Shares Clearside Biomedical, Inc. Common Stock ($0.001Par Value) EQUITY UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

EX-1.1 2 d742552dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Shares

Clearside Biomedical, Inc.

Common Stock

($0.001 Par Value)

EQUITY UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

, 2016

Cowen and Company, LLC

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

As the Representatives of the


		several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto


c/o		Cowen and Company, LLC
		599 Lexington Avenue
		New York, New York 10022

		and

		Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
		787 7^th Avenue, 11^th Floor
		New York, New York 10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Clearside Biomedical, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named in Schedule I hereto for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”) an aggregate of shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Firm Securities”). The respective amounts of the Firm Securities to be so purchased by the several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto. The Issuer also proposes to sell at the Underwriters’ option an aggregate of up to additional shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock (the “Option Securities”) solely to cover over-allotments, as set forth below.

As the Representatives, you have advised the Issuer (a) that you are authorized to enter into this equity underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”) on behalf of the several Underwriters, and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing, acting severally and not jointly, to purchase the numbers of Firm Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I hereto, plus their pro rata portion of the Option Securities in whole or in part for the accounts of the several Underwriters. The Firm Securities and the Option Securities (to the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively called the “Shares.”

The Issuer has prepared a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-208916) with respect to the Shares pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) promulgated thereunder. As used in this Agreement, “Effective Time” means the date and the time as of which such registration statement, or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto, if any, was declared effective by the Commission; “Effective Date” means the date of the Effective Time; “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement, or amendments thereof, before it became effective under the Securities Act and any prospectus filed with the Commission by the Issuer with the consent of the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Rules and Regulations; “Pricing Prospectus” means the Preliminary Prospectus that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below); “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares; “Registration Statement” means such registration statement, as amended at the Effective Time, including all information deemed to be a part of the registration statement as of the Effective Time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations; “Free Writing Prospectus” means any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act relating to the Shares; and “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act relating to the Shares. If the Issuer has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is : m (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.

In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ISSUER.

The Issuer represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as follows:

(a) The Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and has become effective under the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened by the Commission. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Copies of such registration statement and each of the amendments thereto have been delivered by the Issuer to you. The Registration Statement conforms, and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Prospectus and the Pricing Prospectus each conforms and, as amended or supplemented, will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. As of the Effective Date, the date hereof, the Closing Date (as defined below) and each Option Closing Date (as defined below), if any, the Registration Statement does not and will not, and any further amendments to the Registration Statement will not, when they become effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; as of its date and the date hereof, the Prospectus does not, and as amended or supplemented on the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; the Pricing Prospectus, as supplemented by the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses and other documents or other information listed in Schedule II(a) hereto, taken together with the final pricing information included on the cover page of the Prospectus (collectively, the “Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule II(a) or Schedule II(b) hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement; and each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule II(b), as supplemented by and taken together with the Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties set forth in this sentence do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, such information being listed in Section 13 below. The Issuer filed the Registration Statement with the Commission before using any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus was preceded or accompanied by the most recent Preliminary Prospectus satisfying the requirements of Section 10 under the Securities Act, which Preliminary Prospectus included an estimated price range.

(b) The Issuer is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Issuer is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be,

filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Issuer has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Issuer complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II(a) or Schedule II(b) hereto, each furnished to you before first use, the Issuer has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

(c) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer, and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally, and subject to general principles of equity. The Issuer has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to authorize, issue and sell the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) The Issuer has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package. The Issuer is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or to be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities, rights, operations, earnings, business, management or prospects of the Issuer, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(e) The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Issuer have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the Shares to be issued and sold by the Issuer have been duly authorized and when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of stockholders exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof. Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock, other than those which have been waived or otherwise satisfied as of the date hereof.

(f) The information set forth under the caption “Capitalization” in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package is true and correct in all material respects. The number of outstanding shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock, on an actual and as adjusted basis, as set forth under the caption “Offering” in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package is true and correct in all material respects. All of the Shares conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package in all material respects. The form of certificates for the Shares conforms to the corporate law of the jurisdiction of the Issuer’s incorporation. Immediately after the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Underwriters, no shares of Preferred Stock of the Issuer shall be issued and outstanding and no holder of any shares of capital stock,

securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock or options, warrants or other rights to purchase capital stock or any other securities of the Issuer shall have any existing or future right to acquire any shares of Preferred Stock of the Issuer, except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.

(g) The financial statements of the Issuer, together with related notes and schedules as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, present fairly in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of the Issuer, at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted principles of accounting (“U.S. GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods have been made. The summary financial data included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package presents fairly in all material respects the information shown therein, and such data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein and the books and records of the Issuer. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package that are not included as required. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package are based on or derived from sources which the Issuer reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(h) The Issuer maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(i) Ernst & Young LLP, which has certified certain financial statements of the Issuer and delivered its opinion with respect to the audited financial statements and schedules included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Issuer within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.

(j) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened against the Issuer before any court or administrative agency or otherwise (i) that is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package and is not so described or (ii) which, if determined adversely to the Issuer, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.

(k) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Issuer exists or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent, and the Issuer is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, collaborators, contractors or customers, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(l) The Issuer has good and marketable title to all of the properties and assets reflected in the financial statements (or as described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package) hereinabove described, subject to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind, except those reflected in such financial statements (or as described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package) or which are not material in amount. The Issuer occupies its leased properties under valid and binding leases conforming in all material respects to the description thereof set forth in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.

(m) The Issuer has filed, or has requested in a timely manner extensions for, all material Federal, State, local and foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed and has paid all material taxes indicated by said returns and all written assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes have become due and payable, except for any such taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves for accrual have been established in accordance with U.S. GAAP. All material tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial statements of the Issuer as required in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and the Issuer does not know of any actual or proposed additional material tax assessments.

(n) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented, there has not been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective change which has had, or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business, and there has not been any material transaction entered into or any material transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Issuer other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package. The Issuer has no material contingent obligations that are not disclosed in the Issuer’s financial statements in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(o) The Issuer is not, nor with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both will the Issuer be, in violation of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation (“Charter”) or By-laws or under any agreement, lease, contract, indenture or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it, or any of its properties, is bound and which default has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, (i) any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party, (ii) of the Charter or By-laws of the Issuer or (iii) any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Issuer of any court or of any regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Issuer, except, with respect to the preceding clauses (i) and (iii), any conflict or breach that could not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or to materially and adversely affect the ability of the Issuer to issue the Shares under this Agreement.

(p) No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Issuer of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated , except (i) such as have already been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) such additional steps as may be required by the Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or (iii) such additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the Shares for public offering by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky laws.

(q) The Issuer has all licenses, certifications, permits, franchises, approvals, clearances and other regulatory authorizations (“Permits”) from governmental authorities as are necessary to conduct its businesses as currently conducted and to own, lease and operate its properties in the manner described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, except where the failure to have the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no claim, proceeding or controversy, pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened, involving the status of or sanctions under any of the Permits. The Issuer has fulfilled and performed all of its material obligations with respect to the Permits, and to the knowledge of the Issuer, no event has occurred which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, any revocation, termination, modification or other impairment of the rights of the Issuer under such Permit that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(r) To the Issuer’s knowledge, there are no affiliations or associations between any member of FINRA and any of the Issuer’s officers, directors or 5% or greater security holders, except as set forth in the Registration Statement.

(s) Neither the Issuer nor, to the Issuer’s knowledge, any of its affiliates, has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares. The Issuer acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive market making transactions in the Shares on The NASDAQ Stock Market in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

(t) The operations of the Issuer are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Issuer with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened.

(u) Neither the Issuer nor, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Issuer is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”). The Issuer will not directly or indirectly use any of the proceeds from the

sale of the Firm Securities or the Option Securities, if any, by the Issuer in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available any such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(v) The Issuer is not an “investment company” within the meaning of such term under the Investment Issuer Act of 1940, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “1940 Act”).

(w) The Issuer carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business in all material respects and the value of its properties and as is, to its knowledge, customary for companies engaged in its industry. All policies of insurance insuring the Issuer or any of its businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect, and the Issuer is in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects. There are no material claims by the Issuer under any such policy or instrument as to which an insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause.

(x) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”)), whether or not subject to ERISA, with respect to which the Issuer could have any liability (each an “Employee Benefit Plan”), is and has been operated in compliance with its terms and all applicable laws, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); (ii) no event has occurred (including a “reportable event” as such term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) and no condition exists with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan that would subject the Issuer to any tax, fine, lien, penalty or liability imposed by ERISA or the Code; (iii) no non-exempt “prohibited transaction” as defined under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code has occurred with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan; (iv) for each Employee Benefit Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the Issuer has not incurred and does not reasonably expect to incur liability under Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (v) each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred since the date of such qualification, whether by action or by failure to act, which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification; (vi) the Issuer has not (1) had a partial or complete withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan or (2) received notice that any Multiemployer Plan is “insolvent” (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) or in “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA); and (vii) with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan that is not subject to US law (“Foreign Benefit Plan”), such Foreign Benefit Plan (1) if intended to qualify for special tax treatment, meets the requirements for such treatment, and (2) if required to be funded, is funded to the extent required by applicable law.

(y) Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, the Issuer has not incurred any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(z) The Issuer does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock and does not have any other equity or ownership or proprietary interest in any corporation, partnership, association, trust, limited liability company, joint venture or other similar entity.

(aa) There are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents (including, without limitation, any voting agreement) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package, or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that are not described or filed as required. The Issuer has not sent or received any notice indicating the termination of or intention to terminate any of the contracts or agreements referred to or described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package, or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and no such termination has been threatened by the Issuer, or any other party to any such contract or agreement.

(bb) The Issuer is not in violation of any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous chemicals, toxic substances or radioactive and biological materials or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous chemicals, toxic substances or radioactive and biological materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”). The Issuer does not own or operate any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any Environmental Laws, is not liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, and is not subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and the Issuer is not aware of any pending investigation which might be reasonably expected to lead to such a claim.

(cc) No payments or inducements have been made or given, directly or indirectly, to any federal or local official or candidate for, any federal or state office in the United States or foreign offices by the Issuer, by any of its officers, directors, employees or agents or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, by any affiliate or any other person in connection with any opportunity, contract, permit, certificate, consent, order, approval, waiver or other authorization relating to the business of the Issuer, except for such payments or inducements as were lawful under applicable laws, rules and regulations. Neither the Issuer, nor, to the knowledge of the Issuer, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Issuer has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”); or (iv) made any bribe, unlawful rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment in connection with the business of the Issuer. The Issuer and, to the knowledge of the Issuer, its affiliates, have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with the FCPA.

(dd) The Issuer owns or licenses all United States and foreign patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary and intellectual property rights necessary for the conduct of its business as currently carried on and as proposed to be carried on as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package (collectively and together with any applications or registrations for the foregoing, the “Intellectual Property”). Except as specifically described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, (i) no third parties have obtained rights to any such Intellectual Property from the Issuer, other than licenses granted in the ordinary course and those that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) to the Issuer’s knowledge, there is no infringement or misappropriation by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (iii) there is no pending or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Issuer’s rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Issuer is unaware of any facts which would form a basis for any such claim; (iv) none of the issued or granted Intellectual Property has been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, and there is no pending or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity, enforceability, or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the Issuer is unaware of any facts which would form a basis for any such claim; (v) there is no prior, pending or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Issuer has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, or does infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate, by reason of the development, use, manufacture or commercialization of any of the Issuer’s products, product candidates or services described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package, any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right of others, and the Issuer is unaware of any facts which would form a basis for any such claim; (vi) to the Issuer’s knowledge, there is no patent or patent application that contains claims that cover or may cover any Intellectual Property described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package as being owned by or licensed to the Issuer, or that is necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted or contemplated, or that interferes with the issued or pending claims of any such Intellectual Property; (vii) there is no prior art or public or commercial activity of which the Issuer is aware that may render any patent held by the Issuer invalid or any patent application held by the Issuer unpatentable which has not been disclosed to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; and (viii) the Issuer has not committed any act or omitted to undertake any act the effect of such commission or omission would render the Intellectual Property invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part. To the Issuer’s knowledge, none of the technology employed by the Issuer has been obtained or is being used by the Issuer in violation of the rights of any person or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, in violation of a contractual obligation to a third party that is binding on the Issuer or any of its officers, directors or employees and there is no prior, pending or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, threatened claim by others that any of the Issuer’s employees have violated any contractual obligation with a former employer, including a confidentiality obligation or any obligation to assign to the former employer Intellectual Property or to not use such third-party Intellectual Property. The Issuer has taken reasonable steps necessary to secure interests in the Intellectual Property from its employees, consultants, agents and contractors. There are no outstanding options, licenses or agreements of any kind relating to the Intellectual Property owned by the Issuer that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package and are not described therein as so required.

(ee) The conduct of business by the Issuer complies, and at all times has complied, in all material respects with federal, state, local and foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, decrees, orders, Permits and other similar items (“Laws”) applicable to its business, including, without limitation, (i) the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act and similar federal, state, local and foreign Laws applicable to hazardous or regulated substances and radioactive or biologic materials and (ii) licensing and certification Laws covering any aspect of the business of the Issuer. The Issuer has not received any notification asserting, or has knowledge of, any present or past failure to comply with, or violation of, any such Laws.

(ff) The Issuer, its directors, officers and, to its knowledge, employees are in compliance in all material respects with all health care laws applicable to the Issuer or its product candidates or activities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.) the federal Anti-kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b)), the federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7h), the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§3729 et seq.), all criminal laws relating to health care fraud and abuse, including but not limited to the criminal False Claims Law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(a)), 18 U.S.C. Sections 286 and 287, and the health care fraud criminal provisions under the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.), HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 17921 et seq.), the exclusion laws (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7), the civil monetary penalties law (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a), Medicare (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act), Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act), the FD&C Act, the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.), any similar local, state or federal laws, and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws (collectively, the “Health Care Laws”), and have not engaged in activities which are, as applicable, prohibited or cause for civil penalties or mandatory or permissive exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid, or any other state or federal health care program. The Issuer possesses, and is in material compliance with the terms of, all Permits required under the Health Care Laws, and has not received any notification, correspondence or any other written or oral communication, including, without limitation, notification of any pending or threatened claim, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action, from any governmental authority of potential or actual non-compliance by, or liability of, the Issuer under any Health Care Laws.

(gg) Except with respect to the exploratory Phase 1 study for CLS-1002 conducted by the Issuer on Wet AMD in 2012 and disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, the clinical, pre-clinical and other studies, tests and research conducted by or on behalf of or sponsored by the Issuer are being and have been conducted in all material respects in accordance with the Health Care Laws, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and its applicable implementing regulations at 21 C.F.R. Parts 50, 54, 56, 58, 312, and 812. The published descriptions of the results of such studies, tests and research are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the data derived from such studies, tests and research, and the Issuer does not have any knowledge of any other studies, tests or research the results of which are materially inconsistent with or otherwise reasonably call into question the results described or referred to in

the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package. The Issuer has not received any notices or other correspondence from the FDA or any other governmental agency with respect to any clinical or pre-clinical studies, tests or research that are described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus which require the termination, suspension, or material modification of such studies, tests or research.

(hh) The Issuer has not received any warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from the FDA or any similar regulatory authority alleging or asserting noncompliance by the Issuer. The Issuer is not a party to, or has any ongoing reporting obligations pursuant to, any corporate integrity agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, monitoring agreement, consent decree, settlement order, plan of correction or similar agreement imposed by any governmental authority.

(ii) Neither the Issuer any of its directors, officers, nor, to its knowledge, its employees and agents, is debarred, suspended or excluded, or has been convicted of any crime or any conduct that could result in a debarment, suspension or exclusion, from any federal or state government health care program under 21 U.S.C. § 335a or any other Health Care Law. No claims, actions, proceedings or investigations that would reasonably be expected to result in such a debarment, suspension or exclusion are pending or, to the Issuer’s knowledge, threatened against the Issuer or the Issuer’s directors, officers, employees or agents.

(jj) The statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus regarding the Issuer’s expectations, plans and intentions, and any other information that constitutes “forward-looking” information within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, were made by the Issuer on a reasonable basis and reflect the Issuer’s good faith belief and/or estimate of the matters described therein as of the respective dates thereof.

(kk) The Issuer is in compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) that are applicable to it as of the date of this Agreement.

(ll) The Issuer has established and maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act), and the Issuer’s “disclosure controls and procedures” are reasonably designed to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Issuer in the reports that it will file or furnish under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations of the Commission, and that all such information is accumulated and communicated to the Issuer’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Issuer required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports.

(mm) There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Issuer to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Issuer or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the

Disclosure Package. The Issuer has not directly or indirectly extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of the Issuer.

(nn) The section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies” in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package accurately and fully describes, in all material respects, accounting policies that the Issuer believes are the most important in the portrayal of its financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer and which require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

(oo) Neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which could be “integrated” for purposes of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with the offer and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, neither the Issuer nor any of its affiliates has sold or issued any security during the six-month period preceding the date of the Prospectus, including but not limited to any sales pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation D or S under the Securities Act, other than shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or employee compensation plans, or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants, as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.

(pp) Since the date of the preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement filed with the Commission on January 8, 2016 (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Issuer engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act (a “Testing-the-Waters Communication”)) through the date hereof, the Issuer has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

(qq) The Issuer (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Issuer has not distributed any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act (a “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication”), other than those listed on Schedule III hereto.

(rr) The Issuer has no subsidiaries.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Issuer and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Issuer to each Underwriter and shall be deemed to be a part of this Section 1 and incorporated herein by this reference.

PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE FIRM SECURITIES.

(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Issuer agrees to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase, at a price of $ per share, the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter in Schedule I hereof, subject to adjustments in accordance with Section 9 hereof.

(b) Payment for the Firm Securities to be sold hereunder is to be made in immediately available funds against delivery of the Firm Securities therefor to the Representatives for the several accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery are to be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company, New York, New York at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the third business day after the date of this Agreement or at such other time and date not later than five business days thereafter as you and the Issuer shall agree upon, such time and date being herein referred to as the “Closing Date.” As used herein, “business day” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which banks in New York are open for business and are not permitted by law or executive order to be closed.

(c) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Issuer hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities solely to cover over-allotments at the price per share as set forth in the first paragraph of this Section. The option granted hereby may be exercised in whole or in part, once or on multiple occasions, within thirty (30) days after the date of this Agreement by written notice from the Representatives of the several Underwriters to the Issuer setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option, the names and denominations in which the Option Securities are to be registered and the time and date at which certificates for such Option Securities are to be delivered. The time and date at which such Option Securities are to be delivered shall be determined by the Representatives but shall not be earlier than three (3) nor later than ten (10) full business days after the exercise of such option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being herein referred to as an

“Option Closing Date”). If the date of exercise of the option is three (3) or more days before the Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the Closing Date as the Option Closing Date. The number of Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be in the same proportion to the total number of Option Securities being purchased as the number of Firm Securities being purchased by such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Securities, adjusted by you in such manner as to avoid fractional shares. You, as the Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel such option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Issuer. To the extent, if any, that the option is exercised, payment for the Option Securities shall be made on an Option Closing Date in immediately available funds through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company in New York, New York drawn to the order of the Issuer.

OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITERS.

It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public offering of the Firm Securities as soon as the Representatives deem it advisable to do so. The Firm Securities are to be initially offered to the public at the initial public offering price set forth in the Prospectus. To the extent, if at all, that any Option Securities are purchased pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to the public on the foregoing terms.

It is further understood that you will act as the Representatives for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in accordance with a Master Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several other Underwriters.

COVENANTS.

(a) The Issuer covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that it will (i) prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations; (ii) not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations; and (iii) file on a timely basis all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Issuer with the Commission subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters.

(b) The Issuer has not distributed and, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it will not distribute any prospectus or other written offering material (including, without limitation, any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a Free Writing Prospectus) in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares, other than the materials referred to in Section 1(a). Each Underwriter represents and agrees that it has not made and, without the prior consent of the Issuer and the Representatives, it will not make, any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Issuer and the

Representatives is listed on Schedule II(a) or Schedule II(b) hereto. The Issuer has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending. The Issuer represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions under Rule 433 under the Securities Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show. The Issuer agrees that if, at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Issuer will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if reasonably requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission.

(c) The Issuer will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Issuer.

(d) The Issuer will advise the Representatives promptly (i) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective; (ii) of receipt of any comments from the Commission; (iii) of any request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information; and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.

(e) The Issuer will cooperate with the Representatives in endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing and will make such applications, file such documents and furnish such information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Issuer shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now required to file such a consent or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject. The Issuer will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports and other documents as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.

(f) The Issuer will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Issuer will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives during the period when delivery of a Prospectus is required under the Securities Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may reasonably

request. At the request of the Representatives, the Issuer will deliver to the Representatives at or before the Closing Date, four copies of the signed Registration Statement and all amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to the Representatives such number of copies of the Registration Statement (including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may reasonably be requested) and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(g) The Issuer will comply with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus. If, during the period in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Issuer or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Issuer promptly will prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the law.

(h) If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Issuer will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

(i) The Issuer will make generally available to its security holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than 15 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations. Any report, communication or financial statement furnished or filed with the Commission that is publicly available on the Commission’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been furnished to such security holders at the time furnished or filed with the Commission.

(j) Prior to the Closing Date, the Issuer will furnish to the Underwriters, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the Issuer, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Issuer for any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(k) The Issuer covenants and agrees that no offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any shares of Common Stock of the Issuer or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or derivative of Common Stock (or agreement for such) will be made for a period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent of the Representatives; provided, that this provision will not (i) restrict the Issuer from making equity awards pursuant to employee benefit plans as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, (ii) apply to the Shares to be sold hereunder, (iii) apply to the issuance of shares of Common Stock of the Issuer or securities convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock of the Issuer pursuant to the exercise or conversion of warrants, options, or other convertible or exchangeable securities, in each case which are outstanding on the date hereof and are described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package or have been issued pursuant to the Issuer’s employee benefit plans described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, (iv) the filing of any registration statement on Form S-8 relating to any benefit plans or arrangements disclosed in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, and the issuance of securities registered pursuant thereto, or (v) apply to Common Stock of the Issuer issued to one or more counterparties in connection with the consummation, by the Issuer, of a strategic partnership, joint venture, collaboration, acquisition or license of any business products or technology or any debt financing; provided that with respect to clause (v), the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding Common Stock immediately following the Closing Date; provided further that in the case of clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) each recipient of such securities shall agree to be subject to the transfer restrictions contained in the Lockup Agreements (as defined below) with respect to any such securities for the remainder of the restricted period, as described therein and shall deliver to the Representatives such Lockup Agreement prior to such issuance.

(l) The Issuer will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Shares on The NASDAQ Global Market.

(m) The Issuer has caused each officer and director and all holders of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock of the Issuer to furnish to you, on or prior to the date of this agreement, a letter or letters, in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto, pursuant to which each such person shall agree not to offer, sell, sell short or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock of the Issuer or other capital stock of the Issuer, or any other securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or derivative of Common Stock owned by such person or request the registration for the offer or sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which such person has the right to direct the disposition of) for a period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, except with the prior written consent of each of the Representatives (“Lockup Agreements”). If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions of any Lockup Agreement between an officer or director of the Issuer and the Representatives and provides the Issuer with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of such release or waiver, the Issuer agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by means of a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, issued through a major news service, at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(n) The Issuer shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the Shares as described under the heading “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package and shall report with the Commission with respect to the sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be required in accordance with Rule 463 of the Securities Act.

(o) The Issuer shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Issuer from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as would require the Issuer to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act.

(p) The Issuer will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Issuer, a registrar for the Common Stock.

COSTS AND EXPENSES.

The Issuer will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the performance of the obligations of the Issuer under this Agreement, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: (i) accounting fees of the Issuer; (ii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuer; (iii) the cost of printing and delivering to, or as requested by, the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses, the Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Underwriters’ Selling Memorandum and the Underwriters’ Invitation Letter, if any, the Listing Application, the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements or amendments thereto; (iv) the filing fees of the Commission; (v) the filing fees and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and disbursements, up to a maximum amount of $40,000), incident to securing any required review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Shares and with the qualification of the Shares under state securities or Blue Sky laws; (vi) the Listing Fee of The NASDAQ Stock Market; and (vii) 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show (with the Underwriters agreeing to pay for the other 50%).

The Issuer shall not, however, be required to pay for any of the Underwriters’ expenses (other than those related to qualification under FINRA regulations and state securities or Blue Sky laws) except that, if this Agreement shall not be consummated because the conditions in Section 6 hereof are not satisfied, or because this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 11 hereof, or by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Issuer to perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply with any of the terms hereof on its part to be performed, unless such failure to satisfy said condition or to comply with said terms be due to the default or omission of any Underwriter, then the Issuer shall reimburse the several Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including all fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, marketing and proposing to market the Shares or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder; but the Issuer shall not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale by them of the Shares.

CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS.

The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Securities on the Closing Date and the Option Securities, if any, on each Option Closing Date are subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, of the representations and warranties of the Issuer contained herein, and to the performance by the Issuer of its covenants and obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments thereto shall have become effective and any and all filings required by Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made, and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to the Representatives and complied with to their reasonable satisfaction. All material required to be filed by the Issuer pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; if the Issuer has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, shall be contemplated by the Commission; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, shall be contemplated by the Commission; all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction; and no injunction, restraining order, or order of any nature by a Federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance of the Shares.

(b) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the opinion of Cooley LLP, counsel for the Issuer, dated the Closing

Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, addressed to the Underwriters (and stating that such opinions may be relied upon by Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters), in a form acceptable to the Representatives.

(c) The Representatives shall have received from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, with respect to the formation of the Issuer, the validity of the Shares and other related matters as the Representatives reasonably may request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(d) The Representatives shall have received, on each of the dates hereof, the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, a letter dated the date hereof, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, of Ernst & Young LLP confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating that in their opinion the financial statements and schedules examined by them and included in the Registration Statement comply in form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the related published Rules and Regulations; and containing such other statements and information as is ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial and accounting information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(e) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, a certificate or certificates of the Issuer’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to the effect that, as of the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, each of them severally represents, on behalf of the Issuer and not in their individual capacities, as follows:

(i) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been taken or are, to his knowledge, contemplated by the Commission;

(ii) The representations and warranties of the Issuer contained in Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any;

(iii) All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules 424 or 430A under the Securities Act have been made;

(iv) They have carefully examined the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, to their knowledge, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, the statements contained in the Registration Statement did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact, and such Registration Statement and Prospectus did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and since the effective date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which has not been so set forth in such supplement or amendment; and

(v) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package: (i) there has not been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective change, which has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business; (ii) the Issuer has not sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package; and (iii) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Issuer’s employee benefit plans) or long-term debt of the Issuer.

(f) The Issuer shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents confirming the representations and warranties, covenants and conditions contained herein and related matters as the Representatives may reasonably have requested.

(g) The Firm Securities and Option Securities, if any, shall have been approved for listing upon notice of issuance on The NASDAQ Global Market.

(h) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4 shall be in full force and effect.

(i) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, opinions of Cooley LLP, special counsel for the Issuer with respect to patent and proprietary rights, dated the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, addressed to the Underwriters (and stating that it may be relied upon by Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters), in a form acceptable to the Representatives.

(j) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, opinions of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, special counsel for the Issuer with respect to regulatory matters, dated the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, addressed to the Underwriters (and stating that it may be relied upon by Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters), in a form acceptable to the Representatives.

The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all material respects satisfactory to the Representatives and to Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters.

If any of the conditions provided for in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives.

In such event, the Issuer and the Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof).

CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE ISSUER.

The obligations of the Issuer to sell and deliver the portion of the Shares required to be delivered as and when specified in this Agreement are subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened.

INDEMNIFICATION.

(a) The Issuer agrees:

(i) to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter, its affiliates or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, (C) any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or (D) any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon matters covered by clause (i) or (ii) above (provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be liable under this clause (iii) to the extent that it is determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its gross negligence or willful misconduct); provided, however, that the Issuer will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by or through the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation thereof, such information being listed in Section 13 below.

(ii) to reimburse each Underwriter, its affiliates and each such controlling person upon demand for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter, its affiliates or such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability, action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry related to the offering of the Shares, whether or not such Underwriter, its affiliates or controlling person is a party to any action or proceeding. In the event that it is finally judicially determined that the Underwriters were not entitled to receive payments for legal and other expenses pursuant to this subparagraph, the Underwriters will promptly return all sums that had been advanced pursuant hereto.

(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer, each of its directors, each of its officers who have signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Issuer within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Issuer or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications or in any road show, the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made; and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Issuer or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided, however, that each Underwriter will be liable in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission has been made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications or any roadshow in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by or through the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation thereof, such information being listed in Section 13 below.

(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Section, such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or (b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this Subsection if the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section 8(a) or (b). In case any such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and shall pay as incurred the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the reasonable fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of commencement of the action.

It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm for all such indemnified parties. Such firm shall be designated in writing by you in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a) and by the Issuer in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party

shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuer on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Issuer on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuer on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Issuer bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuer on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Issuer and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Subsection were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Subsection. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in this Subsection shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Subsection, (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this Subsection to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e) In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section hereby consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any other contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be served upon him or it by any other contributing party and consents to the service of such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join him or it as an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing party is a party.

(f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section and the representations and warranties of the Issuer set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, its affiliates or any person controlling any Underwriter, the Issuer, its directors or officers or any persons controlling the Issuer, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any Underwriter, or to the Issuer, its directors or officers, or any person controlling the Issuer, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section.

DEFAULT BY UNDERWRITERS.

If on the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Shares which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Issuer), you, as the Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use your reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Issuer such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth herein, the Firm Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36 hours you, as such

Representatives, shall not have procured such other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then (i) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Firm Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (ii) if the aggregate number of shares of Firm Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm Securities or Option Securities, as the case may be, covered hereby, the Issuer or you as the Representatives of the Underwriters will have the right to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Issuer except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof. In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section, the Closing Date or applicable Option Closing Date(s), if any, may be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as Representatives, may determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any action taken under this Section shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

10.

NOTICES.

All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except as otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, or faxed and confirmed as follows:


if to the Underwriters, to	Cowen and Company, LLC
	599 Lexington Avenue
	New York, New York 10022
	Attention:	Heat of Equity Capital Markets
	Fax:	(646) 562-1249

	and

	Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
	787 7th Avenue, 11th Floor
	New York, New York 10019
	Attention:	General Counsel
	Fax:	[●]

if to the Issuer, to	Clearside Biomedical, Inc.
	1220 Old Alpharetta Rd
	Alpharetta, Georgia 30005
	Attention:	Chief Executive Officer
	Fax:	(678) 270-3631

11.

TERMINATION.

(a) This Agreement may be terminated by you at any time prior to the Closing Date if any of the following has occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective change, which, in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) any outbreak, attack, or escalation of hostilities or declaration of war, national emergency, act of terrorism or other national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic, financial or political conditions if the effect of such outbreak, escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial markets of the United States would, in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, make it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares; (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or limitation on prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for securities on either such Exchange; (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental authority which in your opinion materially and adversely affects or is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Issuer; (v) declaration of a banking moratorium by United States or New York State authorities; (vi) the suspension of trading of the Issuer’s common stock by The NASDAQ Stock Market, the Commission, or any other governmental authority; or (vii) the taking of any action by any governmental body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your reasonable opinion has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States; or

(b) as provided in Sections 6 and 9 of this Agreement.

12.

SUCCESSORS.

This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Issuer and Underwriters and their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers, directors and controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such purchase.

13.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY UNDERWRITERS.

The Issuer and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that the only information furnished or to be furnished by any Underwriter to the Issuer for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Registration Statement consists of the information contained in the following paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting” in each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus: (i) the third paragraph thereof related to market-making activities, (ii) the fourth paragraph thereof related to discretionary authority, (iii) the fifth paragraph thereof related to commissions and expenses and (iv) the fifteenth through eighteenth paragraphs thereof related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids.

14.

RESEARCH INDEPENDENCE.

The Issuer acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Issuer and/or the offering that differ from the views of its investment bankers. The Issuer hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Issuer may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Issuer by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. The Issuer acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short position in debt or equity securities of the companies which may be the subject to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

15.

NO FIDUCIARY DUTY.

Notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters, the Issuer acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) nothing herein shall create a fiduciary or agency relationship between the Issuer and the Underwriters;

(b) the Underwriters are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to the Issuer in connection with this offering, sale of the Shares or any other services the Underwriters may be deemed to be providing hereunder, including, without limitation, with respect to the public offering price of the Shares;

(c) the relationship between the Issuer and the Underwriters is entirely and solely commercial, based on arm’s-length negotiations;

(d) any duties and obligations that the Underwriters may have to the Issuer shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and

(e) the Underwriters may have financial interests in the success of the Offering that are not limited to the difference between the price to the public and the purchase price paid to the Issuer by the Underwriters for the shares and the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose, or account to the Issuer for, any of such additional financial interests.

The Issuer hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Issuer may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.

16.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Issuer or its directors or officers and (iii) delivery of and payment for the Shares under this Agreement.

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

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof.

This Agreement may only be amended or modified in writing, signed by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.

[Remainder of page intentionally blank]

If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Issuer and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.


Very truly yours,

CLEARSIDE BIOMEDICAL, INC.

By
		Daniel H. White
		Chief Executive Officer


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC
STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

As the Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I hereto

By:		COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

By:
Name:
Title:

By:		STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

By:
Name:
Title:

SCHEDULE I

SCHEDULE OF UNDERWRITERS


Underwriter		Number of Firm Securities to be Purchased

Cowen and Company, LLC
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
Needham & Company, LLC
Wedbush Securities Inc.


Total

SCHEDULE II(a)

Materials Other than the Pricing Prospectus that Comprise the Disclosure Package:

[ ● ]

SCHEDULE II(b)

Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses Not Included in the Disclosure Package

[ ● ]

SCHEDULE III

WRITTEN TESTING-THE-WATERS COMMUNICATIONS

[ ● ]

EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to carry out a public offering of Common Stock (the “Offering”) for which you will act as the representatives (collectively, the “Representatives”) of the several underwriters named in Schedule I to the underwriting agreement (the “Underwriters”) to be entered into between the Underwriters and the Company with respect to the Offering (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company by, among other things, raising additional capital for its operations. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other Underwriters are relying on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter agreement in carrying out the Offering and in entering into the Underwriting Agreement.

In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not, and will cause any spouse or immediate family member of the spouse or the undersigned living in the undersigned’s household not to, without the prior written consent of each of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld in their sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any short sale), grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), lend or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, options, rights or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by the undersigned (or such spouse or family member), including, without limitation, entering into any swap or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequences of the ownership of Common Stock or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the date 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Offering (the “Restricted Period”). In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld in their sole discretion), it will not, during the Restricted Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Common Stock, options, rights or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the undersigned may transfer securities of the Company (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee or donees thereof agree to be

bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein (and, to the extent any interest in the Company’s securities is retained by the undersigned, or the undersigned’s spouse or immediate family member, such securities shall remain subject to the restrictions contained herein), (ii) to any member of the immediate family of the undersigned or any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (iii) consisting of any shares acquired in open market transactions after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Offering, (iv) by will or intestate succession upon the death of the undersigned, provided that the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, (v) if the undersigned is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other business entity, such entity may transfer Common Stock (A) to another corporation, member, partner, trust or other business entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) of the undersigned or (B) as part of a pro rata distribution or transfer by the undersigned to its stockholders, members, partners, beneficiaries or other equity holders; provided, however, that in any transfer contemplated in (A) or (B) above, it shall be a condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding such securities subject to the provisions of this letter agreement and there shall be no further transfer of such securities except in accordance with this letter agreement, and provided further that any such transfer or distribution shall not involve a disposition for value, (vi) to the Company in connection with the “cashless” exercise of options to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to employee benefit plans disclosed in the final prospectus relating to the Offering, (vii) in connection with the “net exercise” of warrants held by the undersigned, (viii) to the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting or exercise of equity incentive awards under the Company’s employee benefit plans disclosed in the final prospectus relating to the Offering, (ix) to the Company in connection with the repurchase of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans disclosed in the final prospectus relating to the Offering upon the termination of service pursuant to an existing company right, (x) pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock involving a change of control of the Company, provided that in the event that the tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s Common Stock shall remain subject to the restrictions contained herein, or (xi) pursuant to operation of law, including pursuant to a domestic order or negotiated divorce settlement, provided that any such transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, (b) the undersigned may exercise any (i) option to purchase Common Stock of the Company granted under the Company’s employee benefits plans disclosed in the final prospectus relating to the Offering or (ii) warrant to purchase securities of the Company; provided, in either case, that the underlying shares received upon exercise of such option or warrant shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, and (c) the undersigned may enter into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act relating to the sale of securities of the Company, provided that the securities subject to such plan may not be sold until after the expiration of the Restricted Period and that no public announcement of such plan shall be required

or shall be voluntarily made during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that in the case of any transaction, transfer, exercise or distribution pursuant to clauses (a)(i)-(iii),(a)(v)-(viii) or (c), no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Restricted Period (other than a filing on Form 5 made after the expiration of the Restricted Period). For purposes of this letter agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, domestic partnership, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company and if the Representatives determine in their sole discretion to consent to a requested release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Common Stock, (i) as required by FINRA, the Representatives intend to notify the Company of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of such release or waiver and (ii) the Company (in accordance with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement) will announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if both (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter agreement that are applicable to the transferor to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

In the event that during the Restricted Period, the Representatives waive any prohibition on the transfer of shares of Common Stock or any securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock held by any person or entity that beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Representatives shall be deemed to have also waived, on the same terms, the prohibitions set forth in this lock-up letter that would otherwise have applied to the undersigned with respect to the same percentage of the undersigned’s Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock as the relative percentage of aggregate Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock held by such party receiving the waiver which are subject to such waiver. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply: (1) unless and until the Representatives have first waived more than 3% of the Company’s total outstanding shares of Common Stock (assuming exchange, exercise and conversion of all securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock) from such prohibitions, (2) (a) if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not involving a disposition for value and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this lock-up letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer, or (3) if the release or waiver is granted to a holder of Common Stock or any securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock in connection with a follow-on public offering of such Securities pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 that is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the event that any percentage of such Common Stock or any securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock released

from the prohibitions set forth in this lock-up letter are subject to any restrictions of the type set forth in the second paragraph of this lock-up letter, the same restrictions shall be applicable to the release of the same percentage of the undersigned’s Common Stock or any securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock. The failure to give any such notice to the Company or the undersigned shall not give rise to any claim or liability against the Company or the Underwriters, including the Representatives.

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of Common Stock held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions, and any duly appointed transfer agent and registrar for the registration or transfer of the Common Stock described herein are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of such Common Stock if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this letter agreement.

With respect to the Offering only, the undersigned waives any registration rights relating to registration under the Securities Act of any Common Stock owned either of record or beneficially by the undersigned, including any rights to receive notice of the Offering.

This letter agreement (and for the avoidance of doubt, the Restricted Period described herein) and related restrictions shall automatically terminate and become null and void upon the earliest to occur, if any, of (i) the Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, advising the other in writing, prior to the filing of the registration statement with respect to the Offering, that they have or it has determined not to proceed with the public offering contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) the registration statement with respect to the Offering is withdrawn, (iii) the termination of the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) prior to the initial closing date of the sale of the shares of Common Stock to be sold thereunder or (iv) June 30, 2016, in the event the initial closing of the shares of Common Stock to be sold under the Underwriting Agreement has not occurred prior to such date.

[Signature page follows]

This letter agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the undersigned. This letter agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Name of Entity, if applicable

Signature

Printed Name of Person Signing

Title of Person Signing

(if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)

EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the undersigned may transfer securities of the Company (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein (and, to the extent any interest in the Company’s securities is retained by the undersigned, or the undersigned’s spouse or immediate family member, such securities shall remain subject to the restrictions contained herein), (ii) to any member of the immediate family of the undersigned or any trust for the direct or indirect

benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (iii) consisting of any shares acquired in open market transactions after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Offering, (iv) by will or intestate succession upon the death of the undersigned, provided that the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, (v) if the undersigned is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other business entity, such entity may transfer Common Stock (A) to another corporation, member, partner, trust or other business entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) of the undersigned or (B) as part of a pro rata distribution or transfer by the undersigned to its stockholders, members, partners, beneficiaries or other equity holders; provided, however, that in any transfer contemplated in (A) or (B) above, it shall be a condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding such securities subject to the provisions of this letter agreement and there shall be no further transfer of such securities except in accordance with this letter agreement, and provided further that any such transfer or distribution shall not involve a disposition for value, (vi) to the Company in connection with the “cashless” exercise of options to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to employee benefit plans disclosed in the final prospectus relating to the Offering, (vii) in connection with the “net exercise” of warrants held by the undersigned, (viii) to the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting or exercise of equity incentive awards under the Company’s employee benefit plans disclosed in the final prospectus relating to the Offering, (ix) to the Company in connection with the repurchase of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans disclosed in the final prospectus relating to the Offering upon the termination of service pursuant to an existing company right, (x) pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock involving a change of control of the Company, provided that in the event that the tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s Common Stock shall remain subject to the restrictions contained herein, (xi) pursuant to operation of law, including pursuant to a domestic order or negotiated divorce settlement, provided that any such transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, or (xii) consisting of any shares the undersigned may purchase from the Underwriters in the Offering (other than issuer directed shares of Common Stock purchased in the Offering by an officer or director of the Company), (b) the undersigned may exercise any (i) option to purchase Common Stock of the Company granted under the Company’s employee benefits plans disclosed in the final prospectus relating to the Offering or (ii) warrant to purchase securities of the Company; provided, in either case, that the underlying shares received upon exercise of such option or warrant shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, and (c) the undersigned may enter into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act relating to the sale of securities of the Company, provided that the securities subject to such plan may not be sold until after the expiration of the Restricted Period and that no public announcement of such plan shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that in the case of any transaction, transfer, exercise or distribution pursuant to clauses (a)(i)-(iii),(a)(v)-(viii), (a)(xii) or (c), no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Restricted Period (other than a filing on Form 5 made after the expiration of the

Restricted Period). For purposes of this letter agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, domestic partnership, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

[Signature page follows]

Name of Entity, if applicable

Signature

Printed Name of Person Signing

Title of Person Signing

(if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)