First Amendment to Lease dated February 16, 2018, by and between ARE-SD Region No. 44, LLC and the Registrant

Exhibit 10.9

FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE

This First Amendment to Lease (this “First Amendment”) is made as of February 16, 2018, by and between ARE-SD REGION NO. 44, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”), and PIPELINE THERAPEUTICS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Tenant”).

RECITALS

A. Landlord and Tenant have entered into that certain Lease Agreement dated as of January 3, 2018 (the “Lease”), wherein Landlord leases to Tenant certain premises consisting of approximately 9,143 rentable square feet (the “Premises”), located at 10578 Science Center Drive, San Diego, California, as more particularly described therein.

B. Tenant has requested that Landlord install a bulk nitrogen tank (the “Nitrogen Tank”) at the Building for use by Tenant (in common with other tenants of the Building having the right to use the Nitrogen Tank) in connection with its operations at the Premises.

C. Landlord and Tenant desire, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, to amend the Lease as provided in this First Amendment.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals, which are incorporated herein by this reference, the mutual promises and conditions contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant hereby agree as follows:

Landlord’s sole obligation for providing the N2 Tank System to Tenant shall be to contract with a third party to maintain the N2 Tank System as per the manufacturer’s standard maintenance guidelines. Landlord shall have no obligation to supervise, oversee or confirm that the third party maintaining the N2 Tank System is maintaining the N2 Tank System as per the manufacturer’s standard guidelines or otherwise. During any period of replacement, repair or maintenance of the N2 Tank System when the N2 Tank System is not operational, including any delays thereto due to the inability to obtain parts or replacement equipment, Landlord shall have no obligation to provide

Tenant with an alternative N2 Tank System. Tenant expressly acknowledges and agrees that Landlord does not guaranty that such N2 Tank System will be operational at all times or that the N2 Tank System will be available for use by Tenant when needed.

(a) This First Amendment is the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral and written agreements and discussions. This First Amendment may be amended only by an agreement in writing, signed by the parties hereto.

(b) This First Amendment is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns.

(c) This First Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The signature page of any counterpart may be detached therefrom without impairing the legal effect of the signature(s) thereon provided such signature page is attached to any other counterpart identical thereto except having additional signature pages executed by other parties to this First Amendment attached thereto.

(d) Landlord and Tenant each represent and warrant that it has not dealt with any broker, agent or other person (collectively “Broker”) in connection with this transaction, and that no Broker brought about this transaction. Landlord and Tenant each hereby agree to indemnify and hold the other harmless from and against any claims by any Broker claiming a commission or other form of compensation by virtue of having dealt with Tenant or Landlord, as applicable, with regard to this leasing transaction.

(e) Except as amended and/or modified by this First Amendment, the Lease is hereby ratified and confirmed and all other terms of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect, unaltered and unchanged by this First Amendment. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this First Amendment and the provisions of the Lease, the provisions of this First Amendment shall prevail. Whether or not specifically amended by this First Amendment, all of the terms and provisions of the Lease are hereby amended to the extent necessary to give effect to the purpose and intent of this First Amendment.

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

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