     Base Salary shall not be reduced after any increase, without the
     Executive's consent.

          (b)  BONUS. The Executive shall be eligible to participate throughout
     the Term in the Company's annual bonus plan or any similar or successor
     bonus plan ("BONUS PLAN") in accordance with the Company's compensation
     practices and the terms and provisions of the Bonus Plan. During the 2005
     fiscal year of the Company, the maximum bonus that the Executive may
     receive under the Bonus Plan is $350,000.

          (c)  STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN. As of the Effective Date, the Executive
     shall be shall be eligible to receive additional awards of the Company's
     common stock under the Stock Incentive Plan or under any other equity plan
     of the Company as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
     "Board") in its discretion.

          (d)  OTHER BENEFITS AND PERQUISITES. During the Term of the
     Executive's employment hereunder:

               (i)    BENEFIT PLANS. The Executive shall be entitled to
          participate in or receive benefits under any employee pension or
          welfare benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Company at
          any time during his employment hereunder to its employees
          (collectively the "Benefit Plans"), including without limitation each
          qualified retirement plan, life insurance and accident plan, medical,
          dental insurance plans, and disability plan, subject to and on a basis
          consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of
          such plans and arrangements, as they may be amended from time to time.

               (ii)   VACATION. The Executive shall be entitled to not less than
          15 days of paid vacation in each calendar year, in accordance with the
          Company's vacation policy.

               (iii)  EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. The Executive shall be entitled to
          receive reimbursement for all reasonable business, travel or other
          out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Executive in fulfilling the
          Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder, provided that such
          expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the
          policies and procedures established by the Company.

     5.   TERMINATION.

          (a)  The Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated under the
     following circumstances:

               (i)    The death of the Executive;

<Page>

               (ii)   By the Company for "Cause", which shall mean any of the
          following:, as determined by the Board in its discretion: (A)
          conviction of or plea of guilty or NOLO CONTENDERE to any criminal
          violation involving dishonesty or fraud; (B) engagement in conduct
          that is injurious to the Company; (C) engagement in any act of
          dishonesty or misconduct that results in damage to the Company or its
          business or reputation or that the Board determines to adversely
          affect the value, reliability or performance of the Executive to the
          Company; (D) refusal or failure to substantially comply with the
          Company's human resources rules, policies, directions and/or
          restrictions relating to harassment and/or discrimination, or with
          compliance or risk management rules, policies, directions and/or
          restrictions; (E) unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential
          Information (as defined below) or other trade secrets of the Company;
          (F) loss of any license or registration that is necessary for the
          Executive to perform his duties to the Company, or commission of any
          act that could result in the legal disqualification of the Executive
          from being employed by the Company or any of its affiliates; (G)
          failure to cooperate with the Company or any of its affiliates in any
          internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial
          proceeding; or (H) continuous failure by the Executive to perform his
          duties to the Company (which may include any sustained and unexcused
          absence of the Executive from the performance of such duties, which
          absence has not been certified in writing as due to physical or mental
          illness or disability), after a written demand for performance has
          been delivered to the Executive identifying the manner in which the
          Executive has failed to substantially perform such duties. The
          application of any part of the definition of Cause set forth in
          clauses (A) through (H) above to the Executive shall not preclude or
          prevent the reliance by the Company or the Board on any other part of
          the definition that also may be applicable. In addition, the
          Executive's employment shall be deemed to have terminated for Cause
          if, after the Executive's employment has terminated, facts and
          circumstances are discovered that would have justified a termination
          for Cause.

               (iii)  By mutual agreement between the Company and the Executive;
          or

               (iv)   By the Executive or the Company for any reason other than
          as stated in Sections 5(a)(i) through 5(a)(iii) above, upon providing
          a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 5(b)).

          (b)  NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination of the Executive's
     employment by the Company or by the Executive (other than a termination
     pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) above) shall be communicated by written Notice
     of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 10. For
     purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice
     that shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
     relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
     circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
     employment under the provision so indicated.

          (c)  "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's
     employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) above, the date of his
     death; (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section
     5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) above, the date such

<Page>

     Notice of Termination is given (or such later date as provided therein);
     (iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section
     5(a)(iii) above, the date mutually agreed to by the parties; (iv) the date
     the Term of this Agreement expires, if either the Company or the Executive
     provides notice in accordance with Section 1; or (v) if the Executive
     terminates his employment and fails to provide written notice to the
     Company of such termination, the date of such termination.

     6.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.

          (a)  The following payments shall be made upon the Executive's
     termination of employment for any reason: (i) earned but unpaid Base Salary
     through the Executive's Date of Termination; (ii) any accrued but unpaid
     vacation; (iii) unreimbursed business expenses owed pursuant to Section
     4(d)(iii); and (iv) any amounts payable under any of the Company's Benefit
     Plans in accordance with the terms of those plans. All amounts under
     clauses (i) through (iii) shall be paid in a lump sum on the Executive's
     Date of Termination or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter.

          (b)  In the event the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to
     Sections 5(a)(i) or 5(a)(ii), or by the Executive for any reason pursuant
     to Section 5(a)(iv), above, the Company shall have no further obligation to
     the Executive under this Agreement, other than the payments in Section
     6(a).

          (c)  If the Executive's employment is terminated by the parties
     pursuant to Section 5(a)(iii) above, the Executive shall be entitled to
     receive the compensation the parties specify in any written agreement that
     the Company and the Executive execute regarding the Executive's
     termination.

          (d)  In addition to the payments made under Section 6(a), if the
     Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant
     to Section 5(a)(iv) above, the Company shall, for a period of nine (9)
     months following the Date of Termination, (i) provide to Executive salary
     continuation, at Executive's Base Salary rate then in effect, and (ii)
     continue the Executive's coverage under the Benefit Plans in which the
     Executive participated immediately prior to the Date of Termination,
     provided, however, that if the Company cannot continue such coverage, the
     Company shall provide or arrange to provide, at its expense, similar
     coverage to the Executive. Notwithstanding the forgoing, vacation days
     shall not accrue during the nine (9) month period of severance.

          (e)  The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any
     payment provided for in this Section 6 by seeking other employment or
     otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in
     this Section 6 be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as
     the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by
     offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the
     Company, or otherwise.

          (f)  The obligations of the Company to make payments and provide
     benefits under this Section 6 shall survive the termination of this
     Agreement.

<Page>

     7.   Change in Control.

          (a)  Payments and Benefits Upon Employment Termination Upon a Change
     in Control. If the Executive's employment is terminated other than for
     Cause within 24 months after a Change in Control (as defined below), the
     Company shall provide the following payments and benefits to the Executive,
     in lieu of those payments and benefits provided under Sections 6(d), but in
     addition to the amounts payable under Section 6(a):

               (i)    The Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum cash amount
          equal to two (2) times the sum of (A) the Executive's Base Salary as
          in effect on the date of the Executive's termination of employment and
          (B) the Executive's target bonus amount for the fiscal year in which
          the Executive's employment is terminated OR an amount equal to the
          annual bonus paid to the Executive during the fiscal year immediately
          preceding the Executive's termination of employment.

               (ii)   The Company shall continue the Executive's coverage under
          the Benefit Plans in which the Executive participated immediately
          prior to the Executive's termination of employment for a period of 24
          months, provided, however, that if the Company cannot continue such
          coverage, the Company shall provide or arrange to provide, at its
          expense, similar coverage to the Executive.

          (b)  Timing of Payment. All payments under Section 7(a) shall be made
     in a lump sum cash payment as soon as practicable, but in no event more
     than 10 days after the Executive's termination of employment.

          (c)  Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
     shall have the following definitions:

               (i)    "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any one or
          more of the following:

                      (A)  Any "person" (as such term is defined in Section
               3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
               "Exchange Act") and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of
               the Exchange Act), including a "group" (as defined in Section
               13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than (I) the Company, (II)
               any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, (III) any employee
               benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
               Company or any of its affiliates, or (IV) a "Permitted Holder"
               (as defined below), becomes a "beneficial owner" (as defined in
               Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
               securities of the Company having fifty percent (50%) or more of
               the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of
               the Company that may be cast for the election of directors of the
               Company (other than as a result of an issuance of securities
               initiated by the Company in the ordinary course of business) (the
               "Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the event
               described in this Section 7(c)(i) shall not be deemed to be a
               Change in Control by virtue of any underwriter temporarily
               holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities;

<Page>

                      (B)  During any period of two consecutive years,
               individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute
               the Board (the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason to
               constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election,
               or the nomination for election by the stockholders of the
               Company, of each new director of the Company during such period
               was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent
               Directors then still in office;

                      (C)  As the result of, or in connection with, any cash
               tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination,
               sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or
               contested election, or any combination of the foregoing
               transactions, less than a majority of the combined voting power
               of the then-outstanding securities of the Company or any
               successor corporation or entity entitled to vote generally in the
               election of the directors of the Company or such other
               corporation or entity after such transaction is held in the
               aggregate by the holders of the securities of the Company
               entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the
               Company immediately prior to such transaction; or

                      (D)  The stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
               complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

                      Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall
               not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires
               beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the
               Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of
               Company Voting Securities by the Company which reduces the number
               of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided, however, that
               if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the
               beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that
               increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities
               beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control
               transaction shall then occur.

                      Further notwithstanding the foregoing, unless a majority
               of the Incumbent Directors determines otherwise, no Change in
               Control shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to the
               Executive if the Change in Control results from actions or events
               in which the Executive is a participant in a capacity other than
               solely as an officer, employee or director of the Company or any
               of its affiliates.

               (ii)   "Permitted Holders" means (A) Michael T. Flavin (the
          "Principal"), (B) the spouse or any immediate family member of the
          Principal and any child or spouse of any spouse or immediate family
          member of the Principal, (C) a trust, corporation, partnership or
          other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or
          persons beneficially holding, directly or indirectly, a controlling
          interest of which consists of the Principal and/or such other persons
          referred to in the immediately preceding clause (B), or (D) the
          trustees of any trust referred to in clause (D).

<Page>

          (d)  Treatment of Parachute Payments.

               (i)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement,
          and except as set forth below, in the event that any payment or
          benefit received or to be received by the Executive in connection with
          a Change in Control or the termination of the Executive's employment
          (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan,
          arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions
          result in a Change in Control or any person affiliated with the
          Company or such person) (all such payments and benefits, including
          payments under Section 7(a) above, being hereinafter called "Total
          Payments") is determined to be an "excess parachute payment" pursuant
          to Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
          "Code"), or any successor or substitute provision of the Code, with
          the effect that the Executive is liable for the payment of the excise
          tax described in Code Section 4999 or any successor or substitute
          provision of the Code (the "Excise Tax"), then, after taking into
          account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Code
          Section 280G in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash
          payments provided in Section 7(a)(i) of this Agreement shall first be
          reduced, and the noncash payments and benefits shall thereafter be
          reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total
          Payments is subject to the Excise Tax; provided, however, that the
          Executive may elect (at any time prior to the payment of any Total
          Payment under this Agreement) to have the noncash payments and
          benefits reduced (or eliminated) prior to any reduction of the cash
          payments under this Agreement.

               (b)    All determinations required to be made under this Section
          7(d), and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such
          determination, shall be made by the certified public accounting firm
          used for auditing purposes by the Company immediately prior to the
          date of the Executive's termination of employment or, if the parties
          determine that such certified public accounting firm cannot make such
          determination because of legal restrictions, the parties shall agree
          on a different certified public accounting firm (such certified public
          accounting firm is hereinafter referred to as the "Accounting Firm"),
          which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the
          Company and the Executive not later than 5 days prior to the date of
          the Executive's termination of employment. The Company shall pay all
          fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm. Any determination by the
          Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive,
          except as provided in paragraph (c) below.

               (c)    As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Code
          Sections 280G and 4999 at the time of the initial determination by the
          Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that the Internal Revenue
          Service (the "IRS") or other agency will claim that an Excise Tax, or
          a greater Excise Tax, is due. If the Executive is required to make a
          payment of any such Excise Tax, the Company will promptly pay the
          Executive an additional amount equal to the amount, or greater amount,
          of Excise Tax the Executive is required to pay (plus a gross up
          payment for any income taxes, interest, penalties or additional Excise
          Tax payable by Executive with respect to such Excise Tax or additional
          payment), as

<Page>

          determined by the Accounting Firm. The Executive will notify the
          Company in writing of any claim by the IRS or other agency that, if
          successful, would require payment by the Company of the additional
          payments under this paragraph. The Executive and the Company shall
          each reasonably cooperate with the other in connection with any
          administrative or judicial proceedings concerning the existence or
          amount of liability for Excise Tax with respect to the Total Payments.
          The Company shall pay all fees and expenses of the Executive relating
          to a claim by the IRS or other agency.

     8.   Restrictive Covenants.

          (a)  Trade Secrets. The Executive acknowledges that he has had and
     shall have access to confidential information of the Company, whether or
     not reduced to writing and whether in paper, electronic, digital, analog or
     other format (including, but not limited to, trade secrets, know-how,
     Inventions (as defined below), new product and product development
     information, research results, marketing and sales programs, customer and
     supplier information, financial data, employee records, cost information,
     pricing information, sales and marketing strategies, the identity of
     customers, information received by the Company under an obligation of
     confidentiality to customers, and all information generated by the Company
     for customers) relating to the past, present or planned business,
     customers, clients, contacts, prospects and assets of the Company that is
     unique, valuable and has not purposefully been made generally known to the
     public by the Company ("Confidential Information"). Confidential
     Information shall not include any information that: (i) is now, or
     hereafter becomes, through no act or failure to act on the part of the
     Executive that constitutes a breach of this Section 8, generally known or
     available to the public; (ii) is hereafter furnished without restriction on
     disclosure to the Executive by a third party, other than an employee or
     agent of the Company, who is not under any obligation of confidentiality to
     the Company; (iii) is disclosed with the written approval of the Company;
     or (iv) is required to be disclosed or provided by law, court order, or
     similar compulsion, including pursuant to or in connection with any legal
     proceeding involving the parties hereto; provided, however, that such
     disclosure shall be limited to the extent so required or compelled; and
     provided further, however, that if the Executive is required to disclose
     such Confidential Information, the Executive shall give the Company notice
     of such disclosure and cooperate in seeking suitable protections. The
     Executive acknowledges that all Confidential Information, and all
     documents, files, reports, drawings, designs, specifications, formulae,
     samples, data, writings, tools, equipment, memory devices or any other
     tangible objects that incorporate, contain, refer to or embody any
     Confidential Information ("Items"), acquired by the Executive in connection
     with the Executive's employment with the Company are the property of the
     Company. Other than in the course of performing services for the Company or
     otherwise authorized in writing by the Company, the Executive shall not, at
     any time, directly or indirectly use, divulge, furnish or make accessible
     to any person any Confidential Information, but instead shall keep all
     Confidential Information strictly and absolutely confidential. The
     Executive shall deliver promptly to the Company, at the termination of his
     employment or at any other time at the request of the Company, without
     retaining any copies, all Items and any other documents or materials in the
     Executive's possession relating, directly or indirectly, to any
     Confidential Information.

<Page>

          (b)  Non-competition. Beginning on the Effective Date and for a period
     of twelve (12) months following Executive's Date of Termination (the
     "Restricted Period"), Executive shall not directly or indirectly, alone or
     in conjunction with any other party, own any interest in, operate, control,
     engage in or participate as a partner, director, principal, officer,
     employee, independent contractor or agent of, act as a consultant to,
     perform any services for, or assist in any way any company, person, or
     entity in the United States that is engaged in "Competing Services" (as
     defined herein). Competing Services shall mean chemistry and biology
     research and development relating to, arising from, connected with, or
     competitive with or intended to be competitive with, any product or
     research project as to which the Executive performed services for the
     Company, or about which the Executive received access to Confidential
     Information while employed by the Company. If the Executive obtains other
     employment during the twelve-month period after the Executive's Date of
     Termination, the Executive agrees to notify the Company in writing of the
     name and address of such employer. The Executive understands, and the
     Company agrees, that the Company shall pay to the Executive a monthly
     amount equal to one month of the Executive's final Base Salary if the
     Executive is unable to secure other employment as a direct result of this
     Section 8(b). The Executive agrees and acknowledges that (i) the Company
     shall be obligated to make such payment only upon a written request by the
     Executive containing sufficient information for the Company to make a
     determination that this Section 8(b) caused the Executive's inability to
     secure other employment, and (ii) the Company shall be released from the
     obligation to make such payment if the Company provides the Executive a
     written release from this Section 8(b). The Company's obligation to make
     payments under this Section 8(b) shall be made only for the period
     beginning with the Executive's inability to secure other employment as a
     result of this Section 8(b) and ending no later than the expiration of the
     twelve-month period following the Executive's Date of Termination.

          (c)  Non-Solicitation of Employees. During the Restricted Period, the
     Executive shall not, directly or indirectly solicit or induce, or attempt
     to solicit or induce, any current employee of the Company, or any
     individual who becomes an employee during the Restricted Period, to leave
     his or her employment with the Company or join or become affiliated with
     any other business or entity, hire any employee of the Company or in any
     way interfere with the relationship between any employee and the Company.

          (d)  Non-Solicitation of Customers. During the Restricted Period, the
     Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or induce, or attempt
     to solicit or induce, any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor or other
     business relation of the Company to terminate its relationship or contract
     with the Company, to cease doing business with the Company, or in any way
     interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier,
     licensee or business relation and the Company (including making any
     negative statements or communications concerning the Company or their
     employees).

          (e)  Inventions. The Executive acknowledges all inventions of the
     Company (including, but not limited to, procedures, systems, machines,
     methods, processes, uses, apparatuses, compositions of matter, designs, or
     configurations of any kind, discovered, conceived, reduced to practice,
     developed, made or produced) ("Inventions") that (i) relate to the present
     or planned business of the Company or the work performed by the

<Page>

     Company for its customers, and (ii) are conceived or reduced to practice by
     the Executive, either alone or with others, during the Executive's
     employment with the Company or during a period of 120 days after the
     Executive's Date of Termination, whether or not done during the Executive's
     regular working hours, are the sole property of the Company, including,
     without limitation, all domestic and foreign patent rights, rights of
     registration or other protection under the copyright laws, or other rights
     pertaining to the Inventions. For purposes of this Agreement, Inventions
     shall include any improvements to an Invention and shall not be limited to
     the definition of a patentable invention or copyrightable work of
     authorship as contained in the United States patent or copyright laws. The
     Executive shall disclose promptly and fully in writing to the Company each
     Invention, whether or not reduced to practice, that the Executive conceives
     or learns (either alone or jointly with others) during the Term of
     Employment. The Executive hereby assigns to the Company, or its nominee,
     all of the Executive's right, title and interest, including international
     priority rights, in and to all Inventions (other than any Invention that
     was developed entirely on the Executive's own time and for which no
     equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information of the Company
     was used, unless such Invention relates directly to the Company's business
     or to the Company's actual or demonstrably anticipated research or
     development), and in and to all United States or foreign patents,
     copyrights and other proprietary rights granted thereon or resulting
     therefrom, and in and to all applications for United States or foreign
     copyrights, patents and other proprietary rights. The Executive shall
     execute all papers, perform all lawful acts or assist the Company in any
     way the Company deems necessary or advisable (at the Company's expense) for
     the preparation, filing, prosecution, issuance, procurement, maintenance or
     enforcement of patents applications and patents of the United States and
     foreign countries, and for obtaining and enforcing copyright protection and
     registration, of any Invention. To that end, the Executive shall at the
     Company's request and without limitation, testify in any suit or other
     proceeding involving any of the Inventions, execute all documents that the
     Company reasonably determines to be necessary or convenient for use in
     applying for and obtaining patent or copyright protection and registration
     on any of the Inventions and enforcement of that protection and
     registration, and execute all necessary documents and papers required to
     vest title in and assign to the Company (or its nominee) patent or
     copyright protection and registration. The Executive's obligation to assist
     the Company in obtaining and enforcing patent or copyright protection and
     registration for the Inventions shall continue following termination of
     this Agreement, but Company shall compensate the Executive following the
     expiration or termination of this Agreement at a rate of $10 for the
     execution of each document and $150 per day for each day or portion thereof
     spent at the Company's request in rendering assistance, plus reimbursement
     for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Executive for
     such assistance. The Executive hereby irrevocably appoints the Company and
     its duly authorized officers and agents as his agent and attorney-in-fact
     to act for and on behalf of the Executive in filing all patent
     applications, applications for copyright protection and registration
     amendments, renewals and all other appropriate documents in any way related
     to the Inventions.

          (f)  Survival. The provisions set forth in this Section 8 shall
     survive termination of this Agreement.

<Page>

          (g)  Scope Limitations. If the scope, period of time or area of
     restriction specified in this Section 8 are or would be judged to be
     unreasonable in any court proceeding, then the period of time, scope or
     area of restriction shall be reduced or limited in the manner and to the
     extent necessary to make the restriction reasonable, so that the
     restriction may be enforced in those areas, during the period of time and
     in the scope that are or would be judged to be reasonable.

     9.   Binding Agreement; Successors. This Agreement and all rights of the
Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had
continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee,
legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's
estate. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, any
successors or assigns of the Company. This Agreement is not intended to confer
upon any person other than the parties hereto (and the Executives' Spouse and
dependents) any rights or remedies, except as specifically provided in this
Section 9.

     10.  NOTICE. Notices, demands and all other communications provided for in
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
when delivered, if delivered personally, or (unless otherwise specified) when
received, if mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, by Federal Express or other reputable
overnight courier service or by facsimile, addressed as follows:

          If to the Executive:

                  Suseelan Pookote
                  567 Dover Court
                  Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

          If to the Company:

                  Advanced Life Sciences, Inc.
                  1440 Davey Road
                  Woodridge, Illinois 60517
                  Attn: Chief Executive Officer

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing
in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be
effective only upon receipt.

     11.  GENERAL PROVISIONS. No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing signed by the Executive and such officer of the Company as may be
specifically designated by the Company's Board. No waiver by either party hereto
at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at
the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations,
oral or otherwise, express or

<Page>

implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either
party that are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.

     12.  VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or
unenforceable, in whole or in part, then it shall be deemed to be modified or
restricted to the extent and in the manner necessary to render it valid and
enforceable, or shall be deemed excised from this Agreement, as the case may
require, and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced to the maximum
extent permitted by law, as if the provision had been originally incorporated
herein as so modified or restricted, or as if it had not originally been
incorporated herein, as the case may be.

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

     14.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of
the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and
supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements,
communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any
officer, employee or representative of any party hereto; and any prior agreement
of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein is
hereby terminated and canceled. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company and the
Executive hereby agree that this Agreement shall replace and supercede the
Existing Employment Contract and govern the relationship of the parties.

     15.  IRREPARABLE HARM. The Executive acknowledges that: (i) the Executive's
compliance with this Agreement is necessary to preserve and protect the
proprietary rights, Confidential Information and the goodwill of the Company and
its subsidiaries as going concerns; (ii) any failure by the Executive to comply
with the provisions of this Agreement shall result in irreparable and continuing
injury for which there will be no adequate remedy at law; and (iii) in the event
that the Executive should fail to comply with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to such other relief as
may be proper, to all types of equitable relief (including, but not limited to,
the issuance of an injunction and/or temporary restraining order) as may be
necessary to cause the Executive to comply with this Agreement, to restore to
the Company its property, and to make the Company whole.

     16.  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND FORUM; LEGAL FEES AND COSTS. The Company
and the Executive hereby expressly and irrevocably agree that any action,
whether at law or in equity, arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the
Executive's employment by the Company shall only be brought in a federal or
state court located in Cook County, Illinois. The Executive hereby irrevocably
consents to personal jurisdiction in such court and to accept service of process
in accordance with the provisions of such court. In connection with any dispute
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the Executive's employment by the
Company, each party shall be responsible for its or his own legal fees and
expenses and all court costs shall be shared equally by the Company and the
Executive unless the court apportions such legal fees or court costs in a
different manner.

<Page>

     17.  WITHHOLDING. All payments made to the Executive pursuant to this
Agreement shall be subject to applicable withholding taxes, if any, and any
amount so withheld shall be deemed to have been paid to the Executive for
purposes of amounts due to the Executive under this Agreement.

     18.  GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement is governed by and is to be construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without
regard to its conflict of law provisions.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date
and year first above written.

EXECUTIVE                              ADVANCED LIFE SCIENCES, INC.

By: /s/ Suseelan Pookote               By: /s/ Michael T. Flavin
   -------------------------------        -------------------------------
Name: Suseelan Pookote                 Name:  Michael T. Flavin
                                       Title: Chief Executive Officer

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