EX-10.26

Exhibit 10.26

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

This Consulting Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of December 17, 2023, between Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, having its principal place of business at 188 East Blaine Steet, Suite 450, Seattle, WA 98102 (“Company”), and Donna Cochener, an individual whose address is [**] (“Consultant”), and shall be effective concurrently with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 17, 2023, by and among Company, Project North Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Neurogene Inc., a Delaware corporation (such date, the “Closing Date”).

Company and Consultant desire to have Consultant perform services for Company, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

1. SERVICES

1.1 Statement of Work. Company and Consultant have executed (or will execute) a statement of work, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, that describes the specific services to be performed by Consultant (as executed, a “Statement of Work”). The Statement of Work will expressly refer to this Agreement, will form part of this Agreement, and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained herein. The Statement of Work may be amended only by written agreement of the parties.

1.2 Performance of Services. Consultant will perform the services described in the Statement of Work (the “Services”) in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in such Statement of Work and this Agreement.

1.3 Delivery. Consultant will deliver to Company the deliverables, designs, modules, software, products, documentation and other materials specified in the Statement of Work (individually or collectively, “Deliverables”) in accordance with the delivery schedule and other terms and conditions set forth in the Statement of Work.

2. PAYMENT

2.1 Fees. As Consultant’s sole compensation for the performance of Services, Company will pay Consultant the fees specified in the Statement of Work in accordance with the terms set forth therein.

2.2 Expenses. Unless otherwise provided in the Statement of Work, Company will also reimburse Consultant for all reasonable and customary out-of-pocket travel, lodging and related expenses incurred by Consultant in connection with Consultant’s performance of Services. At Company’s request, Consultant will furnish Company with copies of receipts and other customary documentation for any expenses for which Consultant requests reimbursement hereunder.

2.3 Payment Terms. All fees and other amounts set forth in the Statement of Work, if any, are stated in and are payable in U.S. dollars. Unless otherwise provided in the Statement of Work, Consultant will invoice Company on a monthly basis for all fees and expenses payable to Consultant (such aggregate expenses, fees and compensation not to exceed the amount of the Lease Negotiation Holdback that is not returned in connection with clause (d) of the definition of Gross Proceeds) in that certain Contingent Value

Rights Agreement (the “CVRA”) by and among Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc., Equiniti Trust Company, LLC and Donna Cochener to be entered into on the Closing Date, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C. Company will pay the full amount of each such invoice within thirty (30) days following receipt thereof, except for any amounts that Company disputes in good faith. The parties will use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to promptly resolve any such payment disputes.

3. RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES

3.1 Independent Contractor. Consultant is an independent contractor and nothing in this Agreement will be construed as establishing an employment or agency relationship between Company and Consultant. Consultant has no authority to bind Company by contract or otherwise. Consultant will perform Services under the general direction of Company, but Consultant will determine, in Consultant’s sole discretion, the manner and means by which Services are accomplished, subject to the requirement that Consultant will at all times comply with applicable law.

3.2 Taxes and Employee Benefits. Consultant will report to all applicable government agencies as income all compensation received by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement. Consultant will be solely responsible for payment of all withholding taxes, social security, workers’ compensation, unemployment and disability insurance or similar items required by any government agency. Consultant will not be entitled to any benefits paid or made available by Company to its employees, including, without limitation, any vacation or illness payments, or to participate in any plans, arrangements or distributions made by Company pertaining to any bonus, stock option, profit sharing, insurance or similar benefits.

4. OWNERSHIP

4.1 Disclosure of Work Product. Consultant will, as an integral part of the performance of Services, disclose in writing to Company all inventions, products, designs, drawings, notes,

documents, information, documentation, improvements, works of authorship, processes, techniques, know-how, algorithms, specifications, biological or chemical specimens or samples, hardware, circuits, computer programs, databases, user interfaces, encoding techniques, and other materials of any kind that Consultant may make, conceive, develop or reduce to practice, alone or jointly with others, in connection with performing Services, or that result from or that are related to such Services, whether or not they are eligible for patent, copyright, mask work, trade secret, trademark or other legal protection (collectively, “Consultant Work Product”). Consultant Work Product includes without limitation any Deliverables that Consultant delivers to Company pursuant to Section 1.3.

4.2 Ownership of Consultant Work Product. Consultant agrees that all Consultant Work Product will be the sole and exclusive property of Company. Consultant hereby irrevocably transfers and assigns to Company, and agrees to irrevocably transfer and assign to Company, all right, title and interest in and to the Consultant Work Product, including all worldwide patent rights (including patent applications and disclosures), copyright rights, mask work rights, trade secret rights, know-how, and any and all other intellectual property or proprietary rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) therein. At Company’s request and expense, during and after the term of this Agreement, Consultant will assist and cooperate with Company in all respects, and will execute documents, and will take such further acts reasonably requested by Company to enable Company to acquire, transfer, maintain, perfect and enforce its Intellectual Property Rights and other legal protections for the Consultant Work Product. Consultant hereby appoints the officers of Company as Consultant’s attorney-in-fact to execute documents on behalf of Consultant for this limited purpose.

4.3 Moral Rights. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Consultant also hereby irrevocably transfers and assigns to Company, and agrees to irrevocably transfer and assign to Company, and waives and agrees never

to assert, any and all Moral Rights (as defined below) that Consultant may have in or with respect to any Consultant Work Product, during and after the term of this Agreement. “Moral Rights” mean any rights to claim authorship of a work, to object to or prevent the modification or destruction of a work, to withdraw from circulation or control the publication or distribution of a work, and any similar right, existing under judicial or statutory law of any country in the world, or under any treaty, regardless of whether or not such right is called or generally referred to as a “moral right.”

5. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means and will include: (i) any information, materials or knowledge regarding Company and its business, financial condition, products, programming techniques, customers, suppliers, technology or research and development that is disclosed to Consultant or to which Consultant has access in connection with performing Services; (ii) the Consultant Work Product; and (iii) the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Confidential Information will not include any information that: (a) is or becomes part of the public domain through no fault of Consultant; (b) was rightfully in Consultant’s possession at the time of disclosure, without restriction as to use or disclosure; or (c) Consultant rightfully receives from a third party who has the right to disclose it and who provides it without restriction as to use or disclosure. At all times, both during Consultant’s engagement by Company as an independent contractor and after its termination, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, Consultant agrees to hold all Confidential Information in strict confidence, not to use it in any way, commercially or otherwise, except in performing Services, and not to disclose it to others. Nothing in this Section 5 or otherwise in this Agreement shall limit or restrict in any way Consultant’s immunity from liability for disclosing Company’s trade secrets as specifically permitted by 18 U.S. Code Section 1833, the pertinent provisions of which are attached hereto as Exhibit B.

6. WARRANTIES

6.1 No Pre-existing Obligations. Consultant represents and warrants that Consultant has no pre-existing obligations or commitments (and will not assume or otherwise undertake any obligations or commitments) that would be in conflict or inconsistent with or that would hinder Consultant’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

6.2 Performance Standard. Consultant represents and warrants that Services will be performed in a thorough and professional manner, consistent with high professional and industry standards by individuals with the requisite training, background, experience, technical knowledge and skills to perform Services.

7. TERM AND TERMINATION

7.1 Term. This Agreement will commence on the Closing Date and, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will remain in force and effect for as long as Consultant is performing Services pursuant to the Statement of Work.

7.2 Termination for Breach. Either party may terminate this Agreement (including the Statement of Work) if the other party breaches any material term of this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days following written notice thereof from the non-breaching party.

7.3 Termination for Convenience. Company may terminate this Agreement (including the Statement of Work) at any time, for any reason or no reason, upon at least ten (10) days written notice to Consultant.

7.4 Effect of Termination. Upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason: (i) Consultant will promptly deliver to Company all Consultant Work Product, including all work in progress on any Consultant Work Product not previously delivered to Company, if any; (ii) Consultant will promptly deliver to Company all Confidential Information in Consultant’s possession or control; and (iii) Company will pay Consultant any accrued but unpaid fees due and payable to Consultant pursuant to Section 2.

7.5 Survival. The rights and obligations of the parties under Sections 2, 3.2, 4, 5 and 7.4 will survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

8. GENERAL

8.1 Assignment. Consultant may not assign or transfer this Agreement, in whole or in part, without Company’s express prior written consent. Any attempt to assign this Agreement, without such consent, will be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement will bind and benefit the parties and their respective successors and assigns.

8.2 No Election of Remedies. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the exercise by Company of any of its remedies under this Agreement will not be deemed an election of remedies and will be without prejudice to its other remedies under this Agreement or available at law or in equity or otherwise.

8.3 Equitable Remedies. Because the Services are personal and unique and because Consultant will have access to Confidential Information of Company, Company will have the right to enforce this Agreement and any of its provisions by injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, without having to post a bond or other consideration, in addition to all other remedies that Company may have for a breach of this Agreement at law or otherwise.

8.4 Attorneys’ Fees. If any action is necessary to enforce the terms of this Agreement, the substantially prevailing party will be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses in addition to any other relief to which such prevailing party may be entitled.

8.5 Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding its body of law controlling conflict of laws. Any legal action or proceeding arising under this Agreement will be brought exclusively in the federal or state courts located in the Western District of Washington and the parties irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue therein.

8.6 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, and the provision affected will be construed so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permissible by law.

8.7 Waiver. The failure by either party to enforce any provision of this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of future enforcement of that or any other provision.

8.8 Notices. All notices required or permitted under this Agreement will be in writing, will reference this Agreement, and will be deemed given: (i) one business day after being sent for next business day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (b) upon delivery in the case of delivery in person, by FedEx or other internationally recognized overnight courier service or (c) on the date delivered in the place of delivery if sent by email (with a written or electronic confirmation of delivery) prior to 6:00 p.m. (New York City time), otherwise on the next succeeding business day. All such notices will be sent to the addresses set forth above or to such other address as may be specified by either party to the other party in accordance with this Section.

8.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Statement of Work and the CVRA, constitutes the complete and exclusive understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to its subject matter. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions of the Statement of Work and the CVRA (including the Company’s obligation to indemnify the Consultant pursuant to Section 4.6 of the CVRA) will take precedence over the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Any waiver, modification or amendment of any provision of this Agreement will be effective only if in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

8.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above to be effective on the Closing Date.


COMPANY:		CONSULTANT:

By:	/s/ Sean Smith	By:	/s/ Donna Cochener
Name:	Sean Smith	Name:	Donna Cochener
Title:	Interim Chief Financial Officer	Date:	December 17, 2023
Date:	December 17, 2023