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                                                                  Exhibit 10.171

                         THE IMMUNE RESPONSE CORPORATION
                            PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT

                                                      Dated as of: July 15, 2005

Monitor Capital Inc.
9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 465
San Diego, CA 92122

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      The undersigned, The Immune Response Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby agrees with Monitor Capital, Inc. (the "Placement
Agent") and Cornell Capital Partners, LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership (the
"Investor"), as follows:

      1. Offering. The Company hereby engages the Placement Agent to act as its
exclusive placement agent in connection with the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement dated the date hereof (the "Standby Equity Distribution Agreement"),
pursuant to which the Company shall issue and sell to the Investor, from time to
time, and the Investor shall purchase from the Company (the "Offering") up to
Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) of the Company's common stock (the
"Commitment Amount"), par value $ 0.0025 per share (the "Common Stock"), at
price per share equal to the Purchase Price, as that term is defined in the
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement. The Placement Agent services shall
consist of reviewing the terms of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement and
advising the Company with respect to those terms.

      All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the same meaning ascribed to them as in the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement. The Investor will be granted certain registration rights with respect
to the Common Stock as more fully set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement
between the Company and the Investor dated the date hereof (the "Registration
Rights Agreement"). The documents to be executed and delivered in connection
with the Offering, including, but not limited, to the Company's latest Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q and other reports as filed with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission, this Agreement, the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Escrow Agreement dated the
date hereof (the "Escrow Agreement"), are referred to sometimes hereinafter
collectively as the "Offering Materials." The Company's Common Stock purchased
by the Investor hereunder is sometimes referred to hereinafter as the
"Securities." The Placement Agent shall not be obligated to sell any Securities.

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      2. Compensation. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall
issue to the Placement Agent or its designee shares of the Company's Common
Stock in an amount equal to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) divided by the
closing bid price of the Company's Common Stock, as quoted by Bloomberg, LP, on
the date hereof (the "Placement Agent's Shares"). The Placement Agent shall be
entitled to "piggy-back" registration rights with respect to the Placement
Agent's Shares, which shall be triggered upon registration of any shares of
Common Stock by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated
the date hereof.

      3. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Placement Agent.

            A. The Placement Agent represents, warrants and covenants as
follows:

                  (i) The Placement Agent has the necessary power to enter into
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (ii) The execution and delivery by the Placement Agent of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not
result in any violation of, or be in conflict with, or constitute a default
under, any agreement or instrument to which the Placement Agent is a party or by
which the Placement Agent or its properties are bound, or any judgment, decree,
order or, to the Placement Agent's knowledge, any statute, rule or regulation
applicable to the Placement Agent. This Agreement when executed and delivered by
the Placement Agent, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of
the Placement Agent, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms,
except to the extent that (a) the enforceability hereof or thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally, (b)
the enforceability hereof or thereof is subject to general principles of equity,
or (c) the indemnification provisions hereof or thereof may be held to be in
violation of public policy.

                  (iii) Upon receipt and execution of this Agreement, the
Placement Agent will promptly forward copies of this Agreement to the Company or
its counsel and the Investor or its counsel.

                  (iv) The Placement Agent will not intentionally take any
action that it reasonably believes would cause the Offering to violate the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), the respective rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Rules and Regulations") or applicable
"Blue Sky" laws of any state or jurisdiction.

                  (v) The Placement Agent is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and is a broker-dealer registered as
such under the Exchange Act and under the securities laws of the states in which
the Securities will be offered or sold by the Placement Agent unless an
exemption for such state registration is available to the Placement Agent. The
Placement Agent is in material compliance with the rules and regulations
applicable to the Placement Agent generally and applicable to the Placement
Agent's participation in the Offering.

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      4. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Company.

            A. The Company represents, warrants and covenants to the Placement
Agent (but not to the Investor) as follows:

                  (i) The execution, delivery and performance of each of this
Agreement, the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, and
the Registration Rights Agreement have been or will be duly and validly
authorized by the Company and is, or with respect to this Agreement, the Standby
Equity Distribution Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, and the Registration Rights
Agreement, will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its respective terms, except to the extent that (a) the
enforceability hereof or thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws from time to time in effect and
affecting the rights of creditors generally, (b) the enforceability hereof or
thereof is subject to general principles of equity or (c) the indemnification
provisions hereof or thereof may be held to be in violation of public policy.
The Securities to be issued pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement have been duly
authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, the
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement and the certificates/instruments
representing such Securities, will be valid and binding obligations of the
Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the
extent that (1) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws from time to time in
effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally, and (2) the
enforceability thereof is subject to general principles of equity. All corporate
action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the
Securities has been duly and validly taken by the Company, except for
shareholder approval for the above 20% securities.

                  (ii) The Company has a duly authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth herein and in the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement. The Company is not a party to or bound by any instrument, agreement
or other arrangement providing for it to issue any capital stock, rights,
warrants, options or other securities, except for this Agreement, the agreements
described herein and as contemplated in the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement, dated the date hereof and the agreements described therein. All
issued and outstanding securities of the Company, have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have
no rights of rescission or preemptive rights with respect thereto and are not
subject to personal liability solely by reason of being security holders; and
none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any
holders of any security of the Company.

                  (iii) The Common Stock to be issued in accordance with this
Agreement and the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement has been duly authorized
and, when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement and the Standby
Equity Distribution Agreement, the certificates/instruments representing such
Common Stock will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable; the holders
thereof will not be subject to personal liability solely by reason of being such
holders; such Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive
rights of any holder of any security of the Company.

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                  (iv) The Company has good and valid title to, or valid and
enforceable leasehold estates in, all items of real and personal property
necessary to conduct its business (including, without limitation, any real or
personal property stated in the Offering Materials to be owned or leased by the
Company), free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims, security interests
and defects of any material nature whatsoever, other than those set forth in the
Offering Materials and liens for taxes not yet due and payable.

                  (v) There is no litigation or governmental proceeding pending
or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened against, or involving the
properties or business of the Company, except as set forth in the Offering
Materials.

                  (vi) The Company has been duly organized and validly exists as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Except
as set forth in the Offering Materials, the Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, an interest in any other corporation, partnership,
trust, joint venture or other business entity. The Company is duly qualified or
licensed and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in
which the character of its operations requires such qualification or licensing
and where failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect on the
Company. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and all
material and necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates
and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies
(domestic and foreign) to conduct its businesses (and proposed business) as
described in the Offering Materials. Any disclosures in the Offering Materials
concerning the effects of foreign, federal, state and local regulation on the
Company's businesses as currently conducted and as contemplated are correct in
all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact. The Company has
all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Standby
Equity Distribution Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Escrow
Agreement, to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof and thereof, and
all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection
herewith and therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order
of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body is required
by the Company for the issuance of the Securities or execution and delivery of
the Offering Materials except for applicable federal and state securities laws.

                  (vii) There has been no material adverse change in the
condition or prospects of the Company, financial or otherwise, from the latest
dates as of which such condition or prospects, respectively, are set forth in
the Offering Materials, and the outstanding debt, the property and the business
of the Company conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof
contained in the Offering Materials.

                  (viii) Except as set forth in the Offering Materials, the
Company is not in breach of, or in default under, any term or provision of any
material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, note, loan or Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement or any other material agreement or instrument evidencing
an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument
to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or
affected. The Company is not in violation of any provision of its charter or
by-laws or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, judgment, decree or
order, or in violation of any material statute, rule or regulation. Neither the
execution and delivery of the Offering Materials nor the issuance and sale or
delivery of the Securities, nor the consummation of any of the

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transactions contemplated in the Offering Materials nor the compliance by the
Company with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof, has conflicted with or
will conflict with, or has resulted in or will result in a breach of, any of the
terms and provisions of, or has constituted or will constitute a default under,
or has resulted in or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or pursuant to
the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or any other
agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any
other agreement or instrument to which the Company may be bound or to which any
of the property or assets of the Company is subject except (a) where such
default, lien, charge or encumbrance would not have a material adverse effect on
the Company and (b) as described in the Offering Materials; nor will such action
result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or the by-laws of the
Company or, assuming the due performance by the Placement Agent of its
obligations hereunder, any material statute or any material order, rule or
regulation applicable to the Company of any court or of any foreign, federal,
state or other regulatory authority or other government body having jurisdiction
over the Company.

                  (ix) Subsequent to the dates as of which information is given
in the Offering Materials, and except as may otherwise be indicated or
contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not (a) issued any securities or
incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money,
or (b) entered into any transaction other than in the ordinary course of
business, or (c) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on
or in respect of its capital stock. Except as described in the Offering
Materials, the Company has no outstanding obligations to any officer or director
of the Company.

                  (x) There are no claims for services in the nature of a
finder's or origination fee with respect to the sale of the Common Stock or any
other arrangements, agreements or understandings that may affect the Placement
Agent's compensation, as determined by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.

                  (xi) The Company owns or possesses, free and clear of all
liens or encumbrances and rights thereto or therein by third parties, the
requisite licenses or other rights to use all trademarks, service marks,
copyrights, service names, trade names, patents, patent applications and
licenses necessary to conduct its business (including, without limitation, any
such licenses or rights described in the Offering Materials as being owned or
possessed by the Company) and, except as set forth in the Offering Materials,
there is no claim or action by any person pertaining to, or proceeding, pending
or threatened, which challenges the exclusive rights of the Company with respect
to any trademarks, service marks, copyrights, service names, trade names,
patents, patent applications and licenses used in the conduct of the Company's
businesses (including, without limitation, any such licenses or rights described
in the Offering Materials as being owned or possessed by the Company) except any
claim or action that would not have a material adverse effect on the Company;
the Company's current products, services or processes do not infringe or will
not infringe on the patents currently held by any third party.

                  (xii) Except as described in the Offering Materials, the
Company is not under any obligation to pay royalties or fees of any kind
whatsoever to any third party with respect to any trademarks, service marks,
copyrights, service names, trade names, patents, patent

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applications, licenses or technology it has developed, uses, employs or intends
to use or employ, other than to their respective licensors.

                  (xiii) Subject to the performance by the Placement Agent of
its obligations hereunder the offer and sale of the Securities complies, and
will continue to comply, in all material respects with the requirements of Rule
506 of Regulation D promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act and
any other applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and executive
orders. Neither the Offering Materials nor any amendment or supplement thereto
nor any documents prepared by the Company in connection with the Offering will
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. All
statements of material facts in the Offering Materials are true and correct as
of the date of the Offering Materials.

                  (xiv) All material taxes which are due and payable from the
Company have been paid in full or adequate provision has been made for such
taxes on the books of the Company, except for those taxes disputed in good faith
by the Company

                  (xv) None of the Company nor any of its officers, directors,
employees or agents, nor any other person acting on behalf of the Company, has,
directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar
benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course
of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or
supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality
of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for
office (domestic or foreign) or other person who is or may be in a position to
help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any
actual or proposed transaction) which (A) might subject the Company to any
damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or
proceeding, or (B) if not given in the past, might have had a materially adverse
effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company as reflected in any
of the financial statements contained in the Offering Materials, or (C) if not
continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations
or prospects of the Company in the future.

                  (xvi) The Company shall advise the Placement Agent and the
Investor of any material adverse change in the Company's financial condition,
prospects or business or of any development materially affecting the Company or
rendering untrue or misleading any material statement in the Offering Materials
occurring at any time as soon as the Company is either informed or becomes aware
thereof.

                  (xvii) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the Common Stock issuable in connection with the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement to be qualified or registered for sale on terms
consistent with those stated in the Registration Rights Agreement and under the
securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Placement Agent and the Investor
shall reasonably request. Qualification, registration and exemption charges and
fees shall be at the sole cost and expense of the Company.

                  (xviii) The Company shall comply with the terms of the
Offering Materials.

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                  (xix) The Company shall ensure that any transactions between
or among the Company, or any of its officers, directors and affiliates be on
terms and conditions that are no less favorable to the Company, than the terms
and conditions that would be available in an "arm's length" transaction with an
independent third party.

                  (xx) Upon the effectiveness of a registration statement
covering the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company shall deliver to
the Investor and the Placement Agent an opinion from counsel to the Company,
dated as of the date thereof, which opinion shall be in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Investor, their counsel and the Placement Agent.

                  (xxi) The Company shall furnish to the Investor and the
Placement Agent such documents, certificates and opinions as it may reasonably
require for the purpose of enabling them to review or pass upon the matters
referred to in this Agreement and the Offering Materials, or in order to
evidence the accuracy, completeness or satisfaction of any of the
representations, warranties or conditions herein contained.

      5. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Investor.

            A. The Investor represents, warrants and covenants to the Placement
Agent (and not to the Company) as follows:

                  (i) The Investor has the necessary power to enter into this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (ii) The execution and delivery by the Investor of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not
result in any violation of, or be in conflict with, or constitute a default
under, any agreement or instrument to which the Investor is a party or by which
the Investor or its properties are bound, or any judgment, decree, order or, to
the Investor's knowledge, any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the
Investor. This Agreement when executed and delivered by the Investor, will
constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Investor, enforceable
in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that (a) the
enforceability hereof or thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws from time to time in effect and
affecting the rights of creditors generally, (b) the enforceability hereof or
thereof is subject to general principles of equity, or (c) the indemnification
provisions hereof or thereof may be held to be in violation of public policy.

                  (iii) The Investor will promptly forward copies of any and all
due diligence questionnaires compiled by the Investor to the Placement Agent.

                  (iv) The Investor is an Accredited Investor (as defined under
the Securities Act).

                  (v) The Investor is acquiring the Securities for the
Investor's own account as principal, not as a nominee or agent, for investment
purposes only, and not with

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a view to, or for, resale, distribution or fractionalization thereof in whole or
in part and no other person has a direct or indirect beneficial interest in such
Securities. Further, the Investor does not have any contract, undertaking,
agreement or arrangement with any person to sell, transfer or grant
participations to such person or to any third person, with respect to any of the
Securities.

                  (vi) The Investor acknowledges the Investor's understanding
that the offering and sale of the Securities is intended to be exempt from
registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 3(b) and 4(2) of the
Securities Act and the provisions of Regulation D promulgated thereunder
("Regulation D"). In furtherance thereof, the Investor represents and warrants
as follows:

                  (a) The Investor has the financial ability to bear the
economic risk of the Investor's investment, has adequate means for providing for
the Inventor's current needs and personal contingencies and has no need for
liquidity with respect to the Investor's investment in the Company; and

                  (b) The Investor has such knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of the prospective investment. The Investor also represents it has not
been organized for the purpose of acquiring the Securities.

                  (vii) The Investor has been given the opportunity for a
reasonable time prior to the date hereof to ask questions of, and receive
answers from, the Company or its representatives concerning the terms and
conditions of the Offering, and other matters pertaining to this investment, and
has been given the opportunity for a reasonable time prior to the date hereof to
obtain such additional information in connection with the Company in order for
the Investor to evaluate the merits and risks of purchase of the Securities, to
the extent the Company possesses such information or can acquire it without
unreasonable effort or expense. The Investor is not relying on the Placement
Agent or any of its affiliates with respect to the accuracy or completeness of
the Offering Materials or for any economic considerations involved in this
investment.

      6. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability.

            A. The Company hereby agrees that it will indemnify and hold the
Placement Agent and each officer, director, shareholder, employee or
representative of the Placement Agent and each person controlling, controlled by
or under common control with the Placement Agent within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or the SEC's Rules
and Regulations, harmless from and against any and all loss, claim, damage,
liability, cost or expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and
all reasonable legal fees and other expenses and disbursements incurred in
connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any action, suit
or proceeding, including any inquiry or investigation, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever or in appearing or preparing for appearance as a witness
in any action, suit or proceeding, including any inquiry, investigation or
pretrial proceeding such as a deposition) to which the Placement Agent or such
indemnified person of the Placement Agent may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and Regulations, or any other
federal or state law or regulation, common law or otherwise,

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arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in (a) Section 4 of this Agreement, (b)
the Offering Materials (except those written statements relating to the
Placement Agent given by the Placement Agent for inclusion therein), (c) any
application or other document or written communication executed by the Company
or based upon written information furnished by the Company filed in any
jurisdiction in order to qualify the Common Stock under the securities laws
thereof, or any state securities commission or agency; (ii) the omission or
alleged omission from documents described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; or (iii) the breach of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement made by the Company in this Agreement. The Company further
agrees that upon demand by an indemnified person, at any time or from time to
time, it will promptly reimburse such indemnified person for any loss, claim,
damage, liability, cost or expense actually and reasonably paid by the
indemnified person as to which the Company has indemnified such person pursuant
hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Paragraph 6(A), any
such payment or reimbursement by the Company of fees, expenses or disbursements
incurred by an indemnified person in any proceeding in which a final judgment by
a court of competent jurisdiction (after all appeals or the expiration of time
to appeal) is entered against the Placement Agent or such indemnified person
based upon specific finding of fact that the Placement Agent or such indemnified
person's gross negligence or willful misfeasance will be promptly repaid to the
Company.

            B. The Placement Agent hereby agrees that it will indemnify and hold
the Company and each officer, director, shareholder, employee or representative
of the Company, and each person controlling, controlled by or under common
control with the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations, harmless from
and against any and all loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense
whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all reasonable legal fees and
other expenses and disbursements incurred in connection with investigating,
preparing to defend or defending any action, suit or proceeding, including any
inquiry or investigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever or in
appearing or preparing for appearance as a witness in any action, suit or
proceeding, including any inquiry, investigation or pretrial proceeding such as
a deposition) to which the Company or such indemnified person of the Company may
become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and
Regulations, or any other federal or state law or regulation, common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based upon (i) the material breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Placement Agent in
this Agreement, or (ii) any false or misleading information provided to the
Company in writing by one of the Placement Agent's indemnified persons
specifically for inclusion in the Offering Materials.

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            C. The Investor hereby agrees that it will indemnify and hold the
Placement Agent and each officer, director, shareholder, employee or
representative of the Placement Agent, and each person controlling, controlled
by or under common control with the Placement Agent within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or the Rules
and Regulations, harmless from and against any and all loss, claim, damage,
liability, cost or expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and
all reasonable legal fees and other expenses and disbursements incurred in
connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any action, suit
or proceeding, including any inquiry or investigation, commenced or threatened,
or any claim whatsoever or in appearing or preparing for appearance as a witness
in any action, suit or proceeding, including any inquiry, investigation or
pretrial proceeding such as a deposition) to which the Placement Agent or such
indemnified person of the Placement Agent may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and Regulations, or any other
federal or state law or regulation, common law or otherwise, arising out of or
based upon (i) the conduct of the Investor or its officers, employees or
representatives in its acting as the Investor for the Offering, (ii) the
material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by
the Investor in the Offering Materials, or (iii) any false or misleading
information provided to the Placement Agent by one of the Investor's indemnified
persons.

            D. The Placement Agent hereby agrees that it will indemnify and hold
the Investor and each officer, director, shareholder, employee or representative
of the Investor, and each person controlling, controlled by or under common
control with the Investor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations, harmless from
and against any and all loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense
whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all reasonable legal fees and
other expenses and disbursements incurred in connection with investigating,
preparing to defend or defending any action, suit or proceeding, including any
inquiry or investigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever or in
appearing or preparing for appearance as a witness in any action, suit or
proceeding, including any inquiry, investigation or pretrial proceeding such as
a deposition) to which the Investor or such indemnified person of the Investor
may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and
Regulations, or any other federal or state law or regulation, common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based upon the material breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by the Placement Agent in
this Agreement.

            E. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of
commencement of any action covered by Section 6(A), (B), (C) or (D), the party
to be indemnified shall, within five (5) business days, notify the indemnifying
party of the commencement thereof; the omission by one (1) indemnified party to
so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its
obligation to indemnify any other indemnified party that has given such notice
and shall not relieve the indemnifying party of any liability outside of this
indemnification if not materially prejudiced thereby. In the event that any
action is brought against the indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent it may desire, to assume and
control the defense thereof with counsel chosen by it which is reasonably
acceptable to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to
such indemnified party of its election to so assume the defense thereof, the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under such
Section 6(A), (B),

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(C), or (D) for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof, but the indemnified
party may, at its own expense, participate in such defense by counsel chosen by
it, without, however, impairing the indemnifying party's control of the defense.
Subject to the proviso of this sentence and notwithstanding any other statement
to the contrary contained herein, the indemnified party or parties shall have
the right to choose its or their own counsel and control the defense of any
action, all at the expense of the indemnifying party if (i) the employment of
such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party in
connection with the defense of such action at the expense of the indemnifying
party, or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party to have charge of the defense of such
action within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, or
(iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or
additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in
which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the
defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of
which events such fees and expenses of one additional counsel shall be borne by
the indemnifying party; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall
not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or
related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstance, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified
parties. No settlement of any action or proceeding against an indemnified party
shall be made without the consent of the indemnifying party.

            F. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in Section 6(A) or 6(B)
is due in accordance with its terms but is for any reason held by a court to be
unavailable on grounds of policy or otherwise, the Company and the Placement
Agent shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the
investigation or defense of same) which the other may incur in such proportion
so that the Placement Agent shall be responsible for such percent of the
aggregate of such losses, claims, damages and liabilities as shall equal the
percentage of the gross proceeds paid to the Placement Agent and the Company
shall be responsible for the balance; provided, however, that no person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 6(F),
any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Placement
Agent, or any partner, director, officer, employee, representative or any agent
of any thereof, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Placement
Agent and each person controlling, controlled by or under common control with
the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act and each officer of the Company and each director of the
Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. Any party
entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement
of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim
for contribution may be made against the other party under this Section 7(D),
notify such party from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so
notify such party shall not relieve the party from whom contribution may be
sought from any obligation they may have hereunder or otherwise if the party
from whom contribution may be sought is not materially prejudiced thereby.

                                       11

<PAGE>

            G. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 6 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified person or any termination
of this Agreement.

            H. The Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, any right to or claim of any punitive, exemplary, incidental, indirect,
special, consequential or other damages (including, without limitation, loss of
profits) against the Placement Agent and each officer, director, shareholder,
employee or representative of the placement agent and each person controlling,
controlled by or under common control with the Placement Agent within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or
the Rules and Regulations arising out of any cause whatsoever (whether such
cause be based in contract, negligence, strict liability, other tort or
otherwise). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
aggregate liability of the Placement Agent and each officer, director,
shareholder, employee or representative of the Placement Agent and each person
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Placement Agent
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations shall not exceed the compensation
received by the Placement Agent pursuant to Section 2 hereof. This limitation of
liability shall apply regardless of the cause of action, whether contract, tort
(including, without limitation, negligence) or breach of statute or any other
legal or equitable obligation.

            I. For all purposes of this Section 6, it is specifically agreed
that the Investor shall be deemed not to be a person controlling, controlled by
or under common control with the Placement Agent.

      7. Payment of Expenses.

      The Company hereby agrees to bear all of the expenses in connection with
the Offering, including, but not limited to the following: filing fees, printing
and duplicating costs, advertisements, postage and mailing expenses with respect
to the transmission of Offering Materials, registrar and transfer agent fees,
escrow agent fees and expenses, fees of the Company's counsel and accountants,
issue and transfer taxes, if any.

      8. Termination.

      This Agreement shall be co-terminus with, and terminate upon the same
terms and conditions as those set forth in, the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement. The rights of the Investor and the obligations of the Company under
the Registration Rights Agreement, and the rights of the Placement Agent and the
obligations of the Company shall survive the termination of this Agreement
unabridged.

      9. Miscellaneous.

            A. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all which shall be deemed
to be one and the same instrument.

            B. Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be
given in writing and shall be deemed effective when deposited in the United
States mail, postage prepaid,

                                       12

<PAGE>

or when received if personally delivered or faxed (upon confirmation of receipt
received by the sending party), addressed as follows to such other address of
which written notice is given to the others):

If to Placement Agent, to:     Monitor Capital Inc.
                               9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 465
                               San Diego, CA 92122
                               Attention:  Hsiao-Wen Kao
                               Facsimile:  (858) 546-8756

If to the Company, to:         The Immune Response Corporation
                               5391 Darwin Court
                               Carlsbad, CA 92008
                               Attention:  Michael K. Green
                               Facsimile:  (760) 431-8636

With a copy to:                Heller Ehrman LLP
                               4530 La Jolla Village Drive, 7th Floor
                               San Diego, CA 92122
                               Attention:  Hayden J. Trubitt, Esq.
                               Telephone:
                               Facsimile:  (858) 587-5903

If to the Investor:            Cornell Capital Partners, LP
                               101 Hudson Street - Suite 3700
                               Jersey City, New Jersey  07302
                               Attention:  Mark A. Angelo
                                           Portfolio Manager
                               Telephone:  (201) 985-8300
                               Facsimile:  (201) 985-8266

With copies to:                David Gonzalez, Esq.
                               101 Hudson Street - Suite 3700
                               Jersey City, NJ 07302
                               Telephone:  (201) 985-8300
                               Facsimile:  (201) 985-8266

            C. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in all respects
under the laws of the State of New Jersey, without reference to its conflict of
laws rules or principles. Any suit, action, proceeding or litigation arising out
of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought and prosecuted in such federal
or state court or courts located within the State of New Jersey as provided by
law. The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent to the
jurisdiction of each such court or courts located within the State of New Jersey
and to service of process by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, or by any other manner provided by applicable law, and hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally waive any right to claim that any

                                       13

<PAGE>

suit, action, proceeding or litigation so commenced has been commenced in an
inconvenient forum.

            D. This Agreement and the other agreements referenced herein contain
the entire understanding between the parties hereto and may not be modified or
amended except by a writing duly signed by the party against whom enforcement of
the modification or amendment is sought.

            E. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or
unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provision of this Agreement.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       14

<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first written above.

                                     COMPANY:
                                     THE IMMUNE RESPONSE CORPORATION

                                     By: ________________________________
                                     Name:
                                     Title:

                                     PLACEMENT AGENT:
                                     MONITOR CAPITAL INC.

                                     By: ________________________________
                                     Name: Hsiao-Wen Kao
                                     Title: President

                                     INVESTOR:
                                     CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP

                                     BY: YORKVILLE ADVISORS, LLC
                                     ITS: GENERAL PARTNER

                                     By: ________________________________
                                     Name: Mark A. Angelo
                                     Title: Portfolio Manager

                                       15<PAGE>

                                                                  Exhibit 10.172

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

      THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
July 15, 2005 by THE IMMUNE RESPONSE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"); CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Investor"); and DAVID GONZALEZ, ESQ. (the "Escrow Agent").

                                   BACKGROUND

      WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor have entered into a Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement (the "Standby Equity Distribution Agreement") dated as of
the date hereof, pursuant to which the Investor will purchase the Company's
Common Stock, par value $0.0025 per share (the "Common Stock"), at a price per
share equal to the Purchase Price, as that term is defined in the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement, for an aggregate price of up to Fifteen Million Dollars
($15,000,000). The Standby Equity Distribution Agreement provides that on each
Advance Date the Investor, as that term is defined in the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement, shall deposit the Advance pursuant to the Advance Notice
in a segregated escrow account to be held by Escrow Agent and the Company shall
deposit shares of the Company's Common Stock, which shall be purchased by the
Investor as set forth in the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, with the
Escrow Agent, in order to effectuate a disbursement to the Company of the
Advance by the Escrow Agent and a disbursement to the Investor of the shares of
the Company's Common Stock by Escrow Agent at a closing to be held as set forth
in the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (the "Closing").

      WHEREAS, Escrow Agent has agreed to accept, hold, and disburse the funds
and the shares of the Company's Common Stock deposited with it in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.

      WHEREAS, in order to establish the escrow of funds and shares to effect
the provisions of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the parties hereto
have entered into this Agreement.

      NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, it is hereby agreed as
follows:

      1. Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings when
used herein:

            a. "Escrow Funds" shall mean the Advance funds deposited with the
Escrow Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

            b. "Joint Written Direction" shall mean a written direction executed
by the Investor and the Company directing Escrow Agent to disburse all or a
portion of the Escrow Funds or to take or refrain from taking any action
pursuant to this Agreement.

            c. "Common Stock Joint Written Direction" shall mean a written
direction executed by the Investor and the Company directing Investor's Counsel
to disburse all or a

<PAGE>

portion of the shares of the Company's Common Stock or to refrain from taking
any action pursuant to this Agreement.

      2. Appointment of and Acceptance by Escrow Agent.

            a. The Investor and the Company hereby appoint Escrow Agent to serve
as Escrow Agent hereunder. Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and,
upon receipt by wire transfer of the Escrow Funds in accordance with Section 3
below, agrees to hold, invest and disburse the Escrow Funds in accordance with
this Agreement.

            b. The Investor and the Company hereby appoint the Escrow Agent to
serve as the holder of the shares of the Company's Common Stock which shall be
purchased by the Investor. The Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and,
upon receipt via D.W.A.C or the certificates representing of the shares of the
Company's Common Stock in accordance with Section 3 below, agrees to hold and
disburse the shares of the Company's Common Stock in accordance with this
Agreement.

            c. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Escrow Agent is general
counsel to the Investor, a partner in the general partner of the Investor and
counsel to the Investor in connection with the transactions contemplated and
referenced herein and will be acting as the escrow agent for shares of the
Company's Common Stock as outlined herein. The Company agrees that in the event
of any dispute arising in connection with this Escrow Agreement or otherwise in
connection with any transaction or agreement contemplated and referenced herein,
the Escrow Agent shall be permitted to continue to represent the Investor and
the Company will not seek to disqualify such counsel.

      3. Creation of Escrow Account/Common Stock Account.

            a. On or prior to the date of this Agreement the Escrow Agent shall
establish an escrow account for the deposit of the Escrow Funds entitled as
follows: The Immune Response Corporation/Cornell Capital Partners, LP. The
Investor will wire funds to the account of the Escrow Agent as follows:

BANK:                  Wachovia, N.A. of New Jersey

ROUTING #:             031201467

ACCOUNT #:             2000014931134

NAME ON ACCOUNT:       David Gonzalez Attorney Trust Account

NAME ON SUB-ACCOUNT:   The Immune Response Corporation/Cornell Capital Partners,
                       LP Escrow account

                                       2

<PAGE>

            b. On or prior to the date of this Agreement the Escrow Agent shall
establish an account for the D.W.A.C. of the shares of Common Stock. The Company
will deliver an unlegended stock certificate to the escrow agent or will
D.W.A.C. shares of the Company's Common Stock to the account of the Escrow Agent
as follows:

BROKERAGE FIRM:        Sloan Securities Corp.
CLEARING HOUSE:        Fiserv
ACCOUNT #:             56887298
DTC #:                 0632
NAME ON ACCOUNT:       David Gonzalez Escrow Account

      4. Deposits into the Escrow Account. The Investor agrees that it shall
promptly deliver all monies for the payment of the Common Stock to the Escrow
Agent for deposit in the Escrow Account.

      5. Disbursements from the Escrow Account.

            a. At such time as Escrow Agent has collected and deposited
instruments of payment in the total amount of the Advance and has received such
Common Stock via D.W.A.C or unlegended stock certificate from the Company which
are to be issued to the Investor pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall notify the Company and the Investor. The
Escrow Agent will continue to hold such funds until the Investor and Company
execute and deliver a Joint Written Direction directing the Escrow Agent to
disburse the Escrow Funds pursuant to Joint Written Direction at which time the
Escrow Agent shall wire the Escrow Funds to the Company. In disbursing such
funds, Escrow Agent is authorized to rely upon such Joint Written Direction from
Company and may accept any signatory from the Company listed on the signature
page to this Agreement and any signature from the Investor that Escrow Agent
already has on file. Simultaneous with delivery of the executed Joint Written
Direction to the Escrow Agent the Investor and Company shall execute and deliver
a Common Stock Joint Written Direction to the Escrow Agent directing the Escrow
Agent to release via D.W.A.C to the Investor the shares of the Company's Common
Stock. In releasing such shares of Common Stock the Escrow Agent is authorized
to rely upon such Common Stock Joint Written Direction from Company and may
accept any signatory from the Company listed on the signature page to this
Agreement and any signature from the Escrow Agent has on file.

      In the event the Escrow Agent does not receive the amount of the Advance
from the Investor or the shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the Investor
from the Company, the Escrow Agent shall notify the Company and the Investor.

      In the event that the Escrow Agent has not received the Common Stock to be
purchased by the Investor from the Company, in no event will the Escrow Funds be
released to the Company until such shares are received by the Escrow Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Common Stock certificates" shall mean
Common Stock certificates to be purchased pursuant to the respective Advance
Notice pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement.

                                       3

<PAGE>

      6. Deposit of Funds. The Escrow Agent is hereby authorized to deposit the
wire transfer proceeds in the Escrow Account.

      7. Suspension of Performance: Disbursement Into Court.

            a. Escrow Agent. If at any time, there shall exist any dispute
between the Company and the Investor with respect to holding or disposition of
any portion of the Escrow Funds or the Common Stock or any other obligations of
Escrow Agent hereunder, or if at any time Escrow Agent is unable to determine,
to Escrow Agent's sole satisfaction, the proper disposition of any portion of
the Escrow Funds or Escrow Agent's proper actions with respect to its
obligations hereunder, or if the parties have not within thirty (30) days of the
furnishing by Escrow Agent of a notice of resignation pursuant to Section 9
hereof, appointed a successor Escrow Agent to act hereunder, then Escrow Agent
may, in its sole discretion, take either or both of the following actions:

                  i. Suspend the performance of any of its obligations
(including without limitation any disbursement obligations) under this Escrow
Agreement until such dispute or uncertainty shall be resolved to the sole
satisfaction of Escrow Agent or until a successor Escrow Agent shall be
appointed (as the case may be); provided however, Escrow Agent shall continue to
invest the Escrow Funds in accordance with Section 8 hereof; and/or

                  ii. Petition (by means of an interpleader action or any other
appropriate method) any court of competent jurisdiction in any venue convenient
to Escrow Agent, for instructions with respect to such dispute or uncertainty,
and to the extent required by law, pay into such court, for holding and
disposition in accordance with the instructions of such court, all funds held by
it in the Escrow Funds, after deduction and payment to Escrow Agent of all fees
and expenses (including court costs and attorneys' fees) payable to, incurred
by, or expected to be incurred by Escrow Agent in connection with performance of
its duties and the exercise of its rights hereunder.

                  iii. Escrow Agent shall have no liability to the Company, the
Investor, or any person with respect to any such suspension of performance or
disbursement into court, specifically including any liability or claimed
liability that may arise, or be alleged to have arisen, out of or as a result of
any delay in the disbursement of funds held in the Escrow Funds or any delay in
with respect to any other action required or requested of Escrow Agent.

      8. Investment of Escrow Funds. The Escrow Agent shall deposit the Escrow
Funds in a non-interest bearing money market account.

      If Escrow Agent has not received a Joint Written Direction at any time
that an investment decision must be made, Escrow Agent may retain the Escrow
Fund, or such portion thereof, as to which no Joint Written Direction has been
received, in a non-interest bearing money market account.

      9. Resignation and Removal of Escrow Agent. Escrow Agent may resign from
the performance of its duties hereunder at any time by giving thirty (30) days'
prior written notice to the parties or may be removed, with or without cause, by
the parties, acting jointly, by furnishing a Joint Written Direction to Escrow
Agent, at any time by the giving of ten (10) days' prior

                                       4

<PAGE>

written notice to Escrow Agent as provided herein below. Upon any such notice of
resignation or removal, the representatives of the Investor and the Company
identified in Sections 13a.(iv) and 13b.(iv), below, jointly shall appoint a
successor Escrow Agent hereunder, which shall be a commercial bank, trust
company or other financial institution with a combined capital and surplus in
excess of $10,000,000.00. Upon the acceptance in writing of any appointment of
Escrow Agent hereunder by a successor Escrow Agent, such successor Escrow Agent
shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the retiring Escrow Agent, and the retiring Escrow
Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Escrow
Agreement, but shall not be discharged from any liability for actions taken as
Escrow Agent hereunder prior to such succession. After any retiring Escrow
Agent's resignation or removal, the provisions of this Escrow Agreement shall
inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while
it was Escrow Agent under this Escrow Agreement. The retiring Escrow Agent shall
transmit all records pertaining to the Escrow Funds and shall pay all funds held
by it in the Escrow Funds to the successor Escrow Agent, after making copies of
such records as the retiring Escrow Agent deems advisable and after deduction
and payment to the retiring Escrow Agent of all fees and expenses (including
court costs and attorneys' fees) payable to, incurred by, or expected to be
incurred by the retiring Escrow Agent in connection with the performance of its
duties and the exercise of its rights hereunder.

      10. Liability of Escrow Agent.

            a. Escrow Agent shall have no liability or obligation with respect
to the Escrow Funds except for Escrow Agent's willful misconduct or gross
negligence. Escrow Agent's sole responsibility shall be for the safekeeping,
investment, and disbursement of the Escrow Funds in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement. Escrow Agent shall have no implied duties or obligations and
shall not be charged with knowledge or notice or any fact or circumstance not
specifically set forth herein. Escrow Agent may rely upon any instrument, not
only as to its due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the
truth and accuracy of any information contained therein, which Escrow Agent
shall in good faith believe to be genuine, to have been signed or presented by
the person or parties purporting to sign the same and conform to the provisions
of this Agreement. In no event shall Escrow Agent be liable for incidental,
indirect, special, and consequential or punitive damages. Escrow Agent shall not
be obligated to take any legal action or commence any proceeding in connection
with the Escrow Funds, any account in which Escrow Funds are deposited, this
Agreement or the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, or to appear in,
prosecute or defend any such legal action or proceeding. Escrow Agent may
consult legal counsel selected by it in the event of any dispute or question as
to construction of any of the provisions hereof or of any other agreement or its
duties hereunder, or relating to any dispute involving any party hereto, and
shall incur no liability and shall be fully indemnified from any liability
whatsoever in acting in accordance with the opinion or instructions of such
counsel. The Company and the Investor jointly and severally shall promptly pay,
upon demand, the reasonable fees and expenses of any such counsel and Escrow
Agent is hereby authorized to pay such fees and expenses from funds held in
escrow.

            b. The Escrow Agent is hereby authorized, in its sole discretion, to
comply with orders issued or process entered by any court with respect to the
Escrow Funds, without determination by the Escrow Agent of such court's
jurisdiction in the matter. If any portion of

                                       5

<PAGE>

the Escrow Funds is at any time attached, garnished or levied upon under any
court order, or in case the payment, assignment, transfer, conveyance or
delivery of any such property shall be stayed or enjoined by any court order, or
in any case any order judgment or decree shall be made or entered by any court
affecting such property or any part thereof, then and in any such event, the
Escrow Agent is authorized, in its sole discretion, to rely upon and comply with
any such order, writ judgment or decree which it is advised by legal counsel
selected by it, binding upon it, without the need for appeal or other action;
and if the Escrow Agent complies with any such order, writ, judgment or decree,
it shall not be liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person or
entity by reason of such compliance even though such order, writ judgment or
decree may be subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or vacated.

      11. Indemnification of Escrow Agent. From and at all times after the date
of this Agreement, the parties jointly and severally, shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by law and to the extent provided herein, indemnify and hold
harmless Escrow Agent and each director, officer, employee, attorney, agent and
affiliate of Escrow Agent (provided, that the Investor shall for this purpose be
deemed to not be an affiliate of the Escrow Agent) (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties") against any and all actions, claims (whether or not
valid), losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses of any kind or nature
whatsoever (including without limitation reasonable attorney's fees, costs and
expenses) incurred by or asserted against any of the Indemnified Parties from
and after the date hereof, whether direct, indirect or consequential, as a
result of or arising from or in any way relating to any claim, demand, suit,
action, or proceeding (including any inquiry or investigation) by any person,
including without limitation the parties to this Agreement, whether threatened
or initiated, asserting a claim for any legal or equitable remedy against any
person under any statute or regulation, including, but not limited to, any
federal or state securities laws, or under any common law or equitable cause or
otherwise, arising from or in connection with the negotiation, preparation,
execution, performance or failure of performance of this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated herein, whether or not any such Indemnified Party is a
party to any such action or proceeding, suit or the target of any such inquiry
or investigation; provided, however, that no Indemnified Party shall have the
right to be indemnified hereunder for liability finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction, subject to no further appeal, to have resulted solely
from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. If
any such action or claim shall be brought or asserted against any Indemnified
Party, such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Company and the Investor
hereunder in writing, and the Investor(s) and the Company shall assume the
defense thereof, including the employment of counsel and the payment of all
expenses. Such Indemnified Party shall, in its sole discretion, have the right
to employ separate counsel (who may be selected by such Indemnified Party in its
sole discretion) in any such action and to participate and to participate in the
defense thereof, and the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid by such
Indemnified Party, except that the Investor and/or the Company shall be required
to pay such fees and expense if (a) the Investor or the Company agree to pay
such fees and expenses, or (b) the Investor and/or the Company shall fail to
assume the defense of such action or proceeding or shall fail to employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party in any such action or
proceeding, (c) the Investor and the Company are the plaintiff in any such
action or proceeding or (d) the named or potential parties to any such action or
proceeding (including any potentially impleaded parties) include both
Indemnified Party the Company and/or the Investor and Indemnified Party shall
have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to it which are different from or additional to those

                                       6

<PAGE>

available to the Company or the Investor. The Investor and the Company shall be
jointly and severally liable to pay fees and expenses of counsel pursuant to the
preceding sentence, except that any obligation to pay under clause (a) shall
apply only to the party so agreeing. All such fees and expenses payable by the
Company and/or the Investor pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be paid
from time to time as incurred, both in advance of and after the final
disposition of such action or claim. The obligations of the parties under this
section shall survive any termination of this Agreement, and resignation or
removal of the Escrow Agent shall be independent of any obligation of Escrow
Agent.

      12. Expenses of Escrow Agent. Except as set forth in Sections 7 and 11 the
Company shall reimburse Escrow Agent for all of its reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses, including attorneys' fees, travel expenses, telephone and facsimile
transmission costs, postage (including express mail and overnight delivery
charges), copying charges and the like as outlined in Section 12.4 of the
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement dated the date hereof. All of the
compensation and reimbursement obligations set forth in this Section shall be
payable by the Company, upon demand by Escrow Agent. The obligations of the
Company under this Section shall survive any termination of this Agreement and
the resignation or removal of Escrow Agent.

      13. Warranties.

            a. The Investor makes the following representations and warranties
to the Escrow Agent:

                  i. The Investor has full power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.

                  ii. This Agreement has been duly approved by all necessary
action of the Investor, including any necessary approval of the limited partner
of the Investor, has been executed by duly authorized officers of the Investor's
general partner, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

                  iii. The execution, delivery, and performance of the Investor
of this Agreement will not violate, conflict with, or cause a default under the
agreement of limited partnership of the Investor, any applicable law or
regulation, any court order or administrative ruling or decree to which the
Investor is a party or any of its property is subject, or any agreement,
contract, indenture, or other binding arrangement.

                  iv. Mark A. Angelo has been duly appointed to act as the
representative of Investor hereunder and has full power and authority to
execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement, to execute and deliver any Joint
Written Direction, to amend, modify, or waive any provision of this Agreement,
and to take any and all other actions as the Investor's representative under
this Agreement, all without further consent or direction from, or notice to, the
Investor or any other party.

                  v. No party other than the parties hereto have, or shall have,
any lien, claim or security interest in the Escrow Funds or any part thereof. No
financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code is on file in any
jurisdiction claiming a security interest in or describing (whether specifically
or generally) the Escrow Funds or any part thereof.

                                       7

<PAGE>

                  vi. All of the representations and warranties of the Investor
contained herein are true and complete as of the date hereof and will be true
and complete at the time of any disbursement from the Escrow Funds.

            b. The Company makes the following representations and warranties to
Escrow Agent and the Investor:

                  i. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has
full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform
its obligations hereunder.

                  ii. This Agreement has been duly approved by all necessary
corporate action of the Company, including any necessary shareholder approval,
has been executed by duly authorized officers of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms.

                  iii. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company
of this Escrow Agreement is in accordance with the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement and will not violate, conflict with, or cause a default under the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, any applicable law or
regulation, any court order or administrative ruling or decree to which the
Company is a party or any of its property is subject, or any agreement,
contract, indenture, or other binding arrangement.

                  iv. Michael K. Green has been duly appointed to act as the
representative of the Company hereunder and has full power and authority to
execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement, to execute and deliver any Joint
Written Direction, to amend, modify or waive any provision of this Agreement and
to take all other actions as the Company's Representative under this Agreement,
all without further consent or direction from, or notice to, the Company or any
other party.

                  v. No party other than the parties hereto shall have, any
lien, claim or security interest in the Escrow Funds or any part thereof. No
financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code is on file in any
jurisdiction claiming a security interest in or describing (whether specifically
or generally) the Escrow Funds or any part thereof.

                  vi. All of the representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein are true and complete as of the date hereof and will be true
and complete at the time of any disbursement from the Escrow Funds.

      14. Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue. In the event that any party hereto
commences a lawsuit or other proceeding relating to or arising from this
Agreement, the parties hereto agree that the United States District Court for
the District of New Jersey shall have the sole and exclusive jurisdiction over
any such proceeding. If all such courts lack federal subject matter
jurisdiction, the parties agree that the Superior Court Division of New Jersey,
Chancery Division of Hudson County shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction.
Any of these courts shall be proper venue for any such lawsuit or judicial
proceeding and the parties hereto waive any objection to such venue. The parties
hereto consent to and agree to submit to the jurisdiction of any of the courts
specified herein and agree to accept the service of process to vest personal
jurisdiction over them in any of these courts.

                                       8

<PAGE>

      15. Notice. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered five
(5) days after deposit in the United States mail, by certified mail with return
receipt requested and postage prepaid, when delivered personally, one (1) day
delivery to any overnight courier, or when transmitted by facsimile transmission
and addressed to the party to be notified as follows:

If to Investor, to:          Cornell Capital Partners, LP
                             101 Hudson Street - Suite 3700
                             Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
                             Attention: Mark Angelo
                             Facsimile: (201) 985-8266

If to Escrow Agent, to:      David Gonzalez, Esq.
                             101 Hudson Street - Suite 3700
                             Jersey City, NJ 07302
                             Telephone: (201) 985-8300
                             Facsimile: (201) 985-8266

If to Company, to:           The Immune Response Corporation
                             5391 Darwin Court
                             Carlsbad, CA 92008
                             Attention: Michael K. Green
                             Facsimile: (760) 431-8636

With a copy to:              Heller Ehrman LLP
                             4530 La Jolla Village Drive, 7th Floor
                             San Diego, CA 92122
                             Attention: Hayden J. Trubitt, Esq.
                             Facsimile: (858) 587-5903

      Or to such other address as each party may designate for itself by like
notice.

      16. Amendments or Waiver. This Agreement may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated only by a writing signed by the parties and the Escrow
Agent. No delay or omission by any party in exercising any right with respect
hereto shall operate as waiver. A waiver on any one occasion shall not be
construed as a bar to, or waiver of, any right or remedy on any future occasion.

      17. Severability. To the extent any provision of this Agreement is
prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition, or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this
Agreement.

      18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New Jersey without giving
effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

                                       9

<PAGE>

      19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement
between the parties relating to the holding, investment, and disbursement of the
Escrow Funds and sets forth in their entirety the obligations and duties of the
Escrow Agent with respect to the Escrow Funds.

      20. Binding Effect. All of the terms of this Agreement, as amended from
time to time, shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the respective heirs, successors and assigns of the Investor, the Company, or
the Escrow Agent.

      21. Execution of Counterparts. This Agreement and any Joint Written
Direction may be executed in counter parts, which when so executed shall
constitute one and same agreement or direction.

      22. Termination. Upon the first to occur of the termination (at a time
when no Escrow Funds or Common Stock are in escrow) of the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement dated the date hereof or the disbursement of all amounts
in the Escrow Funds and Common Stock into court pursuant to Section 7 hereof,
this Agreement shall terminate and Escrow Agent shall have no further obligation
or liability whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or the Escrow Funds or
Common Stock.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       10

<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties to this Escrow Agreement have hereunto set
their hands and seals the day and year above set forth.

                                         THE IMMUNE RESPONSE CORPORATION

                                         By: _____________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                         CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP

                                         BY: YORKVILLE ADVISORS, LLC
                                         ITS: GENERAL PARTNER

                                         By: _____________________________
                                         Name: Mark A. Angelo
                                         Title: Portfolio Manager

                                         By: _____________________________
                                         Name: David Gonzalez, Esq.

                                       11

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