Document:

exv10w16

 

Exhibit 10.16

September 2, 2003

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

David Cory

San Francisco, CA

Dear David:

     On behalf of Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), it gives me great pleasure to
offer you the position of Chief Commercial Officer, Prestwick Pharmaceuticals. You have the
qualities that distinguish successful executives: vision, intelligence, humility, a bias to action,
and a desire to make a difference. We believe that your highly relevant experience will add
substantially to the team, contribute greatly to the ultimate success equation, and provide the
Company with the leadership and vision that you have previously demonstrated. The Board and I are
without exception extremely enthusiastic about your accepting this offer.

This letter embodies the terms of the offer of employment (“the Agreement”) with you:

     1. Employment Duties. You shall devote your full time, ability, attention, energy and
skills solely and exclusively to performing all duties customarily associated with your position,
and as assigned or delegated to you by the Company. You will report to the Chief Executive Officer.

     2. Start Date. If you accept this offer, your employment with the Company shall begin
no later than September 15, 2003 (your “Start Date”). You hereby acknowledge that the terms of this
offer letter, and your performance hereunder, are not inconsistent with and will not breach any of
your contractual obligations, expressed or implied, to any third party.

     3. Salary. Upon employment as the CCO, you shall be compensated at a rate of $240,000
per year, to be paid per the Company’s typical payroll schedule. Your salary will be reviewed
annually by the CEO and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. You may also be eligible
for a cash bonus and/or stock options at the CEO’s discretion based on a bonus plan to be agreed by
you and the CEO, provided that you will be eligible for an annual performance bonus of up to 40% of
your base salary. The Company shall withhold and deduct all federal and state income, social
security and disability taxes as required by applicable laws. The Company may modify compensation
and benefits at any time, as permitted by law.

 

 

     4. Stock Option. Upon employment as the CCO, you will be granted a stock option to
purchase 425,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Company’s 2003 Equity
Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), subject to approval of the BOD (the “Option”). If the BOD does not
approve the Option, you may resign immediately while still being entitled to severance equivalent
to one-half of year’s (6 months) salary. The exercise price for the Option will be equal to the
fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock at the time of grant. The Option will vest over a
four-year period, with 25% of the options vesting on the one-year anniversary of your Start Date,
and 1/36 of the balance of the options vesting on the last day of each month thereafter. Your stock
options will be governed by the terms of the Plan and the Company’s standard form of stock option
agreements, which you will be required to execute as a condition of grant.

     5. Vacation, Holidays, Sick Leave, and Additional Benefits. You will be entitled to 15
days of paid vacation, and Paid Time Off and holidays as per standard Company benefits. The
Company offers a comprehensive benefits program for its employees, for which you are eligible.
Benefits include company paid medical insurance and dental insurance and 401K plan. You shall also
be entitled to reimbursement by the Company for such customary, ordinary and necessary business
expenses as are incurred by you in the performance of your duties and activities associated with
promoting and maintaining the business of the Company.

     6. Signing Bonus. In consideration for signing on as CCO, you shall be awarded a
signing bonus of $50,000, to be paid on your first day of full-time employment with the Company,
which must be repaid by you to the Company in the event that your employment is terminated by you
for any reason other than your death, or by the Company for Cause (as defined below) prior to the
one year anniversary of the Start Date.

     7. Acceleration of Vesting. In the event of an Asset Transfer or Acquisition (each as
defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) during your employment,
and if one of the following events occurs within twelve (12) months following such Asset Transfer
or Acquisition: (i) you are terminated without “Cause” (as defined below); (ii) the principal place
of the performance of your responsibilities and duties is changed to a location outside of a forty
(40) mile radius from your then current principal place of residence; or (iii) there is a
substantial reduction in your responsibilities, duties, or base pay that has not been cured within
thirty (30) days after written notice from you of such event, then the Option shall immediately
become fully vested upon such event.

     8. Proprietary Rights and Confidentiality. As a condition of your employment with the
Company, you shall execute, contemporaneously with the execution of this agreement, the Proprietary
Information, Non-Solicitation, and Invention Assignment Agreement and incorporated herein by this
reference. This agreement must be signed prior to initiation of employment. You will be expected to
abide by Company rules and regulations. In your work for the Company, you will be expected not to
use or disclose any confidential information, including

 

 

trade secrets, of any former employer or other person to whom you have an obligation of
confidentiality. Rather, you will be expected to use only that information which is generally known
and used by persons with training and experience comparable to your own, which is common knowledge
in the industry or otherwise legally in the public domain, or which is otherwise provided or
developed by the Company. You also agree that you will not bring onto Company premises any
unpublished documents or property belonging to any former employer or other person to whom you have
an obligation of confidentiality.

     9. At Will Employment. The Company believes that the best work environment is one
where both you and the Company voluntarily agree to work together. Therefore, your employment with
the Company is “at-will” which means that either you or the Company may terminate the employment
relationship at any time for any reason, with or without cause or advance notice.

     10. Severance. In the event that your employment with the Company is terminated by the
Company without “Cause” (as defined below), subject to your compliance with the noncompetition
provisions of the attached Proprietary Information, Inventions, and Non- Competition Agreement, and
upon your execution of a release in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, you will be
entitled to receive a severance in the form of payments at your then current base salary for a
period of six months. Any severance payment paid to you under this Section 9 will be subject to
applicable tax withholding and can be paid, at the Company’s option, periodically in accordance
with the Company’s normal payroll. The severance payment you receive under this paragraph shall be
in lieu of any further payments to you. Being terminated for “Cause” shall specifically mean, (i)
conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty; (ii) participation in
a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) willful breach of your duties to the
Company or failure to follow lawful directions of the CEO or Board of Directors, in either case if
such breach or failure has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice from the
Company’s CEO or Board of Directors of such event; (iv) intentional and material damage to the
Company’s property; or (v) material breach of the attached Proprietary Information, Inventions and
Non-Competition Agreement.

     11. Disputes. While the Company hopes in each instance that its employment
relationships will be free of controversy, we are aware that disputes sometimes do arise. In the
event any dispute arises between you and the Company or you and any employee of the Company, then,
to the extent permitted by law, it shall be settled exclusively by binding arbitration before a
single arbitrator in accordance with the Employment ADR Rules of the American Arbitration
Association. The arbitrator shall be appointed by both parties to this Agreement, and shall be a
person independent of the parties. If the parties are unable to agree on the arbitrator within a
reasonable period of time, then they shall apply to the local chapter of American Arbitration
Association, who will make such appointment according to their rules and the requirements of this
Agreement. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding upon the parties, and may be
entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction by either of the

 

 

parties. The arbitrator shall have the power to grant temporary, preliminary and permanent
relief, including without limitation, injunctive relief and specific performance. The Company will
pay the direct costs and expenses of the arbitration. You and the Company are responsible for your
respective attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with enforcing this offer letter; however, you
and the Company agree that, except as may be prohibited by law, the arbitrator may, in his or her
discretion, award reasonable attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party.

     12. Indemnification and D&O Insurance. The Company currently has in place Directors
and Officers Liability Insurance, which also covers you in your position.

     This
Agreement, together with the Employee Proprietary Information,
Inventions, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements, contain the entire agreement between you and the
Company regarding the terms of your employment and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous
agreements or understandings with respect thereto. If you wish to accept this offer of employment,
please sign in the space provided below. By so signing, you acknowledge that you have received no
inducements or representations other than those set forth in this letter, which caused you to
accept this offer of employment. This offer expires at 8pm, PDT, on September 5, 2003.

     We look forward to your favorable reply and to a productive and enjoyable work relationship.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Very truly yours,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	

	 	 	 	  Robert S. Whitehead
  Chief
Executive Officer	 	 

I have read this offer and I understand and accept its terms:

	 	 	 
	David Cory

	 	Dateexv10w17

 

Exhibit 10.17

November 7, 2003

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Christopher O’Brien, MD

906 El Mac Place

San Diego, CA 92106

Dear Chris:

     On behalf of Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), it gives me great pleasure to
offer you the position of Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, of Prestwick Pharmaceuticals.
In addition to your academic credentials and experience, you have the personal qualities that
distinguish successful executives: vision, high integrity, intelligence, humility, a bias to
action, and a desire to make a difference. We believe that you will add substantially to the team,
contribute greatly to the ultimate success equation, and provide the Company with the leadership
and vision that you have previously demonstrated. The Board and I are without exception extremely
enthusiastic about your accepting this offer.

This letter embodies the terms of the offer of employment (“the Agreement”) with you:

     1. Employment Duties. You shall devote your full time, ability, attention, energy and
skills solely and exclusively to performing all duties customarily associated with your position,
and as assigned or delegated to you by the Company. You will report to the President, Research &
Development and be a member of the Executive Team.1 In addition to you duties as Vice
President, Clinical & Medical Affairs, you will be provided the time to continue in your volunteer
faculty position up to two half days each month.

     2. Start Date. If you accept this offer, your employment with the Company shall begin
no later than December 2, 2003 (your “Start Date”). You hereby acknowledge that the terms of this
offer letter, and your performance hereunder, are not inconsistent with and will not breach any of
your contractual obligations, expressed or implied, to any third party.

     3. Salary. Upon employment as the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, you shall
be compensated at a rate of $300,000 per year, to be paid per the Company’s typical payroll
schedule. Your salary will be reviewed annually by the CEO and Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors. You may also be eligible for a cash bonus

1 Includes CEO, President, Research &
Development, Chief Commercial Officer, General Counsel & Head of Business
Development and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

and/or stock options at the CEO’s discretion based on a bonus plan to be agreed by you and the CEO,
provided that you will be eligible for an annual performance bonus of up to 40% of your base
salary. The Company shall withhold and deduct all federal and state income, social security and
disability taxes as required by applicable laws. The Company may modify compensation and benefits
at any time, as permitted by law.

     4. Stock Option. Upon employment as the Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, you
will be granted a stock option to purchase 425,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant
to the Company’s 2003 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), subject to approval of the BOD (the
“Option”). If the BOD does not approve the Option, you may resign immediately while still being
entitled to severance equivalent to one-half of year’s (6 months) salary. The exercise price for
the Option will be equal to the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock at the time of
grant. The Option will vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the options vesting on the
one-year anniversary of your Start Date, and 1/36 of the balance of the options vesting on the last
day of each month thereafter. Your stock options will be governed by the terms of the Plan and the
Company’s standard form of stock option agreements, which you will be required to execute as a
condition of grant.

     5. Vacation, Holidays, Sick Leave, and Additional Benefits. You will be entitled to 20
days of paid vacation, and Paid Time Off and holidays as per standard Company benefits. The Company
offers a comprehensive benefits program for its employees, for which you are eligible. Benefits
include company paid medical insurance and dental insurance and 401K plan. You shall also be
entitled to reimbursement by the Company for such customary, ordinary and necessary business
expenses as are incurred by you in the performance of your duties and activities associated with
promoting and maintaining the business of the Company.

     6. Signing Bonus. In consideration for signing on as Vice President & Chief Medical
Officer, you shall be awarded a signing bonus of $100,000, to be paid on your first day of
full-time employment with the Company, which must be repaid by you to the Company in the event that
your employment is terminated by you for any reason other than your death, or by the Company for
Cause (as defined below) prior to the one year anniversary of the Start Date.

     7. Acceleration of Vesting. In the event of an Asset Transfer or Acquisition (each as
defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) during your employment,
and if one of the following events occurs within twelve (12) months following such Asset Transfer
or Acquisition: (i) you are terminated without “Cause” (as defined below); or(ii) there is a
substantial reduction in your responsibilities, duties, or base pay that has not been cured within
thirty (30) days after written notice from you of such event, then the Option shall immediately
become fully vested upon such event.

     8. Proprietary Rights and Confidentiality. As a condition of your employment with the
Company, you shall execute, contemporaneously with the execution of this agreement, the

 

 

Proprietary Information, Non-Solicitation, and Invention Assignment Agreement and incorporated
herein by this reference. This agreement must be signed prior to initiation of employment. You will
be expected to abide by Company rules and regulations. In your work for the Company, you will be
expected not to use or disclose any confidential information, including trade secrets, of any
former employer or other person to whom you have an obligation of confidentiality. Rather, you will
be expected to use only that information which is generally known and used by persons with training
and experience comparable to your own, which is common knowledge in the industry or otherwise
legally in the public domain, or which is otherwise provided or developed by the Company. You also
agree that you will not bring onto Company premises any unpublished documents or property belonging
to any former employer or other person to whom you have an obligation of confidentiality.

     9. At Will Employment. The Company believes that the best work environment is one
where both you and the Company voluntarily agree to work together. Therefore, your employment with
the Company is “at-will” which means that either you or the Company may terminate the employment
relationship at any time for any reason, with or without cause or advance notice.

     10. Severance. In the event that your employment with the Company is terminated by the
Company without “Cause” (as defined below), subject to your compliance with the non-competition
provisions of the attached Proprietary Information, Inventions, and Non-Competition Agreement, and
upon your execution of a release in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, you will be
entitled to receive a severance in the form of payments at your then current base salary for a
period of six months. Any severance payment paid to you under this Section 9 will be subject to
applicable tax withholding and can be paid, at the Company’s option, periodically in accordance
with the Company’s normal payroll. The severance payment you receive under this paragraph shall be
in lieu of any further payments to you. Being terminated for “Cause” shall specifically mean, (i)
conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty; (ii) participation in
a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) willful breach of your duties to the
Company or failure to follow lawful directions of the CEO or Board of Directors, in either case if
such breach or failure has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice from the
Company’s CEO or Board of Directors of such event; (iv) intentional and material damage to the
Company’s property; or (v) material breach of the attached Proprietary Information, Inventions and
Non-Competition Agreement.

     11. Disputes. While the Company hopes in each instance that its employment
relationships will be free of controversy, we are aware that disputes sometimes do arise. In the
event any dispute arises between you and the Company or you and any employee of the Company, then,
to the extent permitted by law, it shall be settled exclusively by binding arbitration before a
single arbitrator in accordance with the Employment ADR Rules of the American Arbitration
Association. The arbitrator shall be appointed by both parties to this

 

 

Agreement, and shall be a person independent of the parties. If the parties are unable to agree on
the arbitrator within a reasonable period of time, then they shall apply to the local chapter of
American Arbitration Association, who will make such appointment according to their rules and the
requirements of this Agreement. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding upon the
parties, and may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction by either of the
parties. The arbitrator shall have the power to grant temporary, preliminary and permanent relief,
including without limitation, injunctive relief and specific performance. The Company will pay the
direct costs and expenses of the arbitration. You and the Company are responsible for your
respective attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with enforcing this offer letter; however, you
and the Company agree that, except as may be prohibited by law, the arbitrator may, in his or her
discretion, award reasonable attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party.

     12. Indemnification and D&O Insurance. The Company currently has in place Directors
and Officers Liability Insurance, which also covers you in your position.

     This Agreement, together with the Employee Proprietary Information, Inventions,
Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements, contain the entire agreement between you and the
Company regarding the terms of your employment and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous
agreements or understandings with respect thereto. If you wish to accept this offer of employment,
please sign in the space provided below. By so signing, you acknowledge that you have received no
inducements or representations other than those set forth in this letter, which caused you to
accept this offer of employment. This offer expires at 8pm, PDT, on November 14, 2003.)

     We look forward to your favorable reply and to a productive and enjoyable work relationship.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Very truly yours,

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Robert S. Whitehead 	 
	 	 	Chief Executive Officer

Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 	 

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 

I have read this offer and I understand and accept its terms:

	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	Christopher O’Brien, MD

	 	Date

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