Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                       RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT, effective as of November 30, 2000, by and between John A.
McCarthy, Jr. (the "Purchaser") and EXACT Sciences Corporation (the "Company"),
a Delaware corporation.

         1. SALE. Pursuant to the exercise of the Option as set forth in the
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated October 2, 2000, the Company hereby
issues to the Purchaser 15,000 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company, for an exercise price of
$20.00 per share (the "Exercise Price"), to be paid by a promissory note dated
as of the date hereof by and between the Company and the Purchaser (the
"Promissory Note"). Simultaneously with the execution of the Promissory Note and
the purchase of the Shares, Purchaser shall execute a pledge agreement dated as
of the date hereof between the Purchaser and the Company. This sale is made
pursuant and subject to the following terms and conditions.

         2. RECEIPT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND SHARES. The Company hereby
acknowledges receipt of the consideration set forth in Paragraph 1 hereof the
Promissory Note, as payment in full of the Exercise Price of the Shares, in
accordance with Section 1. The Purchaser hereby acknowledges receipt of stock
certificates representing the Shares.

         3. COMPANY PURCHASE OPTION.

                  3.1 OPTION TO THE COMPANY TO PURCHASE THE SHARES. The
Purchaser hereby grants to the Company an irrevocable right and option (the
"Purchase Option") to purchase all or any portion of the Shares on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement.

         At any time within (90) ninety days after the Purchaser ceases to be an
employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, subject to the
provisions of Section 3.2 in the event of a termination for any reason other
than Cause (as defined in Section 3.2), the Company shall have the right to
exercise the Purchase Option and to purchase from the Purchaser (or his estate,
it being understood that Shares released from the Purchase Option under this
Agreement shall pass upon the Purchaser's death to the Purchaser's estate), for
an amount per Share equal to the Exercise Price (the "Option Price"), up to that
fraction of the Shares specified in the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

       IF CESSATION OF EMPLOYMENT OCCURS                    % OF SHARES SUBJECT TO PURCHASE OPTION
<S>                                                        <C>

       Before October 2, 2001                                              100%

       On or after October 2, 2001                                          75%

       On the 1st day of each calendar month                Percentage of shares subject to Purchase
       thereafter                                           Option on the 1st day of the prior calendar
                                                                        month less 2.083%

       On or after October 2, 2004                                         None
</TABLE>

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                  3.2 EARLY TERMINATION OF PURCHASE OPTION. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event the Purchaser continues to be employed by the Company on
the earlier to occur of the following events prior to four years from the date
of this Agreement:

                  (a) In the case of a Business Event as defined in subsection
(B), to the extent there are Shares subject to the Company's Purchase Option,
all Shares shall vest as if the vesting date was one year prior to the date set
forth in Section 3.1 hereof and the Purchase Option shall expire with respect to
such Shares which become vested pursuant hereto. It is the intention of the
parties that the acceleration of vesting provided by this paragraph shall not in
any way suspend the operation of the vesting schedule set forth in Section 3.1,
but rather the effect of such acceleration shall be to compensate the Purchaser
by deeming him to have (for purposes of determining the number of Shares subject
to the Company's Purchase Option only) an additional year of service with the
Company from and after the Business Event and the Company shall have no further
right and option to repurchase all or any portion of those Shares which become
vested pursuant hereto.

                  (b) If in conjunction with the closing of (A) the sale by the
Company of all or substantially all of its assets, or (B) the merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into another entity in a transaction where
the shares of the Company's capital stock outstanding immediately prior to the
closing of such merger or consolidation represent or are converted into or
exchanged for shares that represent less than a majority of the shares of
capital stock of the resulting or surviving entity outstanding immediately after
the closing of such merger or consolidation (each of the foregoing being
referred to as "Business Event") and any of the following events, the Company's
Purchase Option shall immediately expire as to all remaining Shares:

                  (i)      the termination by the Company of the Purchaser's
                           employment with the Company for any reason other than
                           Cause. For purposes of this agreement "Cause" shall
                           mean (A) the Purchaser's gross negligence in the
                           performance of his duties as an employee and officer
                           of the Company (as determined by a majority of the
                           directors of the Company other than, if applicable,
                           the Purchaser) or (B) criminal misconduct by the
                           Purchaser in connection with the performance of his
                           duties as an employee and officer of the Company; or

                  (ii)     the Purchaser suffers a diminution in job
                           responsibility or a reduction in compensation; or

                  (iii)    the Company moves the Purchaser's place of employment
                           more than 35 miles from Company's current office
                           location in Maynard, Massachusetts.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the issuance by the Company of its
capital stock in an equity financing, either in a private or public transaction,
shall not constitute a Business Event.

                  3.3 EXERCISE OF OPTION. The Purchase Option shall be exercised
by written notice delivered or mailed by the Company to the Purchaser (or his
estate), accompanied by payment by check for the Option Price for the Shares
being repurchased.

                  3.4 DELIVERY OF REPURCHASED SHARES. The Purchaser agrees that
he (or his executors or administrators or other legal representative, as the
case may be) shall promptly deliver to the Company, at the Company's principal
office, certificates for any Shares which are repurchased by the

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Company pursuant to this Section 3, and that such certificates shall be duly
endorsed in blank for transfer to the Company; provided, however, that if the
Purchaser fails to deliver such certificates to the Company on or before the
fifth day following delivery to the Purchaser by the Company of the notice and
payment required by subsection 3.3, the Shares repurchased shall be deemed to be
transferred to the Company on such date, and all rights of the Purchaser with
respect to such Shares shall thereupon cease.

                  3.5 SHARES NOT REPURCHASED. In the event the Company declines
in writing to repurchase any or all of the Shares or does not exercise its
option for repurchase as provided herein, the Shares shall remain the property
of the Purchaser.

         4. ADDITIONAL SHARES. If, from time to time during the term of the
Purchase Option, there is any stock dividend or liquidating dividend of cash
and/or property, stock split, subdivision, or other change in the character or
amount of any of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, then in such event
any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property to which
the Purchaser is entitled by reason of his ownership of the Shares shall be
immediately subject to the Purchase Option and be included in the term "Shares"
for all purposes of the Purchase Option with the same force and effect as the
Shares presently subject thereto. After each such event, the Option Price per
share upon exercise of the Purchase Option shall be appropriately adjusted.

         5. INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. The Purchaser represents, warrants and
covenants that:

         (i)      The Purchaser is purchasing the Shares for his own account for
                  investment only, and not with a view to, or for sale in
                  connection with, any distribution of the Shares in violation
                  of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), or any
                  rule or regulation under the Securities Act.

         (ii)     The Purchaser is aware of the Company's business affairs and
                  financial condition, and has had such opportunity as he has
                  deemed adequate to obtain from representatives of the Company
                  such information as is necessary to permit the Purchaser to
                  evaluate the merits and risks of his investment in the
                  Company.

         (iii)    The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of the value of the
                  Shares and is able to bear the economic risk of holding the
                  Shares for an indefinite period.

         (iv)     The Purchaser has sufficient experience in business, financial
                  and investment matters to be able to evaluate the risks
                  involved in the purchase of the Shares and to make an informed
                  investment decision with respect to such purchase.

         (v)      The Purchaser understands that: (A) the Shares will not be
                  registered under the Securities Act and are "restricted
                  securities" within the meaning of Rule 144 and/or Rule 701
                  under the Securities Act; (B) the Shares cannot be sold,
                  transferred or otherwise disposed of unless they are
                  subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an
                  exemption from registration is then available; (C) in any
                  event, the exemption from registration under Rule 144 or
                  otherwise will not be available for at least one year and even
                  then may not be available unless a public market then exists
                  for the Common Stock, adequate information concerning the
                  Company is available to the public, and other terms and
                  conditions of Rule 144 are complied with, and (D) there is
                  currently no effective registration statement on file with the
                  Securities and Exchange Commission with

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                  respect to any stock of the Company and the Company has no
                  obligation to register the Shares under the Securities Act.

         6. LEGENDS.

                  6.1 RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT LEGEND. All certificates
representing the Shares which are subject to the Purchase Option shall have
affixed thereto a legend substantially in the following form:

                  "The securities represented by this certificate are subject to
                  certain restrictions on transfer and to certain rights of the
                  Company to purchase such securities as set forth in a
                  Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between the corporation
                  and the registered holder (or his predecessor in interest), a
                  copy of which is available for inspection without charge at
                  the principal office of the corporation."

         7. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 7, the Purchaser shall not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate
or otherwise dispose of, by operation of law or otherwise (collectively
"transfer") any of the Shares, or any interest therein, unless and until such
Shares are no longer subject to the Company's Purchase Option. Notwithstanding
the foregoing the Purchaser may transfer Shares by gift, provided that such
Shares shall remain subject to this Agreement (including without limitation the
Purchase Option and the restrictions on transfer set forth herein), and such
permitted transferee shall, as a condition to such transfer, deliver to the
Company a written instrument confirming that such transferee shall be bounded by
all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

         8. EFFECT OF PROHIBITED TRANSFER. The Company shall not be required (a)
to transfer on its books any of the Shares which shall have been sold or
transferred in violation of any of the provisions set forth in this Agreement,
or (b) to treat as owner of such Shares or to pay dividends to any transferee to
whom any such Shares shall have been so transferred.

         9. RIGHT OF STOCKHOLDER. Subject to the provision of Sections 7 and 8
above, the Purchaser shall, during the term of this Agreement, exercise all
rights and privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the
Shares.

         10. FURTHER INSTRUMENTS AND ACTIONS. The parties agree to execute such
further instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be
necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.

         11. NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given
in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or upon
deposit with the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail,
addressed to each other party hereto at his address hereinafter shown below his
signature or at such other address as such party may designate by ten (10) days
advance written notice to all other parties hereto.

         12. EMPLOYMENT STATUS. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
construed as giving the Purchaser any right to continue employment with the
Company.

         13. WITHHOLDING TAXES. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that any
tax consequences of the purchase, exercise and sale of Shares will be borne by
Purchaser and not by the Company and that the Company has the right to deduct
from payments of any kind otherwise due to the Purchaser any federal, state or
local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the
Shares.

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         14. MISCELLANEOUS

                  14.1. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire
contract between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof.

                  14.2. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed under the laws of the State of Delaware as such laws are applied to
contracts entered into and performed in such state.

                  14.3. SUCCESSOR AND ASSIGNS. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement, the provisions hereto shall inure to the benefit of,
and be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

                  14.4. AMENDMENTS. The terms and provisions of this Agreement
may not be modified or amended except in a writing executed by the parties
hereto.

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement shall be effective as of the date
first above written.

EXACT SCIENCES CORPORATION                      PURCHASER

By: /s/ Don M. Hardison                         By: /s/ John A. McCarthy, Jr.
    -----------------------------                   ---------------------------
    Don M. Hardison                                 John A. McCarthy, Jr.
    President<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.18

                          FULL RECOURSE PROMISSORY NOTE

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, John A. McCarthy, Jr. (the "Maker") promises to pay
to the order of EXACT Sciences Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Holder"), at its principal office at 63 Great Road, Maynard, Massachusetts
01754, or such other place as may be designated from time to time in writing by
the Holder, or its assigns, the principal sum of $300,000, together with accrued
interest on the principal of this Note outstanding at the rate of 9.5% per year.
All principal and accrued interest shall be paid on, or prior to, ten years from
the date hereof.

         Interest on this Note shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365
days for the actual number of days elapsed. All payments by the Maker under this
Note shall be in immediately available funds.

         Every amount overdue under this Note shall bear interest from and after
the date on which such amount first became overdue at an annual rate which is
two (2) percentage points above the rate per year specified in the first
paragraph of this Note. Such interest on overdue amounts under this Note shall
be payable on demand and shall accrue and be compounded monthly until the
obligation of the Maker with respect to the payment of such interest has been
discharged (whether before or after judgment).

         In no event shall any interest charged, collected or reserved under
this Note exceed the maximum rate then permitted by applicable law.

         All payments by the Maker under this Note shall be made without
set-off, defense or counterclaim and be free and clear and without any deduction
or withholding for any taxes or fees of any nature whatever, unless the
obligation to make such deduction or withholding is imposed by law.

         This Note may be prepaid at any time, without premium or penalty, in
whole or in part. Unless otherwise agreed by the Holder, any prepayment of
principal shall be accompanied by a payment of accrued interest in respect of
the principal being prepaid.

         This Note is secured by and entitled to the benefits of a Pledge
Agreement between Maker and Holder of even date herewith (the "PLEDGE
AGREEMENT"). Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, as defined below,
Holder may declare any or all obligations or liabilities of Maker to Holder
(including the unpaid principal hereunder and any interest due thereon),
immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice.

         Maker agrees that this Note shall, at the option of the Holder, become
due and payable without notice or demand, upon the happening of any one of the
following specified events by or with respect to the Maker or any guarantor of
this Note (each an "EVENT OF DEFAULT"): (i) the failure to pay when due the
principal balance and accrued interest hereunder; (ii) a default in the
performance of any other obligation to the Maker, which default is not cured
within thirty (30)

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                                      -2-

days after written notice of such default from the Maker; (iii) if Maker (1)
commences any voluntary proceeding under any provision of Title 11 of the United
States Code, as now or hereafter emended, or commences any other proceeding,
under any law, now or hereafter in force, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, liquidation, or otherwise to the relief of debtors or the
readjustment of indebtedness, (2) makes any assignment for the benefit of
creditors or a composition or similar arrangement with such creditors, (3)
appoints a receiver, trustee or similar judicial officer or agent to take charge
of or liquidate any of its property or assets; (iv) upon the commencement
against Maker of any involuntary proceeding of the kind described in paragraph
(iii); or (v) the past or future making of a false representation or warranty by
Maker in connection with any loan or loans by the Holder, principal and accrued
interest under this Note shall become immediately due and payable without
presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind.

         The Maker shall remain personally liable to the Holder with respect to
all of the obligations under this Note and the Holder shall have full recourse
against Maker. If this Note is not paid in accordance with its terms, Maker
shall pay to Holder, in addition to principal and accrued interest thereon, all
costs of collection of the principal and accrued interest, including, but not
limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs and other costs for the
enforcement of payment of this Note.

         No delay or omission on the part of the Holder in exercising any right
under this Note shall operate as a waiver of such right or of any other right of
the Holder, nor shall any delay, omission or waiver on any one occasion be
deemed a bar to or waiver of the same or any other right on any future occasion.

         None of the terms or provisions of this Note may be excluded, waived,
modified or amended except by a written instrument duly executed by the Holder
and the Maker expressly referring to this Note and setting forth the provision
so excluded, modified or amended.

         Maker hereby forever waives presentment, demand, presentment for
payment, protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor of this Note and all
other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance,
performance and enforcement of this Note.

         In the event any one or more of the provisions of this Note shall for
any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part
or in any respect, or in the event that any one or more of the provisions of
this Note operate or would prospectively operate to invalidate this Note, then
and in any such event, such provision(s) only shall be deemed null and void and
shall not affect any other provision of this Note and the remaining provisions
of this Note shall remain operative and in full force and effect and in no way
shall be affected, prejudiced, or disturbed thereby.

         This Note shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts applicable to agreements made and performed
entirely in such State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof,
and shall be binding upon the

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                                      -3-

successors or assigns of the Maker and shall inure to the benefit of the
successors and assigns of the Holder. This Note shall be effective as of
November 30, 2000.

                                                      MAKER:

                                                      /s/ John A. McCarthy, Jr.
                                                      -------------------------
                                                      John A. McCarthy, Jr.

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