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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.16

[MEMORY LOGO]

MEMORY PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.                           The Board of Directors of
100 Philips Parkway                                    Memory Pharmaceuticals
Montvale, New Jersey 07645
Phone: (201) 802-7102
Fax: (201) 802-7190
www.memorypharma.com

July 2, 2001

Anthony Scullion
5420 N. Ocean Drive, Apt. 2102
The Connemara
Singer Island, FL 33404-2543

Dear Tony:

         We are pleased to inform you that both the Board of Directors and
management team of Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp. (the "Company") are impressed
with your experience and accomplishments, and would like to extend an offer to
you to join the Company as Chief Executive Officer. We look forward to you
joining our team, and are confident that you will contribute significantly to
the value of our organization. We are therefore pleased to provide you with the
terms of your anticipated employment by the Company.

         1.       Position. Your position will be Chief Executive Officer, based
out of the Company's offices currently located in Montvale, New Jersey, and will
report directly to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"). You will be
elected to the Board as of the date of the Board meeting immediately following
your Start Date (as defined below).

         As a full-time employee of the Company, you will be expected to devote
your full business time and energies to the business and affairs of the Company.
You may, after giving written notice thereof to the Board, serve as a corporate
director on the board of directors of up to two (2) other companies and, with
the prior written consent of the Board, serve on the board of directors of up to
two (2) additional companies, provided, that in each case your activities (i) do
not interfere in any material respect with your obligations and responsibilities
to perform the duties of your employment by the Company and (ii) do not involve
a conflict of interest with the Company and are not otherwise prohibited by the
Confidentiality Agreement (as defined below). Your performance will be reviewed
formally after six months of employment and annually thereafter at the end of
each calendar year.

         2.       Starting Date/ Nature of Relationship. It is expected that
your employment will start on September 4, 2001 (the "Start Date"). No provision
of this letter shall be construed to create an express or implied employment
contract for a specific period of time. Either you or the Company may terminate
the employment relationship at any time and for any reason, by giving at least
thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the other party.

         3.       Compensation.

         (a)      Your initial salary will be at the bi-weekly rate of
$13,461.54 (annualized at $350,000).

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MEMORY PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.
Anthony Scullion

         (b)      You will receive a one-time sign-on bonus of $100,000, payable
within 30 days of your Start Date, plus a one-time payment of $40,000 to enable
you to reimburse your current employer for the cash surrender value of your
existing life insurance policy in connection with your acquiring such policy.

         (c)      You will receive incentive stock options to purchase 1,101,400
Shares of Common Stock of Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp. (representing 5% of the
Company's fully diluted Shares outstanding as of the date of this letter) at
$.25 per share, which will vest in quarterly increments over a period of four
(4) years as described in the Stock Option Agreement, which you and the Company
will enter into on or before following the Start Date. Such number of Shares
will be increased after the closing of the Company's Series D Financing to such
number of Shares representing five percent (5%) of the Company's fully diluted
Shares outstanding as of the date of such closing, at the then fair market value
to be determined by the Company's Board of Directors (without affecting the
purchase price of the initial grant of options to acquire 1,101,400 shares of
the Company's Common Stock), with such additional option vesting to commence on
the date of such closing in quarterly increments over a period of four (4)
years.

         (d)      You will be eligible to receive annual bonus payments
dependent on the performance of the Company and your individual performance,
subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors. Your target bonus will be
equal to thirty-three percent (33%) of your base salary, assuming the
achievement of such Company and individual performance objectives.

         (e)      Upon termination for any reason, the Company will pay you
within two weeks of such termination, your current base salary earned through
the termination date, plus accrued vacation, if any, and other benefits or
payments, if any, to which you are entitled. In the event you are terminated by
the Company, without "Cause" (as hereinafter defined), then the Company will
continue to pay you your bi-weekly rate in effect at the time of termination and
provide and pay the Company's portion of your medical, dental, life and
disability insurance for a period of six (6) months. Further, for the period
commencing seven months following such termination and ending twelve months
after such termination, the Company will continue to pay you your bi-weekly rate
in effect at the time of termination and provide and pay the Company's portion
of your medical, dental, life and disability insurance, except that such
severance payments made to you during this period will be reduced by all 1099
and W-2 income earned or received by you during such period, including income
earned or received from consulting services or temporary employment, and the
Company's payments for your medical, dental, life and disability insurance will
terminate when you have such coverage through any new employer before the end of
the twelve month period following your termination. The Company will reconcile
such payments with you quarterly, and any additional payments owed to you by the
Company, and any payments owed to the Company by you, will be paid respectively
within two weeks following such reconciliation period. In addition, if you were
terminated by the Company without Cause, you will be entitled to accelerated
vesting of twenty-five percent (25%) of your unvested stock options as of the
date of your termination of employment. Your unvested stock options will become
fully vested in connection with an acquisition of the Company, under
circumstances where the terms of your employment are changed or your employment
is terminated by the acquiring company, in accordance with the terms of the
Company's 1998 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Option Plan (a copy of
which has been provided to you). The Company will not be obligated to continue
any such payments to you or accelerate vesting of your stock options under this
paragraph 3(e) in the event you materially breach the terms under the
Confidentiality Agreement (as defined below). Notwithstanding any termination of
your employment, you will continue to be bound by the provisions of the
Confidentiality Agreement.

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MEMORY PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.
Anthony Scullion

         (f)      For the purposes of this Section 3, "Cause" shall include (i)
your conviction of a felony, either in connection with the performance of your
obligations to the Company or otherwise, which adversely affects your ability to
perform such obligations or materially adversely affects the business
activities, reputation, goodwill or image of the Company, (ii) your willful
disloyalty, deliberate dishonesty, breach of fiduciary duty, (iii) your breach
of the terms of this Agreement, or your failure or refusal to carry out any
material tasks assigned to you by the Company in accordance with the terms
hereof, which breach or failure continues for a period of more than thirty (30)
days after your receipt of written notice thereof from the Company, (iv) the
commission by you of any act of fraud, embezzlement or deliberate disregard of a
significant rule or policy of the Company known to you or contained in a policy
and procedure manual provided to you which results in material loss, damage or
injury to the Company, or (v) the material breach by you of any of the
provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement substantially in the form of
Attachment A to this letter.

         4.       Benefits. You will be entitled as an employee of the Company
to receive such benefits as are generally provided its employees and executives
and for which you are eligible in accordance with Company policy as in effect
from time to time. The Company retains the right to change, add or cease any
particular benefit relating to its employees and executives generally. At this
time, the Company is offering a benefit program, consisting of medical, dental,
life and short/long term disability insurance, as well as a 401(k) retirement
plan and flexible spending plan. In addition, the Company will pay the premium
in the approximate amount of $14,000 per year relating to your existing life
insurance policy. You will be eligible for eight paid holidays, four floating
holidays and five (5) weeks paid vacation per year. You will accrue additional
vacation days in accordance with Company policy.

         5.       Relocation Expenses. The Company will pay or reimburse you for
all reasonable out-of-pocket relocation and relocation-related expenses not to
exceed $150,000, including any Tax Payment (as defined below) and any Gross-up
Payment (as defined below), which may be billed directly to the Company or paid
by you and submitted for reimbursement, including, without limitation, the
following:

         (a)      costs of services of moving companies (including packing,
transportation and relocation expenses, including the transportation of
automobiles);

         (b)      costs associated with your search for a new residence
(including, without limitation, the costs of airfare, automobile rental, meals
and hotel accommodations for yourself and your immediate family);

         (c)      commissions payable to brokers in connection with the sale of
your current residence;

         (d)      costs attendant to the sale of your current residence and the
purchase of a new residence in the Northern New Jersey area (including, without
limitation, the costs of home inspections, survey, appraisal, title insurance,
transfer fees, attorneys' fees, accountants' fees and closing costs);

         (e)      loan origination fees (points) related to the purchase of your
new residence in an amount of up to three percent (3%) of the loan amount (and
the Company will provide assistance to you relating to the selection of a
mortgage lender that will pre-qualify you for a mortgage loan to purchase your
new residence);

         (f)      costs associated with commuting from your current residence to
the Company's offices (including, without limitation, the costs of airfare,
automobile rental, meals and hotel

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MEMORY PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.
Anthony Scullion

accommodations for you) for a period of up to six months, subject to extension
upon our mutual agreement;

         (g)      automobile rental charges prior to establishment of a
permanent residence in Northern New Jersey;

         (h)      rent and other expenses associated with temporary housing for
yourself and your immediate family for a period of up to six months (which may
include up to two months after the purchase and closing of title on your new
residence), subject to extension upon our mutual agreement; and

         (i)      payment of any duplicate mortgage loan payments and house
expenses to preclude your paying for your current residence and your new
residence concurrently.

         All such payments will be subject to the Company receiving reasonably
acceptable documentation evidencing the incurring of such cost, expense or fee.
In the event that it should be determined that any payment shall be due by you
for taxes of any kind or nature relating to amounts paid to you or on your
behalf by the Company in connection with your relocation as provided above
("Taxes"), the Company will deliver to you a payment equal to the amount of such
Taxes (the "Tax Payment") plus an additional payment in an amount equal to any
additional taxes payable by you applicable to your receipt of the Tax Payment
(the "Gross-Up Payment").

         6.       Interest Free Loan. The Company will make available to you,
upon your request in writing within nine (9) months after the Start Date (which
period may be extended by mutual agreement of you and the Company), an interest
free loan in the amount of up to $300,000 for a period of three (3) years
following the Start Date to enable you to purchase a residence in Northern New
Jersey, New York or Connecticut, within one hundred (100) miles of the Company's
principal offices, with such loan secured by a mortgage on the residence to be
acquired by you, marketable securities (at a loan-to-value ratio of fifty
percent (50%)) or other collateral mutually agreed upon by the parties, as more
fully described in a Loan Agreement which you and the Company will enter into
following the Start Date. The Company will further agree to forgive amounts owed
by you in connection with this loan in equal installments each year ($100,000
per year) over a period of three (3) years and will further agree to forgive all
amounts owed by you in connection with this loan in the event you are terminated
without Cause; in the event you are terminated with Cause or should you
voluntarily terminate your employment all amounts owed by you in connection with
this loan will be immediately due and payable to the Company; and it being
understood and agreed that your rights under Section 6 shall not be adversely
affected solely by reason of any bankruptcy of the Company. In the event that it
should be determined that any payment shall be due by you for taxes of any kind
or nature relating to amounts paid to you or on your behalf by the Company in
connection with this loan ("Taxes"), the Company will deliver to you a payment
equal to the amount of such Taxes (the "Tax Payment") plus an additional payment
in an amount equal to any additional taxes payable by you applicable to your
receipt of the Tax Payment (the "Gross-Up Payment").

         7.       Indemnification. The Company will indemnify you in connection
with any legal proceedings related thereto, including after your employment with
the Company.

         8.       Confidentiality. The Company considers the protection of its
confidential information and proprietary materials to be very important.
Therefore, as a condition of your employment, you

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MEMORY PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.
Anthony Scullion

and the Company will become parties to a Confidentiality and Noncompetition
Agreement substantially in the form of Attachment A to this letter (the
"Confidentiality Agreement").

         9.       General.

                  (a)      This letter, together with the Confidentiality
         Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement, will constitute our entire
         agreement as to your employment by the Company and will supersede any
         prior agreements or understandings, whether in writing or oral.

                  (b)      This letter shall be governed by the law of the State
         of New Jersey.

         You may accept this offer of employment and the terms thereof by
signing the enclosed additional copy of this letter and the Confidentiality
Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement, which execution will evidence your
agreement with the terms set forth herein and therein, and returning them to the
Company.

         This offer of employment will expire on July 6, 2001, unless accepted
by you prior to such date. We look forward to you joining our team, and we
believe that your skills will compliment those of our existing management team,
and that you will make a significant contribution to Memory's growth. We look
forward to your prompt response to this offer letter.

Sincerely,

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MEMORY PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.

By: /s/ Joanne Leonard
    -----------------------------
Name: Joanne Leonard
Title: Secretary to the Board of Directors

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

/s/ Anthony Scullion
---------------------------------

Date: 7/6/01
      ---------------------------

                                        5<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                                  AMENDMENT TO
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      THIS AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is made as of
the 6th day of August, 2001, by and between Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Anthony Scullion ("Executive",
sometimes also referred to as "you").

      WHEREAS, Executive and the Company are parties to a letter agreement dated
July 2, 2001 related to the employment by the Company of Executive (the "Letter
Agreement");

      WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have mutually agreed to amend the
Letter Agreement to include the provisions set forth herein;

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants and
agreements contained in this Amendment, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

      1. Termination for "Good Reason".

            (a) The parties hereby agree that a upon termination by you of your
employment with the Company for Good Reason (as defined below), the Company
shall continue to pay you your bi-weekly rate in effect at the time of
termination and pay the Company's portion of your medical, dental, life and
disability insurance in the same manner as if you had been terminated by the
Company without "Cause" (as defined in the Letter Agreement).

            (b) As used herein, termination of your employment by you shall
constitute termination for "Good Reason" if such termination occurs (a) within
eighteen (18) months of a "Change in Control" (as hereinafter defined) or the
sale of a majority of the assets, obligations, or business of the Company
(whether by merger, sale of stock or otherwise), (b) within three (3) months of
a material diminution in your responsibilities (provided that such diminution is
not in connection with the termination of your employment for Cause), (c) within
three (3) months of you no longer reporting to the Board of Directors of the
Company, or (d) within three (3) months of your principal work location changing
to be more than one hundred (100) miles from the residence you purchase in
northern New Jersey, New York or Connecticut. The Company shall notify you,
within sixty (60) days of receipt of your notice of intent to terminate your
employment for Good Reason if the Company disagrees with your intent to
terminate under this paragraph. For the purposes of this paragraph, "Change of
Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if the Company is consolidated with or
acquired by another entity in a merger, sale of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets or shares of stock or otherwise (excluding (A) transactions
solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in a different
jurisdiction or recapitalizing or reclassifying the Company's stock, or (B) any
merger or consolidation in which the shareholders of the Company immediately
prior to such merger or consolidation continue to

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own at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or
the surviving entity after such merger of consolidation).

      2. Future Stock Offerings. The parties hereby agree that in the event that
the Company sells shares of its stock to investors, the Company will use its
best efforts to provide you with the opportunity to purchase additional shares
of stock of the Company at the price and upon the terms that such shares of
stock were issued to such investors up to the amount of shares of stock that
will allow you to maintain the proportionate ownership of stock that you held
immediately prior to the sale of such stock to investors by the Company.

      3. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.

      4. Full Force and Effect. Except as specifically amended hereby, the
Letter Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the
date and year first written above.

                                     MEMORY PHARAMCEUTICALS CORP.:

                                     By:    /s/ Joanne Leonard
                                            ------------------------------------
                                     Name:  Joanne Leonard
                                     Title: SR VP, CFO

                                     EXECUTIVE:

                                     /s/ Anthony Scullion
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     Anthony Scullion

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