March 13, 2019 amendment to the September 28, 2018 Secured Convertible Promissory Note from the Company to Iliad Research and Trading, L.P

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT TO SECURED CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE

This Amendment to Secured Convertible Promissory Note (this “Amendment”) is entered into as of March 13, 2019, by and among ILIAD RESEARCH AND TRADING, L.P., a Utah limited partnership (“Lender”), and HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”). Capitalized terms used in this Amendment without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Note (as defined below).

A. Borrower previously issued to Lender a Secured Convertible Promissory Note dated September 28, 2018 in the principal amount of $3,170,000.00 (the “Note”).

B. Borrower has requested that Lender extend the Maturity Date of the Note and make certain other changes to the Note.

C. Lender has agreed, subject to the terms, amendments, conditions and understandings expressed in this Amendment, to make the requested amendments.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. Recitals. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that the recitals set forth above in this Amendment are true and accurate and are hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Amendment.

2. Amendments.

(a) The Maturity Date of the Note is hereby extended until September 28, 2020.

(b) Redemption Conversions will hereafter be made at a price that is mutually agreeable to Borrower and Lender instead of at the Redemption Conversion Price. In the event that Borrower and Lender cannot reach a mutually agreeable price for a Redemption Conversion, Borrower will be obligated to pay the applicable Redemption Amount in cash.

(c) The maximum amount Lender shall be entitled to redeem in any given calendar month shall be $300,000.00.

3. Conditionality of Amendment. Borrower understands and agrees that this Amendment is conditioned on and subject to Borrower’s continued compliance with the terms of the Note and the other Transaction Documents. Borrower further understands and agrees that this Amendment shall immediately and automatically terminate upon the occurrence of any breach of this Amendment or any Event of Default under the Note after the date hereof. In such event, this Amendment shall be void and all of the original terms of the Note shall be immediately restored without reference to and as if the Note was never amended by this Amendment and Lender shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it under the Note, the other Transaction Documents, at law, and in equity.

4. Representations and Warranties. In order to induce Lender to enter into this Amendment, Borrower, for itself, and for its affiliates, successors and assigns, hereby acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees as follows:

(a) Borrower has full power and authority to enter into this Amendment and to incur and perform all obligations and covenants contained herein, all of which have been duly authorized by all proper and necessary action. No consent, approval, filing or registration with or notice to any governmental authority is required as a condition to the validity of this Amendment or the performance of any of the obligations of Borrower hereunder.

(b) There is no fact known to Borrower or which should be known to Borrower which Borrower has not disclosed to Lender on or prior to the date of this Amendment which would or could materially and adversely affect the understanding of Lender expressed in this Amendment or any representation, warranty, or recital contained in this Amendment.

(c) Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, Borrower acknowledges and agrees that neither the execution and delivery of this Amendment nor any of the terms, provisions, covenants, or agreements contained in this Amendment shall in any manner release, impair, lessen, modify, waive, or otherwise affect the liability and obligations of Borrower under the terms of the Transaction Documents.

(d) Borrower has no defenses, affirmative or otherwise, rights of setoff, rights of recoupment, claims, counterclaims, actions or causes of action of any kind or nature whatsoever against Lender, directly or indirectly, arising out of, based upon, or in any manner connected with, the transactions contemplated hereby, whether known or unknown, which occurred, existed, was taken, permitted, or begun prior to the execution of this Amendment and occurred, existed, was taken, permitted or begun in accordance with, pursuant to, or by virtue of any of the terms or conditions of the Transaction Documents. To the extent any such defenses, affirmative or otherwise, rights of setoff, rights of recoupment, claims, counterclaims, actions or causes of action exist or existed, such defenses, rights, claims, counterclaims, actions and causes of action are hereby waived, discharged and released. Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that the execution of this Amendment by Lender shall not constitute an acknowledgment of or admission by Lender of the existence of any claims or of liability for any matter or precedent upon which any claim or liability may be asserted.

(e) Borrower represents and warrants that as of the date hereof no Events of Default or other material breaches exist under the Transaction Documents or have occurred prior to the date hereof.

5. Certain Acknowledgments. Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that no property or cash consideration of any kind whatsoever has been or shall be given by Lender to Borrower in connection with this Amendment.

6. Other Terms Unchanged. The Note, as amended by this Amendment, remains and continues in full force and effect, constitutes legal, valid, and binding obligations of each of the parties, and is in all respects agreed to, ratified, and confirmed. Any reference to the Note after the date of this Amendment is deemed to be a reference to the Note as amended by this Amendment. If there is a conflict between the terms of this Amendment and the Note, the terms of this Amendment shall control. No forbearance or waiver may be implied by this Amendment. Except as expressly set forth herein, the execution, delivery, and performance of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of, or as an amendment to, any right, power, or remedy of Lender under the Note, as in effect prior to the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, this Amendment shall be subject to the governing law, venue, and Arbitration Provisions, as set forth in the Note.

7. No Reliance. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that neither Lender nor any of its officers, directors, members, managers, equity holders, representatives or agents has made any representations or warranties to Borrower or any of its agents, representatives, officers, directors, or employees except as expressly set forth in this Amendment and the Transaction Documents and, in making its decision to enter into the transactions contemplated by this Amendment, Borrower is not relying on any representation, warranty, covenant or promise of Lender or its officers, directors, members, managers, equity holders, agents or representatives other than as set forth in this Amendment.

8. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. The parties hereto confirm that any electronic copy of another party’s executed counterpart of this Amendment (or such party’s signature page thereof) will be deemed to be an executed original thereof.

9. Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Amendment and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date set forth above.

[Signature Page to Amendment to Secured Convertible Promissory Note]