Xenetic
Biosciences Appoints Jeffrey F. Eisenberg to the Board of Directors
LEXINGTON,
MA – (July 11, 2016)
–
Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (OTCQB: XBIO) (“Xenetic”
or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation biologic drugs and novel orphan oncology
therapeutics, today announced that it has appointed Jeffrey F. Eisenberg to the Company’s Board of Directors.
Mr.
Eisenberg is a life sciences executive with over 20 years of operational experience and a successful track record in value creation
in both private and public companies. Over the course of his career, he has led all crucial areas of R&D, operations, manufacturing/quality,
business development, strategic partnering, product development, commercialization, and talent management.
Commenting
on the appointment, Scott Macguire, CEO of Xenetic Biosciences, stated, “We are very pleased to welcome Jeff to Xenetic’s
Board of Directors. I have no doubt he will bring a valuable perspective to the Company on the corporate, operational, clinical
and commercialization fronts during this important growth phase for Xenetic. His broad skill set complements our current board,
and we fully expect to leverage his proven business acumen and solid industry experience.”
Prior
to joining the Xenetic Board, Mr. Eisenberg served at Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Noven”) for over a decade beginning
as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and departing as the President and CEO and a member of the Board of
Directors. As CEO, Mr. Eisenberg achieved several notable accomplishments including managing the integration of Noven and Hisamitsu
following the acquisition of Noven in 2009, increasing the cash position from $78 million in the year of the acquisition to over
$240 million at year end 2015 through organic growth without incurring debt, and achieving FDA approval for the first non-hormonal
product to treat menopausal vasomotor symptoms. Mr. Eisenberg also served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances, Interim
President and CEO, and Executive Vice President while serving at Noven. Currently, Mr. Eisenberg serves as a member of the Board
of Directors of Mabvax Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative
vaccine and monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Jeffrey
Eisenberg commented, “I am thrilled to be joining the team during this pivotal time for Xenetic. I believe Xenetic is currently
taking important steps necessary to propel the Company towards its next phase of growth and believe it is
poised to unlock
the tremendous potential that exists within its deep pipeline
.”
Mr.
Eisenberg graduated
Magna cum Laude
from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania with his Bachelor of Science degree
in Economics and received his Doctor of Law degree from Columbia University Law School in New York.
About Xenetic
Biosciences
Xenetic
Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation biologic drugs and novel oncology therapeutics.
Xenetic's proprietary drug technology platforms include PolyXen®, designed to develop next generation biologic drugs by extending
the efficacy, safety and half-life of biologic drugs.
Xenetic's
lead product candidates include ErepoXen™, a polysialylated form of erythropoietin for the treatment of anemia in pre-dialysis
patients with chronic kidney disease, and FDA orphan designated oncology therapeutics Virexxa™ and Oncohist™
for the treatment of progesterone receptor negative endometrial cancer and refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Xenetic
is also working together with Baxalta Incorporated (formerly Baxter Healthcare) to develop a novel series of polysialylated
blood coagulation factors, including a next generation Factor VIII. This collaboration relies on Xenetic's PolyXen technology to
conjugate polysialic acid (“PSA”) to therapeutic blood-clotting factors, with the goal of improving the pharmacokinetic
profile and extending the active life of these biologic molecules. Baxalta is one of the Company's largest shareholders having
invested $10M in the common stock of the Company during 2014. The agreement is an exclusive research, development and
license agreement which grants Baxalta a worldwide, exclusive, royalty-bearing license to Xenetic's PSA patented and proprietary
technology in combination with Baxalta's proprietary molecules designed for the treatment of blood and bleeding disorders. Under
the agreement, Xenetic may receive regulatory and sales target payments for total potential milestone receipts of up to $100
million plus royalties on sales.
Xenetic
is also developing a broad pipeline of clinical candidates for next generation biologics and novel oncology therapeutics in a number
of orphan disease indications. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.xeneticbio.com and connect
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), which statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects,"
"will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates,"
and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding expected benefits of NGS cancer panels, the ability to accurately
determine the heritable factors increasing the risk of cancer, permitting tailored treatment, screening and prevention of cancer
in patients, as well as other non-historical statements about our expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding our business, technologies
and products, financial condition, strategies or prospects. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ
materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described in
our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the risks inherent in funding, developing and obtaining
regulatory approvals of new, commercially-viable and competitive products and treatments. In addition, forward-looking statements
may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state
regulations and legislation, the regulatory process for new products and indications, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent
positions and litigation, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of
the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. We intend that
all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA.
Contact:
Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC.
Jenene Thomas
(908) 938-1475
jenene@jenenethomascommunications.com
Source: Xenetic Biosciences,
Inc.
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Xenetic Biosciences,
Inc.
Ledgemont
Research Ctr
Hayden
Avenue
Lexington,
MA 02421
United
States
t
781-778-7722
e
info@xeneticbio.com
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Mr.
Jeffrey F. Eisenberg
1800
Purdy Ave.
Apt 2012
Miami
Beach, FL 33139
Re:
Board of Directors Appointment
Dear
Jeffrey:
This
Letter Agreement (the “Agreement”) is to confirm the terms of your proposed appointment on July 8, 2016 (the “Effective
Date”) as a non-employee, independent Director of Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”).
Overall,
in terms of time commitment, we expect your attendance at all the Board meetings and meetings of such committees of the Board
that you will be appointed to (as applicable). In addition, you will be expected to devote appropriate preparation time ahead
of each meeting. You will also, when time allows, assist in the presentation of the Company at various conferences when and as
requested by the Chief Executive Officer. The Company acknowledges your role as a researcher and professor of structural biology
at Stanford University as well as your membership on various other public company boards and scientific advisory committees.
By
accepting this appointment, you have confirmed that you are able to allocate sufficient time to meet the expectations of this
position.
1.
Consideration
. For and in consideration of the services to be performed by you, the Company agrees to compensate you as
follows:
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1.1
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Director
Fee
. A director fee equal to $35,000 (Thirty-Five Thousand U.S. Dollars) per annum,
payable quarterly in arrears (the “Board Meeting Fee”) will be the cash compensation
for your role as a director. If you are appointed to any of our board committees, as
chair or as a member, you will receive additional compensation as follows: (1) for your
participation on the audit committee, $7,500 per annum; and (2) for your service on any
other committee, $5,000 per annum. Committee fees are also paid quarterly in arrears.
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Stock Options
.
Subject to all approvals required by law, the Company will grant you, pursuant to an equity incentive plan or such other plan
to be adopted by the Company (the "Plan") and upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Compensation Committee
or the Board (as applicable), an option to purchase Four Thousand Seven Hundred (4,700) shares of common stock of the Company
at a strike price determined by the closing price of the common stock on the date of your appointment (the “Initial Grant”).
This option shall be exercisable as provided herein and shall vest immediately. An additional option shall be granted for service
each year as determined by the board of directors upon recommendation of the compensation committee.
If
your board service is terminated or ends for any reason, all granted Options that have not vested or been granted shall be forfeit,
and any Options that have vested, but have not been exercised, shall be exercisable by you any time within three (3) months of
the termination of your board position (the “Termination Exercise Period”). Any Options that are not exercised within
the Termination Exercise Period, shall expire immediately.
1.2. Term
of Options. All Options, if and to the extent vested according to Section 1.2 above, shall be in effect for a period of 10 years
commencing immediately after the vesting of all Options granted to you under this letter of appointment, and shall expire immediately
thereafter, unless terminated sooner as provided in Section 1.2. Without derogating from the aforesaid, if the Plan that shall
be approved by the Company shall include additional provisions related to expiration of Options, such provisions shall also apply
with respect to all Options granted to you under this letter of appointment.
1.2.1
Vesting
.
All Options granted to you shall vest as provided in Section 1.2.
1.2.2
Price
.
The exercise price of the Options shall be equal to the Company’s stock price on the date of your appointment.
1.2.3
General
.
All options granted to you shall be in effect subject to your continuous service as a Director and subject to the terms and conditions
of the Company’s Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”), including such terms related to vesting and expiration, and
subject to such terms and conditions as will be approved by the Company, at its sole discretion. In case of contradiction between
the provisions of this letter of appointment and the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall supersede.
1.2.4
Certain
Representations
. You represent and agree that you are accepting the option to purchase shares of common stock being issued
to you pursuant to this Agreement for your own account and not with a view to or for sale of distribution thereof. You understand
that the securities are restricted securities and you understand the meaning of the term “restricted securities.”
You further represent that you were not solicited by publication of any advertisement in connection with the receipt of the shares
and that you have consulted tax counsel as needed regarding the shares.
1.3 Company
agrees to reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by you in connection with your service (including out-of-pocket expenses,
transportation, and airfare on company business, provided that such expenses are against original and valid receipts (the “Expenses”).
1.4 Payment
of the Expenses, as applicable, shall be made against your itemized invoice following the receipt of the relevant invoice, which
invoice shall be submitted to the Company within seven (7) days of the end of each calendar month during the term of this letter
of appointment.
1.5 For
the avoidance of any doubt, the Fee and the Options (subject to their terms) and the aforementioned Expenses constitute the full
and final consideration for your appointment, and you shall not be entitled to any additional consideration, of any form, for
your appointment and service.
2. The
term of your appointment as a non-employee, director of the Company shall be for one year or until the next Meeting of Stockholders
and shall be renewable on a yearly basis by vote of the shareholders or appointment by the board.
3. You will undertake such travelling as may reasonably be necessary for the performance of your duties, including travelling for
board meetings and site visits if required.
4. You will undertake such duties and powers relating to the Company and any subsidiaries or associated companies (the “Group”)
as the Board may from time to time reasonably request. The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for promoting the success
of the Company by directing and supervising the Company’s affairs, inter alia, as follows:
4.1
Providing entrepreneurial leadership of the Group within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be
assessed and managed; and
4.2
Setting the Group’s strategic aims, ensures that the necessary financial and human resources are in place for the Group
to meet its objectives and reviews of management performance; and
4.3
Setting the Group’s values and standards and ensure that its obligations to its shareholders and others are understood and
met.
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4.3.1
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Managing
conflicts of interest that may arise in board meetings; and
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4.3.2
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Ensuring
that all board members are acting in the best interests of all shareholders.
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5.
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Confidential
Information
.
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5.1
You undertake to the Company that you shall maintain in strict confidentiality all trade, business, technical or other information
regarding the Company, the Group, its affiliated entities and their business affairs including, without limitation, all marketing,
sales, technical and business know-how, intellectual property, trade secrets, identity and requirements of customers and prospective
customers, the Company’s methods of doing business and any and all other information relating to the operation of the Company
(collectively, the “Confidential Information”). You shall at no time disclose any Confidential Information to any
person, firm, or entity, for any purpose unless such disclosure is required in order to fulfil your responsibilities as director.
You further undertake that you shall not use such Confidential Information for personal gain.
“Confidential Information”
shall not include information that (i) is or becomes part of the public domain other than as a result of disclosure by You, (ii)
becomes available to you on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company, provided that the source is not bound
with respect to that information by a confidentiality agreement with the Group or is otherwise prohibited from transmitting that
information by a contractual legal or other obligation, or (iii) can be proven by you to have been in your possession prior to
disclosure of the information by the Company. In the event that you are requested or required (by oral questions, interrogatories,
requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other process) to disclose any Confidential Information,
it is agreed that you, to the extent practicable under the circumstances, will provide the Company with prompt notice of any such
request or requirement so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order or waive compliance with this paragraph 5.
If a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder has not been obtained, you may disclose only that portion of the Confidential
Information which you are legally compelled to disclose.
5.2
Blackout Period
. You understand that we have, or intend to have, a policy pursuant to which no officer, director or key
executive may not engage in transactions in our stock during the period commencing the end of a fiscal quarter and ending the
day after the financial information for the quarter and year have been publicly released. If you become a member of the audit
committee and you have information concerning our financial results at any time, you may not engage in transactions in our securities
until the information is publicly disclosed.
6.1
Subject to paragraph 6.2 hereunder, this appointment shall terminate immediately and without claim for compensation on the occurrence
of any of the following events:
6.1.1 If
you resign as a Director of the Company for any reason; and/or
6.1.2 If
you are removed or not re-appointed as a Director of the Board of the Company at a General Meeting of shareholders of the Company
in accordance with the requirements of the Business Corporation Law of the State of Nevada and/or any other applicable law or
regulation (the "Law") and/or the Company's Articles of Incorporation; and/or
6.1.3 If
you have been declared bankrupt or made an arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of your creditors; and/or
6.1.4 If
you have been disqualified from acting as a Director (including, but not limited to, an event in which you are declared insane
or become of unsound mind or become physically incapable of performing your functions as director for a period of at least sixty
(60) days; and/or
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6.1.5
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If
an order of a court having jurisdiction over the Company requires you to resign.
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6.2 Any
termination of this letter of appointment shall be without payment of damages or compensation (except that you shall be entitled
to any accrued Fees or Expenses properly incurred under the terms of this letter of appointment prior to the date of such termination).
7.
The Company will put directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in place within sixty (60) days of this
Agreement, if not already in place, and will use commercial reasonable efforts to maintain such insurance coverage for the
full term of your appointment.
8. On
termination of this appointment, you shall return all property belonging to the Group, together with all documents, papers, disks
and information, howsoever stored, relating to the Group and used by you in connection with your position with the Company.
9. Subject to the proper performance of your obligations to the Company under this letter of appointment and any applicable law,
the Company agrees that you will be free to accept other appointments, directorships and chairmanships provided that:
9.1
They do not in any way conflict with the interests of the Company or any member of the Group; and
9.2
They do not restrict you from devoting the necessary time and attention properly to services to be performed under this letter
of appointment; and
9.3
In the event that you become aware of any potential conflicts of interest, these must be disclosed to the Board and/or the Chief
Executive Officer (the "
CEO
") of the Company as soon as they become apparent.
10. The performance of individual Directors, the Chairman and the Board and its committees is evaluated annually. If, in the interim,
there are any matters which cause you concern about your position, you should discuss them with the Board and/or the CEO as soon
as is appropriate.
11. In addition to any right pursuant to applicable law, occasions may arise when you consider that you need professional advice in
the furtherance of your duties as a director. Circumstances may occur when it will be appropriate for you to seek such advice
from independent advisors at the Company’s expense, to the extent provided under applicable law and subject to the prior
written approval of the CEO and/or the Board.
12. This letter refers to your appointment as a Director of the Company and your (possible) membership on the committees of the Board.
13. You shall ensure that you comply at all times with the Company’s inside trading policies as in effect from time to time.
14. You shall discharge your general duties as a Director pursuant to the Company's Articles of Incorporation and applicable law.
15. This letter of appointment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Massachusetts.
Please
sign the attached copy of this letter and return it to Xenetic to signify your acceptance of the terms set out above.
XENETIC
BIOSCIENCES INC.
/s/
M. Scott Maguire
Name:
M. Scott Maguire
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
AGREED
AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
/s/
Jeffrey F. Eisenberg
Name
of Director: Jeffrey F. Eisenberg