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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                            INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

      This Indemnification Agreement ("AGREEMENT") is made as of
________________, ____ by and between Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and ________________________ ("INDEMNITEE").

                                    RECITALS

      WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve
corporations as directors or in other capacities unless they are provided with
adequate protection through insurance and adequate indemnification against
inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service
to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

      WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "BOARD") has
determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the
Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense,
liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries
from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a
customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and
other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market
conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only
at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors,
officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises
are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation
relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been
brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The certificate
of incorporation and bylaws of the Company require indemnification of the
officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to
indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
("DGCL"). The certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the DGCL expressly
provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive,
and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company
and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to
indemnification;

      WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to
indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such
persons;

      WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in
attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of
the Company's stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such
persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

      WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company
contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf
of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they
will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they
will not be so indemnified;

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      WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company and any resolutions
adopted pursuant thereto and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to
limit, diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

      WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the
Company's certificate of incorporation, bylaws and insurance as adequate in the
present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as an officer or director
without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such
capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on
additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he or
she be so indemnified.

                                    AGREEMENT

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as
follows:

      1. SERVICES TO THE COMPANY. Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as
an officer, director or key employee of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is
duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation.

      2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement:

         (a) "BENEFICIAL OWNER" shall have the meaning given to such term in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner
shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the
stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another
entity.

         (b) A "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to
occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

            (i) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined
below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities;

            (ii) Change in Board of Directors. During any period of two (2)
consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this
Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the
Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who
has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described
in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were
directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least
a majority of the members of the Board;

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            (iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or
      consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or
      consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company
      outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing
      to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
      voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50.1% of the combined
      voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding
      immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect
      at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of
      such surviving entity;

            (iv) Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of
      a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of
      agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or
      substantially all of the Company's assets; or

            (v) Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that
      would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A
      of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar
      schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below),
      whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

         (c) "CORPORATE STATUS" describes the status of a person who is or was a
director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary,
employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise (as defined below)
which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

         (d) "DISINTERESTED DIRECTOR" means a director of the Company who is not
and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is
sought by Indemnitee.

         (e) "ENTERPRISE" shall mean the Company and any other corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of
the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member,
fiduciary, employee or agent.

         (f) "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         (g) "EXPENSES" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees, retainers,
court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses,
duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage,
delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses of the type
customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to
prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or
otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include Expenses
incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including,
without limitation, the premium, security for and other costs relating to any
cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal

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bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in
settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

         (h) "INDEPENDENT COUNSEL" means a law firm, or a member of a law firm,
that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor
in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or
Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect
to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees
under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the
Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the term "INDEPENDENT COUNSEL" shall not include any person who,
under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would
have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in
an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement. The Company
agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel
referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all
Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

         (i) "PERSON" shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the
Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Company and (iii) any corporation owned, directly
or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

         (j) The term "PROCEEDING" shall include any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, formal or informal inquiry, administrative hearing, request for
documents or information, subpoena, or any other actual, threatened or completed
proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether
of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in which
Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, witness or otherwise by
reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the
Company, by reason of any action taken (or failure to act) by him or her or of
any action (or failure to act) on his or her part while acting as a director or
officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he or she is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general
partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any Enterprise, in
each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or
Expenses are incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement or advancement of
Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

         (k) References to "OTHER ENTERPRISE" shall include employee benefit
plans; references to "SERVING AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMPANY" shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes
duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent
with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and
a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed
to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee
benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "NOT OPPOSED TO THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY" as referred to in this Agreement.

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      3. INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS. The Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is,
or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness or
otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the
Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3,
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, fines,
penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments
and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such
Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually
and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with
such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in
good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal proceeding,
he or she had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was
unlawful.

      4. INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY. The Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4
if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a
witness or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to
procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be
indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee
or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue
or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in
respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been
finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the
extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court
of Chancery shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly
and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

      5. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY
SUCCESSFUL. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the
extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on
the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or
matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee
against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding
but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than
all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her
or on his or her behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim,
issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the
Company also shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue or
matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and
without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a
Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a
successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

      6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his
Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a
party, he shall be indemnified against all

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Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf
in connection therewith.

      7. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION.

         (a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4 or 5, the Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law if Indemnitee
is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a
Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor)
against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement
(including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in
connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and
amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with the Proceeding. No indemnity shall be made under this Section
7(a) on account of Indemnitee's conduct which is finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction to constitute a breach of Indemnitee's duty of loyalty
to the Company or its stockholders or to be an act or omission not in good faith
or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.

         (b) For purposes of Section 7(a), the meaning of the phrase "TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW" shall include, but not be limited to:

            (i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL
      that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement,
      or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the
      DGCL; and

            (ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments
      to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement
      that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers
      and directors.

      8. EXCLUSIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the
Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in
connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

         (a) for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of
Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with
respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance
policy or other indemnity provision;

         (b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or
sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning
of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory
law or common law; or

         (c) except as otherwise provided in Sections 13(d)-(f) hereof, in
connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by
Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated
by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other
indemnitees, unless (i) the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the
Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii)

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the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to
the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

      9. ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM.

         (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
the Company shall advance the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with
any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a
statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether
prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be
unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to
Indemnitee's ability to repay the expenses and without regard to Indemnitee's
ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this
Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred
pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses
incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the
advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances solely upon the
execution and delivery to the Company of an undertaking providing that
Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately
determined by a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. This Section 9(a)
shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded
pursuant to Section 8.

         (b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at
its own expense.

         (c) The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in
whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or
limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee's prior written consent.

      10. PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.

         (a) Within sixty (60) days after the actual receipt by Indemnitee of
notice that he or she is a party to or a participant (as a witness or otherwise)
in any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written notice
identifying the Proceeding. The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company
will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee
(i) otherwise than under this Agreement and (ii) under this Agreement unless and
only to the extent that the Company can establish that such omission to notify
resulted in actual prejudice to the Company.

         (b) Indemnitee shall thereafter deliver to the Company a written
application to indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such
application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as
Indemnitee deems appropriate in his or her sole discretion. Following such a
written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitee's entitlement
to indemnification shall be determined in accordance with Section 11(a) of this
Agreement.

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      11. PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.

         (a) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to
Section 10(b), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to
Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) by a
majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of
the Board; or (ii) if so requested by Indemnitee, in his or her sole discretion,
by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall
be delivered to Indemnitee. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled
to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days
after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person,
persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee's
entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or
entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is
not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably
available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any
costs or Expenses (including attorneys' fees and disbursements) incurred by
Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such
determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination
as to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby
indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

         (b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is
to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the
Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 11(b). If a
Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be
selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to
Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected
and the basis for the Board of Directors' determination that such counsel
qualified as Independent Counsel. The Board of Directors and Independent Counsel
shall respond promptly to any inquiries by or on behalf of the Indemnitee as to
any acts and circumstances relating to such counsels' qualification to
Independent Counsel as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If a Change in
Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by
Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the
Board of Directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and
Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity
of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the
Company, as the case may be, may, within 10 days after such written notice of
selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as
the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that
such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel
so selected does not meet the requirements of "Independent Counsel" as defined
in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with
particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely
objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such
written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so
selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is
withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such
objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of
a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(b) hereof, no
Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the
Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction (the
"COURT") for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the
Company or Indemnitee to the other's selection of

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Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a
person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall
designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or
the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 11(a)
hereof. Any costs of Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so petitioning a court
pursuant to this Section 11(b) shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of
the resolution of such petition and irrespective of the determination as to
Indemnitee's entitlement to Indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies
and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. Upon the due commencement of
any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 13(a) of this
Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further
responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of
professional conduct then prevailing).

         (c) The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of Independent
Counsel and to fully indemnify such Independent Counsel against any and all
Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

      12. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.

         (a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such
determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under
this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in
accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the
burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by
any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.
Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Board or Independent
Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action
pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances
because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual
determination by the Company (including by the Board or Independent Counsel)
that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a
defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the
applicable standard of conduct.

         (b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under
Section 11 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after
receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of
entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee
shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by
Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to
make Indemnitee's statement not materially misleading, in connection with the
request for indemnification or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under
applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period shall be extended for
a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person,
persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or
evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

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         (c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter
therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided
in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to
indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good
faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal
Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her
conduct was unlawful.

         (d) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall
be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee's action is based on the
records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements,
or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in
the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise
or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an
independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert
selected by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 12(d) shall not be
deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which
Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct
set forth in this Agreement.

         (e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other
director, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, officer, agent, advisor
or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of
determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

      13. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.

         (a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section
11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under
this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to
Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement
within the time period specified in Section 12(b) of this Agreement, (iv)
payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, 7 or the last
sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt
by the Company of a written request therefor or (v) payment of indemnification
pursuant to Section 3 or Section 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10)
days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of
his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.
Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in
arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not
oppose Indemnitee's right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

         (b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to
Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to
this Section 13 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or
arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of
that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced
pursuant to this Section 13 the Company shall have the burden of proving
Indemnitee is not

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entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and
the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination
pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any
purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant
to this Section 13, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company
for any advances pursuant to Section 9 until a final determination is made with
respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights
of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).

         (c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a)
of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company
shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration
commenced pursuant to this Section 13, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee
of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make
Indemnitee's statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request
for indemnification or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under
applicable law.

         (d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 13, seeks a
judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his or her rights
under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company
against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
such judicial adjudication or arbitration. If it shall be determined in said
judicial adjudication or arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part
but not all of the indemnification or advancement of Expenses sought, Indemnitee
shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the
Company against, any and all Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration.

         (e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 that the
procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator
that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

         (f) The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent
permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall
(within ten (10) days after the Company's receipt of such written request)
advance such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee for
(i) indemnification or advances of Expenses by the Company under this Agreement
or any other agreement or provision of the Company's certificate of
incorporation or bylaws now or hereafter in effect or (ii) recovery or advances
under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of
Indemnitee, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be
entitled to such indemnification, advance or insurance recovery, as the case may
be.

      14. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION.

         (a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of
Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which

                                       11
<PAGE>

Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Company's
certificate of incorporation, the Company's bylaws, any agreement, a vote of
stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise. No amendment, alteration
or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict
any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or
omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment,
alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by
statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of
Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Company's bylaws and this
Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by
this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or
remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or
remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to
every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at
law, in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy
hereunder or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment
of any other right or remedy.

         (b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or
policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees,
partners, managing members, fiduciaries, employees or agents of the Company or
of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company,
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or
their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such
director, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, officer, employee or
agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice
from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a
participant (as a witness or otherwise), the Company has director and officer
liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such
Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or
desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all
amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of
such policies.

         (c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall
be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of
Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary
to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to
enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

         (d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement
is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise
actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement
or otherwise.

         (e) The Company's obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder
to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any
other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received
as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise.

                                       12
<PAGE>

      15. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall continue until and
terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee
shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or as a
director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or
agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee served at the request of the
Company; or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding
(including any rights of appeal thereto) then pending in respect of which
Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses
hereunder and of any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13
of this Agreement relating thereto (including any rights of appeal of any
Section 13 Proceeding).

      16. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall
be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a)
the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this
Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the
fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be
deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give
the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest
extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without
limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such
provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself
invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to
the intent manifested thereby.

      17. ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

         (a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into
this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to
induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the
Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this
Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.

         (b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         (c) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or
granted pursuant to this Agreement shall apply to Indemnitee's service as an
officer, director or key employee of the Company prior to the date of this
Agreement.

         (d) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or
granted pursuant to this Agreement shall continue as to a person who has ceased
to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of
the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

                                       13
<PAGE>

      18. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification or amendment of
this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties
hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or
shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall
any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

      19. NOTICE BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company
in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint,
indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter
which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered
hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve
the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this
Agreement or otherwise.

      20. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
(a) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or
other communication shall have been directed or (b) mailed by certified or
registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date
on which it is so mailed:

         (a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of
this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to
the Company.

         (b) If to the Company to:

                    Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
                    12750 High Bluff Drive, Suite 310
                    San Diego, CA   92130
                    Attention:  Secretary

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by
the Company.

      21. CONTRIBUTION. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law,
if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to
Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying
Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for
judgments, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for
Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under
this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of
all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect: (i) the
relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the
event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving rise to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the
relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and
agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

      22. APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. This Agreement and the
legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard
to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced
by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, the Company and
Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that

                                       14
<PAGE>

any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement
shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the
"DELAWARE COURT"), and not in any other state or federal court in the United
States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or
proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint,
to the extent such party is not a resident of the State of Delaware, irrevocably
Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington,
Delaware 19808, as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party's agent for
acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding
against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such
party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court and (v)
waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or
proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or
inconvenient forum.

      23. IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one
such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs
to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

      24. MISCELLANEOUS. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include
usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the sections
and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction
thereof.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       15
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as
of the day and year first above written.

SOMAXON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.,        INDEMNITEE
a Delaware corporation

By:   ________________________        ________________________
Name:                                      [NAME]
Title:

                                       16<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                          SOMAXON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                          DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY

      Non-employee members of the board of directors (the "BOARD") of Somaxon
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "COMPANY") shall be eligible to receive cash and
equity compensation commencing on the first date upon which the Company is
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act (the "PUBLIC TRADING DATE") as set forth in this Director Compensation
Policy. The cash compensation and option grants described in this Director
Compensation Policy shall be paid or be made, as applicable, automatically and
without further action of the Board, to each member of the Board who is not an
employee of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company (each, an
"INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR") who may be eligible to receive such cash compensation or
options, unless such Independent Director declines the receipt of such cash
compensation or options by written notice to the Company. This Director
Compensation Policy shall remain in effect until it is revised or rescinded by
further action of the Board. All share numbers set forth in this policy give
effect to the reverse stock split to be implemented by the Company in connection
with its initial public offering.

      1. Cash Compensation.

         (a) Quarterly Retainer. Each Independent Director shall be eligible to
receive a quarterly retainer of $5,000, or $20,000 per year, for service on the
Board. In addition, an Independent Director serving as Chairman of the Board
shall be eligible to receive an additional quarterly retainer of $15,000, or
$60,000 per year, for service as Chairman of the Board.

         (b) Meeting Stipends. Each Independent Director shall be eligible to
receive a $1,500 stipend for each Board meeting attended in person and $750 for
each Board meeting attended by telephone. In addition, each Independent Director
who serves on a committee of the Board shall be eligible for an additional
stipend of $1,000 for each committee meeting attended in person and $500 for
each committee meeting attended by telephone.

      2. Equity Compensation. The options described below shall be granted under
and shall be subject to the terms and provisions of the Company's 2005 Equity
Incentive Award Plan (the "2005 PLAN") and shall be granted subject to the
execution and delivery of option agreements, including attached exhibits, in
substantially the same forms previously approved by the Board, setting forth the
vesting schedule applicable to such options and such other terms as may be
required by the 2005 Plan.

         (a) Initial Options. A person who is an Independent Director as of the
Public Trading Date shall be eligible to receive a non-qualified stock option to
purchase 35,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment as provided in the
2005 Plan) on the Public Trading Date, and (ii) a person who is initially
elected or appointed to the Board following the Public Trading Date, and who is
an Independent Director at the time of such initial election or appointment,
shall be eligible to receive a non-qualified stock option to purchase 35,000
shares of common stock (subject to adjustment as provided in the 2005 Plan) on
the date of such initial election or appointment (each, an "INITIAL OPTION").

         (b) Subsequent Options. A person who is an Independent Director
automatically shall be eligible to receive a non-qualified stock option to
purchase 15,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment as provided in the
2005 Plan) on the date of each annual meeting of the Company's stockholders
after the Public Trading Date. An Independent Director elected for the first
time to the Board at an annual meeting of stockholders shall only receive an
Initial Option in connection with such election, and shall not receive a
Subsequent Option on the date of such meeting as well.

<PAGE>

         (c) Chairman of the Board. On the date of each annual meeting of the
Company's stockholders after the Public Trading Date, an Independent Director
serving as Chairman of the Board shall be eligible to receive an additional
non-qualified stock option to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock (subject to
adjustment as provided in the 2005 Plan).

         (d) Committee Chairmen. On the date of each annual meeting of the
Company's stockholders after the Public Trading Date, (i) the chairman of the
Audit Committee shall be eligible to receive an additional non-qualified stock
option to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment as
provided in the 2005 Plan), (ii) the chairman of the Compensation Committee
shall be eligible to receive an additional non-qualified stock option to
purchase 2,500 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment as provided in the
2005 Plan), and (iii) the chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee shall
be eligible to receive an additional non-qualified stock option to purchase
2,500 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment as provided in the 2005
Plan). The option grants described in clauses 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) shall be
referred to as "SUBSEQUENT OPTIONS."

         (e) Termination of Employment of Employee Directors. Members of the
Board who are employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the
Company who subsequently terminate their employment with the Company and any
parent or subsidiary of the Company and remain on the Board will not receive an
Initial Option grant pursuant to clause 2(a) above, but to the extent that they
are otherwise eligible, will be eligible to receive, after termination from
employment with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company,
Subsequent Options as described in clauses 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) above.

         (f) Terms of Options Granted to Independent Directors.

            (i) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price of each option
granted to an Independent Director shall equal 100% of the Fair Market Value (as
defined in the 2005 Plan) of a share of common stock on the date the option is
granted; provided, however, that the per share exercise price of each option
granted to an Independent Director on the Public Trading Date shall equal the
initial public offering price per share.

            (ii) Vesting. Initial Options granted to Independent Directors shall
become exercisable in thirty-six equal monthly installments of 1/36 of the
shares subject to such option on the first day of each calendar month following
the date of the Initial Option grant, such that each Initial Option shall be
100% vested on the first day of the 36th month following the date of grant,
subject to the director's continuing service on the Board through such dates.
Subsequent Options granted to Independent Directors shall become vested in
twelve equal monthly installments of 1/12 of the shares subject to such option
on the first day of each calendar month following the date of the Subsequent
Option Grant, subject to a director's continuing service on the Board through
such dates (and, with respect to additional grants to the Chairman of the Board
or chairmen of Board committees for their service in such roles, service as
Chairman of the Board or chairman of such committee, as applicable, through such
dates). The term of each option granted to an Independent Director shall be ten
years from the date the option is granted. No portion of an option which is
unexercisable at the time of an Independent Director's termination of membership
on the Board shall thereafter become exercisable.

                                       2

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