Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT

 

This
Agreement (the “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of December 14, 2022 (the “Agreement Date”),
by and between Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), and David Lazar (the “Executive”, and
together with the Company, the “Parties”)

 

NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, it is hereby covenanted and agreed by the Company
and the Executive as follows:

 

1. Employment.
Effective August 16, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), the Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive in the position
of Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Executive, in such capacity, agrees to the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth. Executive shall have the customary powers, responsibilities and authorities of CEO of corporations of the size, type and nature
of the Company, as it exists from time to time. Executive shall report to the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”).

 

2. Compensation.
During the Term, the Company shall provide the following compensation to the Executive for his services hereunder:

 

(a) Salary.
The Company shall pay Executive a base salary of $406,000 per annum, or $33,833.33 monthly less applicable taxes and withholdings, in
accordance with the Company’s standard payroll procedures (the “Base Salary”). The Company shall review the
Base Salary annually and the Base Salary may be increased during the Term. Due to the Company’s current liquidity condition, the
Executive agrees to take a salary of $10,000.00 per month until such time that the Company’s Compensation Committee determines
that the Company has sufficient liquidity to pay the full salary. The monthly difference of $23,833 per month shall be deferred and accrued
by the Company (the “Deferred Compensation”).

 

(b) Annual
Incentive Awards. Subject to approval of the Compensation Committee, the Company shall provide Executive with annual grants in the
form of (i) options or (ii) restricted stock, (together with options, the “Awards”) with the value of such Awards at the
time of grant equivalent to his Base Salary. Such awards shall be subject to the Company’s equity incentive plan (the “Plan”)
and the award agreement.

 

(c) Annual
Bonus. Executive will be eligible for an annual bonus, with a target of fifty percent (50%) of the Executive’s then Base Salary,
payable in (i) cash and/or (ii) restricted stock under the Plan (“Annual Bonus”). Such Annual Bonus shall be at the sole
discretion of the Compensation Committee and shall be paid at the end of the Company’s fiscal year.

 

(d) Performance
Bonus. In addition to the Annual Bonus, Executive shall be eligible for three performance bonuses on an annual basis (each as “Performance
Bonus”), each equal to fifty percent (50%) of Executive’s then Base Salary. upon the achievement of, the certain milestones.
Executive shall earn the first Performance Bonus if the Company obtains $1.0 million of new cash in any year as a result of outside financing
and/or the sale of the Company’s assets; Executive shall earn an additional Performance Bonus if the Company obtains $3.0 million
of new cash in any year as a result of outside financing and/or the sale of the Company’s assets; Executive shall earn a third
Performance Bonus if the Company obtains $5.0 million of new cash in any year as a result of outside financing and/or the sale of the
Company’s assets. Executive shall be eligible for three Performance Bonuses each year and each Performance Bonus shall be payable,
in (i) cash and/or (ii) restricted stock under the Plan, within thirty (30) days of the applicable achievement. .

 

     

     

    

 

(e) Special
Bonus. In the event of a Change in Control, the Company (or any successor entity) shall pay to Employee a lump-sum amount equal to
three percent (3%) of the increased valuation of the surviving corporation resulting from such Change in Control (as determined by either
(i) the definitive agreement governing the Change in Control or (ii) the highest market cap of the surviving corporation within the thirty
(30) days following the Change in Control), less applicable taxes and withholdings. Such bonus shall be paid to Executive in cash, restricted
stock, or a combination thereof in full thirty (30) days following the close of the transaction that has created the Change in Control.
For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of
related transactions, of any one or more of the following events (excluding in any case transactions in which the Company or its successors
issues securities to investors primarily for capital raising purposes): (i) the acquisition by a third party (or more than one party
acting as a group) of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s
then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction; (ii) the closing of a merger, consolidation,
acquisition, or other business combination (a “Business Combination”) other than a Business Combination in which the holders
of the shares immediately prior to the Business Combination have substantially the same proportionate ownership of the common stock of
the surviving corporation immediately after the Business Combination as immediately before; (iii) the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company; or (iv) the sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. .
The form of payment of this bonus if achieved whether it is in cash, option awards, restricted stock or a combination thereof, shall
be at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

 

(f) Benefits;
Vacation; Perquisites. The Executive shall, in accordance with Company policy and the applicable plan documents, be eligible to participate
in benefits under any benefit plan or arrangement, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance programs, that may
be in effect from time to time and made available to the Company’s senior management employees, subject to the terms and conditions
of those benefit plans. If Executive elects not to participate in a Company medical and dental plan, he shall be reimbursed up to $25,000
per year to participate in a medical and dental plan of his own choosing.

 

(g) Travel
and Entertainment. The Executive shall be reimbursed by the Company for all reasonable business, promotional, travel and entertainment
expenses incurred or paid by the Executive during the Term in the performance of his services under this Agreement in accordance with
the Company’s reimbursement policy.

 

3.Term.
The terms set forth in this Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and shall remain in effect for three (3) years (the “Term”)
unless earlier terminated as otherwise provided in Section 4 below. The Term shall automatically renew for additional one (1) year periods
(each, the “Term” or the “Renewal Term”), unless earlier terminated as otherwise provided in Section 4 below
or either party provides written notice of its intention not to renew at least forty-five (45) days before the expiration of the Term.
Notwithstanding the above, Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive’s employment status is that of an employee-at-will
and that Executive’s employment may be terminated by either Executive or the Company at any time with or without Cause, subject
to the obligations provided in Section 4 and 5 below.

 

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4. Termination.

 

(a) Termination
at the Company’s Election.

 

(i) For
Cause. At the election of the Company, Executive’s employment and this Agreement may be terminated for Cause immediately upon
written notice to Executive. “Cause” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events, as determined by the Company
and/or the Board in its and/or their sole and absolute discretion: (i) the willful refusal by Executive to perform his material duties
or obligations under this Agreement or to follow lawful directions received by Executive from the Board; (ii) any grossly negligent act
by Executive having the effect of materially injuring (whether financially or otherwise) the business or reputation of the Company or
any willful act by Executive intended to cause such material injury, except any acts (A) made by Executive in connection with the enforcement
of his rights, whether under this Agreement, any other agreement between the Company or any affiliate and Executive, or pursuant to applicable
law (e.g. disparagement, etc.) or (B) which are required by law or pursuant to a subpoena or demand by a governmental or regulatory body;
(iii) Executive’s indictment of any felony involving moral turpitude (including entry of a nolo contendere plea); (iv) the determination,
after a reasonable and good-faith investigation by a third-party or law firm engaged by the Company, that the Executive engaged in discrimination
prohibited by law (including, without limitation, age, sex or race discrimination); (v) Executive’s material misappropriation or
embezzlement of the property of the Company or its Affiliates (whether or not a misdemeanor or felony); or (vi) material breach by Executive
of this Agreement and/or of the Company’s confidential information or other non-disclosure agreement to which Executive is a party;
provided, however, that, any such termination of Executive shall only be deemed for Cause pursuant to this definition if: (1) the Company
gives the Executive written notice of the condition(s) alleged to constitute Cause, which notice shall describe such condition(s); and
(2) the Executive fails to remedy such condition(s) (if curable) within thirty (30) days following receipt of the written notice.

 

(ii) Upon
Disability, Death or Without Cause. At the election of the Company, Executive’s employment and this Agreement may be terminated
without Cause: (A) should Executive, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment, become unable to perform,
with or without reasonable accommodation, the essential functions of his job for the Company hereunder and such incapacity has continued
for a total of ninety (90) consecutive days or for any one hundred eighty (180) days in a period of three hundred sixty-five (365) consecutive
days (a “Disability”); (B) upon Executive’s death (“Death”); or (C) upon 21 days’ written notice
to Executive for any other reason or for no reason at all (“Without Cause”).

 

(b) Termination
by Executive.

 

(i) Voluntary
Resignation. Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, Executive may terminate his employment
hereunder at any time and for any reason whatsoever or for no reason at all in Executive’s sole discretion by giving 21 days’
written notice to the Company pursuant to Section 10 (“Voluntary Resignation”).

 

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(ii) For
Good Reason. At the election of the Executive, Executive’s employment and this Agreement may be terminated for Good Reason
upon written notice to the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, and subject to the caveat at the end of this Section, “Good
Reason” for Executive to terminate his employment hereunder shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events without Executive’s
prior written consent: (i) any reduction by the Company of Executive’s Base Salary as initially set forth herein or as the same
may be increased from time to time, provided, however, that if such reduction is less than 15% and occurs in connection with a Company-wide
decrease in executive compensation, such reduction shall not constitute Good Reason for Executive to terminate his employment; (ii) a
material breach by the Company (or any of its affiliates) of this Agreement or any other written agreement between the Company or any
of its affiliates and Executive; (iii) a material adverse change in Executive’s duties, titles, authority, responsibilities or
reporting relationships, with such determination being made with reference to the greatest extent of Executive’s duties, titles,
authority, responsibilities or reporting relationships, etc. as increased (but not decreased) from time to time; or (iv) any failure
of the Company or any affiliate to pay Executive any amount owed to Executive under this Agreement or any other written agreement plan
or program between the Company, any affiliates and Executive; (v) any reduction in Executive’s bonus eligibility. Provided, however,
that, any such termination by the Executive shall only be deemed for Good Reason pursuant to this definition if: (1) the Executive gives
the Company written notice of his intent to terminate for Good Reason; which notice shall describe such condition(s); (2) the Company
fails to remedy such condition(s) within thirty (30) days following receipt of the written notice the “Cure Period”); and
(3) Executive voluntarily terminates his employment within thirty (30) days following the end of the Cure Period.

 

5. Payments
Upon Termination of Employment.

 

(a) Termination
for Cause or Voluntary Resignation. If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or is terminated by Executive
as a Voluntary Resignation, then the Company shall pay or provide to Executive the following amounts only: (i) his Base Salary accrued
up to and including the date of termination or resignation, paid within thirty (30) days or at such earlier time required by applicable
law; (ii) any Deferred Compensation; (iii) unreimbursed expenses, paid in accordance with this Agreement and the Company’s written
policies; (iv) any accrued but unpaid Annual Bonus or Performance Bonus; and (v) accrued benefits under any Company benefit plan, paid
pursuant to the terms of such benefit plan (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”).

 

(b) Termination
Without Cause or for Good Reason. If the Company terminates Executive’s employment Without Cause or because of Executive’s
Death or Disability, or Executive terminates for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, the Company shall provide Executive,
or his estate, (1) severance in the form of continuation of his salary (at the Base Salary rate in effect at the time of termination,
but prior to any reduction triggering Good Reason) for the greater of a period of twelve (12) months following the termination date or
the remaining Term; (2) payment of Executive’s annual medical and dental reimbursement for a period of twelve (12) months following
the termination date; and (3) a prorated bonus equal to sum the target Annual Bonus and the three Performance Bonuses for the year of
termination multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of full and partial months Executive worked for the
Company and the denominator of which shall be 12, (4) immediate accelerated vesting of any unvested Awards. These payments under (1),
(2), (3) and (4) above will be subject to standard payroll deductions and withholdings and will be made on the Company’s regular
payroll cycle, provided, however, that such payments are subject to Executive’s execution and delivery of a general release (that
is no longer subject to revocation under applicable law) of the Company, its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates and each of their respective
officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns in a form satisfactory to the Company. All payments under this Section
above shall begin to be made within sixty (60) days following termination of employment; provided, however, that to the extent required
by Code Section 409A (as defined below), if the sixty (60) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in the second calendar year,
all payments will be made in the second calendar year. The payments under this Section 5(b) shall immediately cease should Executive
materially violate any of the obligations set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below.

 

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6. Restrictive
Covenants. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Executive has a major responsibility for the operation, development
and growth of the Company’s business; (ii) the Executive’s work for the Company will bring him into close contact with Confidential
Information (defined below) of the Company and its clients; and (iii) the agreements and covenants contained in this Section 6 are essential
to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company and that the Company will not enter into this Employment Agreement but for
such agreements and covenants. Accordingly, the Executive covenants and agrees to the following:

 

(a) Confidential
Information.

 

(i) Executive
understands that during his employment and under this Agreement, he may have access to unpublished and otherwise confidential information
both of a technical and non-technical nature, relating to the business of the Company or any of its parents, subsidiaries, divisions,
affiliates (collectively, “Affiliated Entities”), or clients, including without limitation any of their actual or anticipated
business, research or development, any of their technology or the implementation or exploitation thereof, including without limitation
information Executive and others have collected, obtained or created, information pertaining to clients, accounts, vendors, prices, costs,
materials, processes, codes, material results, technology, system designs, system specifications, materials of construction, trade secrets
or equipment designs, including information disclosed to the Company or any of its Affiliated Entities by others under agreements to
hold such information confidential (collectively, the “Confidential Information”). Executive agrees to observe all policies
and procedures of the Company and its Affiliated Entities concerning such Confidential Information. Executive further agrees not to disclose
or use, either during his employment or at any time thereafter, any Confidential Information for any purpose, including without limitation
any competitive purpose, unless authorized to do so by the Company in writing, except that he may disclose and use such information in
the good faith performance of his duties for the Company. Executive’s obligations under this Employment Agreement will continue
with respect to Confidential Information, whether or not his employment is terminated, until such information becomes generally available
from public sources through no fault of Executive or any representative of Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, Executive
shall be permitted to disclose Confidential Information as may be required by a subpoena or other governmental order, provided that he
first notifies the Company of such subpoena, order or other requirement and such that the Company has the opportunity to obtain a protective
order or other appropriate remedy.

 

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(ii) During
Executive’s employment, upon the Company’s request, or upon the termination of his employment for any reason, Executive will
promptly deliver to the Company all documents, records, files, notebooks, manuals, letters, notes, reports, client information and lists,
cost and profit data, e-mail, apparatus, laptops, computers, smartphones, tablets or other PDAs, hardware, software, drawings, blueprints,
and any other material of the Company or any of its Affiliated Entities or clients, including all materials pertaining to Confidential
Information developed by Executive or others, and all copies of such materials, whether of a technical, business or fiscal nature, whether
on the hard drive of a laptop or desktop computer, in hard copy, disk or any other format, which are in his possession, custody or control.

 

(b) Non-Solicitation.
During the Term and for a period of one year after employment, Executive shall not: (i) solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce,
any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company; or (ii) solicit or attempt to solicit the business of any client or customer
of the Company with respect to products, services, or investments similar to those provided or supplied by the Company.

 

(c) Executive
agrees that if the duration of, the scope of or any business activity covered by any provision of this Section 6 is in excess of what
is determined to be valid and enforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, scope
or activity that is determined to be valid and enforceable. Executive hereby acknowledges that this Section 6 shall be given the construction
that renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent, not exceeding its express terms, possible under applicable law.

 

7. Representations,
Warranties and Covenants of the Executive.

 

(a) No
Restrictive Covenants. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is not subject to any agreement restricting his ability
to enter into this Agreement and fully carry out his duties and responsibilities hereunder.

 

(b) Assignment
of Intellectual Property.

 

(i) Executive
will promptly disclose to the Company any idea, invention, discovery or improvement, whether patentable or not (“Creations”),
conceived or made by him alone or with others at any time during his employment with the Company. Executive agrees that the Company owns
any such Creations, and Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company all moral and other rights he has or may acquire
therein and agrees to execute any and all applications, assignments and other instruments relating thereto which the Company deems necessary
or desirable. These obligations shall continue beyond the termination of his employment with respect to Creations and derivatives of
such Creations conceived or made during his employment with the Company. The Company and Executive understand that the obligation to
assign Creations to the Company shall not apply to any Creation which is developed entirely on his own time without using any of the
Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, and/or Confidential Information (“Executive Creations”) unless such Creation
(i) relates in any way to the business or to the current or anticipated research or development of the Company or any of its Affiliated
Entities, or (ii) results in any way from his work at the Company.

 

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(ii) In
any jurisdiction in which moral rights cannot be assigned, Executive hereby waives any such moral rights and any similar or analogous
rights under the applicable laws of any country of the world that Executive may have in connection with the Creations, and to the extent
such waiver is unenforceable, hereby covenants and agrees not to bring any claim, suit or other legal proceeding against the Company
or any of its Affiliated Entities claiming that Executive’s moral rights to the Creations have been violated.

 

(iii) Executive
agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company, both during and after his employment with the Company, with respect to the procurement,
maintenance and enforcement of copyrights, patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights (both in the United States and
foreign countries) relating to such Creations. Executive 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,
acting reasonably, may deem necessary or desirable in order to protect its rights and interests in any Creations. Executive further agrees
that if the Company is unable, after reasonable effort, to secure Executive’s signature on any such papers, any officer of the
Company shall be entitled to execute such papers as his agent and attorney-in-fact and Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints
each officer of the Company as his agent and attorney-in-fact to execute any such papers on his 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 Creations, under the conditions described
in this paragraph, all to the exclusion of Executive’s Creations.

 

8. Remedies.
The Executive acknowledges that the Company would be irreparably injured by a violation of the covenants contained in Sections 6 or 7,
and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to an injunction restraining the Executive from any actual or threatened breach of the
covenants contained in Sections 6 or 7, or to any other appropriate equitable remedy without bond or other security being required. Any
such relief shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any appropriate relief in the way of monetary damages that the parties may seek
in arbitration.

 

9. Waiver
of Breach. The waiver by either the Company or the Executive of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as
or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach by either the Company or the Executive. Any waiver must be in writing

 

10. Notice.
Any notice to be given hereunder by a party hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when received or, when
deposited in the U.S. mail, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid:

 

		(a)	to
                                            the Executive, at the address on file with the Company.

 

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		(b)	to
                                            the Company addressed as follows:

 

Titan
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

400
Oyster Point Blvd., Suite 505

South
San Francisco, CA

(650)
989-2660

Attn:
Chairman

 

with
copies to:

 

Olshan
Frome Wolosky LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Attention:    Kenneth A. Schlesinger, Esq.

 

11. Amendment.
This Agreement may not be amended orally in any manner or in writing without the written consent of the Company and the Executive. No
provision of this Agreement may be waived, delayed, modified, terminated or otherwise impaired without the prior written consent of the
Company and the Executive.

 

12. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the Executive’s
employment with the Company contemplated by this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings, oral
or written, express or implied, between the parties with respect to such employment. Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement shall survive
the termination of this Agreement.

 

13. Applicable
Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware.

 

14. Assignment;
Successors and Assigns, etc. This Agreement is a personal contract and Executive may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate
his rights, interests and obligations hereunder. Except as otherwise herein expressly provided, this Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of Executive and his personal representatives and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns, except that the Company may not assign this Agreement without Executive’s prior written
consent, except to an acquirer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

15. Enforceability.
If any portion or provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any portion or provision of any section of this Agreement)
shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement,
or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable,
shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.

 

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16. Counterparts;
Construction. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which
together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by
each of the parties and delivered to the other party. Facsimile or .pdf signatures shall have the same force and effect as original signatures.
This Agreement shall not be construed more strictly against one Party than the other, merely by virtue of the fact that it may have been
prepared by counsel for one of the Parties, it being recognized that both Company and Executive have contributed substantially and materially
to the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement. In construing this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural and the plural
shall include the singular, and the use of any gender shall include every other and all genders.

 

17. Section
409A Compliance. The intent of the Parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with, or be exempt from, Section
409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder
(collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted
and administered accordingly. A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this
Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment that are considered “nonqualified
deferred compensation” under Code Section 409A unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the
meaning of Code Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination
of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” With regard to any provision herein that provides
for reimbursement of costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Code Section 409A, (i) the right to reimbursement
or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement,
or in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to
be provided, in any other taxable year, provided that the foregoing clause (ii) shall not be violated without regard to expenses reimbursed
under any arrangement covered by Code Section 105(b) solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement
is in effect and (iii) such payments shall be made on or before the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable
year in which the expense occurred. For purposes of Code Section 409A, Executive’s right to receive any installment payments pursuant
to this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. Whenever a payment under this Agreement
specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “within sixty (60) days following the date of termination”),
the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company. If Executive is a specified
employee within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) and would receive any payment sooner than 6 months after Executive’s
“separation from service” that, absent the application of this Section 17, would be subject to additional tax imposed pursuant
to Code Section 409A as a result of such status as a specified employee, then such payment shall instead be payable on the date that
is the earliest of (i) 6 months after Executive’s “separation from service,” or (ii) Executive’s death.

 

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18. Section
280G. In the event that any payments, distributions, benefits or entitlements of any type payable to Executive (the “Total
Payments”) would (i) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (which will not
include any portion of payments allocated to the restrictive covenant provisions of Section 6 hereof that are classified as payments
of reasonable compensation for purposes of Section 280G of the Code), and (ii) but for this paragraph would be subject to the excise
tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Total Payments shall be either: (a) provided in full,
or (b) provided as to such lesser extent as would result in no portion of such Total Payments being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever
of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in Executive’s
receipt on an after-tax basis of the greatest amount of the Total Payments, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Total Payments
may be subject to the Excise Tax. Unless the Company and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this
Section 18 shall be made in writing in good faith based on the advice of a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company
(with approval of Executive) (the “Accountants”). In the event of a reduction of benefits hereunder, benefits shall be reduced
by first reducing or eliminating the portion of the Total Payments that are payable in cash under Section 2(c) or Section 5 and then
by reducing or eliminating any amounts that are payable with respect to long-term incentives including any equity-based or equity-related
awards (whether payable in cash or in kind). For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 18, the Accountants may
make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning
the application of the Code, and other applicable legal authority. The Company and Executive shall furnish to the Accountants such information
and documents as the Accountants may reasonably require to make a determination under this Section 18, and the Company shall bear the
cost of all fees the Accountants charge in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 18.

 

19. Arbitration.
All disputes and disagreements arising from, relating to, or otherwise connected with this Agreement, the breach of this Agreement, the
enforcement, interpretation or validity of this Agreement, or the employment relationship (including any wage claim, claim for wrongful
termination, or any claim based upon any statute, regulation, or law, including those dealing with employment discrimination or retaliation,
sexual harassment, civil rights, age, or disability) that the Company may have against Executive or that Executive may have against the
Company, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this Agreement to arbitrate, shall be settled by arbitration administered
by the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (“JAMS”) pursuant to its Employment Arbitration Rules and Procedures applicable
at the time the arbitration is commenced (“JAMS Rules”). A copy of the current version of the JAMS Rules will be made available
to you upon request. The Rules may be amended from time to time and are also available online https://www.jamsadr.com/rules-employment-arbitration/.
Arbitration shall take place in San Francisco, CA and shall be conducted before a single arbitrator selected by and in accordance with
the rules and procedures of JAMS. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the parties. Judgment on any award may
be entered in any court having competent jurisdiction, and application may be made to such court for a judicial acceptance of the award
and an order of enforcement, as the case may be. The expenses of the arbitration (including any arbitrator fees) shall be borne equally
by the Executive and the Company. Each of the parties shall bear the fees and expenses of its own legal counsel.

 

20.Indemnification.
The Company shall defend and indemnify Executive in his capacity as CEO of the Company to the fullest extent permitted under the
Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). The Company shall also maintain a policy for indemnifying its officers and directors,
including but not limited to the Executive, for all actions permitted under the DGCL taken in good faith pursuit of their duties for
the Company, including but not limited to maintaining an appropriate level of Directors and Officers Liability coverage and maintaining
the inclusion of such provisions in the Company’s by-laws or articles of incorporation, as applicable and customary. The rights
to indemnification shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	 	
	 	David Lazar
	 	 	 
	 	Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
	 	 	 
	 	By: 	
	 	 	Katherine Beebe DeVarney, Ph.D
	 	Title: 	President and Chief Operating Officer

 

    11Exhibit 4.5

 

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT
PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS.

 

CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE

 

	$350,000	 	San Antonio, Texas	 	October 31, 2022

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, DIGERATI TECHNOLOGIES,
INC., a Nevada corporation, whose address is 8023 Vantage Dr., Suite 660 San Antonio, Texas 78230 (the “Debtor”),
promises to pay to the order of 3BRT Investments, LP., whose address is 1250 NE Loop 410, Suite 333, San Antonio, Texas 78209 (the “Payee”),
the sum of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($350,000) in lawful money of the United States of America which shall be legal
tender for the payment of debts from time to time, together with interest on the outstanding principal amount hereof at the rate of fourteen
percent (14%) interest per annum, computed on the basis of a 360-day year and 30-day months.

 

Debtor and Payee have executed
this Note to be effective as of the date set forth above, subject to and in connection with the terms of that certain Letter Agreement
between the parties of even date herewith (the “Letter Agreement” and, together with this Note and any other document
executed in connection herewith, the “Loan Documents”).

 

A single payment of the
principal amount outstanding plus any accrued interest shall be due and payable, without demand, on February 28, 2023 (the “Maturity
Date”), provided, however, Debtor shall have the right to request that the Maturity Date be extended by one (1) additional
period of ninety (90) days, until May 30, 2023, by delivery of written request therefor to Payee no later than thirty (30) days, and no
earlier than sixty (60) days, prior to the Maturity Date, which request must be consented to in writing by Payee, but shall not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or denied by Payee; provided further, that it shall not be unreasonable for Payee to deny such request in
the event Debtor has defaulted under this Note or any other agreement between the parties during the term hereof. If the Maturity Date
shall be a Saturday, Sunday, or day on which banks in San Antonio, Texas, or the place of payment are authorized or required to be closed,
such payment shall be made on the next following day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banks in San Antonio, Texas, or the
place of payment are authorized or required to be closed and interest thereon shall continue to accrue thereon until such date.

 

Time is of the essence of
this Note, and the Debtor expressly agrees that in the event of default in the payment of any principal or interest when due or other
default under the Loan Documents, which shall expressly include, without limitation, the receipt of an unqualified audit opinion with
respect to Debtor, the Payee may declare the entirety of this Note immediately due and payable. Upon the occurrence of any default hereunder
or under any other Loan Document, the Payee shall also have the right to exercise any and all of the rights, remedies and recourses now
or hereafter existing in equity, law, by virtue of statute or otherwise.

 

    

     

    

 

In the event that any payment
is not made when due, either of principal or interest, and whether upon maturity or as a result of acceleration, interest shall thereafter
accrue at the rate per annum equal to the lesser of (a) the maximum non-usurious rate of interest permitted by the laws of the State of
Texas or the United States of America, whichever shall permit the higher rate or (b) twenty percent (20%) per annum, from such date until
the entire balance of principal and accrued interest on this Note has been paid.

 

Debtor has the privilege
of making prepayments on this Note from time to time in any amount without penalty provided that any such prepayment shall be applied
to unpaid interest on this Note and the balance, if any, to the principal amount payable under this Note. However, Debtor acknowledges
and agrees that, notwithstanding anything in this Note to the contrary, (a) the prepayment rights herein are limited by the terms of the
conversion rights of Payee hereunder, the waiver of any terms of which shall require the express written consent of Payee, in Payee’s
sole discretion, and (b) Debtor must give at least three (3) days’ prior written notice to Payee of its intent to prepay all or
any portion of the Note, in order to allow Payee the opportunity to elect to exercise its conversion rights hereunder.

 

No failure to exercise and
no delay on the part of Payee in exercising any power or right in connection herewith shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. No course of dealing between Debtor and Payee
shall operate as a waiver of any right of Payee. No modification or waiver of any provision of this Note or any consent to any departure
therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the person against whom enforcement thereof
is to be sought, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.

 

In the event of default
under any of the Loan Documents or if payment of this Note is not made when due or declared due, and the same is placed in the hands of
an attorney for collection, or suit is brought on same, or the same is collected through any judicial proceeding whatsoever, or if any
action be had hereon, then Debtor agrees and promises to pay an additional amount as reasonable, calculated and foreseeable attorneys’
and collection fees incurred by Payee in connection with enforcing its rights herein contemplated.

 

The parties acknowledge
that Debtor has entered into a definitive business combination agreement (the “Definitive Agreement”) with Minority
Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. and, following the closing of the transactions contemplated in the Definitive Agreement (the “Closing”),
intends to uplist to Nasdaq or NYSE during the term of this Note (the “Uplist”). At any time after sixty (60)
days following the date hereof, Payee may elect to convert a percentage of the amount of principal and accrued interest outstanding on
the Note into common stock of Debtor (“Common Stock”), in accordance with the following terms:

 

		1.	If prior to the Closing, Payee may convert up to 50% of the amount outstanding on the Note into Common
Stock. In such event, the price per share of Common Stock applicable to such conversion (the “Applicable Conversion Price”)
shall be the greater of: (a) the Variable Conversion Price (as defined herein) or (b) the Fixed Conversion Price (as defined herein).
The “Variable Conversion Price” shall be equal to a 20% discount to the average closing price for
Common Stock for the five (5) Trading Day period immediately preceding the Conversion Date. “Trading Day”
shall mean any day on which the Common Stock is tradable for any period on the principal securities exchange or other securities
market on which the Common Stock is then being traded. The “Fixed Conversion Price” shall mean $0.10.

 

    2

     

    

 

		2.	If following the Uplist, Payee may convert up to 100% of the amount outstanding on the Note into Common
Stock. In such event, the Applicable Conversion Price shall be the greater of: (a) the post-Uplist Variable Conversion Price (i.e., if
less than 5 days after the Uplist, then the average of the days available since the Uplist up to 5) or (b) the Fixed Conversion
Price.

 

Conversion shall be effectuated
by delivering by facsimile, email or other delivery method to Debtor of the completed form of conversion notice attached hereto as Annex
“A” (the “Notice of Conversion”), executed by the Holder of the Note evidencing such Holder’s intention
to convert a specified portion of the Note. Certificates representing Common Stock upon conversion must be delivered (including delivery
by DWAC or DRS) by Debtor to the Holder within seven (7) business days from the date of delivery of the Notice of Conversion to Debtor.

 

To the extent permitted
by applicable law, Debtor hereby waives grace, notice, demand or presentment for payment of this Note, dishonor, notice of dishonor, notice
of default or nonpayment, protest, notice of protest, suit, notice of intention to accelerate, notice of acceleration, diligence or any
notice of or defense on account of the extension of time of payments or change in the method of payments, and consents to any and all
renewals and extensions in the time of payment hereof, and the release of any party primarily or secondarily liable hereon.

 

It is expressly provided
and stipulated that notwithstanding any provision of this Note, in no event shall the aggregate of all interest paid by Debtor to Payee
hereunder ever exceed the maximum non-usurious rate of interest which may lawfully be charged Debtor under the laws of the State of Texas
or United States Federal Government, as applicable, on the principal balance of this Note remaining unpaid. It is expressly stipulated
and agreed by Debtor that it is the intent of Payee and Debtor in the execution and delivery of this Note to contract in furtherance of
such laws, and that none of the terms of this Note shall ever be construed to create a contract to pay for the use, forbearance or detention
of money, at any interest rate in excess of the maximum non-usurious rate of interest permitted to be charged Debtor under the laws of
the State of Texas or United States Federal Government, as applicable. The provisions of this paragraph shall govern over all other provisions
of this Note should any such provisions be in apparent conflict herewith.

 

    3

     

    

 

Specifically, and without
limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, it is expressly provided that:

 

(i)
In the event of prepayment of the principal of this Note, in whole or in part, or the payment of the principal of this Note prior to
the Maturity Date, whether resulting from acceleration of the maturity of this Note or otherwise, if the aggregate amount of interest
accruing hereon prior to such payment plus the amount of any interest accruing after maturity and plus any other amount paid or accrued
in connection with the indebtedness evidenced hereby which by law are deemed interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the Note
and which aggregate amounts paid or accrued (if calculated in accordance with the provisions of this Note other than this paragraph)
would exceed the maximum non-usurious rate of interest which could lawfully be charged as above mentioned on the unpaid principal balance
of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note from time to time advanced (less any discount) and remaining unpaid from the date advanced
to the date of final payment thereof, then in such event the amount of such excess shall be credited, as of the date paid, toward the
payment of the principal of this Note so as to reduce the amount of the final payment of principal due on this Note, or if the principal
amount hereof has been paid in full, refunded to Debtor.

 

(ii)
If under any circumstances the aggregate amounts paid on the indebtedness evidenced by this Note prior to and incident to the final payment
hereof include amounts which by law are deemed interest and which would exceed the maximum non-usurious rate of interest which could
lawfully have been charged or collected on this Note, as above mentioned, Debtor stipulates that (a) any non-principal payment shall
be characterized as an expense, fee, or premium rather than as interest and any excess shall be credited hereon by the holder hereof
(or, if this Note shall have been paid in full, refunded to Debtor); and (b) determination of the rate of interest for determining whether
the indebtedness evidenced hereby is usurious shall be made by amortizing, prorating, allocating, and spreading, in equal parts during
the full stated term hereof, all interest at any time contracted for, charged, or received from Debtor in connection with such indebtedness,
and any excess shall be canceled, credited, or refunded as set forth in (a) herein.

 

Any check, draft, money
order, or other instrument given in payment of all or any portion of this Note may be accepted by Payee and handled in collection in the
customary manner, but the same shall not constitute payment hereunder or diminish any rights of Payee except to the extent that actual
cash proceeds of such instruments are unconditionally received by Payee. If at any time any payment of the principal of or interest on
this Note is rescinded or must be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of Debtor or otherwise, the obligation
under this Note with respect to that payment shall be reinstated as though the payment had been due but not made at that time.

 

Debtor agrees that this
Note shall be freely assignable to any assignee of Payee, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws.

 

Debtor represents and warrants
that the extension of credit represented by this Note is for business, commercial, investment, or other similar purposes and not primarily
for personal, family, household or agricultural use.

 

This Note has been executed
and delivered and shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Texas and of the United States of America
applicable in Texas. Venue for any litigation between Debtor and Payee with respect to this Note shall be Bexar County, Texas. Debtor
and Payee hereby irrevocably submit to personal jurisdiction in Texas and waive all objections to personal jurisdiction in Texas and venue
in Bexar County for purposes of such litigation.

 

    4

     

    

 

THIS NOTE REPRESENTS
THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN DEBTOR AND PAYEE AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS
BETWEEN DEBTOR AND PAYEE.

 

THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN
ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN DEBTOR AND PAYEE.

 

	 	DIGERATI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
	 	a Nevada corporation
	 	 	                    
	 	By:	/s/ Art Smith
	 	Name:	Art Smith
	 	Title:	CEO

 

    

     

    

 

ANNEX “A”

 

DIGERATI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

 

(To Be Executed by the Registered Holder in Order
to Convert the Note)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to
convert $_____________ of the amount of principal and accrued interest currently outstanding under the Note into shares of Common
Stock of Digerati Technologies, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), according to the conditions hereof, as of the
date written below. After giving effect to the conversion requested hereby, the outstanding Principal Amount of such debenture is $__________________,
absent manifest error.

 

Certificates representing Common Stock upon conversion
must be delivered (including delivery by DWAC or DRS) to the undersigned within seven (7) business days from the date of delivery of this
Notice of Conversion to the Company.

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Convertible Promissory Note dated October 31, 2022, executed by the Company for
the benefit of 3BRT Investments, LP (the “Note”).

 

	Conversion Date:	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 
	Applicable Conversion Price:	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 
	Signature:	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 
	Print Name:	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 
	Address:

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