Employment Agreement

/s/ Patrick J. Zenner

August 10, 2005

Patrick J. Zenner,

Interim Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer of CuraGen

EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Employment Agreement

Exhibit 99.1

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of August 10, 2005 (the “Effective Date”) between 454 Life Sciences Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal place of business at 20 Commercial Street, Branford, Connecticut (the “Company”), and Christopher K. McLeod (“Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be employed by the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and the Company desires to retain the Executive’s services, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

THEREFORE, the Company and the Executive, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

1. Employment; Duties and Responsibilities

A) The Company shall employ the Executive, and the Executive shall serve the Company, as President and Chief Executive Officer, with such duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to the Executive by the Board of Directors (“BOD” or “Board”) of the Company and are typically associated with a position of that nature.

B) The Executive shall devote his best efforts and all of his business time to the performance of his duties under this Agreement and shall perform them faithfully, diligently and competently in a manner consistent with the policies and goals of the Company as determined from time to time by the BOD.

C) The Executive shall report to the BOD of the Company, or a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of CuraGen Corporation (“CuraGen”) (“Executive Committee Rep”), who shall be designated by CuraGen’s Board of Directors from time to time while CuraGen holds at least 50% of the voting power of the Company.

D) The Executive shall not engage in any activities outside the scope of his employment that would detract from, or interfere with, the fulfillment of his responsibilities or duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly understood and agreed that Executive will provide services to CuraGen as the BOD or Executive Committee Rep may direct, and CuraGen shall reimburse the Company at the agreed upon inter-company full-time equivalent rate for all such services.

E) The Executive shall not serve as a director (or the equivalent position) of any company or entity and shall not render services of a business, professional or commercial nature to any other person or firm, except for not-for-profit entities, without prior written consent of the BOD or the Executive Committee Rep; provided that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and that the parties hereby agree that Executive may serve as a director of Polaris Capital Management.

F) The Executive shall not receive fees or other remuneration for work performed either within or outside the scope of his employment without prior written consent of the BOD or the Executive Committee Rep. Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

2. Term of Employment

The Executive’s employment by the Company under this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall be terminable at-will by either Executive or the Company for any reason or no reason, subject to the termination provisions and payment obligations of Sections 10 and 12 below.

3. Compensation

As full compensation for all services rendered by the Executive to the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Executive the compensation set forth in Schedule A attached and incorporated into this Agreement. This schedule may be amended from time to time in writing by the Company and the Executive.

4. Fringe Benefits

A) The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all health and welfare benefit plans provided by the Company to its employees.

B) The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all pension plans provided by the Company to its employees.

C) The Company may, at its sole option, devise a benefit plan for its executives or senior managers. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in benefit plans provided by the Company to its executives or senior managers.

D) The Executive shall be entitled to a minimum of five (5) weeks paid vacation time annually, and otherwise in accordance with Company policy.

5. Expenses

The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by him in connection with the performance of his services for the Company in accordance with the Company’s policies, upon submission of appropriate expense reports and documentation in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures.

6. Disability or Death

A) If, as the result of any physical or mental disability, the Executive shall have failed or is unable to perform his duties for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days, the Company may, by notice to the Executive, terminate his employment under this Agreement as of the date of the notice without any further payment or the furnishing of any benefit by the Company under this Agreement (other than accrued and unpaid base salary and expenses and benefits which have accrued pursuant to any plan or by law), subject to the payment obligations of the Company under Section 12 below.

B) The term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall terminate upon his death without any further payment or the furnishing of any benefit by the Company under this Agreement (other than

accrued and unpaid base salary and expenses and benefits which have accrued pursuant to any plan or by law), subject to the payment obligations of the Company under Section 12 below. This provision shall not be read to change the terms of any other agreement between the Executive and the Company, including any stock option plans, which shall be governed by its terms. Unless expressly provided for in such agreements, the death of the Executive shall not terminate such agreements.

7. Patents, Copyrights and Intellectual Property

A) The Executive shall promptly disclose to the Company all Inventions. Inventions shall mean, for purposes of this paragraph, inventions, discoveries, developments, methods and processes (whether or not patentable or copyrightable or constituting trade secrets) conceived, made or discovered by the Executive (whether alone or with others) while employed under this Agreement that relate, directly or indirectly, to the past, present, or future business activities, research, product design or development, personnel, and business opportunities of the Company Group, or result from tasks assigned to the Executive in accordance with this Agreement or done by the Executive for or on behalf of the Company Group. For all purposes in this Agreement, Company Group shall be the Company, CuraGen, and any affiliate, subsidiary, division, or parent of either the Company or CuraGen. The Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company (or as otherwise directed by the BOD or the Executive Committee Rep) his full right, title and interest in and to all Inventions. The Executive agrees to execute any and all applications for domestic and foreign patents, copyrights or other proprietary rights and to do such other acts (including, among others, the execution and delivery of instruments of further assurance or confirmation) requested by the BOD or the Executive Committee Rep to assign the Inventions to the Company (or such other entity as the BOD or the Executive Committee Rep direct) and to permit the Company or such other entity to file, obtain and enforce any patents, copyrights or other proprietary rights in the Inventions. The Executive agrees to make and maintain adequate and current records of all Inventions, in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, or reports relating thereto, which records shall be and remain the property of and available to the Company or the respective member of the Company Group at all times.

B) All designs, ideas, inventions, improvements, and other creations made or owned by the Executive before becoming an employee of the Company and which the Executive desires to exempt from this Agreement are listed on Attachment A hereof and authorized for exclusion by the signature of an Officer of the Company. (If the Executive does not have any such designs, ideas, inventions, improvements, or other creations write “none” on this line: NONE.)

C) The Executive agrees to notify the BOD or the Executive Committee Rep in writing before the Executive makes any disclosure or performs or causes to be performed any work for or on behalf of the Company Group, which appears to threaten or conflict with (a) rights the Executive claims in any invention or idea conceived by the Executive or others (i) prior to the Executive’s employment, or (ii) otherwise outside the scope of this Agreement; or (b) rights of others arising out of obligations incurred by the Executive (i) prior to this Agreement, or (ii) otherwise outside the scope of this Agreement. In the event of the Executive’s failure to give notice under the circumstances specified, the Company Group may assume that no such conflicting invention or idea exists and the Executive agrees that the Executive will make no claim against any member of the Company Group with respect to the use of any such invention or idea in any work which the Executive performs or causes to be performed for or on behalf of the Company Group.

8. Proprietary and Trade Secret Information

A) The Executive agrees that he will keep confidential and will not make any unauthorized use or disclosure, or use for his own benefit or the benefit of others, during or subsequent to his employment of any research, development, engineering and manufacturing data, plans, designs, formulae, processes, specifications, techniques, trade secrets, financial information, customer or supplier lists or other information that becomes known to him as a result of his employment under this Agreement which is the property of any member of the Company Group or any of its clients, customers, consultants, licensors, licensees, or affiliates, provided nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Executive from using his general knowledge and skill after termination of his employment whether acquired prior to or during his employment under this Agreement.

B) Proprietary information subject to paragraph 8(A) does not include information that: (i) is or later becomes available to the public through no breach of this Agreement by the Executive; (ii) is obtained by the Executive from a third party who had the legal right to disclose the information to the Executive; or (iii) is required to be disclosed by law, government regulation, or court order.

C) The Executive is not expected to and is expressly forbidden by the Company policy from disclosing to the Company Group a “Trade Secret” or “Confidential” or “Proprietary” information from a former employer.

D) Upon leaving the employment of the Company, the Executive will not remove from the premises of any member of the Company Group, either directly or indirectly, any drawings, writings, prints, any documents or anything containing, embodying, or disclosing any confidential or proprietary information or any of the Company Group’s respective or combined trade secrets unless express written permission is given by the BOD or the Executive Committee Rep. Upon termination of his employment, the Executive shall return to such applicable member of the Company Group any and all documents and materials that are the property of such member of the Company Group or any of its or their customers, licensees, licensors or affiliates or which contain information that is the property of the Company or member of the Company Group.

9. Covenant Not to Compete

A) While employed under this Agreement and for a period of one year or the maximum period permitted by applicable law (whichever is shorter) following termination of his employment under this Agreement for any reason, the Executive shall not, without the approval of the BOD or the Executive Committee Rep, alone or as a partner, officer, director, consultant, employee, stockholder or otherwise, engage in any employment, consulting or business activity or occupation that is or is intended to be directly competitive with the business of any member of the Company Group, as being considered, researched, developed, marketed and/or sold at the time of termination, in the area of massively parallel sequencing; provided, however, that the holding by the Executive of any investment in any security shall not be deemed to be a violation of this section if such investment does not constitute over one percent (1%) of the outstanding issue of such security. The restriction shall run for a period of one year after said termination, and if there shall be any violation hereof during said period, then for a period of one year after cessation of such violation. These restrictions shall in no way prohibit the Executive from obtaining employment at a multi-product company that may happen to have a program in massively parallel sequencing technology as long as Executive is not engaged in such technology directly or indirectly and as long as Executive notifies the Company in writing of his intention to work for or otherwise provide services to such company.

B) While employed pursuant to this Agreement, the Executive shall promptly notify the BOD or the Executive Committee Rep, if the Executive, alone or as a partner, officer, director, consultant, employee, stockholder or otherwise, engages in any employment, consulting or business activity or occupation outside his employment under this Agreement.

C) The Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, either during the term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement or for a period of one (1) year thereafter, solicit, directly or indirectly, the services of any person who was an employee of any member of the Company Group, or solicit the business of any person who was a client or customer of any member of the Company Group, in each case at any time during the last year of the term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement. The Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, either during the term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement or for a period of one (1) year thereafter, employ, directly or indirectly, the services of any person who was an employee of any member of the Company Group or solicit the business of any person who was a client or customer of any member of the Company Group, in each case at any time during the last year of the term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “person” shall include but not be limited to natural persons, corporations, business trusts, associations, sole proprietorships, unincorporated organizations, partnerships, joint ventures and governments or any agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions thereof.

D) The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the covenants in this section are necessary for the protection of the legitimate business interests of the Company Group and that the covenants are reasonable in all respects. The Executive further acknowledges and agrees that, if his employment is terminated, his experience and capabilities are such that he is both qualified and willing to seek and obtain employment involving business activities which will not violate any covenant on his part to be observed hereunder and that a court decree enjoining any such violation will not prevent him from earning a reasonable livelihood.

E) Just compensation for the duties under this paragraph is included in the salary and benefits provided herein.

F) The parties hereto agree that non-signatory members of the Company Group are intended third-party beneficiaries to the provisions of Sections 7, 8 and 9 of this Agreement.

10. Termination

A) The Company shall have the right at any time to terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment with the Company, for cause or without cause.

B) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “for cause” shall mean the Executive’s willfully engaging in conduct demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company Group, monetarily or otherwise, provided that the Executive receives a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the unanimous affirmative vote of the entire disinterested

membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose after the Executive has been given reasonable notice of such meeting and has been given an opportunity, together with his counsel, to be heard by the Board, finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of the conduct set forth and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

C) The Executive’s act, or failure to act, shall be deemed “willful” if the Executive was not acting in good faith or acting without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company Group. Any act or failure to act based on authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board, or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company Group shall be conclusively presumed to have been done by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company Group.

D) If the Executive is terminated for cause, the Company shall not be obligated to make any further payment to the Executive (other than accrued and unpaid base salary and expenses to the date of termination), or continue to provide any benefit (other than benefits which have accrued pursuant to any plan or by law) to the Executive under this Agreement.

E) If the Executive is terminated without cause, in exchange for a general release of all claims (as described below), the Executive shall be entitled to certain benefits under Section 12 below. The offer of the salary continuation and benefits referenced in Section 12 is conditioned upon the execution (without revocation) by Executive of a general release of all claims and a covenant not to initiate any action or suit in law or equity in any forum against any member of the Company Group, its officers, directors, employees or agents in connection with the Executive’s employment or termination of employment (“General Release”). The General Release shall be presented to the Executive in writing at the time of notice of termination. The Executive’s refusal to execute (or revocation after execution) the General Release shall constitute a waiver by the Executive of any and all payments and benefits under Section 12 below.

11. Change in Control

A) “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events with respect to the Company:

(i) in any twelve (12) month period individuals who constituted the Board as of the beginning of such period (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board at the end of such period, provided that any person becoming a director

during a twelve (12) month period, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual elected or nominated as a director of the Company initially as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies (or consents) by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed an Incumbent Director;

(ii) any “person” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and as used in Section 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than CuraGen is or becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the “Company Voting Securities”) pursuant to a transaction or a series of related transactions; provided, however, that the event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control by virtue of any of the following: (A) acquisitions by the Company or any subsidiary; (B) acquisitions by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or subsidiary; or (C) acquisitions by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities;

(iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination more than 50% of the total voting power of (x) the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Corporation”), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Corporation (the “Parent Corporation”), is represented by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such

Business Combination (or, if applicable, shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination); or

(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets except to CuraGen or any of its affiliates.

B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of the Company shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the Company which reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided, that if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control of the Company shall then occur.

C) For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “Change in Control” shall mean Change in Control of the Company, unless otherwise specified. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of CuraGen shall be deemed to have occurred upon any event(s) meeting the requirements of subsections (A) and (B) of this Section 11 with respect to CuraGen, assuming for these purposes only that each reference to the “Company” and the “Board” in subsections (A) and (B) hereof shall be deemed a reference to CuraGen and CuraGen’s Board of Directors, respectively.

12. Benefits Upon Termination

A) If the Executive is terminated by the Company for any reason other than for cause, then in exchange for a General Release (except in the event of the Executive’s death), the Executive shall be entitled to certain benefits. The benefits shall consist of (i) salary continuation at the base salary the Executive was receiving at the time of termination and (ii) upon timely election of COBRA continuation coverage, the Executive’s continued participation in any employee health and welfare benefit plan to which the Executive was a participant prior to his termination with the Company premiums paid at the same percentage as when Executive had participated as an employee. The salary continuation and continued participation in any health and welfare benefit plan shall be for twelve (12) months.

B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive is terminated by the Company other than for cause, or the Executive terminates his employment for good reason, within twelve (12) months before or after a Change in

Control of the Company or CuraGen, in exchange for a General Release, in lieu of the payments and benefits Executive would otherwise be entitled to under Section 12(A) above, the Executive shall be entitled to: (i) salary continuation at the base salary the Executive was receiving at the time of termination for a period of twenty-four (24) months following termination; (ii) upon timely election of COBRA continuation coverage, the Executive’s continued participation in any employee health and welfare benefit plan to which the Executive was a participant prior to his termination, with the Company premiums paid at the same percentage as when Executive had participated as an employee for a period of up to twenty four (24) months following termination, unless COBRA continuation coverage is otherwise earlier terminated under applicable law, in which case, in lieu of coverage, the Company will pay its share of the monthly Company premium in effect prior to the termination of COBRA continuation coverage directly to the Executive each month for the remainder of the twenty four (24) month period; (iii) notwithstanding any other agreement, all stock, restricted stock, stock options or restricted stock options with respect to the stock of the Company held by the Executive shall become 100% vested and any such options shall remain exercisable, subject to the provisions of Section 23 of the Company’s 2000 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Plan, until the earlier of (x) two years from the later of (I) the date of termination of Executive’s employment or (II) the date of the Change in Control of the Company or CuraGen, or (y) the end of original term for each such option; and (iv) notwithstanding any other agreement, all stock, restricted stock, stock options or restricted stock options with respect to the stock of CuraGen held by the Executive shall become 100% vested (to the extent not already fully vested) and any such options shall remain exercisable, subject to the provisions of Section 23 of the CuraGen’s Amended and Restated 1997 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Plan (the “CuraGen Stock Plan”), until the earlier of (x) one year from the later of (I) the date of termination of Executive’s employment or (II) the date of the Change in Control of the Company or CuraGen, or (y) the end of original term for each such option.

C) Termination by the Executive of his employment for “good reason” shall mean termination based on:

(i) subsequent to a Change in Control of the Company or CuraGen, and without the Executive’s express written consent, the assignment to Executive of any duties inconsistent with those duties prior to a Change in Control, or a change in the Executive’s reporting responsibilities, titles or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control, or any removal of the Executive from, or any failure to re elect the Executive, to any of such positions, except in connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment for cause, disability or retirement or as a result of the Executive’s death or by the Executive other than for good reason;

(ii) subsequent to a Change in Control of the Company or CuraGen, a reduction by the Company in the Executive’s base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;

(iii) subsequent to a Change in Control of the Company or CuraGen, a failure by the Company to continue any bonus plans in which the Executive is presently entitled to participate (the “Bonus Plans”) as the same may be modified from time to time but substantially in the form currently in effect, or a failure by the Company to continue the Executive as a participant in the Bonus Plans on at least the same basis as the Executive presently participates in accordance with the Bonus Plans;

(iv) subsequent to a Change in Control of the Company or CuraGen and without the Executive’s express written consent, the Company’s requiring the Executive to be based anywhere other than within fifty (50) miles of the Executive’s present office location, except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Executive’s present business travel obligations;

(v) subsequent to a Change in Control of the Company or CuraGen, the failure by the Company to continue in effect any benefit or compensation plan, stock ownership plan, stock purchase plan, stock option plan, life insurance plan, health and accident plan or disability plan in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control (or plans providing the Executive with substantially similar benefits), the taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect the Executive’s participation in or materially reduce the Executive’s benefits under any of such plans or deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the Change in Control, or the failure by the Company to provide the Executive with the number of paid vacation days to which the Executive is then entitled in accordance with the Company’s normal vacation policy in effect on the date hereof;

(vi) the failure of any acquiring entity or successor in interest to the Company to assume this Agreement; or

(vii) subsequent to a Change in Control of the Company or CuraGen, any purported termination of the Executive’s employment which is not effected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. No such purported termination shall be effective.

D) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary and notwithstanding any other agreement, upon (i) a Change in Control of the Company or CuraGen, (ii) the consummation of a spin-off of the Company from CuraGen in which CuraGen distributes to the stockholders of CuraGen a percentage of the equity securities of the Company such that CuraGen then holds less than 50% of the voting power of the Company, or (iii) the consummation of an initial public offering of any class of equity security of the Company that is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, such that CuraGen then holds less than 50% of the voting power of the Company, (x) all stock, restricted stock, stock options or restricted stock options with respect to stock of CuraGen held by the Executive shall become 100% vested, and (y) all stock, restricted stock, stock options or restricted stock options with respect to stock of the Company shall be governed by the terms of any Company plan or option agreement with respect thereto. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if, immediately following and as a direct result of any event described in this Section 12(D), the Company ceases to be an Affiliate (as such term is defined under the CuraGen Stock Plan) of CuraGen (the “Triggering Event”), then notwithstanding any other agreement, all stock options or restricted stock options with respect to the stock of CuraGen shall remain exercisable, subject to the provisions of Section 23 of the CuraGen Stock Plan, until the earlier of (a) one year from the date of the Triggering Event, or (b) the end of original term for each such option.

13. Arbitration

A) Any dispute under this Agreement, including any dispute as to cause or good reason for termination, shall be submitted to binding arbitration subject to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH ACTIONS, SUIT OR PROCEEDING. The Company shall bear all costs associated with the Arbitration, including filing fees and any stipend for the arbitrator. The Company and the Executive shall each bear its own attorneys’ fees. However, if the Executive prevails in a challenge to the Company’s determination for cause, the Executive shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all attorney fees.

B) Nothing in this section shall be read to preclude the Company seeking injunctive relief for the Executive’s breach of Section 8, Proprietary and Trade Secret Information or Section 9, Covenant Not to Compete.

14. Injunctive Relief

The Executive acknowledges that the services rendered by him under this Agreement are of a special, unique and extraordinary character and, in connection with such services, he will have access to confidential information concerning the Company’s business. By reason of this access to confidential information, the Executive consents and agrees that if he violates any of the provisions of this Agreement with respect to Proprietary and Trade Secret Information or the Covenant Not to Compete, the Company would sustain irreparable harm and, therefore, in addition to any other remedies which the Company may have under this Agreement or otherwise, the Company shall be entitled to an injunction to be issued by any court of competent jurisdiction restraining the Executive from committing or continuing to commit any such violation of this Agreement.

15. Miscellaneous

A) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, applicable to agreements made and to be performed in Connecticut, and shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the party causing the Agreement to be drafted.

B) This Agreement contains a complete statement of all the arrangements between the Company and the Executive with respect to its subject matter, supersedes all previous agreements, written or oral, among them relating to its subject matter and cannot be modified, amended or terminated orally. Amendments may be made to this Agreement at any time if mutually agreed upon in writing. Without in any way limiting the foregoing, it is expressly agreed that as of the Effective Date the employment agreement by and between Executive and CuraGen Corporation, dated April 1, 2002, as amended, is terminated and of no further force or effect and no amounts are due or owing thereunder. CuraGen Corporation and other non-signatory members of the Company Group are intended third-party beneficiaries of the foregoing. The Company and the Executive hereby agree that they will jointly execute an amendment to modify this Agreement to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute, regulation and guidance thereto; provided that no such amendment shall increase the total financial obligation of the Company under this Agreement.

C) Any amendment, notice or other communication under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be considered given when received and shall be delivered personally or mailed by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to the parties at their respective addresses set forth in this Agreement, or at such other address as a party may specify by written notice to the other.

D) The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing.

E) Each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any court of the State of Connecticut or the Federal District Court of Connecticut over any action, suit or proceeding relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party hereby irrevocably waives any objections, including, without limitation, any objection to the laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens which such party may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such actions, suit or proceeding in any such court and irrevocably agrees that process in any such actions, suit or proceeding may be served upon that party personally or by Certified or Registered Mail, Return Receipt Requested.

F) The invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms or provisions of this Agreement which shall remain in full force and effect and any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision shall be given full effect as is legally permissible. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable in one jurisdiction, it shall not affect the validity or enforceability of that term or provision in any other jurisdiction.

G) This Agreement is not assignable by either party except that it shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company by merger or consolidation or the acquisition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, provided such successor assumes all of the obligations of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and legal representatives of the Executive.

454 LIFE SCIENCES CORPORATION

By:

/s/ Patrick J. Zenner

August 10, 2005

By:

/s/ Christopher K. McLeod

August 10, 2005

Patrick J. Zenner,

Date

Christopher K. McLeod

Date

Interim Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer of CuraGen,

for the Board of Directors of the Company

CURAGEN CORPORATION

SCHEDULE A

Compensation

The Executive shall receive the following compensation for services:

As of the Effective Date, the Executive’s base salary shall be $322,000 per year, payable in bi-weekly installments, subject to increases by the Company’s Board, which shall review the salary periodically (“Base Salary”).

The Executive, if otherwise eligible, shall participate in any incentive compensation plan, pension, profit sharing, stock purchase or stock option plan, annuity, or group insurance plan, medical plan and other benefits, maintained by the Company for its employees.

The Executive shall be eligible to receive annual performance-based bonuses on the attainment of certain goals set by the Board, with a target bonus of fifty percent (50%) of Executive’s Base Salary. The target bonus may be proportionally adjusted (from 0% to 49% and from 51% to 100% of Base Salary) to reflect performance that is either below or above (as the case may be) established targets.