Document:

July  10,  2001
David  Benn
c/o  Ascent  Pediatrics,  Inc.
187  Ballardvale  Street  -  Suite  B125
Wilmington,  MA  01877

     Re:  Retention  Payment  Plan
          ------------------------
Dear  David:
     I  am  writing  on  behalf  of  Ascent  Pediatrics, Inc. (the "Company") in
connection  with  the  adoption  by the Board of Directors of the Company of the
2001  Retention Payment Plan to set forth the terms under which the Company will
make  a  payment  to  you  upon  the  consummation of a Company Sale (as defined
below):
1.     Company  Sale  Payment.
       ----------------------
     If  you are an employee of the Company upon the date of the consummation of
a  Company  Sale  (the  "Company  Sale Date"), then upon the consummation of the
Company Sale, the Company will pay you an amount (the "Payment Amount") based on
(a)  the  total consideration received by the Company or the stockholders of the
Company,  as  the  case  may be, from such third party in the Company Sale under
Section  3(b)(i)  below  or  (b)  the  total  value of all outstanding shares of
capital  stock  of the Company based on the per share consideration in a Company
Sale under Section 3(b)(ii) below (each as determined in good faith by the Board
of  Directors  of the Company) as set forth in the table below.  Notwithstanding
the  foregoing,  if  your employment was terminated less than 12 months prior to
the Company Sale Date either (i) by the Company without Cause (as defined below)
or (ii) by you for Good Reason (as defined below), the Company shall pay to you,
upon  the  consummation  of a Company Sale, the Payment Amount as if you were an
employee  of  the  Company  on  the  Company Sale Date, unless during the period
between your date of termination and the Company Sale Date you have breached the
terms of any agreement between you and the Company, including without limitation
any  employment,  consulting,  non-competition  or  confidentiality  agreement.
     Total  Consideration/Value     Payment  Amount
     --------------------------     ---------------
     Less  than  $60.0  million     $150,000
At  least  $60.0  million     $175,000
        but  less  than  $75.0  million
     At  least  $75.0  million     $250,000

2.     Form  of  Payment.
       -----------------
     The  Company  shall pay the Payment Amount to you in cash; provided that if
the consideration paid to the Company or the stockholders of the Company, as the
case  may  be, by the acquiring party consists in whole or in part of securities
or other property of such party (or an affiliate of such party), the Company may
elect,  in  its sole discretion, to pay the Payment Amount to you in whole or in
part  through  the  issuance  to  you of such securities or other property, such
securities or other property being valued in the manner determined in good faith
by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company.
3.     Definitions.
       -----------
1.     "Cause"  shall  mean  (i) conviction of any felony or any crime involving
moral  turpitude  or  dishonesty;  (ii)  participation  in  a  fraud  or  act of
dishonesty  against  the  Company;  (iii)  willful  and  material  breach of the
Company's  policies;  (iv)  intentional  and  material  damage  to the Company's
property;  or  (v)  material  breach  of  your  obligations  or duties under any
agreement  between  you  and  the  Company,  including  without  limitation  any
employment,  consulting,  non-competition  or  confidentiality  agreement.
2.     "Company  Sale"  shall  mean:
(i)     the  sale  of  all  or substantially all of the assets of the Company to
another corporation or entity, or the merger, consolidation or reorganization of
the  Company  into  or with another corporation or entity, with the result that,
upon  conclusion  of  the  transaction,  the  voting  securities  of the Company
immediately  prior  thereto do not represent (either by remaining outstanding or
by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50%
of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the acquiring entity or
the  continuing  or  surviving  entity  of  such  consolidation,  merger  or
reorganization;  or
(ii)     the acquisition after the date hereof by an individual, entity or group
(within  the  meaning  of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"))  (a  "Person") of
beneficial  ownership  of  any  capital  stock  of  the  Company  if, after such
acquisition,  such  Person  beneficially  owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated  under  the  Exchange  Act)  50%  or  more  of  either  (x)  the
then-outstanding  Depositary  Shares of the Company (the "Outstanding Depositary
Shares")  or (y) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of
the  Company  entitled  to  vote  generally  in  the  election of directors (the
"Outstanding  Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the following
                                           --------
acquisitions  shall not constitute a Company Sale:  (A) any acquisition directly
from  the Company (excluding an acquisition pursuant to the exercise, conversion
or  exchange  of  any security exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable
for  Depositary  Shares  or  voting securities of the Company, unless the Person
exercising,  converting  or  exchanging  such  security  acquired  such security
directly  from  the  Company or an underwriter or agent of the Company), (B) any
acquisition  by  any  employee  benefit  plan  (or  related  trust) sponsored or
maintained  by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, (C) any
acquisition  by any corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders
of  the  Company  in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the
Outstanding  Depositary  Shares or the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, or
(D)  any  acquisition in one or more related transactions of less than 2% of the
Outstanding  Depositary  Shares  or  the  Outstanding Company Voting Securities.
3.     Termination  for  "Good  Reason"  shall  occur  if (i) you terminate your
employment  upon  written  notice  given  promptly  but in no event more than 10
business days after the Company's taking any of the actions described below, and
     (ii)  such  written  notice  provides  that  such  termination  will become
effective  30  days  following  such  notice  if  the Company has not cured such
actions  within  such  30-day  period:
1.     the  principal  place  of  the  performance of your responsibilities (the
"Principal Location") is changed to a location outside a thirty (30) mile radius
from  the  Principal  Location  prior  to  the  Company  Sale;
2.     there  is  a  material  diminution in your duties and authority (it being
understood that the failure to retain a position with the Company by itself (and
without  any  associated diminution in duties and authority) shall not be deemed
to  constitute  a  material  diminution  in  duties  and  authority);  or
3.     there  is  a material reduction in your compensation (other than bonus or
other  discretionary  elements  of  your  compensation).
4.     Tax  Implications.
       -----------------
     The  Payment  Amount  shall  be  paid  without  regard  to  whether  the
deductibility of such payment (or any other "parachute payments", as the term is
defined  in  Section  280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"),  to  or for your benefit) would be limited or precluded by Section 280G
and  without  regard to whether such payments (or any other "parachute payments"
as  so  defined)  would  subject you to the federal excise tax levied on certain
"excess parachute payments" under Section 4999 of the Code; provided that if the
total  of  all  "parachute payments" to or for your benefit, after reduction for
all  federal  taxes (including the tax described in Section 4999 of the Code, if
applicable)  with  respect  to  such  payments (the "Total After-Tax Payments"),
would  be  increased by the limitation or elimination of the Payment Amount, the
Payment Amount shall be reduced to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary
to  maximize  the Total After-Tax Payments.  The determination as to whether and
to  what  extent the Payment Amount is required to be reduced in accordance with
the  preceding  sentence  shall  be  made  at  the  Company's  expense  by
PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, or by such other certified public accounting firm as
the  Board may designate prior to a Company Sale.  In the event that the Payment
Amount  is  to  be reduced pursuant to this Section 4, you shall designate which
such payments shall be reduced.  In the event of any underpayment or overpayment
as determined by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (or such other firm as may have been
designated  in  accordance  with  the  preceding  sentence),  the amount of such
underpayment  or  overpayment  shall forthwith be paid to you or refunded to the
Company,  as  the  case  may  be,  with  interest at the applicable federal rate
provided  for  in  Section  1274(d)  of  the  Code.
5.     Termination.
       ------------
     This  letter  and  the Company's obligations to you under this letter shall
terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the third anniversary of the
date  hereof  (the  "Letter  Termination Date"); provided, however, that if your
employment  was  terminated  prior to the Letter Termination Date by the Company
without Cause or by you for Good Reason, then the Company's obligation to pay to
you  the  Payment  Amount under the second sentence of Section 1, if applicable,
shall  survive  the  Letter  Termination  Date.
6.     Miscellaneous.
       -------------
     The Company has agreed to pay you the Payment Amount on the terms contained
in  this  letter in consideration of your continued employment with the Company,
and  the  Company  agrees  to comply with the terms of this letter as such terms
mature.
Please  note, however, that this letter should not be construed as an agreement,
either  express  or  implied,  to  employ you for any stated term, and in no way
alters  the  Company's  policy of employment at will or any employment agreement
between  you and the Company.  Both you and the Company remain free to terminate
the  employment  relationship  at  any  time, with or without cause, and with or
without notice or as otherwise specified in your employment agreement.  Upon any
such  termination, you will cease to be eligible for the payment contemplated by
this  letter,  except  as  otherwise  provided  in  this  letter.
Please  acknowledge  your  receipt  of this letter and your understanding of the
terms  of  this  letter  by  signing  in  the  place  indicated  below.
     ASCENT  PEDIATRICS,  INC.
     By:  /s/  Emmett  Clemente,  Ph.D.
          -----------------------------
     Emmett  Clemente,  Ph.D.

Title:  President

Acknowledged:
/s/  David  Benn
----------------
David  BennAmendment No. 1
                             to Consulting Agreement

     The  Consulting  Agreement  dated  as of October 12, 2000 (the "Agreement")
between  Ascent  Pediatrics,  Inc.  and  Robert  E. Baldini is hereby amended as
follows  as of the 12th day of July, 2001. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise  defined  herein  shall  have the meanings set forth in the Agreement.

     1.     Section  2  "Term"  is  hereby  deleted  and the following is hereby
                         ----
substituted  in  lieu  thereof:

     "2.     Term.  This  Agreement  shall be deemed to have commenced effective
             ----
as  of  April 1, 2000 and, subject to earlier termination in accordance with the
provisions  of Section 4, shall continue until April 1, 2002 (such period, as it
may  be extended, being referred to as the "Consultation Period"); provided that
the Consultation Period shall automatically be extended for additional six-month
periods  unless  either party shall provide written notice to the other at least
30  days  prior  to  such  expiration  of  its  or  his desire to terminate this
Agreement  upon  its  expiration."

     2.     Section  4  "Termination"  is  hereby  deleted  and the following is
                         -----------
hereby  substituted  in  lieu  thereof:

          "4.  Termination.
               -----------

          4.1     General.  The  Company  may, without prejudice to any right or
                  -------
remedy  it  may  have  due  to  any  failure  of  the  Consultant to perform his
obligations  under  this  Agreement,  terminate  the Consultation Period upon 30
days' prior written notice to the Consultant.  In the event of such termination,
the  Consultant  shall  be  entitled  to  (i) payment for services performed and
expenses paid or incurred prior to the effective date of termination and (ii) if
applicable,  the  Payment  Amount  (as  defined  below).  Such  payments  shall
constitute  full  settlement  of  any  and all claims of the Consultant of every
description against the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may
terminate the Consultation Period, effective immediately upon receipt of written
notice,  if  the  Consultant  breaches  or  threatens to breach any provision of
Section  6.

          4.2     Company  Sale  Payment.  If  the date of the consummation of a
                  ----------------------
Company  Sale  (the  "Company Sale Date") occurs during the Consultation Period,
then  upon  the consummation of the Company Sale (as defined below), the Company
will  pay the Consultant Two Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($225,000)
(the  "Payment  Amount").  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if the Consultation
Period  was terminated less than 12 months prior to the Company Sale Date by the
Company  without  Cause  (as  defined  in  Section  4.4(a)),  including  without
limitation  termination  by the Company pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall
pay  to  the  Consultant,  upon  the consummation of a Company Sale, the Payment
Amount,  unless  during  the  period  between  the  date  of  termination of the
Consultation  Period  and  the Company Sale Date the Consultant has breached the
terms of any agreement between the Consultant and the Company, including without
limitation  this  Agreement  or  any  other  employment,  non-competition  or
confidentiality  agreement  entered into between the Company and the Consultant.

          4.3     Form  of Payment.  The Company shall pay the Payment Amount to
                  ----------------
the  Consultant  in cash; provided that if the consideration paid to the Company
or  the  stockholders of the Company, as the case may be, by the acquiring party
consists  in  whole or in part of securities or other property of such party (or
an  affiliate  of  such  party)  (it being understood that the Company currently
intends  to  seek  to  cause  the  acquiring party to pay cash), the Company may
elect,  in  its  sole discretion, to pay the Payment Amount to the Consultant in
whole  or  in  part through the issuance to the Consultant of such securities or
other  property,  such  securities  or other property being valued in the manner
determined  in  good  faith  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company.
          4.4     Definitions.
                  -----------
               (a)     "Cause"  shall  mean  (i) conviction of any felony or any
crime  involving moral turpitude or dishonesty; (ii) participation in a fraud or
act  of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) willful and material breach of the
Company's  policies;  (iv)  intentional  and  material  damage  to the Company's
property;  or (v) material breach of the obligations or duties of the Consultant
under  any  agreement  between the Consultant and the Company, including without
limitation  this  Agreement  or  any  other  employment,  non-competition  or
confidentiality  agreement  entered into between the Company and the Consultant.

               (b)     "Company  Sale"  shall  mean:

                    (i)     the  sale  of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company to another corporation or entity, or the merger, consolidation or
reorganization  of  the Company into or with another corporation or entity, with
the  result  that,  upon conclusion of the transaction, the voting securities of
the  Company  immediately  prior  thereto  do not represent (either by remaining
outstanding  or  by  being  converted  into  voting  securities of the surviving
entity)  more  than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of
the  acquiring  entity  or  the  continuing  or  surviving  entity  of  such
consolidation,  merger  or  reorganization;  or

                    (ii)     the  acquisition  after  the  date  hereof  by  an
individual,  entity  or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section
14(d)(2)  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"))  (a "Person") of beneficial ownership of any capital stock of the Company
if, after such acquisition, such Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of
Rule  13d-3  promulgated  under  the Exchange Act) 50% or more of either (x) the
then-outstanding  Depositary  Shares of the Company (the "Outstanding Depositary
Shares")  or (y) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of
the  Company  entitled  to  vote  generally  in  the  election of directors (the
"Outstanding  Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the following
                                           --------  -------
acquisitions  shall not constitute a Company Sale:  (A) any acquisition directly
from  the Company (excluding an acquisition pursuant to the exercise, conversion
or  exchange  of  any security exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable
for  Depositary  Shares  or  voting securities of the Company, unless the Person
exercising,  converting  or  exchanging  such  security  acquired  such security
directly  from  the  Company or an underwriter or agent of the Company), (B) any
acquisition  by  any  employee  benefit  plan  (or  related  trust) sponsored or
maintained  by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, (C) any
acquisition  by any corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders
of  the  Company  in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the
Outstanding  Depositary  Shares or the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, or
(D)  any  acquisition in one or more related transactions of less than 2% of the
Outstanding  Depositary  Shares  or  the Outstanding Company Voting Securities."

     3.     Section  14  "Effect  of  Termination"  is  hereby  deleted  and the
                          -----------------------
following  is  hereby  substituted  in  lieu  thereof:

     "14.     Effect  of  Termination.  The following sections of this Agreement
              -----------------------
shall  survive  the  termination  of  this  Agreement:  Section 4 (Termination),
Section  6  (Inventions  and  Proprietary  Information),  Section 7 (Independent
Contractor  Status), Section 8 (Notices), Section 12 (Governing Law), Section 13
(Successors  and  Assigns),  and  Section  14  (Effect  of  Termination)."

     4.     In  all other respects, the Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect,  and  all references in the Agreement to this "Agreement" shall mean the
Agreement  as  amended  hereby.

     IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of
the  day  and  year  set  forth  above.

     ASCENT  PEDIATRICS,  INC.
     By:   __/s/  Emmett  Clemente,  Ph. D.
            -------------------------------
     Emmett  Clemente,  Ph.  D.
     Title:     President

     CONSULTANT
     By:  __/s/  Robert  E.  Baldini
          --------------------------
     Robert  E.  Baldini

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00031-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00031-of-00352.parquet"}]]