Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.8

July 1, 1998

Dr. Colin Dykes
Common Farm (next to #11)
Common Road
Langford, Bedfordshire, UK SG18 9SA

Dear Colin:

This letter agreement (the "Agreement") affirms the terms and conditions of your
employment by VARIAGENICS, INC. ("VARIAGENICS" or the "Company"). This Agreement
will be effective immediately upon receipt of appropriate visas for employment
in the United States ("Effective Date"), and, together with an Invention and
Non-Disclosure Agreement and a Stock Option Agreement, will constitute the
entire agreement as to your employment by VARIAGENICS and supersedes any prior
agreements or understandings, either written or oral.

1.    Position

(a)   Your position within the Company will be Vice President, Genomics
      reporting to the President and CEO. The President and CEO will determine
      the duties of this position. Initially your role and responsibilities will
      include:

      (i)     You will be responsible for establishing VARIAGENICS as the leader
              in the discovery of genetic variation as well as the application
              of genetic variation to drug development through new molecular
              genetic methods, population genetics, and quantitative genetics.
      (ii)    You will be an Officer of the Company and a member of the
              Executive Management Team.
      (iii)   You will be responsible for working with the Company's Principal
              Scientific Advisors, President & CEO, and Board of Directors to
              develop an Operating Plan for Genomics that is coordinated with
              the Company's Business Development function and programs in
              Chemical Biology and Clinical Pharmacogenomics. It is currently
              expected that the Company will hire a leader of the Chemical
              Biology function at the Vice President level.
      (iv)    Initially, your direct reports will include Andrew Ferrie,
              Director Variance Detection and Mark Adams, Ph.D. Director of
              Bioinformatics as well as members of the genomic methods
              development teams. We will discuss the reporting structure for
              Patrice Rioux, M.D., Ph.D. Clinical Director, Pharmacogenomics and
              Vincent Stanton, M.D., Vice President, Discovery Research in the
              future.
      (v)     You will be responsible, together with the Director of Operations
              and your line managers, for the hiring and performance of a team
              of outstanding directors and scientists capable of achieving the
              Company's technical goals.
      (vi)    You will be responsible for overseeing the Company's consultants
              in the area of genomics as well as contract research with selected
              academic or industrial groups.
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Colin Dykes
July 1, 1998
Page 2

              We do not maintain a formal "Scientific Advisory Board", but have
              focus groups of leading academics advisors for different areas of
              the Company.
      (vii)   You will be expected to have an active role, with the Business
              Development function, in identifying opportunities for corporate
              alliances and successfully negotiating such alliances. You will be
              primarily responsible for successfully executing the (genomic)
              research plans associated with such alliances.
      (viii)  You will be encouraged to continue to cultivate recognition for
              the Company, and yourself personally, as an opinion leader in
              genomics and pharmacogenomics through presentations at appropriate
              scientific and business meetings and through appropriate
              publications in leading scientific or industry venues.

(b)   Your responsibilities, position, and location are subject to change at the
      discretion of the Company, but will continue to be consistent with the
      position of Vice President.

(c)   During your employment with the Company, you will devote your full
      business time and energies to the business and affairs of the Company, and
      not undertake any other employment or accept financial remuneration from
      any person or entity in the biotechnology industry, without express
      written consent by the President and CEO.

(d)   It is expected that within twelve (12) months of the Effective Date, you
      and your family will assume residence in the Boston, Massachusetts area.

2.    Compensation / Benefits

(a)   Your salary will initially be $200,000/year which will be reviewed at
      least annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

(b)   The Company will pay you a signing bonus of $25,000 one year after the
      Effective Date, a portion of which will include payments by directly by
      the Company for personal travel between the UK and US within this year.

(c)   The Company, with the presentation of actual and appropriate receipts,
      will reimburse you for all reasonable and customary moving expenses to the
      Boston area for services performed within one year of your Start Date up
      to $25,000. This reimbursement will include all routine and customary
      closing costs for purchase of a home in the Boston area including up to 2
      points towards securing a loan for such a property. The documentation for
      each such expense must be submitted within one year of signing this
      Agreement.

(d)   You will be eligible for performance-based bonuses at the sole discretion
      of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors.

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Colin Dykes
July 1, 1998
Page 3

(e)   You will be entitled to purchase 70,000 shares of the Company's Common
      Stock at $1.00/share vesting over five years pursuant to a Stock Option
      Agreement. Of this amount, 20% will be vested one year after your Start
      Date with the remaining amount vesting at a rate of 1/60/month for the
      subsequent 48 months. You will be eligible to receive additional stock
      option grants as may be recommended by the Compensation Committee of the
      Board of Directors at its sole discretion.

(f)   The Company will assume the expenses, and will make all reasonable efforts
      to procure visas that will enable you to be employed pursuant to this
      Agreement and for your wife to be employed in the U.S. Any expenses
      incurred by you in this regard will be reimbursed only if approved in
      advance by the Company.

(g)   As the Effective Date of this Agreement, you initially will be eligible to
      participate in all of the benefits offered to employees of the Company as
      outlined in the attached materials. Currently, the Company provides
      benefits including: (i) comprehensive health insurance, (ii) dental
      insurance, (iii) life insurance, (iv) short term disability insurance, (v)
      long term disability insurance, (vi) free parking near the Company or a T
      pass. The Company will provide you with three (3) weeks of paid vacation
      leave each year commencing with your Start Date. In addition, you will be
      entitled to six (6) paid Company holidays per year and five (4) paid
      floating holidays per year. The Company retains the right to change, add
      or cease any particular benefit at any time with or without advance
      notice, but you will be afforded the same benefits while employed as other
      senior executives at the Company.

(h)   The Company shall reimburse you for all reasonable and necessary expenses
      incurred or paid by you in connection with, or related to, the performance
      of services to the Company under this Agreement, in accordance with
      Company policies in effect from time to time.

3.    Term

(a)   Your employment shall have an Initial Term ("Initial Term") of one year,
      beginning September 1, 1998 ("Start Date"), and ending August 31, 1999,
      unless terminated earlier as specified below in Section 4. This Agreement
      shall be automatically extended for an additional one (1) year term at the
      expiration of the Initial Term unless either party provides no less than
      thirty (30) days advance written notice of its intent not to extend.

(b)   If the Company is unable to procure visas necessary for your employment
      pursuant to this Agreement by November 1, 1998, the Company will have no
      further obligations to you under this Agreement, including, without
      limitation, no obligation to provide you with employment, salary, or
      benefits, and you shall continue to be bound only by the terms of the
      Invention and Non-disclosure Agreement, the Anti-piracy covenants set
      forth in paragraph 6, and the covenants of paragraph 8 and paragraph 9.
      Notwithstanding the

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Colin Dykes
July 1, 1998
Page 4

      foregoing, the Company will provide you with reimbursements for expenses
      incurred by you pursuant to paragraph 2(b), 2(f), and 2(h).

4.    Early Termination and Compensation Upon Early Termination

(a)   You shall have the right to terminate the employment relationship at any
      time during the Initial Term of this Agreement, and during any subsequent
      extensions thereof, with or without "Good Reason" (which shall mean the
      breach of any material term of this Agreement by the Company, which breach
      is not cured within twenty (20) business days after written notice by you
      to the Company), and with or without advance notice.
      (i)   If you voluntarily leave the Company without Good Reason at any
            time, you will have no right to future compensation and no
            compensation shall be due to you for any period beyond the effective
            date of termination.
      (ii)  If you voluntarily leave the Company with Good Reason at any time,
            the Company will continue to pay you an amount equal to your full
            salary (with applicable withholdings and deductions) and will
            provide you with equivalent benefits, excluding parking or
            transportation, or, at its option, reimbursement for the cost of
            equivalent benefits, for a period of six (6) months from your last
            day of employment, provided that you comply with the non-competition
            and non-solicitation covenants set forth in paragraph 5, the
            anti-piracy covenants set forth in paragraph 6, and with your
            obligations under your Invention and Non-Disclosure Agreement.

(b)   The Company shall have the right to terminate the employment relationship
      at any time during the Initial Term of this Agreement, and during any
      subsequent extensions thereof, with or without cause and with or without
      advance notice.
      (i)   If your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, the
            Company will continue to pay you an amount equal to your full salary
            (with applicable withholdings and deductions) and will provide you
            with equivalent benefits, excluding parking or transportation, for a
            period of six (6) months from the date it informs you of its
            intention to terminate your employment, provided that you comply
            with the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants set forth in
            paragraph 5, the anti-piracy covenants set forth in paragraph 6, and
            your obligations under your Invention and Non-Disclosure Agreement.
      (ii)  If your employment is terminated by the Company for Cause at any
            time, no compensation shall be due to you for any period beyond the
            effective date of termination. "Cause" shall mean the breach of the
            terms of this Agreement (which breach is not cured within ten (10)
            days subsequent to written notice by the Company), commission of any
            crime or embezzlement or other acts of dishonesty against the
            financial or business interests of the Company, the use or
            possession of illegal drugs, the willful refusal to perform your
            duties (which is not cured within ten (10) days subsequent to
            written notice by the Company), and any other

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Colin Dykes
July 1, 1998
Page 5

            conduct or circumstance that constitutes cause as that term has been
            defined by Massachusetts common law. If your employment is
            terminated by the Company for Cause pursuant to this paragraph, you
            will remain subject to the non-competition and non-solicitation
            covenants set forth in paragraph 5 and the anti-piracy covenants set
            forth in paragraph 6.

5.    Non-competition / Non-solicitation

The provisions contained in this paragraph will apply during the entire term of
your employment, and, in the event that your employment is terminated early
pursuant to paragraph 4, these provisions will apply for a period of six (6)
months following this early termination.

(a)   During the applicable time period described above, you shall not: (i) be
      associated as an employee, agent, advisor, servant, owner, partner,
      consultant, independent contractor or representative, or in any other
      capacity whatsoever with any person, partnership, corporation, business
      organization or other entity (without the prior written consent of the
      Company) which directly or indirectly competes with the Company's business
      (a "Competing Business"); (ii) canvass, solicit or accept any business
      from any of the Company's current or former clients; (iii) own any
      interest in a Competing Business, provided, however, that the foregoing
      shall not prohibit you from owning not more than one per cent (1%) of the
      outstanding shares of a public company traded on a national stock
      exchange; or (iv) assist others to open or operate a Competing Business.

(b)   Should you violate any provision of paragraph 5(a), the Company, in
      addition to all other legal remedies, will have no obligation to continue
      any payments, salary or benefits pursuant to paragraph 4 or otherwise.

6.    Anti-Piracy of Employees

(a)   For a period of twelve (12) months commencing on your last day of
      employment pursuant to this Agreement, you shall not, directly or
      indirectly, entice, solicit or encourage any Company employee to leave the
      employ of the Company, and shall not directly or indirectly, be involved
      in the recruitment of any Company employee to become associated with any
      other entity.

(b)   Should you violate any provision of paragraph 6(a), the Company, in
      addition to all other legal remedies, will have no obligation to continue
      any payments, salary or benefits pursuant to paragraph 4 or otherwise.

7.    Workplace

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Colin Dykes
July 1, 1998
Page 6

The Company considers the safety and quality of the workplace to be very
important. You are expected to be familiar with and abide by the Company's
safety policies. You are expected to contribute to creating a working
environment that is both conducive to fostering the business objectives of the
Company and in which respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals is
maintained.

8.    Choice of Law; Enforceability

You acknowledge that the Company's business is based out of and directed from
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. You also acknowledge that during the course
of your employment with the Company you will have substantial contacts with
Massachusetts. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been made in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, shall take effect as an instrument under seal
within Massachusetts, and the validity, interpretation and performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal
law of Massachusetts, without giving effect to conflict of law principles. Both
parties agree that any action, demand, claim or counterclaim relating to the
terms and provisions of this Agreement, or to its breach or its formation, shall
be commenced in Massachusetts in a court of competent jurisdiction. Both parties
further acknowledge that venue shall exclusively lie in Massachusetts and that
material witnesses and documents would be located in Massachusetts.

9.    Miscellaneous

(a)   You acknowledge and agree that should you be promoted or reassigned to
      functions other than your present functions, the terms of this Agreement
      and the other agreements incorporated herein shall continue to apply with
      full force.

(b)   Should any provision or term of this Agreement be held to be invalid,
      illegal or unenforceable, in whole or part, such invalidity, illegality,
      or unenforceabihity shall not affect the validity, legality or
      enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and to the extent
      permissible by law, the parties agree that a court shall have the power to
      amend such specific provision so that it can be enforced to the fullest
      extent permissible by law.

(c)   No amendment, waiver or revocation of this Agreement of any kind shall be
      effective unless supported by a written instrument executed by you and an
      authorized officer of the Company.

(d)   This offer of employment is conditioned upon execution of an Invention and
      Non-disclosure Agreement substantially in the form attached.

(e)   You hereby acknowledge that you have had adequate opportunity to review
      these terms and conditions and to reflect upon and consider the terms and
      conditions of this

<PAGE>

Colin Dykes
July 1, 1998
Page 7

      Agreement. You further acknowledge that you fully understand its terms and
      have voluntarily executed this Agreement.

Kindly acknowledge your acceptance of this Agreement by signing both copies of
this letter where indicated and returning one to my attention.

WITNESS: VARIAGENICS, INC.

Date:       7/1/98                              By: /s/ Fred D. Ledley, M.D.
      -------------------------                     ----------------------------
                                                Fred D. Ledley, M.D.
                                                President & CEO

By Employee:

Date:       7/3/98                              By: /s/ Colin W. Dykes, M.D.
      -------------------------                     ----------------------------
                                                Colin Dykes, Ph.D.

<PAGE>

                                VARIAGENICS, INC.

                                    Exhibit B

                     INVENTION AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made between VARIAGENICS, INC., a Delaware corporation
(hereinafter referred to collectively with its subsidiaries as the "Company"),
and Colin W. Dykes (the "Employee"). In consideration of the employment or the
continued employment of the Employee by the Company, the Company and the
Employee agree as follows:

1.    Proprietary Information.

(a)   The Employee agrees that all information, whether or not in writing, of a
      private, secret or confidential nature concerning the Company's business,
      business relationships or financial affairs (collectively, "Proprietary
      Information") is and shall be the exclusive property of the Company. By
      way of illustration, but not limitation, Proprietary Information may
      include inventions, products, processes, methods, techniques, formulas,
      compositions, compounds, projects, developments, plans, research data,
      clinical data, financial data, personnel data, computer programs, customer
      and supplier lists, and contacts at or knowledge of customers or
      prospective customers of the Company. The Employee will not disclose any
      Proprietary Information to any person or entity other than employees of
      the Company or use the same for any purposes (other than in the
      performance of his/her duties as an employee of the Company) without
      written approval by an officer of the Company, either during or after
      his/her employment with the Company, unless and until such Proprietary
      Information has become public knowledge without fault by the Employee.

(b)   The Employee agrees that all files, letters, memoranda, reports, records,
      data, sketches, drawings, laboratory notebooks, program listings, or other
      written, photographic, or other tangible material containing Proprietary
      Information, whether created by the Employee or others, which shall come
      into his/her custody or possession, shall be and are the exclusive
      property of the Company to be used by the Employee only in the performance
      of his/her duties for the Company. All such materials or copies thereof
      and all tangible property of the Company in the custody or possession of
      the Employee shall be delivered to the Company, upon the earlier of: (i) a
      request by the Company or (ii) termination of his/her employment. After
      such delivery, the Employee shall not retain any such materials or copies
      thereof or any such tangible property.

(c)   The Employee agrees that his/her obligation not to disclose or to use
      information and materials of the types set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b)
      above, and his/her obligation to

                                       1
<PAGE>

      return materials and tangible property, set forth in paragraph (b) above,
      also extends to such types of information, materials and tangible property
      of customers of the Company or suppliers to the Company or other third
      parties who may have disclosed or entrusted the same to the Company or to
      the Employee.

2.    Developments.

(a)   The Employee will make full and prompt disclosure to the Company of all
      inventions, improvements, discoveries, methods, developments, software,
      and works of authorship, whether patentable or not, which are created,
      made, conceived or reduced to practice by him/her or under his/her
      direction or jointly with others during his/her employment by the Company,
      whether or not during normal working hours or on the premises of the
      Company (all of which are collectively referred to in this Agreement as
      "Developments").

(b)   The Employee agrees to assign and does hereby assign to the Company (or
      any person or entity designated by the Company) all his/her right, title
      and interest in and to all Developments and all related patents, patent
      applications, copyrights and copyright applications. However, this
      paragraph 2(b) shall not apply to Developments which do not relate to the
      present or planned business or research and development of the Company and
      which are made and conceived by the Employee not during normal working
      hours, not on the Company's premises and not using the Company's tools,
      devices, equipment or Proprietary Information. The Employee understands
      that, to the extent this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
      the laws of any state which precludes a requirement in an employee
      agreement to assign certain classes of inventions made by an employee,
      this paragraph 2(b) shall be interpreted not to apply to any invention
      which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.
      The Employee also hereby waives all claims to moral rights in any
      Developments.

(c)   The Employee agrees to cooperate fully with the Company, both during and
      after his/her employment with the Company, with respect to the
      procurement, maintenance and enforcement of copyrights, patents and other
      intellectual property rights (both in the United States and foreign
      countries) relating to Developments. The Employee shall sign all papers,
      including, without limitation, copyright applications, patent
      applications, declarations, oaths, formal assignments, assignments of
      priority rights, and powers of attorney, which the Company may deem
      necessary or desirable in order to protect its rights and interests in any
      Development. The Employee further agrees that if the Company is unable,
      after reasonable effort, to secure the signature of the Employee on any
      such papers, any executive officer of the Company shall be entitled to
      execute any such papers as the agent and the attorney-in-fact of the
      Employee, and the Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints each
      executive officer of the Company as his/her agent and attorney-in-fact to
      execute any such papers on his/her behalf, and to take any and all actions
      as the Company may deem necessary or desirable in order to protect its
      rights and interests in any Development, under the conditions described in
      this sentence.

                                       2
<PAGE>

3.    Other Agreements.

The Employee hereby represents that, except as the Employee has disclosed in
Exhibit 1 to this Agreement or in writing to the Company, the Employee is not
bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party to
refrain from using or disclosing any trade secret or confidential or proprietary
information in the course of his/her employment with the Company or to refrain
from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous
employer or any other party, or which would restrict his/her ability to accept
employment or perform work for the Company. The Employee further represents that
his/her performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an employee of the
Company does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence
proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired by the Employee in
confidence or in trust prior to his/her employment with the Company, and the
Employee will not disclose to the Company or induce the Company to use any
confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any previous
employer or others.

4.    United States Government Obligations.

The Employee acknowledges that the Company from time to time may have agreements
with the other persons or with the United States Government, or agencies
thereof, which impose obligations or restrictions on the Company regarding
inventions made during the course of work under such agreements or regarding the
confidential nature of such work. The Employee agrees to be bound by all such
obligations and restrictions which are made known to the Employee and to take
all action necessary to discharge the obligations of the Company under such
agreements.

5.    Employment Status.

The Employee understand that this Agreement does not constitute a contract of
employment and does not imply that his/her employment will continue for any
period of time.

6.    Miscellaneous.

(a)   The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
      shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of
      this Agreement.

(b)   This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, between
      the Employee and the Company relating to the subject matter of this
      Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified, changed or discharged in
      whole or in part, except by an agreement in writing signed by the Employee
      and the Company. The Employee agrees that any change or changes in his/her
      duties, salary or compensation after the signing of this Agreement shall
      not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.

(c)   This Agreement will be binding upon the Employee's heirs, executors and
      administrators and will inure to the benefit of the Company and its
      successors and assigns.

                                       3
<PAGE>

(d)   No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this
      Agreement will operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or
      consent given by the Company on any one occasion is effective only in that
      instance and will not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right on
      any other occasion.

(e)   The Employee expressly consents to be bound by the provisions of this
      Agreement for the benefit of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate
      thereof to whose employ the Employee may be transferred without the
      necessity that this Agreement be re-signed at the time of such transfer.

(f)   The restrictions contained in this Agreement are necessary for the
      protection of the business and goodwill of the Company and are considered
      by the Employee to be reasonable for such purpose. The Employee agrees
      that any breach of this Agreement is likely to cause the Company
      substantial and irrevocable damage and therefore, in the event of any such
      breach, the Employee agrees that the Company, in addition to such other
      remedies which may be available, shall be entitled to specific performance
      and other injunctive relief.

(g)   This Agreement is governed by and will be construed as a sealed instrument
      under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
      Massachusetts. Any action, suit, or other legal proceeding which is
      commenced to resolve any matter arising under or relating to any provision
      of this Agreement shall be commenced only in a court of the Commonwealth
      of Massachusetts (or, if appropriate, a federal court located within
      Massachusetts), and the Company and the Employee each consents to the
      jurisdiction of such a court.

THE EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE/SHE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT ANT)
UNDERSTANDS AM) AGREES TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT.

WITNESS:

VARIAGENICS, INC.

Date:   7/22/98                           By:  /s/ Fred D. Ledley, M.D.
      -------------                            ------------------------
                                               Fred D. Ledley, M.D.
                                               President & CEO

By Employee:                              By:  /s/ Colin W. Dykes, Ph.D.
                                               -------------------------
                                               Colin W. Dykes, Ph.D.
Date:   7/22/98
     --------------

                                       4
<PAGE>

                                VARIAGENICS, INC.

                                    EXHIBIT 1

                     INVENTION AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

                                Other Agreements

Pursuant to section 3 of this Agreement, the following is a list of pertinent
agreements between the Employee and previous employers or other parties:

          |_|  None

          |_|  As shown below

By:  VARIAGENICS, INC.:                   By:  Employee:

/s/ Fred D Ledley, M.D.                        By: /s/ Colin W. Dykes, Ph.D.
    ----------------------------                   -------------------------
President & CEO                                Colin W. Dykes, Ph.D.

Dated: ______________________             Dated:______________________

                                       5<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

January 21, 2000

Bruce Maloff, Ph.D.
13715 Vernazza Court
San Diego, CA 92130-3172

Dear Bruce:

      On behalf of Taylor Crouch, President and CEO of Variagenics, Inc., I
would like to offer you the position of Executive Vice President, Commercial
Operations based on the following terms and conditions:

      1.    Reporting Relationship: This position will report directly to the
            President/CEO.

      2.    Salary: You will be paid a salary at an annual rate of $210,000.

      3.    Incentive Bonus: You will be eligible to participate in the
            Company's bonus program. The amount of your bonus which is targeted
            for 25% of your base salary is based upon individual and company
            performance. For the first year of your employment the initial six
            months or 50% of the target bonus will be guaranteed. You must be an
            employee at the time of distribution to receive a bonus.

      4.    Stock Options: Subject to approval by the Company's Board of
            Directors, you will be granted options to purchase 100,000 shares,
            Your right to exercise these options will vest according to the
            following schedule:

            a)    25% will vest at the first year anniversary

            b)    The remaining 75% will vest at 1/36 per month.

            The price per share will be determined by the date of employment and
            approval by the Board of Directors.

      5.    Relocation: Variagenics will compensate you for the realtors fee and
            closing costs in selling your home in San Diego. The Company will
            also reimburse you for transportation of household goods from San
            Diego to Boston. Gross up for taxes and closing costs on buying a
            residence in the Boston area will not be paid. Temporary housing
            expense in Boson will be reimbursed for a maximum of three months
            not to exceed $1,500 a month. You will compensate Variagenics 50% of
            the total relocation costs if you voluntarily leave the Company
            within the first twelve months of employment.

      6.    Benefits: A benefit package will be sent separately.
<PAGE>

January21, 2000
Bruce Maloff
Page 2

      7.    Termination: Your employment status will be as an "Employee at
            Will", which means that you or the Company may terminate your
            employment at any time and for any reason. In the event that you are
            terminated by the Company without cause, your base salary will be
            continued for an additional six months.

      8.    Acceptance of Employment and Start Date: This offer must be accepted
            by Monday, January 31, 2000. The start date is February 15, 2000. A
            sign up bonus of $15,000 will be paid within thirty days if you
            initiate employment on February 15, 2000.

      Bruce, we wanted to get this employment offer to you quickly so there may
be a need for additional clarification and/or amendments. Variagenics is excited
about your prospective employment. We believe that you will make a substantial
contribution to the Company's ultimate success.

      Please signify your acceptance of these terms and conditions by signing
this letter and returning to Taylor Crouch by Monday, January 31, 2000.

Sincerely,

William M.  Strawn
President, Strawn Arnold Leech & Ashpitz, Inc.

Agreed to and accepted by; /s/ Bruce Maloff, Ph.D.
                           -----------------------
                               Bruce Maloff, Ph.D.

                  Date:          1/27/00
                        --------------------------

                                       2
<PAGE>

January 24 2000

Bruce Maloff, Ph.D.
13715 Vernazza Court
San Diego, CA 92130-3172

Dear Bruce,

As an addendum to our offer letter dated January 21, 2000 we are adding the
following terms and conditions.

1.    Stock Options: Assuming a start date of February 15, 2000, the exercise
      price of your incentive stock options will not exceed $1.25.

2.    Relocation: The Company will reimburse the reasonable costs of a rental
      car for a maximum of one month. The Company will provide an appropriate
      apartment for temporary housing for a maximum of three months.

3.    Benefits: A summary of benefits is attached.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Bruce, I look forward to welcoming you onto our team!

Sincerely yours.

/s/ Richard P. Shea
-------------------
Rick Shea
V.P. Finance

<PAGE>

                                VARIAGENICS, INC.

                     Invention and Non-Disclosure Agreement

This Agreement is made between VARIAGENICS, INC., a Delaware corporation
(hereinafter referred to collectively with its affiliates and subsidiaries as
the "Company"), and Dr. Bruce Maloff, M.D. (the "Employee"). In consideration
of the employment or the continued employment of the Employee by the Company,
the Company and the Employee agree as follows:

1.    Proprietary Information.

(a)   The Employee agrees that all information, whether or not in writing, of a
      private, secret or confidential nature concerning the Company's business,
      business relationships or financial affairs (collectively, "Proprietary
      Information") is and shall be the exclusive property of the Company. By
      way of illustration, but not limitation, Proprietary Information may
      include inventions, products, processes, methods, techniques, formulas,
      compositions, compounds, projects, developments, plans, research data,
      clinical data, financial data, personnel data, computer programs, customer
      and supplier lists, and contacts at or knowledge of customers or
      prospective customers of the Company. The Employee will not disclose any
      Proprietary Information to any person or entity other than employees of
      the Company or use the same for any purposes (other than in the
      performance of his/her duties as an employee of the Company) without
      written approval by an officer of the Company, either during or after
      his/her employment with the Company, unless and until such Proprietary
      Information has become public knowledge without fault by the Employee.

(b)   The Employee agrees that all files, letters, memoranda, reports, records,
      data, sketches, drawings, laboratory notebooks, program listings, or other
      written, photographic, or other tangible material containing Proprietary
      Information, whether created by the Employee or others, which shall come
      into his/her custody or possession, shall be and are the exclusive
      property of the Company to be used by the Employee only in the performance
      of his/her duties for the Company. All such materials or copies thereof
      and all tangible property of the Company in the custody or possession of
      the Employee shall be delivered to the Company, upon the earlier of: (i) a
      request by the Company or (ii) termination of his/her employment. After
      such delivery, the Employee shall not retain any such materials or copies
      thereof or any such tangible property.

(c)   The Employee agrees that his/her obligation not to disclose or to use
      information and materials of the types set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b)
      above, and his/her obligation to return materials and tangible property,
      set forth in paragraph (b) above, also extends to such types of
      information, materials and tangible property of customers of the Company
      or suppliers to the Company or other third parties who may have disclosed
      or entrusted the same to the Company or to the Employee.

<PAGE>

2.    Developments.

(a)   The Employee will make full and prompt disclosure to the Company of all
      inventions, improvements, discoveries, methods, developments, software,
      and works of authorship, whether patentable or not, which are created,
      made, conceived or reduced to practice by him/her or under his/her
      direction or jointly with others during his/her employment by the Company,
      whether or not during normal working hours or on the premises of the
      Company (all of which are collectively referred to in this Agreement as
      "Developments").

(b)   The Employee agrees to assign and does hereby assign to the Company (or
      any person or entity designated by the Company) all his/her right, title
      and interest in and to all Developments and all related patents, patent
      applications, copyrights and copyright applications. However, this
      paragraph 2(b) shall not apply to Developments which do not relate to the
      present or planned business or research and development of the Company and
      which are made and conceived by the Employee not during normal working
      hours, not on the Company's premises and not using the Company's tools,
      devices, equipment or Proprietary Information. The Employee understands
      that, to the extent this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
      the laws of any state which precludes a requirement in an employee
      agreement to assign certain classes of inventions made by an employee,
      this paragraph 2(b) shall be interpreted not to apply to any invention
      which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.
      The Employee also hereby waives all claims to moral rights in any
      Developments.

(c)   The Employee agrees to cooperate fully with the Company, both during and
      after his/her employment with the Company, with respect to the
      procurement, maintenance and enforcement of copyrights, patents and other
      intellectual property rights (both in the United States and foreign
      countries) relating to Developments. The Employee shall sign all papers,
      including, without limitation, copyright applications, patent
      applications, declarations, oaths, formal assignments, assignments of
      priority rights, and powers of attorney, which the Company may deem
      necessary or desirable in order to protect its rights and interests in any
      Development. The Employee further agrees that if the Company is unable,
      after reasonable effort, to secure the signature of the Employee on any
      such papers, any executive officer of the Company shall be entitled to
      execute any such papers as the agent and the attorney-in-fact of the
      Employee, and the Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints each
      executive officer of the Company as his/her agent and attorney-in-fact to
      execute any such papers on his/her behalf, and to take any and all actions
      as the Company may deem necessary or desirable in order to protect its
      rights and interests in any Development, under the conditions described in
      this sentence.

(d)   Any publications, texts, or other creative writing endeavors unrelated to
      the Company's Business shall be outside the field of this Agreement and
      the provisions of section 2(b)

(e)   Business concepts, models plans, relationships, and other related assets
      developed by the Employee prior to this Agreement related to the topic of
      off-balance sheet drug

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

      development and the management and financing thereof, hereinafter referred
      to as "Off Balance Sheet Drug Development Plans" shall be outside the
      field of this Agreement and the provisions of section 2(b).

3.    Other Agreements.

The Employee hereby represents that, except as the Employee has disclosed in
Exhibit 1 to this Agreement or in writing to the Company, the Employee is not
bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party to
refrain from using or disclosing any trade secret or confidential or proprietary
information in the course of his/her employment with the Company or to refrain
from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous
employer or any other party, or which would restrict his/her ability to accept
employment or perform work for the Company. The Employee further represents that
his/her performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an employee of the
Company does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence
proprietary information, knowledge or data acquired by the Employee in
confidence or in trust prior to his/her employment with the Company, and the
Employee will not disclose to the Company or induce the Company to use any
confidential or proprietary information or material belonging to any previous
employer or others.

4.    United States Government Obligations.

The Employee acknowledges that the Company from time to time may have agreements
with the other persons or with the United States Government, or agencies
thereof, which impose obligations or restrictions on the Company regarding
inventions made during the course of work under such agreements or regarding the
confidential nature of such work. The Employee agrees to be bound by all such
obligations and restrictions which are made known to the Employee and to take
all action necessary to discharge the obligations of the Company under such
agreements.

5.    Employment Status.

The Employee understand that this Agreement does not constitute a contract of
employment and does not imply that his/her employment will continue for any
period of time.

6.    Miscellaneous.

(a)   The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
      shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of
      this Agreement.

(b)   This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, between
      the Employee and the Company relating to the subject matter of this
      Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified, changed or discharged in
      whole or in part, except by an agreement in writing signed by the Employee
      and the Company. The Employee agrees that any change or changes in his/her
      duties, salary or compensation after the signing of this Agreement shall
      not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

(c)   No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this
      Agreement will operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or
      consent given by the Company on any one occasion is effective only in that
      instance and will not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right on
      any other occasion.

(d)   The Employee expressly consents to be bound by the provisions of this
      Agreement for the benefit of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate
      thereof to whose employ the Employee may be transferred without the
      necessity that this Agreement be re-signed at the time of such transfer.

(e)   The restrictions contained in this Agreement are necessary for the
      protection of the business and goodwill of the Company and are considered
      by the Employee to be reasonable for such purpose. The Employee agrees
      that any breach of this Agreement is likely to cause the Company
      substantial and irrevocable damage and therefore, in the event of any such
      breach, the Employee agrees that the Company, in addition to such other
      remedies which may be available, shall be entitled to specific performance
      and other injunctive relief.

(f)   This Agreement is governed by and will be construed as a sealed instrument
      under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
      Massachusetts. Any action, suit, or other legal proceeding which is
      commenced to resolve any matter arising under or relating to any provision
      of this Agreement shall be commenced only in a court of the Commonwealth
      of Massachusetts (or, if appropriate, a federal court located within
      Massachusetts), and the Company and the Employee each consents to the
      jurisdiction of such a court.

THE EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE/SHE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND
UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT.

WITNESS:

VARIAGENICS, INC.

Date:                                    By:  /s/ Taylor J. Crouch
     -----------------------                  ------------------------
                                              Taylor J. Crouch
                                              President & CEO

By Employee:

Date:                                     By: /s/ Bruce Maloff, M.D.
     ------------------------                 -------------------------
                                              Bruce Maloff, M.D.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                     Invention and Non-Disclosure Agreement

                                Other Agreements

Pursuant to section 3 of this Agreement, the following is a list of pertinent
agreements between the Employee and previous employers or other parties:

                  |_|   None
                  |_|   As shown below

By:  VARIAGENICS, INC.:                   By:  Employee:

/s/ Taylor J. Crouch                      /s/ Bruce Maloff, M.D.
----------------------------              ------------------------------

Dated:                                    Dated:
      ----------------------                     -----------------------

                                      -5-

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