Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

                                 by and between

                              LAKE PARTNERS, L.L.C.

                                    LANDLORD

                                       and

                                  LIPOMED, INC.

                                     TENANT

                          Dated as of: October 1, 2001
                                       ---------

                (C) 2000 Capital Associates. All rights reserved.

<PAGE>

ARTICLE 1 - LEASED PREMISES                                                   1

   1.01 Leased Premises.                                                      1

ARTICLE 2 - BASIC LEASE PROVISIONS                                            1

   2.01 Basic Lease Provisions.                                               1

ARTICLE 3 - TERM AND POSSESSION                                               2

   3.01 Term.                                                                 2

   3.02 Commencement.                                                         2

   3.03 Tenant's Delay.                                                       2

   3.04 Tenant's Possession.                                                  2

   3.05 Acceptance of Leased Premises.                                        2

   3.06 Holdover.                                                             2

ARTICLE 4 - RENT AND SECURITY FOR THE LEASE                                   2

   4.01 Base Rent.                                                            2

   4.02 Payment of Rent.                                                      3

   4.03 Additional Rent.                                                      3

   4.04 Operating Expense Adjustment.                                         3

   4.05 Cost of Living Adjustment.                                            4

   4.06 Security for the Lease.                                               4

   4.07 Late Charge.                                                          4

ARTICLE 5 - SERVICES                                                          4

   5.01 Services.                                                             4

ARTICLE 6 - USE AND OCCUPANCY                                                 5

   6.01 Use.                                                                  5

   6.02 Care of the Leased Premises.                                          5

   6.03 Entry for Repairs and Inspection.                                     5

   6.04 Compliance with Laws; Rules of Building.                              5

   6.05 Access to Building.                                                   5

   6.06 Peaceful Enjoyment.                                                   5

   6.07 Relocation                                                            6

ARTICLE 7 - CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS                             6

   7.01 Construction.                                                         6

   7.02 Alterations.                                                          6

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   7.03  Repairs by Landlord.                                                 6

   7.04  Repairs by Tenant.                                                   7

ARTICLE 8 - CONDEMNATION, CASUALTY, INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY                   7

   8.01  Condemnation.                                                        7

   8.02  Damages from Certain Causes.                                         7

   8.03  Fire Clause.                                                         7

   8.04  Tenant's Insurance Policies.                                         7

   8.05  Hold Harmless.                                                       7

   8.06  Waiver of Subrogation Rights.                                        8

   8.07  Limitation of Landlord's Personal Liability.                         8

ARTICLE 9 - LANDLORD'S LIEN, DEFAULT, REMEDIES AND SUBORDINATION              8

   9.01  Lien for Rent.                                                       8

   9.02  Default by Tenant.                                                   8

   9.03  Non Waiver.                                                          8

   9.04  Attorney's Fees.                                                     9

   9.05  Subordination; Estoppel Certificate.                                 9

   9.06  Attornment.                                                          9

   9.07  Accord and Satisfaction                                              9

ARTICLE 10 - ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLEASE                                          9

   10.01 Assignment or Sublease.                                              9

   10.02 Assignment by Landlord                                              10

ARTICLE 11 - NOTICES AND MISCELLANEOUS                                       10

   11.01 Notices.                                                            10

   11.02 Miscellaneous.                                                      10

ARTICLE 12 - ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND LIMITATION OF WARRANTIES                   12

   12.01 ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND LIMITATION OF WARRANTIES.                      12

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                                    EXHIBITS
                                    --------

                        A-1   -   Floor Plan(s) of the Leased Premises

                        A-2   -   The Land

                        B     -   Acceptance of Leased Premises Memorandum

                        C     -   Landlord Approved Alterations

                        C-1   -   Intentionally Deleted

                        D     -   Building Rules

                        E     -   Form of Estoppel Certificate

                        F     -   HVAC Schedule

<PAGE>

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

         THIS LEASE AGREEMENT (this "Lease") is made and entered into on this
1/st/ day of October, 2001, by and between Lake Partners, L.L.C., a North
-----        -------
Carolina limited liability company ("Landlord"), and LipoMed, Inc., a Delaware
corporation authorized to conduct business in the State of North Carolina
("Tenant"), on the terms and conditions set forth below.

                           ARTICLE 1 - LEASED PREMISES

         1.01   Leased Premises.

         Landlord leases to Tenant and Tenant leases from Landlord the space
(the "Leased Premises") set forth in Subsections (a) and (b) of the Basic Lease
                                     -----------------------
Provisions below and shown on the floor plan(s) attached hereto as Exhibit A-1
                                                                   -----------
upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Lease. The office building in
which the Leased Premises are located, the land on which the office building is
located (the "Land", described on Exhibit A-2 attached hereto), the parking
                                  -----------
facilities and all improvements and appurtenances to the building are
collectively referred to as the "Building". The Building and any larger complex
of which the Building is a part are collectively referred to as the "Project".

                       ARTICLE 2 - BASIC LEASE PROVISIONS

         2.01   Basic Lease Provisions.

         The following provisions set forth various basic terms of this Lease
and are sometimes referred to as the "Basic Lease Provisions".

<TABLE>
<S>                                                               <C>
                  (a)    Building Name:                           Springfield Place
                         Address:                                 700 Spring Forest Road
                                                                  Raleigh, North Carolina  27609

                  (b)    Floor(s):                                First (1st)
                         Suite #:                                 101
                         Square Feet Area:                        1,746

                  (c)    Total Area of Building:                  approximately 77,000  square feet

                  (d)    Annual Base Rent:                        $34,920.00  ($20.00  per square foot)
                         Monthly Base Rent:                       $2,910.00

                  (e)    Base Operating Expense Factor:           $5.75 per square foot

                  (f)    Parking:                                 4.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of space
                         Monthly Rent per Parking Space:          N/A

                  (g)    Term:                                    1 Year(s)        0 Month(s)

                  (h)    Target Commencement Date:                October 1, 2001
                         Target Expiration Date:                  September 30, 2002

                   (i)   Security for the Lease:                  $2,910.00

                  (j)    Permitted Use:                           General business offices for diagnostic and analytical
                                                                  cardiovascular disease testing company

                  (k)    Addresses for notices and other communications under this Lease:

                         Landlord                                 Tenant
                         --------                                 ------
                         Lake Partners, L.L.C.                    LipoMed, Inc.
                         c/o Capital Associates                   700 Spring Forest Road, Suite 101
                         1100 Crescent Green, Suite 115           Raleigh, North Carolina  27609
                         Cary, North Carolina 27511               Attn: Jeff Oliver
                                                                        ------------------------
                         (919) 233-9901                           Ph: (919) 256-1087
                                                                            --------------------

                  (l)    Broker:                                  Capital Associates
                         Co-Broker:                               MetaSystems, Inc., d/b/a MetaPartners
</TABLE>

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                         ARTICLE 3 - TERM AND POSSESSION

         3.01   Term.

         This Lease shall be and continue in full force and effect for the term
set forth in Subsection 2.01(g). Subject to the remaining provisions of this
             ------------------
Article, the Term shall commence on the Target Commencement Date shown in
Subsection 2.01(h) and shall expire, without notice to Tenant, on the Target
------------------
Expiration Date shown in Subsection 2.01(h); provided, however, that if the
                         ------------------
Commencement Date is other than the first (1st) day of the month, the Expiration
Date shall nevertheless be the last day of the last month of the Term. Such
term, as it may be modified, renewed and extended, is herein called the "Term".

         3.02   Commencement.

         Subject to Section 3.03 hereof, if on the Target Commencement Date any
                    ------------
of the work described in this Lease that is required to be performed by Landlord
at Landlord's expense to prepare the Leased Premises for occupancy has not been
substantially completed, or if Landlord is unable to tender possession of the
Leased Premises to Tenant on the specified date due to any other reason beyond
the reasonable control of Landlord, the hereinafter defined Commencement Date
(and commencement of installments of Base Rent) shall be postponed until the
work to be performed in the Leased Premises at Landlord's expense is
substantially completed, and the postponement shall operate to extend the
Expiration Date in order to give full effect to the stated duration of the Term.
The deferment of installments of Base Rent shall be Tenant's exclusive remedy
for postponement of the Commencement Date, and Tenant shall have no, and waives
any, claim against Landlord because of any such delay.

         3.03   Tenant's Delay.

         No delay in the completion of the Leased Premises resulting from delay
or failure on the part of Tenant in furnishing information or other matters
required in this Lease, and no delay resulting from the completion of work, if
any, that is to be performed at Tenant's expense pursuant to this Lease, shall
delay the Commencement Date, Expiration Date or commencement of payment of Rent
(as defined in Subsection 4.02 below).
               ---------------

         3.04   Tenant's Possession.

         If, prior to the Commencement Date, Tenant shall enter into possession
of all or any part of the Leased Premises, the Term, the payment of monthly
installments of Base Rent and all other obligations of Tenant to be performed
during the Term shall commence on, and the Commencement Date shall be deemed to
be, the date of such entry; provided, no such early entry shall operate to
change the Expiration Date.

         3.05   Acceptance of Leased Premises.

         Tenant has had an opportunity to inspect and satisfy itself as to the
condition of the Leased Premises and accepts the Leased Premises "AS IS", "WHERE
IS" and "WITH ALL FAULTS". Therefore, Landlord and Tenant acknowledge and agree
that the Target Commencement Date and the Target Expiration Date, respectively,
as set forth in Subsection 2.01(h), shall be the actual Lease Commencement Date
                ------------------
and Expiration Date. Tenant shall confirm its acceptance of the Leased Premises
by execution of the Acceptance of Leased Premises Memorandum attached hereto as
Exhibit B.
---------

         3.06   Holdover.

         If Tenant shall remain in possession of the Leased Premises after the
expiration or earlier termination of this Lease without the execution of a new
lease or an amendment to this Lease extending the Term, Tenant shall become a
tenant-at-sufferance, and for a period of sixty (60) days after such termination
or expiration, as the case may be, shall pay daily rent at one hundred fifty
percent (150%) of the per day Rent (as defined in Section 4.02) payable with
                                                  ------------
respect to the last full calendar month immediately prior to the end of the Term
or termination of this Lease, but otherwise shall be subject to all of the
terms, conditions, provisions and obligations of this Lease and such tenancy may
be terminated at any time on seven (7) days' prior written notice. After such
sixty (60) day period Tenant shall continue to be a tenant-at-sufferance,
terminable on one (1) day's notice, and shall pay daily rent at double the per
day Rent payable with respect to the last full calendar month immediately prior
to the end of the Term or termination of this Lease, but otherwise shall be
subject to all of the obligations of Tenant under this Lease. Tenant shall
indemnify Landlord (i) against all claims for damages by any other tenant to
whom Landlord may have leased all or any part of the Leased Premises effective
upon the termination or expiration of this Lease, and (ii) for all other losses,
costs and expenses, including consequential damages and reasonable attorneys'
fees, sustained or incurred by reason of such holding over.

                   ARTICLE 4 - RENT AND SECURITY FOR THE LEASE

         4.01   Base Rent.

         Tenant agrees to pay to Landlord rent ("Base Rent") throughout the Term
in the amount of the Annual Base Rent set forth in Subsection 2.01(d), subject
                                                   ------------------
to adjustment as provided in Section 4.05 of this Lease (the "Cost of Living
                             ------------
Adjustment"). Base Rent shall be payable in monthly installments in the amount
set forth in Subsection 2.01(d) ("Monthly Base Rent") in advance and without
             ------------------
demand, deduction or offset, on the first day of each and every calendar month
during the Term. If the Commencement Date is not the first day of a month,
Tenant shall be required to pay on the Commencement Date a pro rata portion of
the Monthly Base Rent for the first partial month of the Term.

                                        6

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         4.02   Payment of Rent.

         As used in this Lease, "Rent" shall mean the Base Rent, Additional Rent
(defined below) and all other amounts required to be paid by Tenant in this
Lease. The Rent shall be paid at the times and in the amounts provided herein in
legal tender of the United States of America to Landlord at its address
specified in Subsection 2.01(k) above, or to such other person or at such other
             ------------------
address as Landlord may from time to time designate in writing. The Rent shall
be paid without notice, demand, abatement, deduction or offset except as may be
expressly set forth in this Lease.

         4.03   Additional Rent.

         The term "Additional Rent" shall mean the total of the "Operating
Expense Adjustment", as such term is defined below, and any other amounts in
addition to Base Rent which Tenant is required to pay to Landlord under this
Lease.

         4.04   Operating Expense Adjustment.

         If the Operating Expenses (defined below) for the Building for any
calendar year, expressed on a per square foot basis, exceed the Base Operating
Expense Factor specified in Subsection 2.01(e), Tenant shall pay to Landlord
                            ------------------
increased Rent (an "Operating Expense Adjustment") in an amount equal to the
product of such excess times the square feet of the Leased Premises as stated in
Subsection 2.01(b). The Operating Expense Adjustment shall be payable in monthly
------------------
installments on the first day of each calendar month based on Landlord's
estimate of the Operating Expenses for the then current year. Landlord may at
any time give Tenant written notice specifying Landlord's estimate of the
Operating Expenses for the then current calendar year or the subsequent calendar
year and specifying the Operating Expense Adjustment to be paid by Tenant for
each such year, and Tenant shall adjust its payments accordingly beginning with
the monthly installment immediately following Landlord's notice. Within one
hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each calendar year, Landlord shall
give written notice to Tenant specifying the actual Operating Expenses for the
prior calendar year and any necessary adjustment to the Operating Expense
Adjustment paid by Tenant for that calendar year. Tenant shall pay any deficit
amount to Landlord within fifteen (15) days after receipt of Landlord's written
notice. Any excess payment by Tenant for the prior calendar year shall reduce
the Operating Expense Adjustment for the following calendar year. Tenant shall
have the right, one (1) time per year, upon written notice to Landlord, within
sixty (60) days of receipt of the Operating Expense statement, to have
Landlord's books and records relating solely to Operating Expenses contained in
that statement, reviewed. If Landlord's calculation of Operating Expenses fails
to comply with the requirements of this Section 4.04 or contains any other
                                        ------------
error, as determined by the review, Tenant's past payments of its proportionate
share of Operating Expenses for the subject year shall be adjusted in accordance
with the results of the review, and appropriate payments shall be made by
Landlord or Tenant, as the case may be, within forty-five (45) days after
completion of the review. All books and records necessary to accomplish any
review permitted under this section shall be retained by Landlord for a period
of one (1) year, and shall be made available to the person conducting the review
at the Building, Project or the office of Landlord's property manager, during
normal business hours. All of Landlord's and Tenant's costs of the review shall
be paid by Tenant unless the review reveals that total Operating Expenses
controllable by Landlord were misstated by ten percent (10%) or more in the
calendar year reviewed, in which case Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for its
costs of the review. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the
cancellation or termination of this Lease.

         The term "Operating Expenses" shall mean, except as otherwise specified
in this definition, all expenses, costs, and disbursements of every kind and
nature, computed on an accrual basis, which Landlord shall pay or become
obligated to pay because of or in connection with the ownership and operation of
the Building, or Landlord's efforts to reduce Operating Expenses, including,
without limitation: (1) wages and salaries of all employees to an extent
commensurate with such employees' involvement in the operation, repair,
replacement, maintenance, and security of the Building, including, without
limitation, amounts attributable to the employer's Social Security Tax,
unemployment taxes, and insurance, and any other amount which may be levied on
such wages and salaries, and the cost of all insurance and other employee
benefits related thereto; (2) all supplies and materials used in the operation,
maintenance, repair, replacement and security of the Building; (3) the rental
costs of any and all leased capital improvements and the annual costs of any and
all capital improvements made to the Building which, although capital in nature,
can reasonably be expected to reduce the normal operating costs of the Building,
to the extent of the lesser of such expected reduction in operating expenses or
the annual cost of such capital improvements, as well as all capital
improvements made in order to comply with any legal requirement hereafter
promulgated by any governmental authority including, but not limited to,
requirements relating to the environment, energy, conservation, public safety,
access for the disabled or security, as amortized over the useful life of such
improvements by Landlord for federal income tax purposes; (4) the cost of all
utilities, other than the cost of electricity supplied to tenants of the
Building which is separately metered and reimbursed to Landlord by such tenants;
(5) the cost of all maintenance and service agreements with respect to the
operation of the Building or any part thereof, including, without limitation,
management fees, alarm service, equipment, window cleaning, elevator
maintenance, landscape maintenance, and parking area maintenance and operation;
(6) the cost of all insurance relating to the Building, including, without
limitation, casualty and liability insurance applicable to the Building and
Landlord's personal property used in connection therewith; (7) all taxes and
assessments and governmental charges, whether federal, state, county, or
municipal, and whether by taxing districts or authorities presently taxing or by
others, subsequently created or otherwise, including all taxes levied or
assessed against or for leasehold improvements and any other taxes and
assessments attributable to the Building and/or the operation thereof, together
with the reasonable cost (including attorneys, consultants and appraisers) of
any negotiation, contest or appeal pursued by Landlord in an effort to reduce
any such tax, assessment or charge, excluding, however, federal and state taxes
on Landlord's income, but including all rental, sales, use and occupancy taxes
or other similar taxes, if any, levied or imposed by any city, state, county, or
other governmental body having jurisdiction; and (8) the cost of all repairs,
replacements, removals and general maintenance with respect to the Building.
Specifically excluded from Operating Expenses are expenses for capital
improvements made to the Building, other than capital improvements described in
clause (3) of this definition and except for items which, though capital for
accounting purposes, are properly considered maintenance and repair items, such
as painting of common areas, replacement of carpet in elevator lobbies and like
items; expenses for repair, replacement and general

                                       7

<PAGE>

maintenance paid by proceeds of insurance or by Tenant or other third parties;
alterations attributable solely to tenants of the Building other than Tenant;
depreciation of the Building; leasing commissions; and federal and state income
taxes imposed on Landlord.

         If, during all or part of any calendar year, the Building is less than
95% occupied, or if Landlord is providing less than 95% of the Building with any
item or items of work or service which would constitute an Operating Expense
hereunder, then the amount of the Operating Expenses for such period shall be
adjusted to include any and all items enumerated under the definition of
Operating Expenses set forth in this Subsection which Landlord reasonably
determines Landlord would have incurred if the Building had been at least 95%
leased and occupied with all tenant improvements constructed or if Landlord had
been providing such item or items of work or service to at least 95% of the
Building. If the actual occupancy of the Building is between 95% and 100%, then
the actual occupancy percentage shall be used for this computation.

         4.05   Cost of Living Adjustment.

         Intentionally deleted.

         4.06   Security for the Lease.

         Tenant shall deposit with Landlord on the date Tenant executes this
Lease, the Security for the Lease specified in Subsection 2.01(i) (the
                                               ------------------
"Security") on the understanding that: (a) the Security or any portion thereof
may be applied to the curing of any default, or the payment of any damages
sustained by Landlord due to Tenant's failure to perform its obligations,
including, but not limited to, alteration and repair obligations under Article 7
herein, without prejudice to any other remedy or remedies at law or in equity
which Landlord may have on account thereof, and upon such application Tenant
shall pay Landlord on demand the amount so applied which shall be added to the
remaining balance of the Security so the same will be restored to its original
amount; (b) Landlord shall not be obligated to hold the Security as a separate
fund, and may commingle it with other funds; and (c) if Tenant is not in
default, the remaining balance of the Security shall be returned to Tenant,
without interest, which shall belong to Landlord, within thirty (30) days after
the expiration of the Term and delivery of exclusive possession of the Leased
Premises to Landlord.

         4.07   Late Charge.

         If Tenant fails or refuses to pay any installment of Rent when due,
Landlord, at Landlord's option, shall be entitled to collect a late charge of
five percent (5%) of the amount of the late payment to compensate Landlord for
the additional expense involved in handling delinquent payments and not as
interest, provided, however, that Tenant shall be allowed one (1) late payment
of Rent in each calendar year of the Term, which late payment shall not be
subject to a late charge hereunder so long as such Rent is paid within five (5)
days of the due date. If the payment of a late charge required by this Section
is found to constitute interest notwithstanding the contrary intention of
Landlord and Tenant, the late charge shall be limited to the maximum amount of
interest that lawfully may be collected by Landlord under applicable law, and if
any payment is determined to exceed such lawful amount, the excess shall be
applied to any unpaid Rent then due and payable hereunder and/or credited
against the next succeeding installment of Rent payable hereunder. If all Rent
payable hereunder has been paid in full, any excess shall be refunded to Tenant.
Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for any processing fees charged to Landlord as a
result of Tenant's checks having been returned for insufficient funds.

                              ARTICLE 5 - SERVICES

         5.01   Services.

         Landlord shall furnish Tenant while occupying the Leased Premises,
subject to curtailment as required by governmental laws, rules or regulations:

         (i) central heat and air conditioning in season, at such times as
         Landlord normally furnishes these services to other tenants in the
         Building and at such temperatures and in such amounts as are considered
         by Landlord to be standard, but such service on Saturday afternoons,
         Sundays and holidays to be furnished only upon request of Tenant, who
         shall bear the entire cost thereof as provided in Exhibit F attached
                                                           ---------
         hereto; (ii) elevator service; (iii) routine maintenance and electric
         lighting service for all public areas and special service areas of the
         Building in the manner and to the extent deemed by Landlord to be
         standard; (iv) janitor service on a five (5) day week basis; and (v)
         proper electrical facilities to furnish sufficient power for personal
         computers, fax machines, desktop computer printers, calculating
         machines and other machines of similar low electrical consumption, but
         not including electricity required for electronic data processing
         equipment which (singly) consumes more than 0.25 kilowatts per hour at
         a rated capacity or requires a voltage other than 120 volts single
         phase. Tenant shall pay to Landlord, monthly as billed, such charges as
         may be separately metered or as Landlord's engineer shall reasonably
         compute for any electrical service usage in excess of that stated
         above. If Tenant uses any heat generating machines, equipment, fixtures
         or other devices of any nature whatsoever in the Leased Premises which
         affect the temperature otherwise maintained by the Building standard
         air conditioning, Tenant shall pay the additional cost necessitated by
         Tenant's use of such machines, equipment, fixtures or other devices,
         including the cost of installation of any necessary additional air
         conditioning equipment and the cost of operation and maintenance
         thereof.

         Should any of Landlord's equipment or machinery break down, or for any
cause cease to function properly, Landlord shall use reasonable diligence during
normal business hours to repair same promptly, but Tenant shall have no claim
for rebate of rent or damages on account of any interruptions in service
occasioned thereby or resulting therefrom. Failure by Landlord to any extent to
furnish these services, or any cessation thereof, resulting from causes beyond
the control of Landlord shall not render Landlord liable

                                       8

<PAGE>

in any respect for damages to either person or property, nor be construed as an
eviction of Tenant, nor work an abatement of rent, nor relieve Tenant from its
obligation to fulfill any covenant or agreement hereof.

                          ARTICLE 6 - USE AND OCCUPANCY

         6.01   Use.

         The Leased Premises are to be used and occupied by Tenant (and its
permitted assignees, subtenants, invitees, customers, and guests) solely for the
purpose specified in Subsection 2.01(j) with no more than one (1) person per two
                     ------------------
hundred fifty (250) square feet of space; provided, however, that Tenant may
change such purpose upon Landlord's prior written agreement. Tenant agrees not
to occupy or use, or permit any portion of the Leased Premises to be occupied or
used for any business or purpose which is unlawful, disreputable or deemed to be
extra-hazardous on account of fire or exposure to or interference from
electromagnetic rays and/or fields, or permit anything to be done which would in
any way increase the rate of fire insurance coverage on the Building and/or its
contents. Tenant further agrees to conduct its business and control its agents,
employees, invitees and visitors in such manner as not to create any nuisance,
or interfere with, annoy or disturb any other tenant or Landlord in its
operation of the Building.

         6.02   Care of the Leased Premises.

         Tenant shall not commit or allow to be committed any waste or damage to
any portion of the Leased Premises or the Building and, at the termination of
this Lease, by lapse of time or otherwise, Tenant shall deliver up the Leased
Premises to Landlord in as good a condition as existed on the date of possession
by Tenant, ordinary wear and tear and loss by insured casualty excepted. Upon
such termination of this Lease, Landlord shall have the right to re-enter and
resume possession of the Leased Premises.

         6.03   Entry for Repairs and Inspection.

         Tenant shall, upon reasonable notice by Landlord, except in the case of
an emergency when no notice is required, permit Landlord and its contractors,
agents and representatives to enter into and upon any part of the Leased
Premises at all reasonable hours to inspect and clean the same, make repairs,
alterations and additions thereto, show the same to prospective tenants or
purchasers, and for any other purpose as Landlord may deem necessary or
desirable. Tenant shall not be entitled to any abatement or reduction of Rent by
reason of any such entry. In the event of an emergency, when entry to the Leased
Premises shall be necessary, and if Tenant shall not be personally present to
open and permit entry into the Leased Premises, Landlord or Landlord's agent may
enter the same by master key, code, card or switch, or may forcibly enter the
same, without rendering Landlord or such agents liable therefor, and without, in
any manner, affecting the obligations and covenants of this Lease.

         6.04   Compliance with Laws; Rules of Building.

         Tenant shall comply with and Tenant shall cause its visitors,
employees, contractors, agents and invitees to comply with, all laws,
ordinances, orders, rules and regulations (state, federal, municipal and other
agencies or bodies having any jurisdiction thereof) relating to the use,
condition or occupancy of the Leased Premises, including, without limitation,
all local, state and federal environmental laws, and the rules of the Building
reasonably adopted and altered by Landlord from time to time, all of which
Building rules will be sent by Landlord to Tenant in writing and shall
thereafter be carried out and observed by Tenant, its employees, contractors,
agents, invitees and visitors. The initial rules of the Building are attached
hereto as Exhibit D.
          ---------

         6.05   Access to Building.

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth below and in this Lease,
Tenant and its employees shall have access to the Building and the Leased
Premises twenty-four (24) hours a day, three hundred sixty-five (365) days per
year. Landlord shall have the right to limit access to the Building after normal
business hours; provided, Landlord shall have no responsibility to prevent, and
shall not be liable to Tenant for, and shall be indemnified by Tenant against,
liability and loss to Tenant, its agents, employees and visitors, arising out of
losses due to theft, burglary and damage and injury to persons and property
caused by persons gaining access to the Building or Leased Premises, and Tenant
waives and releases Landlord from all liability relating thereto unless such
loss was caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Landlord.
Landlord expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to temporarily or
permanently change the location of, close, block and otherwise alter any
entrances, corridors, skywalks, tunnels, doorways and walkways leading to or
providing access to the Building or any part thereof and otherwise restrict the
use of same provided such activities do not unreasonably impair Tenant's access
to or use of the Leased Premises, and Landlord shall not incur any liability
whatsoever to Tenant as a consequence thereof. Such activities shall not be
deemed to be a breach of any of Landlord's obligations hereunder. Landlord
agrees to exercise good faith in notifying Tenant a reasonable time in advance
of any alterations, modifications or other actions of Landlord under this
Section.

         6.06   Peaceful Enjoyment.

         Landlord covenants that Tenant shall and may peacefully have, hold and
enjoy the Leased Premises without interference from any party claiming by or
through Landlord, subject to the terms of this Lease, provided Tenant pays the
Rent and other sums required to be paid by Tenant and performs all of Tenant's
covenants and agreements herein contained. It is understood and agreed that this
covenant and any and all other covenants of Landlord contained in this Lease
shall be binding upon Landlord and its successors only with respect to breaches
occurring during its and their respective ownership of Landlord's interest in
the Building. Landlord shall not be responsible for the acts or omissions of any
other tenant or third party that may interfere with Tenant's use and enjoyment
of the Leased Premises; provided, however, that Landlord shall use its best
efforts to enforce the rules and regulations of the Building.

                                       9

<PAGE>

         6.07   Relocation.

         Landlord shall have the option to relocate the Tenant to alternative
space in the Project in accordance with this Section. The alternative space
shall be of comparable size to the Leased Premises, or larger, but may not be
more than ten percent (10%) larger than the Leased Premises, and shall have
approximately the same number of windows. Landlord shall give Tenant not less
than sixty (60) days prior written notice of any such relocation, which notice
shall include the date on which Tenant shall be required to relocate or move and
a description of the space to which Tenant will be relocated. Landlord shall pay
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of relocating Tenant, including the
cost of reconstruction of all Tenant furnished and Landlord furnished
improvements to the same standards of quantity and quality as in the Leased
Premises, telephone transfer charges, computer re-wiring, moving expenses,
business stationery and printing charges for relocation notice. In the event of
such relocation, the alternative space shall be deemed the Leased Premises
hereunder and this Lease shall continue in full force and effect without any
change in the other terms and conditions hereof, except that the Rent per square
foot shall be multiplied by the number of square feet contained in the
alternative space to calculate Tenant's Rent due after such relocation;
provided, however, that upon Landlord's request, Tenant shall execute an
amendment to this Lease substituting such alternative space for the space
previously occupied by Tenant.

                ARTICLE 7 - CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS

         7.01   Construction.

         Tenant has had an opportunity to inspect and satisfy itself as to the
condition of the Leased Premises and accepts the Leased Premises "AS IS", "WHERE
IS" and "WITH ALL FAULTS." Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord has approved
the alterations to the Leased Premises shown on Exhibit C, attached hereto, and
                                                ---------
Tenant may, at its sole cost and expense, make the alterations to the Leased
Premises as shown on Exhibit C, after the Commencement Date.
                     ---------
         7.02   Alterations.

         Tenant shall make no alterations, installations, additions or
improvements in, on or to the Leased Premises without Landlord's prior written
consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed. All such work shall be designed and made in a manner, and by
architects, engineers, workmen and contractors, satisfactory to Landlord in its
reasonable discretion. All alterations, installations, additions and
improvements (including, without limitation, paneling, partitions, millwork and
fixtures) made by or for Tenant to the Leased Premises shall remain upon and be
surrendered with the Leased Premises and become the property of Landlord at the
expiration or termination of this Lease or the termination of Tenant's right to
possession of the Leased Premises; provided, Landlord may require Tenant to
remove any or all of such items that are not Building standard upon the
expiration or termination of this Lease or the termination of Tenant's right to
possession of the Leased Premises in order to restore the Leased Premises to the
condition existing at the time Tenant took possession. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease, Tenant
shall, at Landlord's request and upon written notification from Landlord, remove
all telephone and data wiring installed by Tenant from the Leased Premises, and
Tenant shall repair any damage to the Leased Premises caused by any such
removal. Tenant shall bear the costs of removal of Tenant's property from the
Building and of all resulting repairs thereto. All work performed by Tenant with
respect to the Leased Premises shall: (a) not alter the exterior appearance of
the Building or adversely affect the structure, safety, systems or services of
the Building; (b) comply with all Building safety, fire and other codes and
governmental and insurance requirements; (c) not result in any usage in excess
of Building standard of water, electricity, gas, heating, ventilating or air
conditioning, (either during or after such work) unless prior written
arrangements satisfactory to Landlord are entered into; (d) be completed
promptly and in a good and workmanlike manner; (e) be performed in such a manner
that does not cause interference or disharmony with any labor used by Landlord,
Landlord's contractors or mechanics or by any other tenant or such other
tenant's contractors or mechanics; and (f) not cause any mechanic's,
materialman's or other similar liens to attach to Tenant's leasehold estate.
Tenant shall not permit, or be authorized to permit, any liens (valid or
alleged) or other claims to be asserted against Landlord or Landlord's rights,
estates and interests with respect to the Building or this Lease in connection
with any work done by or on behalf of Tenant, and Tenant shall indemnify and
hold Landlord harmless against any such liens.

         7.03   Repairs by Landlord.

         Unless otherwise expressly stipulated herein, Landlord shall not be
required to make any improvements or repairs of any kind or character to the
Leased Premises during the Term, except such repairs to Building standard
improvements as may be deemed necessary by Landlord for normal maintenance
operations. Non-Building standard leasehold improvements will, at Tenant's
written request, be maintained by Landlord at Tenant's expense, at a cost or
charge equal to the costs incurred in such maintenance plus an additional charge
of fifteen percent (15%). Notwithstanding any provisions of this Lease to the
contrary, all repairs, alterations or additions to the base Building and its
systems (as opposed to those involving only Tenant's leasehold improvements),
and all repairs, alterations and additions to Tenant's non-Building standard
leasehold improvements which affect the Building's structural components or
major mechanical, electrical or plumbing systems, made by, for or on behalf of
Tenant and any other tenants in the Building shall be made by Landlord or its
contractor only, and, if on behalf of Tenant, shall be paid for by Tenant in an
amount equal to Landlord's costs plus fifteen percent (15%). Landlord shall not
be liable to Tenant, except as expressly provided in this Lease, for any damage
or inconvenience, and Tenant shall not be entitled to any abatement or reduction
of rent by reason of any repairs, alterations or additions made by Landlord
under this Lease.

                                       10

<PAGE>

         7.04   Repairs by Tenant.

         Tenant shall, at its own cost and expense, repair or replace any damage
or injury done to its leasehold improvements or any other part thereof caused by
Tenant or Tenant's agents, contractors, employees, invitees, and visitors. If
Tenant fails to make such repairs or replacements to its leasehold improvements
promptly, Landlord may, at its option and upon two (2) days' written notice to
Tenant, make such repairs or replacements if Tenant has failed to do so in such
two (2) day period, and Tenant shall repay the cost thereof plus a charge of
fifteen percent (15%) to the Landlord on demand. Any damage or injury to the
Leased Premises or the base Building and its systems (as opposed to those
involving only Tenant's leasehold improvements) and any damage or injury to
Tenant's leasehold improvements which affects the Building's structural
components or major mechanical, electrical or plumbing systems caused by Tenant,
its agents, contractors, employees, invitees and visitors, shall be repaired or
replaced by Landlord, but at Tenant's expense plus a charge of fifteen percent
(15%).

           ARTICLE 8 - CONDEMNATION, CASUALTY, INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY

         8.01   Condemnation.

         If all or substantially all of the Leased Premises is taken by virtue
of eminent domain or for any public or quasi-public use or purpose, this Lease
shall terminate on the date the condemning authority takes possession. If only a
part of the Leased Premises is so taken, or if a portion of the Building not
including the Leased Premises is taken, this Lease shall, at the election of
Landlord, either (i) terminate on the date the condemning authority takes
possession by giving notice thereof to Tenant within thirty (30) days after the
date of such taking of possession or (ii) continue in full force and effect as
to that part of the Leased Premises not so taken, in which case Rent shall be
reduced on a square footage basis by the amount of square footage of the Leased
Premises taken or condemned. All proceeds payable from any taking or
condemnation of all or any portion of the Leased Premises and the Building shall
belong to and be paid to Landlord, and Tenant hereby expressly assigns to
Landlord any and all right, title and interest of Tenant now or hereafter
arising in and to any such awards. Tenant shall have no, and waives any, claim
against Landlord and the Condemnor for the value of any unexpired term.

         8.02   Damages from Certain Causes.

         Landlord shall not be liable or responsible to Tenant for any loss or
damage to any property or person occasioned by theft, fire, act of God, public
enemy, injunction, riot, strike, insurrection, war, court order, requisition
order of governmental body or authority, or any cause beyond Landlord's control,
or for any damage or inconvenience which may arise through repair or alteration
of any part of the Building, unless caused by Landlord's gross negligence or
willful misconduct.

         8.03   Fire Clause.

         In the event of a fire or other casualty in the Leased Premises, Tenant
shall immediately give notice thereof to Landlord. If the Leased Premises or any
portion of the Building is damaged by fire or other casualty, Landlord shall
have the right to terminate this Lease or to repair the Leased Premises with
reasonable dispatch, subject to delays resulting from adjustment of the loss and
any other cause beyond Landlord's reasonable control; provided, Landlord shall
not be required to repair or replace any furniture, furnishings or other
personal property which Tenant may be entitled to remove from the Leased
Premises or any installations in excess of Building standard. Until Landlord's
repairs are completed the Rent shall be abated in proportion to the portions of
the Leased Premises, if any, which are untenantable or unsuited for the conduct
of Tenant's business. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section,
Landlord shall only be obligated to restore or rebuild the Leased Premises to a
Building standard condition and Landlord shall not be required to expend more
funds than the amount received by Landlord from the proceeds of any insurance
carried by Landlord.

         8.04   Tenant's Insurance Policies.

         Tenant shall, at its expense, maintain (i) standard fire and extended
coverage insurance on all of its personal property, including removable trade
fixtures, located in the Leased Premises and on its non-Building standard
leasehold improvements and all other additions and improvements (including
fixtures) made by Tenant; (ii) a policy or policies of comprehensive general
liability insurance, such insurance to afford minimum protection (which may be
effected by primary and/or excess coverage) of not less than $3,000,000.00 for
personal injury or death in any one occurrence and of not less than
$1,000,000.00 for property damage in any one occurrence, provided, Tenant shall
carry such greater limits of liability coverage as Landlord may reasonably
request from time to time; and (iii) a policy or policies, if available,
insuring against injury or damage from exposure to or interference from
electromagnetic rays and/or fields. All insurance policies required to be
maintained by Tenant shall (a) be issued by and binding upon solvent insurance
companies licensed to conduct business in the State of North Carolina, (b) have
all premiums fully paid on or before the due dates, (c) name Landlord as an
additional insured, and (d) provide that they shall not be cancelable and/or the
coverage thereunder shall not be reduced without at least ten (10) days advance
written notice to Landlord. Tenant shall deliver to Landlord certified copies of
all policies or, at Landlord's option, certificates of insurance in a form
satisfactory to Landlord not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the
Commencement Date or the expiration of current policies.

         8.05   Hold Harmless.

         Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, neither party shall be
                                      ------------
liable to the other party or its respective agents, servants, employees,
contractors, customers or invitees, for any damage to person or property caused
by any act, omission or neglect of such other party and its respective agents,
servants, employees, contractors, customers or invitees, including any claims
which may be made for compensation or damages based upon exposure to or
interference from electromagnetic rays or fields emanating from the Leased
Premises, and each party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other party
and its partners, members, managers, agents, directors, officers, and employees
from all liability and claims for any such damage, including, without
limitation, court costs, attorneys' fees and costs of investigation. Any
indemnification and hold harmless obligation is expressly conditioned on the
following: (i) that the

                                       15

<PAGE>

indemnifying party shall be notified in writing promptly of any such claim or
demand, and if said claim or demand is made by a third party; (ii) that the
indemnifying party shall have sole control of the defense of any action or
settlement or compromise; and (iii) that Landlord and Tenant shall cooperate
with each other in a reasonable way to facilitate the settlement or defense of
such claim or demand.

         8.06   Waiver of Subrogation Rights.

         Anything in this Lease to the contrary notwithstanding, Landlord and
Tenant each hereby waives to the extent that such waiver will not invalidate any
insurance policy maintained by Landlord or Tenant nor increase any premiums
thereon, any and all rights of recovery, claims, actions or causes of action,
against the other, its agents, members, managers, servants, partners,
shareholders, officers and employees, for any loss or damage that may occur to
the Leased Premises or the Building, or any improvements thereto, or any
personal property of such party therein, by reason of fire, the elements, and
any other cause which is insured against under the terms of the standard fire
and extended coverage insurance policies referred to in Section 8.04 hereof, to
                                                        ------------
the extent that such loss or damage is recovered under said insurance policies,
regardless of cause or origin, including negligence of the other party hereto,
its agents, members, managers, officers, partners, shareholders, servants or
employees, and covenants that no insurer shall hold any right of subrogation
against such other party. If the respective insurers of Landlord and Tenant do
not permit such a waiver without an appropriate endorsement to such party's
insurance policy, Landlord and Tenant covenant and agree to notify the insurers
of the waiver set forth herein and to secure from each such insurer an
appropriate endorsement to its respective insurance policy concerning such
waiver.

         8.07   Limitation of Landlord's Personal Liability.

         Tenant agrees to look solely to Landlord's interest in the Building and
the Land for the recovery of any judgment against Landlord, and Landlord, its
partners, members, managers, officers, directors and employees, shall never be
personally liable for any such judgment. The provisions contained in the
foregoing sentence are not intended to, and shall not, limit any right that
Tenant might otherwise have to obtain injunctive relief against Landlord or
Landlord's successors in interest or any suit or action in connection with
enforcement or collection of amounts which may become owing or payable under or
on account of liability insurance maintained by Landlord.

        ARTICLE 9 - LANDLORD'S LIEN, DEFAULT, REMEDIES AND SUBORDINATION

         9.01   Lien for Rent.

         Intentionally deleted.

         9.02   Default by Tenant.

                If Tenant shall default in the payment of any Rent or other sum
to be paid by Tenant under this Lease when due, provided, however, that Tenant
shall be allowed one (1) late payment of Rent in each calendar year of the Term,
which late payment shall not be deemed a default hereunder so long as such Rent
is paid within five (5) days of the due date; or Tenant shall default in the
performance of any of the other covenants or conditions which Tenant is required
to observe and to perform under this Lease and such default shall continue for
twenty (20) days after written notice to Tenant; or the interest of Tenant under
this Lease shall be levied on under execution or other legal process; or any
petition shall be filed by or against Tenant to declare Tenant a bankrupt or to
delay, reduce or modify Tenant's debts or obligations; or any petition shall be
filed or other action taken to reorganize or modify Tenant's debts or
obligations; or any petition shall be filed or other action taken to reorganize
or modify Tenant's capital structure; or Tenant is declared insolvent according
to law; or any assignment of Tenant's property shall be made for the benefit of
creditors; or if a receiver or trustee is appointed for Tenant or its property;
or Tenant shall vacate or abandon the Leased Premises or any part thereof at any
time during the Term for a period of fifteen (15) or more continuous days
without the payment of Rent; or Tenant is a corporation and Tenant shall cease
to exist as a corporation in good standing in the state of its incorporation; or
Tenant is a partnership or other entity and Tenant shall be dissolved or
otherwise liquidated; then Landlord may treat the occurrence of any one or more
of the foregoing events as a breach of this Lease (provided, no such levy,
execution, legal process or petition filed against Tenant shall constitute a
breach of this Lease if Tenant shall vigorously contest the same by appropriate
proceedings and shall remove or vacate the same within thirty (30) days from the
date of its creation, service or filing). Thereupon, at Landlord's option and in
addition to all other rights and remedies provided at law or in equity, Landlord
may terminate this Lease and repossess the Leased Premises and be entitled to
recover as damages a sum of money equal to the total of (a) the cost of
recovering the Leased Premises (including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs
of suit), (b) the unpaid Rent earned at the time of termination, (c) the present
value (discounted at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum) of the balance of
the rent for the remainder of the Term less the present value (discounted at the
same rate) of the fair market rental value of the Leased Premises for said
period, (d) the amount of any unamortized leasing commissions, any allowances,
and concessions previously made by Landlord to Tenant, (e) any other sum of
money, and damages owed by Tenant to Landlord and (f) interest on (a) (b) (c)
(d) and (e) above at the rate of the lesser of eighteen percent (18%) per annum
or the highest rate allowed by applicable law. In addition to the foregoing, if
any event of default by Tenant occurs as described in this Section 9.02 (even if
                                                           ------------
the event of default is cured to the satisfaction of Landlord and the Lease is
not terminated), then any option(s) which Tenant may have for the modification
of the Term or of the Leased Premises or otherwise pursuant to this Lease shall
terminate and shall be of no further force or effect.

         9.03   Non Waiver.

         Failure of Landlord to declare any default immediately upon occurrence
thereof, or delay in taking any action in connection therewith, shall not waive
such default and Landlord shall have the right to declare any such default at
any time and take such action as might be lawful or authorized hereunder, either
in law or in equity.

                                       12

<PAGE>

         9.04   Attorney's Fees.

         Should either party hereto institute any action or proceeding in court
to enforce any provision hereof or for damages by reason of any alleged breach
of any provisions of this Lease or for any other judicial remedy, the prevailing
party shall be entitled to receive from the non-prevailing party all actual
reasonable attorneys' fees and all court costs in connection with said
proceeding.

         9.05   Subordination; Estoppel Certificate.

         This Lease is and shall be subject and subordinate to any and all
ground or similar leases affecting the Building, and to all mortgages which may
now or hereafter encumber or affect the Building and to all renewals,
modifications, consolidations, replacements and extensions of any such leases
and mortgages; provided, at the option of any such landlord or mortgagee, this
Lease shall be superior to the lease or mortgage of such landlord or mortgagee.
The provisions of this Section shall be self-operative and shall require no
further consent or agreement by Tenant. Tenant agrees, however, to execute and
return any estoppel certificate, subordination agreement, consent or agreement
reasonably requested by any such landlord or mortgagee, or by Landlord, within
ten (10) business days after receipt of same, including, without limitation, an
estoppel certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E. In
                                                                  ---------
the event Tenant does not execute and return such estoppel certificate within
such ten (10) day period, Tenant will be deemed to have ratified such estoppel
certificate, and the information contained therein shall be deemed to be correct
and binding upon Tenant. Tenant shall, at the request of Landlord or any
mortgagee of Landlord secured by a lien on the Building or any landlord to
Landlord under a ground Lease of the Building, furnish such mortgagee and/or
landlord with written notice of any default or breach by Landlord at least sixty
(60) days prior to the exercise by Tenant of any rights and/or remedies of
Tenant hereunder arising out of such default or breach.

         9.06   Attornment.

If any ground or similar lease or mortgage is terminated or foreclosed, Tenant
shall, upon request, attorn to the landlord under such lease or the mortgagee or
purchaser at such foreclosure sale, as the case may be, and execute
instrument(s) confirming such attornment. In the event of such a termination or
foreclosure and upon Tenant's attornment as aforesaid, Tenant will automatically
become the tenant of the successor to Landlord's interest without change in the
terms or provisions of this Lease; provided, such successor to Landlord's
interest shall not be bound by (i) any payment of rent for more than one month
in advance except prepayments of Security for the Lease, if any, or (ii) any
amendments or modifications of this Lease made without the prior written consent
of such landlord or mortgagee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this paragraph, Tenant shall be obligated to attorn to a new
landlord only if the holder of any recorded first mortgage or deed of trust lien
grants Tenant a non-disturbance agreement providing that Tenant shall have the
right to remain in possession of the Leased Premises in accordance with the
terms of the Lease so long as Tenant is not in default hereunder.

         9.07   Accord and Satisfaction.

         No payment by Tenant or receipt by Landlord of an amount less than is
due under this Lease shall be deemed to be other than payment towards or on
account of the earliest portion of the amount then due, nor shall any
endorsement or statement on any check or payment in any letter accompanying any
check or payment be deemed an accord and satisfaction, and Landlord may accept
any such check or payment without prejudice to Landlord's right to recover the
balance of such amount or to pursue any other remedy available to Landlord

                      ARTICLE 10 - ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLEASE

         10.01  Assignment or Sublease.

         Tenant shall not, voluntarily, by operation of law, or otherwise,
assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, or encumber this Lease or sublease the
Leased Premises or any part thereof, or allow any person other than Tenant, its
employees, agents, servants and invitees, to occupy or use the Leased Premises
or any portion thereof, without the express prior written consent of Landlord,
such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, and any attempt to do any of the
foregoing without such written consent shall be null and void and shall
constitute a default under this Lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no
event shall Tenant assign this Lease or sublease the Leased Premises to any
entity engaged in the commercial real estate business, including, without
limitation, property management or the brokerage, ownership or development of
competitive properties. Landlord's consent to any assignment or sublease
hereunder does not constitute a waiver of its right to consent to any further
assignment or sublease. If Tenant desires to assign this Lease or sublet the
Leased Premises or any part thereof, Tenant shall give Landlord written notice
of such desire at least sixty (60) days in advance of the date on which Tenant
desires to make such assignment or sublease, together with a non-refundable fee
of Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00) (the "Transfer Fee"). Landlord shall
then have a period of thirty (30) days following receipt of such notice within
which to notify Tenant in writing that Landlord elects (a) to terminate this
Lease as to the space so affected as of the date so specified by Tenant, in
which event Tenant shall be relieved of all further obligations hereunder as to
such space, or (b) to permit Tenant to assign this Lease or sublet such space
(provided, however, if the rent agreed upon between Tenant and subtenant is
greater than the Monthly Base Rent that Tenant must pay Landlord, fifty percent
(50%) of such excess rent (exclusive of Tenant's reasonable costs of subleasing
the Leased Premises, including, but not limited to, commissions, marketing costs
and tenant improvements), shall be deemed additional rent owed by Tenant and
payable to Landlord in the same manner that Tenant pays the Rent hereunder), or
(c) to refuse to consent to Tenant's assignment or subleasing such space and to
continue this Lease in full force and effect as to the entire Leased Premises.
If Landlord should fail to notify Tenant in writing of such election within the
thirty (30) day period, Landlord shall be deemed to have elected option (c)
above. Tenant agrees to pay Landlord's actual reasonable attorney's fees
associated with Landlord's review and documentation of any requested assignment
or sublease hereunder regardless of whether Landlord consents to any such
assignment or sublease. No assignment or subletting by Tenant shall relieve
Tenant of any obligations under this Lease, and

                                       17

<PAGE>

Tenant shall remain fully liable hereunder. If Tenant is not a public company
that is registered on a national stock exchange or that is required to register
its stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 12(g) of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, any change in a majority of the voting
rights or other controlling rights or interests of Tenant shall be deemed an
assignment for the purposes hereof, except if Tenant becomes public or receives
equity or debt financing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall also have
the right, subject to the conditions contained herein, to assign the Lease or
sublet all or any portion of the Leased Premises to (a) any entity resulting
from a merger or consolidation with Tenant; (b) any entity succeeding to the
business and assets of Tenant; (c) any subsidiary or affiliate of Tenant; and
(d) any entity which is part of or affiliated with Lipomed, Inc., so long as
such entity or affiliate shall be of at least the same net worth value and
credit worthiness as Tenant, in Landlord's sole reasonable discretion, at the
time of the transfer, and none of the same shall release Tenant and Tenant shall
remain liable to Landlord for full performance of Tenant's obligations under
this Lease.

         10.02  Assignment by Landlord.

         Landlord shall have the right to transfer and assign, in whole or in
part, all its rights and obligations hereunder and in the Building and all other
property referred to herein, and in such event and upon such transfer (any such
transferee to have the benefit of, and be subject to, the provisions of Section
                                                                        -------
6.06 and Section 8.07 hereof) no further liability or obligation shall
----     ------------
thereafter accrue against Landlord under this Lease, except for the Security
under the Lease.

                     ARTICLE 11 - NOTICES AND MISCELLANEOUS

         11.01  Notices.

         Except as otherwise provided in this Lease, any statement, notice, or
other communication which Landlord or Tenant may desire or is required to give
to the other shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficiently given or
rendered if hand delivered, or if sent by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid, return receipt requested, or Federal Express or similar overnight
courier with evidence of delivery, to the addresses for Landlord and Tenant set
forth in Subsection 2.01(k), or at such other address(es) as either party shall
         ------------------
designate from time to time by ten (10) days prior written notice to the other
party. Tenant shall obtain written acknowledgement from Landlord recognizing any
change in Tenant's address for the purposes of this Section, or such change
shall not be effective as against Landlord.

         11.02  Miscellaneous.

                (a)  Pronouns of any gender shall include the other genders, and
either the singular or the plural shall include the other.

                (b)  All rights and remedies of Landlord under this Lease shall
be cumulative and none shall exclude any other rights or remedies allowed by
law. This Lease is declared to be a North Carolina contract, and all of the
terms thereof shall be construed according to the laws of the State of North
Carolina.

                (c)  This Lease may not be altered changed or amended, except by
an instrument in writing executed by all parties hereto. Further, the terms and
provisions of this Lease shall not be construed against or in favor of a party
hereto merely because such party is the "Landlord" or the "Tenant" hereunder or
such party or its counsel is the draftsman of this Lease.

                (d)  The terms and provisions of Exhibits A-F described herein
                                                 ------------
and attached hereto are hereby made a part hereof for all purposes; provided,
however, that, unless otherwise expressly stated, in the event of a conflict
between the terms of this Lease and the terms of any Exhibit attached hereto,
the terms of this Lease shall control.

                (e)  If Tenant is a corporation, partnership or other entity,
Tenant warrants that all consents and approvals required of third parties
(including, without limitation, its Board of Directors or partners) for the
execution, delivery and performance of this Lease have been obtained and that
Tenant has the right and authority to enter into and perform its covenants
contained in this Lease, and to conduct business in the State of North Carolina.

                (f)  Whenever in this Lease there is imposed upon Landlord the
obligation to use its best efforts, reasonable efforts or diligence, Landlord
shall be required to do so only to the extent the same is economically feasible
and otherwise will not impose upon Landlord extreme financial or other business
burdens.

                (g)  If any term or provision of this Lease, or the application
thereof to any person or circumstance, shall to any extent be invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Lease, or the application of such provision
to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is invalid or
unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each provision of this Lease
shall be valid and shall be enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

                (h)  If applicable in the jurisdiction where the Leased Premises
are situated, Tenant shall pay and be liable for all rental, sales and use taxes
or other similar taxes, if any, levied or imposed by any city, state, county or
other governmental body having authority, such payments to be in addition to all
other payments required to be paid to Landlord by Tenant under the terms of this
Lease. Any such payment shall be paid concurrently with the payment of the rent
upon which the tax is based as set forth above.

                (i)  Landlord and Tenant each agrees not to handle, store or
dispose of any hazardous or toxic waste or substance at the Project which is
prohibited by any federal, state, or local statutes, ordinances or regulations.
Landlord and Tenant

                                       14

<PAGE>

each hereby covenants to indemnify and hold the other party, its successors and
assigns, harmless from any loss, damage, claims, costs, liabilities or cleanup
costs arising out of Landlord's or Tenant's, as the case may be, use, handling,
storage or disposal of any such hazardous or toxic wastes or substances at the
Project.

                (j)  Tenant is prohibited from recording this Lease or any
memorandum thereof without the prior written consent of Landlord.

                (k)  Landlord agrees to provide Tenant with the number of
parking spaces set forth in Subsection 2.01(f) of this Lease (which number
                            ------------------
includes Tenant's pro rata share of the total number of spaces designated for
handicapped or visitors required for the Building), at no additional charge.
Tenant agrees to notify Landlord promptly of any additional parking needs which
needs shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.

                (l)  "Square feet" or "square foot" as used in this Lease
includes the area contained within the space occupied by Tenant (as measured by
the June 7, 1996, BOMA standard for measuring OFFICE AREA), multiplied by a
common area percentage factor.

                (m)  Landlord agrees to pay to the Broker and Co-Broker, if any,
named in Subsection 2.01(l), a real estate brokerage commission only as set
         ------------------
forth in separate listing and/or commission agreement(s). Landlord and Tenant
each hereby represent and warrant to the other that they have not employed any
other agents, brokers or other parties in connection with this Lease, and each
agrees that it shall hold the other harmless from and against any and all claims
of all other agents, brokers or other parties claiming by, through or under the
respective indemnifying party.

                (n)  Tenant understands and agrees that the property manager for
the Building is the agent of Landlord and is acting at all times in the best
interest of Landlord. Any and all information pertaining to this Lease that is
received by the property manager shall be treated as though received directly by
Landlord.

                (o)  This Lease may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

                (p)  During the Term of the Lease, Tenant shall provide
Landlord, upon ten (10) days' written notice, a true, accurate and complete copy
of Tenant's financial statements, including income and expense statements and
balance sheets, which shall reflect the most recent quarter and most recent
year-end at the time of such review.

                (q)  Upon execution by Tenant, this Lease shall be binding upon
Tenant, its legal representatives and successors, and, to the extent assignment
may be approved by Landlord hereunder, Tenant's assigns. Upon execution by
Landlord, this Lease shall be binding upon Landlord, its legal representatives,
successors and assigns. This Lease shall inure to the benefit of Landlord and
Tenant, their representatives, successors and assigns.

                                       11

<PAGE>

           ARTICLE 12 - ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND LIMITATION OF WARRANTIES

         12.01  ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND LIMITATION OF WARRANTIES.

                TENANT AGREES THAT THIS LEASE AND THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED HERETO
CONSTITUTE THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES AND ALL PRIOR CORRESPONDENCE,
MEMORANDA, AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS (WRITTEN AND ORAL) ARE MERGED INTO AND
SUPERSEDED BY THIS LEASE AND THERE ARE AND WERE NO VERBAL REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES, UNDERSTANDINGS, STIPULATIONS, AGREEMENTS OR PROMISES MADE BY
LANDLORD IN CONNECTION WITH THIS LEASE. TENANT FURTHER AGREES THAT THERE ARE NO,
AND TENANT EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THOSE
EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS LEASE OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
HABITABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OF ANY OTHER KIND ARISING OUT
OF THIS LEASE.

                IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Lease as of the date aforesaid.

                                    LANDLORD:

                                    Lake Partners, L.L.C., a North Carolina
                                    limited liability company (SEAL)

                                    By: Capital Associates Limited Partnership,
                                        a North Carolina limited partnership,
                                        its Manager (SEAL)

                                    By: /s/ Hugh D. Little               (SEAL)
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Hugh D. Little, General Partner

                                    TENANT:

                                    LipoMed, Inc.,  a Delaware corporation

                                    By: /s/ Lucy G. Martindale
                                        --------------------------------
(Corporate Seal)
                                    Name:   Lucy G. Martindale
                                            ----------------------------

                                    Title:  Chief Financial Officer
                                            ----------------------------

Attest:

By: /s/ James D. Otvos
    -----------------------
    Secretary

                                       16

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A-1

                                  FLOOR PLAN(S)
                                  -------------

700 Spring Forest Road, Suite 101
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609

                            [FLOOR PLANS APPEAR HERE]

         1,518  Occupied Square Feet
         x 1.15 Common Area Percentage Factor
         ------
         1,746  Square Feet

         [_] = Leased Premises

                                       13

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A-2

                                    THE LAND
                                    --------

Lying and being in the City of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, and being
more particularly described as follows:

         Beginning at a point located at the intersection of the southeastern
         right-of-way line of Spring Forest Road and the southern right-of-way
         line of Ridgefield Drive; runs thence with the southern right-of-way
         line of Ridgefield Drive: South 59(degrees) 00', 00" East 98.81 feet to
         a point, South 62(degrees) 24' 35" East 100.00 feet to a point, and in
         a generally easterly direction along a curve to the left (said curve
         having an exterior chord bearing and distance of South 72(degrees) 21'
         05" East 82.22 feet) having a radius of 380.00 an arc distance of 82.38
         feet to a point; runs thence leaving the southern right-of-way line of
         Ridgefield Drive South 04(degrees) 53' 57" East 176.85 feet to a point;
         runs thence South 49(degrees) 53' 57" East 17.21 feet to a point; run
         thence in a generally southeasterly direction along a curve to the left
         (said curve having an exterior chord bearing and distance of South
         49(degrees) 53' 57" East 110.00 feet) having a radius of 55.00 feet an
         arc distance of 172.79 feet to a point; runs thence South 27(degrees)
         36' 36" East 215.64 feet to a point in the line of that property now or
         formerly belonging to Northbend; runs thence with the northern line of
         that property now or formerly belonging to Northbend, North 88(degrees)
         53' 41" West 818.63 feet to a point; runs thence North 01(degrees) 34'
         34" West 6.67 feet to a point in the southeastern right-of-way line of
         Spring Forest Road; runs thence with the Southeastern right-of-way line
         of Spring Forest Road in a generally northeasterly direction along a
         curve to the left (said curve having an exterior chord bearing and
         distance of North 35(degrees) 20' 19" East 275.53 feet) having a radius
         of 1,821.07 feet an arc distance of 275.79 feet to a point; continues
         thence with the southeastern right-of-way line of Spring Forest Road
         North 31(degrees) 00' 00" East 346.59 feet to a point, and in a
         generally northeasterly direction along a curve to the right (said
         curve having an interior chord bearing and distance of North
         31(degrees) 47' 22" East 31.83 feet) having a radius of 1,155.00 feet
         an arc distance of 31.83 feet to the point and place of Beginning,
         containing 5.814 acres as shown on that plat entitled Plat of Survey
         forLinpro North Carolina Offices II Limited, dated October 27, 1986,
         and prepared by Murphy Yelle Associates, Registered Land Surveyors.

                                       22

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                    ACCEPTANCE OF LEASED PREMISES MEMORANDUM
                    ----------------------------------------

Landlord and Tenant hereby agree that:

1.   Tenant has had an opportunity to inspect and satisfy itself as to the
     condition of the Leased Premises and accepts the Leased Premises "AS IS",
     "WHERE IS" and "WITH ALL FAULTS".

2.   The Leased Premises are tenantable, Landlord has no further obligation for
     construction, and Tenant acknowledges that the Leased Premises are
     satisfactory in all respects.

     All other terms and conditions of the Lease are hereby ratified and
     acknowledged to be unchanged.

     Agreed and Executed this 1/ST/ day of October, 2001.
                              -----        -------

                                      TENANT:

                                      LipoMed, Inc., a Delaware corporation

                                      By: /s/ Lucy G. Martindale
                                          -------------------------------
(Corporate Seal)
                                      Name:   Lucy G. Martindale
                                              ---------------------------

                                      Title:  Chief Financial Officer
                                              ---------------------------

Attest:

By: /s/ James Otvos
    ------------------------
    Secretary

                                       23

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                          LANDLORD APPROVED ALTERATIONS
                          -----------------------------

700 Spring Forest Road, Suite 101
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609

         Landlord has approved the alterations to the Leased Premises shown
below, and Tenant may, at its sole cost and expense, make the alterations to the
Leased Premises as shown below, after the Commencement Date.

                            [FLOOR PLAN APPEARS HERE]

                                       20

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT C-1

                              Intentionally Deleted

                                       21

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT D

                                 BUILDING RULES
                                 --------------

     (1) The sidewalks, walks, plaza entries, corridors, concourses, ramps,
staircases, escalators and elevators shall not be obstructed or used by Tenant,
or the employees, agents, servants, visitors or licensees of Tenant, for any
purpose other than ingress and egress to and from the Leased Premises. No
bicycle or motorcycle shall be brought into the Building or kept on the Leased
Premises without the prior written consent of Landlord.

     (2) No freight, furniture or bulky matter of any description shall be
received into the Building or carried into the elevators except in such a
manner, during such hours and using such elevators and passageways as may be
approved by Landlord, and then only upon having been scheduled in advance. Any
hand trucks, carryalls or similar appliances used for the delivery or receipt of
merchandise or equipment shall be equipped with rubber tires, side guards and
such other safeguards as Landlord shall require.

     (3) Landlord shall have the right to prescribe the weight, position and
manner of installation of safes, concentrated filing/storage systems or other
heavy equipment which shall, if considered necessary by Landlord, be installed
in a manner which shall insure satisfactory weight distribution. All damage done
to the Building by reason of a safe or any other article of Tenant's office
equipment being on the Leased Premises shall be repaired at the expense of
Tenant. The time, routing and manner of moving safes or other heavy equipment
shall be subject to prior written approval by Landlord.

     (4) Only persons authorized by Landlord shall be permitted to furnish
newspaper, ice, drinking water, towels, barbering, shoe shining, janitorial
services, floor polishing and other similar services and concessions to Tenant,
and only at hours and under regulations fixed by Landlord. Tenant shall use no
other method of heating or cooling than that supplied by Landlord.

     (5) Tenant, and the employees, agents, servants, visitors or licensees of
Tenant, shall not at any time place, leave or discard any rubbish, paper,
articles or objects of any kind whatsoever outside the doors of the Leased
Premises or in the corridors or passageways of the Building. No animals, except
for dogs trained to assist disabled persons, shall be brought or kept in or
about the Leased Premises or the Building without the prior written consent of
Landlord.

     (6) Landlord shall have the right to prohibit any advertising by Tenant
which, in Landlord's opinion, tends to impair the reputation of the Building or
its desirability for offices, and, upon written notice from Landlord, Tenant
shall refrain from or discontinue such advertising. Landlord shall have the
right to use Tenant's name in advertising announcements.

     (7) Tenant shall not place, or cause or allow to be placed, any sign or
lettering whatsoever, in or about the Leased Premises except in and at such
places as may be designated by Landlord and consented to by Landlord in writing.
All lettering and graphics on corridor doors and walls shall conform to the
Building standard prescribed by Landlord. No trademark shall be displayed on
corridor doors and walls in any event, except on any floor fully leased by
Tenant. Tenant may display trademarks on interior walls and doors of the Leased
Premises. Landlord shall provide and maintain an alphabetical directory board in
the ground floor lobby of the Building.

     (8) Canvassing, soliciting or peddling in the Building is prohibited and
Tenant shall cooperate to prevent same.

     (9) Landlord shall have the right to exclude any person from the Building
other than during customary business hours, and any person in the Building shall
be subject to identification by employees and agents of Landlord. All persons in
or entering the Building shall be required to comply with the security policies
of the Building. If Tenant desires any additional security services for the
Leased Premises, Tenant shall have the right (only with the advance written
consent of Landlord) to obtain such additional services at Tenant's sole cost
and expense. Tenant shall keep doors to unattended areas locked and shall
otherwise exercise reasonable precautions to protect property from theft, loss,
or damage. Landlord shall not be responsible for the theft, loss or damage of
any property.

     (10) Only workers employed, designated or approved by Landlord may be
employed for repairs, installations, alterations, painting, material moving and
other similar work that may be done in or on the Leased Premises.

     (11) Tenant shall not do any cooking or conduct any restaurant,
luncheonette, automat or cafeteria for the sale or service of food or beverages
to its employees or to others, nor shall Tenant provide any vending machines
without the prior written consent of Landlord. Tenant may, however, operate
coffee bars by and for its employees and invitees.

     (12) Tenant shall not bring or permit to be brought or kept in or on the
Leased Premises any inflammable, combustible, corrosive, caustic, poisonous,
toxic or explosive substance or any substance deemed to be a hazardous substance
under applicable environmental laws, or cause or permit any odors to permeate or
emanate from the Leased Premises.

     (13) Tenant shall not mark, paint, drill into or in any way deface any part
of the Building or the Leased Premises. No boring, driving of nails or screws,
cutting or stringing of wires shall be permitted, except with the prior written
consent of Landlord, and as Landlord may direct. Tenant shall not install coat
hooks or identification plates on doors nor any resilient tile or similar floor
covering in the Leased Premises except with the prior written approval of
Landlord. The use of cement or other similar adhesive material is expressly
prohibited.

                                       22

<PAGE>

     (14) Tenant shall not place any additional locks or bolts of any kind on
any door in the Building or the Leased Premises or change or alter any lock on
any door therein in any respect. Landlord shall furnish two (2) keys for each
lock on exterior doors to the Leased Premises and shall, on Tenant's request and
at Tenant's expense, provide additional duplicate keys. Tenant shall not make
any duplicate keys. All keys shall be returned to Landlord upon the termination
of the Lease, and Tenant shall give to Landlord the explanation of the
combination of all safes, vaults and combination locks in the Leased Premises.
Landlord may at all times keep a pass key to the Leased Premises. All entrance
doors to the Leased Premises shall be left locked when the Leased Premises are
not in use.

     (15) Tenant shall give immediate notice to Landlord in case of theft,
unauthorized solicitation or accident in the Leased Premises or in the Building
or of defects therein or in any fixtures or equipment, or of any known emergency
in the Building.

     (16) Tenant shall place a water-proof tray under all plants in the Leased
Premises and shall be responsible for any damage to the floors and/or carpets
caused by over-watering such plants.

     (17) Tenant shall not use the Leased Premises or permit the Leased Premises
to be used for photographic, multilith or multigraph reproductions, except in
connection with its own business and not as a service for others, without
Landlord's prior written permission.

     (18) Tenant shall not use or permit any portion of the Leased Premises to
be used as an office for a public stenographer or typist, offset printing, the
sale of liquor or tobacco, a barber or manicure shop, an employment bureau, a
labor union office, a doctor's or dentist's office, a dance or music studio, any
type of school, or for any use other than those specifically granted in this
Lease.

     (19) Tenant shall not advertise for laborers giving the Leased Premises as
an address, nor pay such laborers at a location in the Leased Premises.

     (20) Employees of Landlord shall not perform any work or do anything
outside of their regular duties, unless under special instructions from the
management office in the Building.

     (21) Tenant shall not place a load upon any floor of the Leased Premises
which exceeds the load per square foot which such floor was designed to carry
and which is allowed by law. Business machines and mechanical and electrical
equipment belonging to Tenant which cause noise, vibration, electrical or
magnetic interference, or any other nuisance that may be transmitted to the
structure or other portions of the Building or to the Leased Premises to such a
degree as to be objectionable to Landlord or which interfere with the use or
enjoyment by other tenants of their leased premises or the public portions of
the Building, shall be placed and maintained by Tenant, at Tenant's expense, in
settings of cork, rubber, spring type or other vibration eliminators sufficient
to eliminate noise or vibration.

     (22) Tenant shall furnish and install a chair mat for each desk chair in
the Leased Premises.

     (23) No solar screen materials, awnings, draperies, shutters or other
interior or exterior window coverings that are visible from the exterior of the
Building or from the exterior of the Leased Premises within the Building may be
installed by Tenant.

     (24) Tenant shall not place, install or operate within the Leased Premises
or any other part of the Building any engine, stove or machinery, or
conduct mechanical operations therein, without the written consent of Landlord.

     (25) No portion of the Leased Premises or any other part of the Building
shall at any time be used or occupied as sleeping or lodging quarters.

     (26) For purposes of the Lease, holidays shall be deemed to mean and
include the following: (a) New Year's Day; (b) Good Friday; (c) Memorial Day;
(d) Independence Day; (e) Labor Day; (f) Thanksgiving Day and the Friday
following; (g) Christmas Day; and (h) any other holidays taken by tenants
occupying at least one-half (1/2) of the Square Footage of office space in the
Building.

     (27) Tenant shall at all times keep the Leased Premises neat and orderly.

     (28) All requests for overtime air conditioning or heating should be
submitted in writing to the Building management office by 2:00 P.M. on the last
prior business day.

     (29) Landlord reserves the right to rescind, add to and amend any rules or
regulations, to add new rules or regulations, and to waive any rules or
regulations with respect to any tenant or tenants.

     (30) Corridor doors, when not in use, shall be kept closed.

     (31) All permitted alterations and additions to the Leased Premises must
conform to applicable building and fire codes. Tenant shall obtain approval from
the office of the Building with respect to any such modifications and shall
deliver "as-built" plans therefor to the office of the Building on completion.

                                       23

<PAGE>

      (32) It is the intent of both Landlord and Tenant that any portion of
the Leased Premises visible to the public hold a high quality professional image
at all times. If, at any time during the Term, Landlord or Landlord's agent
deems such visible area to hold less than a high quality professional image,
Landlord will advise Tenant of desired changes to be made to such area to
conform to the intent of this paragraph. Within three working days, Tenant will
cause the desired changes to be made, or present Landlord with a plan for
accomplishing such changes. Tenant shall have such additional time as is
reasonably required to implement the plan, not to exceed 2 months; provided,
however, that if Tenant is not diligently pursuing the plan for accomplishing
such changes within ten working days, Landlord will provide draperies or blinds
for the glassed area at Tenant's expense; Tenant will keep such draperies or
blinds closed at all times.

     The carpet and wall coverings, which are to be located in the lobby of any
Leased Premises that are visible to the public, must be consistent in color and
style with the carpet and wall coverings located in the lobby area of the
Building, and must be approved by Landlord prior to installation.

     (33) The Building has been designated a "non-smoking" building. Tenant
and its employees, agents, servants, visitors and licensees are prohibited from
smoking in the common areas both inside and outside of the Building, except in
those areas designated as smoking areas. Tenant may designate the Leased
Premises a "non-smoking" area, upon such terms as may be approved in advance by
Landlord, at any time during the Term.

     (34) Tenant shall not play nor permit the playing of loud music in the
Leased Premises or common areas.

     (35) No firearms, whether concealed or otherwise, shall be allowed in the
Building at any time.

                                       24

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT E

                          FORM OF ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATE
                          ----------------------------

The undersigned ____________________________________________________ ("Tenant"),
in consideration of One Dollar ($1.00) and other valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, hereby certifies to
_______________________________________________________ ("Landlord"), [the
holder or prospective holder of any mortgage covering the property] (the
"Mortgagee") and [the vendee under any contract of sale with respect to the
Property] (the "Purchaser") as follows:

1.  Tenant and Landlord executed a certain Lease Agreement (the "Lease"), dated
__________________, 20_____, covering the _____________ floor(s) shown attached
on the plan annexed hereto as Exhibit A-1 (the "Leased Premises") in the
                              -----------
building located in the _______________________________ known as and by the
street number _______________________________________ (the "Building"), for a
term commencing on ________________________, 20______, and expiring on
____________________________________.

2.  The Lease is in full force and effect and has not been modified, changed,
altered or amended in any respect.

3.  Tenant has accepted and is now in possession of the Leased Premises and is
paying the full Rent under the Lease.

4.  The Base Rent payable under the Lease is $__________________ per month. The
Base Rent and all Additional Rent and other charges required to be paid under
the Lease have been paid for the period up to and including _______________.

5.  Tenant has provided Landlord with the following as Security for the Lease:
______________________________.

6.  No Rent under the Lease has been paid for more than thirty (30) days in
advance of its due date.

7.  All work required under the Lease to be performed by Landlord has been
completed to the full satisfaction of Tenant.

8.  There are no defaults existing under the Lease on the part of either
Landlord or Tenant.

9.  There is no existing basis for Tenant to cancel or terminate the Lease.

10. As of the date hereof, there exist no valid defenses, offsets, credits,
deductions in rent or claims against the enforcement of any of the agreements,
terms, covenants or conditions of the Lease.

11. Tenant affirms that any dispute with Landlord giving rise to a claim against
Landlord is a claim under the Lease only and is subordinate to the rights of the
holder of all first lien mortgages on the Building and shall be subject to all
the terms, conditions and provisions thereof. Any such claims are not offsets to
or defenses against enforcement of the Lease.

12. Tenant affirms that any dispute with Landlord giving rise to a claim against
Landlord is a claim under the Lease only and is subordinate to the rights of the
Purchaser pursuant to any contract of sale. Any such claims are not offsets to
or defenses against enforcement of the Lease.

13. Tenant affirms that any claims pertaining to matters in existence at the
time Tenant took possession and which are known to or which were then readily
ascertainable by Tenant shall be enforced solely by money judgment and/or
specific performance against the Landlord named in the Lease and may not be
enforced as an offset to or defense against enforcement of the Lease.

14. There are no actions, whether voluntary or otherwise, pending against or
contemplated by Tenant under the bankruptcy laws of the United States or any
state thereof.

15. There has been no material adverse change in Tenant's financial condition
between the date hereof and the date of the execution and delivery of the Lease.

16. Tenant acknowledges that Landlord has informed Tenant that an assignment of
Landlord's interest in the Lease has been or will be made to the Mortgagee and
that no modification, revision, or cancellation of the Lease or amendments
thereto shall be effective unless a written consent thereto of the Mortgagee is
first obtained, and that until further notice payments under the Lease may
continue as heretofore.

17. Tenant acknowledges that Landlord has informed Tenant that Landlord has
entered into a contract to sell the Property to Purchaser and that no
modification, revision or cancellation of the Lease or amendments thereto shall
be effective unless a written consent thereto of the Purchaser has been
obtained.

                                       25

<PAGE>

18. This certification is made to induce Purchaser to consummate a purchase of
the Property and to induce Mortgagee to make and maintain a mortgage loan
secured by the Property and/or to disburse additional funds to Landlord under
the terms of its agreement with Landlord, knowing that said Purchaser and
Mortgagee rely upon the truth of this certificate in making and/or maintaining
such purchase or mortgage or disbursing such funds, as applicable.

19. Except as modified herein, all other provisions of the Lease are hereby
ratified and confirmed.

                                     TENANT:

                                     LipoMed, Inc., a Delaware corporation

                                     By:________________________________________
(Corporate Seal)
                                     Name:  ____________________________________

                                     Title:  ___________________________________

                                     Date:  ____________________________________
Attest:

By:  _________________________________
         Secretary

                                       26

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT F

                                  HVAC SCHEDULE
                                  -------------

     Subject to the provisions of Section 5.01 of the Lease and excluding
                                  ------------
holidays, Landlord will furnish Building standard heating, ventilating and air
conditioning between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays (from Monday through
Friday, inclusive) and Saturdays between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Upon request of
Tenant made in accordance with the rules and regulations for the Building,
Landlord will furnish air conditioning and heating at other times (that is, at
times other than the times specified above), in which event Tenant shall
reimburse Landlord for furnishing such services on the following basis:

     Tenant shall reimburse Landlord at the rate of Thirty-five and No/100
Dollars ($35.00) per hour per air handling unit which is activated to provide
the requested air conditioning or heating service; provided, such rate is based
upon the "Kilowatt Hour rate" (as hereinafter defined) for electricity as of
January 1, 1995 (the "Base Rate"), and if and when the Kilowatt Hour Rate
increases over the Base Rate, the aforesaid rate of Thirty-five and No/100
Dollars ($35.00) per hour per air handling unit thereof shall automatically
increase proportionately. For example, if the Kilowatt Hour Rate increases by
10% over the Base Rate, said rate shall automatically increase by 10%. The
"Kilowatt Hour Rate" shall mean the actual average cost per kilowatt hour
charged by the public utilities providing electricity to the Building, or if
said public utilities shall cease charging for electricity on the basis of a
kilowatt hour, the Kilowatt Hour Rate shall mean the actual average cost per
equivalent unit of measurement substituted therefor by said public utilities.
The Base Rate is hereby stipulated to be $.0600 per kilowatt hour.

                                       27<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.19

                                  LIPOMED, INC.

                        2001 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

The purpose of this Plan is to provide eligible employees of LipoMed, Inc. (the
"Company") and certain of its subsidiaries with opportunities to purchase shares
of the Company's common stock, $.001 par value per share (the "Common Stock"),
commencing on the date on which the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") declares a registration statement on Form S-1 for the initial public
offering (the "IPO") of the Company's Common Stock effective (the "Effective
Date"). 340,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate have been approved for
this purpose. This Plan is intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase
plan" as defined in Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and shall be
interpreted consistent therewith.

     1.   Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Company's Board
          --------------
of Directors (the "Board") or by a Committee appointed by the Board (the
"Committee"). The Board or the Committee has authority to make rules and
regulations for the administration of the Plan and its interpretation and
decisions with regard thereto shall be final and conclusive.

     2.   Eligibility. All employees of the Company, including Directors who are
          -----------
employees, and all employees of any subsidiary of the Company (as defined in
Section 424(f) of the Code) designated by the Board or the Committee from time
to time (a "Designated Subsidiary"), are eligible to participate in any one or
more of the offerings of Options (as defined in Section 9) to purchase Common
Stock under the Plan provided that:

          (a)  they are customarily employed by the Company or a Designated
     Subsidiary for more than 20 hours a week and for more than five months in a
     calendar year; and

          (b)  they have been employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary
     for at least ninety (90) days prior to enrolling in the Plan; and

          (c)  they are employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary on
     the first day of the applicable Plan Period (as defined below).

     No employee may be granted an option hereunder if such employee,
immediately after the option is granted, owns 5% or more of the total combined
voting power or value of the stock of the Company or any subsidiary. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of
the Code shall apply in determining the stock ownership of an employee, and all
stock which the employee has a contractual right to purchase shall be treated as
stock owned by the employee.

     3.   Offerings. The Company will make one or more offerings ("Offerings")
          ---------
to employees to purchase stock under this Plan. Offerings will begin each
January 1 and July 1, or the first business day thereafter (the "Offering
Commencement Dates"). Each Offering Commencement Date will begin a six month
period (a "Plan Period") during which payroll deductions will be made and held
for the purchase of Common Stock at the end of the Plan Period; provided,
however, that the first Plan Period under the Plan shall commence on the date

<PAGE>

on which the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") declares the
registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC for the initial public
offering (the "IPO") of the Company's Common Stock effective and shall end on
the date that is six months after such date. The Board or the Committee may, at
its discretion, choose a different Plan Period of twelve months or less for
subsequent Offerings.

     4.   Participation. An employee eligible on the Offering Commencement Date
          -------------
of any Offering may participate in such Offering by completing and forwarding a
payroll deduction authorization form to the employee's appropriate payroll
office at least ten days prior to the applicable Offering Commencement Date. The
form will authorize a regular payroll deduction from the Compensation received
by the employee during the Plan Period. Unless an employee files a new form or
withdraws from the Plan, his deductions and purchases will continue at the same
rate for future Offerings under the Plan as long as the Plan remains in effect.
The term "Compensation" means the amount of money reportable on the employee's
Federal Income Tax Withholding Statement, excluding overtime, shift premium,
incentive or bonus awards, allowances and reimbursements for expenses such as
relocation allowances for travel expenses, income or gains on the exercise of
Company stock options or stock appreciation rights, and similar items, whether
or not shown on the employee's Federal Income Tax Withholding Statement, but
including, in the case of salespersons, sales commissions to the extent
determined by the Board or the Committee.

     5.   Deductions. The Company will maintain payroll deduction accounts for
          ----------
all participating employees. With respect to any Offering made under this Plan,
an employee may authorize a payroll deduction in any dollar amount up to a
maximum of 10% of the Compensation he or she receives during the Plan Period or
such shorter period during which deductions from payroll are made. The minimum
payroll deduction is such percentage of compensation as may be established from
time to time by the Board or the Committee.

     6.   Deduction Changes. An employee may decrease or discontinue his payroll
          -----------------
deduction once during any Plan Period, by filing a new payroll deduction
authorization form. However, an employee may not increase his payroll deduction
during a Plan Period. If an employee elects to discontinue his payroll
deductions during a Plan Period, but does not elect to withdraw his funds
pursuant to Section 8 hereof, funds deducted prior to his election to
discontinue will be applied to the purchase of Common Stock on the Exercise Date
(as defined below).

     7.   Interest. Interest will not be paid on any employee accounts, except
          --------
to the extent that the Board or the Committee, in its sole discretion, elects to
credit employee accounts with interest at such per annum rate as it may from
time to time determine.

     8.   Withdrawal of Funds. An employee may at any time prior to the close of
          -------------------
business on the last business day in a Plan Period and for any reason
permanently draw out the balance accumulated in the employee's account and
thereby withdraw from participation in an Offering. Partial withdrawals are not
permitted. The employee may not begin participation again during the remainder
of the Plan Period. The employee may participate in any subsequent Offering in
accordance with terms and conditions established by the Board or the Committee.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

     9.   Purchase of Shares. On the Offering Commencement Date of each Plan
          ------------------
Period, the Company will grant to each eligible employee who is then a
participant in the Plan an option ("Option") to purchase on the last business
day of such Plan Period (the "Exercise Date"), at the Option Price hereinafter
provided for, the largest number of whole shares of Common Stock of the Company
as does not exceed the number of shares determined by multiplying $2,083 by the
number of full months in the Offering Period and dividing the result by the
closing price (as defined below) on the Offering Commencement Date of such Plan
Period.

     Notwithstanding the above, no employee may be granted an Option (as defined
in Section 9) which permits his rights to purchase Common Stock under this Plan
and any other employee stock purchase plan (as defined in Section 423(b) of the
Code) of the Company and its subsidiaries, to accrue at a rate which exceeds
$25,000 of fair market value of such Common Stock (determined at the Offering
Commencement Date of the Plan Period) for each calendar year in which the Option
is outstanding at any time.

     The purchase price for each share purchased will be 85% of the closing
price of the Common Stock on (i) the first business day of such Plan Period or
(ii) the Exercise Date, whichever closing price shall be less. Such closing
price shall be (a) the closing price on any national securities exchange on
which the Common Stock is listed, (b) the closing price of the Common Stock on
the Nasdaq National Market or (c) the average of the closing bid and asked
prices in the over-the-counter-market, whichever is applicable, as published in
The Wall Street Journal; provided that, with respect to the first Plan Period,
-----------------------
the closing price on the Offering Commencement Date shall be the initial public
offering price provided for in the underwriting agreement entered into by the
Company in connection with the IPO. If no sales of Common Stock were made on
such a day, the price of the Common Stock for purposes of clauses (a) and (b)
above shall be the reported price for the next preceding day on which sales were
made.

     Each employee who continues to be a participant in the Plan on the Exercise
Date shall be deemed to have exercised his Option at the Option Price on such
date and shall be deemed to have purchased from the Company the number of full
shares of Common Stock reserved for the purpose of the Plan that his accumulated
payroll deductions on such date will pay for, but not in excess of the maximum
number determined in the manner set forth above.

     Any balance remaining in an employee's payroll deduction account at the end
of a Plan Period will be automatically refunded to the employee, except that any
balance which is less than the purchase price of one share of Common Stock will
be carried forward into the employee's payroll deduction account for the
following Offering, unless the employee elects not to participate in the
following Offering under the Plan, in which case the balance in the employee's
account shall be refunded.

     10.  Issuance of Certificates. Certificates representing shares of Common
          ------------------------
Stock purchased under the Plan may be issued only in the name of the employee,
in the name of the employee and another person of legal age as joint tenants
with rights of survivorship, or (in the Company's sole discretion) in the name
of a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder designated by the employee.
The Company may, in its sole discretion and in compliance with applicable laws,
authorize the use of book entry registration of shares in lieu of issuing stock
certificates.

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

     11.  Rights on Death or Termination of Employment. In the event of a
          --------------------------------------------
participating employee's termination of employment prior to the last business
day of a Plan Period, no payroll deduction shall be taken from any pay due and
owing to an employee and the balance in the employee's account shall be paid to
the employee or, in the event of the employee's death, (a) to a beneficiary
previously designated in a revocable notice signed by the employee (with any
spousal consent required under state law) or (b) in the absence of such a
designated beneficiary, to the executor or administrator of the employee's
estate or (c) if no such executor or administrator has been appointed to the
knowledge of the Company, to such other person(s) as the Company may, in its
discretion, designate. If, prior to the last business day of the Plan Period,
the Designated Subsidiary by which an employee is employed shall cease to be a
subsidiary of the Company, or if the employee is transferred to a subsidiary of
the Company that is not a Designated Subsidiary, the employee shall be deemed to
have terminated employment for the purposes of this Plan.

     12.  Optionees Not Stockholders. Neither the granting of an Option to an
          --------------------------
employee nor the deductions from his pay shall constitute such employee a
stockholder of the shares of Common Stock covered by an Option under this Plan
until such shares have been purchased by and issued to him.

     13.  Rights Not Transferable. Rights under this Plan are not transferable
          -----------------------
by a participating employee other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and are exercisable during the employee's lifetime only by the
employee.

     14.  Application of Funds. All funds received or held by the Company under
          --------------------
this Plan may be combined with other corporate funds and may be used for any
corporate purpose.

     15.  Adjustment in Case of Changes Affecting Common Stock. In the event of
          ----------------------------------------------------
a subdivision of outstanding shares of Common Stock, or the payment of a
dividend in Common Stock, the number of shares approved for this Plan, and the
share limitation set forth in Section 9, shall be increased proportionately, and
such other adjustment shall be made as may be deemed equitable by the Board or
the Committee. In the event of any other change affecting the Common Stock, such
adjustment shall be made as may be deemed equitable by the Board or the
Committee to give proper effect to such event.

     16.  Merger. If the Company shall at any time merge or consolidate with
          ------
another corporation and the holders of the capital stock of the Company
immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to hold at least 80%
by voting power of the capital stock of the surviving corporation ("Continuity
of Control"), the holder of each Option then outstanding will thereafter be
entitled to receive at the next Exercise Date upon the exercise of such Option
for each share as to which such Option shall be exercised the securities or
property which a holder of one share of the Common Stock was entitled to upon
and at the time of such merger or consolidation, and the Board or the Committee
shall take such steps in connection with such merger or consolidation as the
Board or the Committee shall deem necessary to assure that the provisions of
Section 15 shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in
relation to the said securities or property as to which such holder of such
Option might thereafter be entitled to receive thereunder.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

     In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
another corporation which does not involve Continuity of Control, or of a sale
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company while unexercised
Options remain outstanding under the Plan, (a) subject to the provisions of
clauses (b) and (c), after the effective date of such transaction, each holder
of an outstanding Option shall be entitled, upon exercise of such Option, to
receive in lieu of shares of Common Stock, shares of such stock or other
securities as the holders of shares of Common Stock received pursuant to the
terms of such transaction; or (b) all outstanding Options may be cancelled by
the Board or the Committee as of a date prior to the effective date of any such
transaction and all payroll deductions shall be paid out to the participating
employees; or (c) all outstanding Options may be cancelled by the Board or the
Committee as of the effective date of any such transaction, provided that notice
of such cancellation shall be given to each holder of an Option, and each holder
of an Option shall have the right to exercise such Option in full based on
payroll deductions then credited to his account as of a date determined by the
Board or the Committee, which date shall not be less than ten (10) days
preceding the effective date of such transaction.

     17.  Amendment of the Plan. The Board may at any time, and from time to
          ---------------------
time, amend this Plan in any respect, except that (a) if the approval of any
such amendment by the shareholders of the Company is required by Section 423 of
the Code, such amendment shall not be effected without such approval, and (b) in
no event may any amendment be made which would cause the Plan to fail to comply
with Section 423 of the Code.

     18.  Insufficient Shares. In the event that the total number of shares of
          -------------------
Common Stock specified in elections to be purchased under any Offering plus the
number of shares purchased under previous Offerings under this Plan exceeds the
maximum number of shares issuable under this Plan, the Board or the Committee
will allot the shares then available on a pro rata basis.

     19.  Termination of the Plan. This Plan may be terminated at any time by
          -----------------------
the Board. Upon termination of this Plan all amounts in the accounts of
participating employees shall be promptly refunded.

     20.  Governmental Regulations. The Company's obligation to sell and deliver
          ------------------------
Common Stock under this Plan is subject to listing on a national stock exchange
or quotation on the Nasdaq National Market (to the extent the Common Stock is
then so listed or quoted) and the approval of all governmental authorities
required in connection with the authorization, issuance or sale of such stock.

     21.  Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by Delaware law except to
          -------------
the extent that such law is preempted by federal law.

     22.  Issuance of Shares. Shares may be issued upon exercise of an Option
          ------------------
from authorized but unissued Common Stock, from shares held in the treasury of
the Company, or from any other proper source.

     23.  Notification upon Sale of Shares. Each employee agrees, by entering
          --------------------------------
the Plan, to promptly give the Company notice of any disposition of shares
purchased under the Plan where

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

such disposition occurs within two years after the date of grant of the Option
pursuant to which such shares were purchased.

     24.  Effective Date and Approval of Shareholders. The Plan shall take
          -------------------------------------------
effect on the Effective Date, subject to approval by the stockholders of the
Company as required by Section 423 of the Code, which approval must occur within
twelve months of the adoption of the Plan by the Board.

     25.  Special Provisions for the First Plan Period. The following provisions
          --------------------------------------------
of this Section 25 shall apply with respect to the first Plan Period of the
Plan, notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary:

          (a)  Every eligible employee shall automatically become a participant
     in the Plan for the first Plan Period at the highest percentage of
     Compensation permitted under the Plan. No payroll deductions shall be
     required for the first Plan Period; however, a participant may elect to
     have payroll deductions up to the aggregate amount which would have been
     credited to his or her account if a deduction of ten percent (10%) of the
     Compensation which he or she received on each pay day during the first Plan
     Period had been made (the "Maximum Amount") or decline to participate by
     filing an appropriate subscription agreement at any time after the
     effectiveness of the Plan's Registration Statement on Form S-8.

          (b)  Upon the automatic exercise of an employee's Option on the
     Exercise Date for the first Plan Period, an employee shall be permitted to
     purchase shares with (i) the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her
     account, if any, (ii) a direct payment from the employee, or (iii) a
     combination thereof; provided, however that the total amount applied to the
     purchase may not exceed the Maximum Amount.

                                   Adopted by the Board of Directors on
                                   September 27, 2001, to be effective as of the
                                   Effective Date (as defined herein)

                                   Approved by the stockholders on November 15,
                                   2001, to be effective as of the Effective
                                   Date (as defined herein)

                                      -6-

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