EXELIXIS, INC. 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN OPTION AGREEMENT (NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS) (NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION)

Exhibit 10.4

EXELIXIS, INC. 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

OPTION AGREEMENT (NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS)
(NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION)

Pursuant to your Notice of Grant of Stock Option (“Grant Notice”) and this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) and in consideration of your services, Exelixis, Inc. (the “Company”) has granted you an option under its 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock indicated in your Grant Notice at the exercise price indicated in your Grant Notice. Your option is granted to you effective as of the Date of Grant set forth in the Grant Notice. This Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) shall be deemed to be agreed to by the Company and you upon the signing or electronically accepting by you of the Grant Notice to which it is attached. Capitalized terms not explicitly defined in this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) shall have the same meanings given to them in the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the terms in this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control. The details of your option, in addition to those set forth in the Grant Notice and the Plan, are as follows.

The details of your option are as follows:

1.VESTING. Subject to the limitations contained herein, your option will vest as provided in your Grant Notice, provided that vesting will cease upon the termination of your Continuous Service.

2. NUMBER OF SHARES AND EXERCISE PRICE. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to your option and your exercise price per share referenced in your Grant Notice may be adjusted from time to time for Capitalization Adjustments.

3. EXERCISE PRIOR TO VESTING (“EARLY EXERCISE”). Subject to the provisions of your option, you may elect at any time that is both (i) during the period of your Continuous Service and (ii) during the term of your option, to exercise all or part of your option, including the unvested portion of your option; provided, however, that:

(a)a partial exercise of your option shall be deemed to cover first vested shares of Common Stock and then the earliest vesting installment of unvested shares of Common Stock;

(b)any shares of Common Stock so purchased from installments that have not vested as of the date of exercise shall be subject to the purchase option in favor of the Company as described in the Company’s form of Early Exercise Stock Purchase Agreement; and

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(c)you shall enter into the Company’s form of Early Exercise Stock Purchase Agreement with a vesting schedule that will result in the same vesting as if no early exercise had occurred.

4. METHOD OF PAYMENT. Payment of the exercise price is due in full upon exercise of all or any part of your option. You may elect to make payment of the exercise price in cash or by check or by any of the following methods unless prohibited by your Grant Notice:

(a) Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds.

(b) Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded, by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of already-owned shares of Common Stock that are owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests, and that are valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may not exercise your option by tender to the Company of Common Stock to the extent such tender would violate the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock.

(c) Subject to the consent of the Company at the time of exercise, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of your option by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company shall accept a cash or other payment from you to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued; provided further, however, that shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under your option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (1) shares are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” or (2) shares are delivered to you as a result of such exercise.

5. WHOLE SHARES. You may exercise your option only for whole shares of Common Stock.

6. SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, you may not exercise your option unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise are then registered under the Securities Act or, if such shares of Common Stock are not then so registered, the Company has determined that such exercise and issuance would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The exercise of your option must also comply with other applicable laws and regulations governing your option, and you may not

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exercise your option if the Company determines that such exercise would not be in material compliance with such laws and regulations.

7. TERM. The term of your option commences on the Date of Grant and expires upon the earliest of the following:

(a) three (3) years after the termination of your Continuous Service for any reason (including your Disability or death), provided that if during any part of such three- (3-) year period your option is not exercisable solely because of the condition set forth in the preceding paragraph relating to “Securities Law Compliance,” your option shall not expire until the earlier of the Expiration Date or until it shall have been exercisable for an aggregate period of three (3) years after the termination of your Continuous Service; or

(b) the Expiration Date indicated in your Grant Notice.

8. EXERCISE.

(a) You may exercise your option during its term by delivering a notice (in a form designated by the Company) or taking such other action as the Company may require together with delivering the exercise price to the Secretary of the Company, or to such other person as the Company may designate (such as any broker designated by the Company to effect option exercises) during regular business hours, together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.

(b) By exercising your option you agree that, as a condition to any exercise of your option, the Company may require you to enter into an arrangement providing for the payment by you to the Company of any tax withholding obligation of the Company arising by reason of (i) the exercise of your option, (ii) the lapse of any substantial risk of forfeiture to which the shares of Common Stock are subject at the time of exercise, or (iii) the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such exercise.

9. TRANSFERABILITY. Your option is not transferable, except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and (ii) to such further extent as permitted by the Rule as to Use of Form S-8 specified in the General Instructions of the Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act. Your option is exercisable during your life only by you or a transferee satisfying the above-stated conditions. The right of a transferee to exercise the transferred portion of your option after termination of your Continuous Service shall terminate in accordance with your right to exercise your option as specified in your option. In the event that your Continuous Service terminates due to your death, your transferee will be treated as a person who acquired the right to exercise your option by bequest or inheritance. In addition to the foregoing, the Company may require, as a condition of the transfer of your option to a trust or by gift, that your transferee enter into an option

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transfer agreement provided by, or acceptable to, the Company. The terms of your option shall be binding upon your transferees, executors, administrators, heirs, successors, and assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, you may designate a third party who, in the event of your death, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise your option. In the absence of such a designation, your executor or administrator of your estate shall be entitled to exercise this option and receive, on behalf of your estate, the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise.

10. OPTION NOT A SERVICE CONTRACT. Your option is not an employment or service contract, and nothing in your option shall be deemed to create in any way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ of the Company or an Affiliate, or of the Company or an Affiliate to continue your employment. In addition, nothing in your option shall obligate the Company or an Affiliate, their respective stockholders, Boards of Directors, Officers or Employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a Director or Consultant for the Company or an Affiliate.

11. TAX CONSEQUENCES. You hereby agree that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities. You shall not make any claim against the Company, or any of its Officers, Directors, Employees or Affiliates related to tax liabilities arising from your option or your other compensation. In particular, you acknowledge that this option is exempt from Section 409A of the Code only if the exercise price per share specified in the Grant Notice is at least equal to the “fair market value” per share of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant and there is no other impermissible deferral of compensation associated with the option.

12. NOTICES. Any notices provided for in your option or the Plan shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt or, in the case of notices delivered by the Company to you, five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address you provided to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan and this option by electronic means or to request your consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

13. GOVERNING PLAN DOCUMENT. Your option is subject to all the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby made a part of your option, and is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of your option and those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control

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14. OTHER DOCUMENTS. You hereby acknowledge receipt or the right to receive a document providing the information required by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes the Plan prospectus. In addition, you acknowledge receipt of the Company’s xxxxxxx xxxxxxx policy, including the policy permitting officers and directors to sell shares only during certain “window” periods, in effect from time to time.

15. MISCELLANEOUS.

(a) The rights and obligations of the Company under your option shall be transferable to any one or more persons or entities, and all covenants and agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Company’s successors and assigns. Your rights and obligations under your option may only be assigned with the prior written consent of the Company.

(b) You agree upon request to execute any further documents or instruments necessary or desirable in the sole determination of the Company to carry out the purposes or intent of your option.

(c) You acknowledge and agree that you have reviewed your option in its entirety, have had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing and accepting your option, and fully understand all provisions of your option.

(d) This Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

(e) All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

16. SEVERABILITY. If all or any part of this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) or the Plan is declared by any court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity shall not invalidate any portion of this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) or the Plan not declared to be unlawful or invalid. Any Section of this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) (or part of such a Section) so declared to be unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which will give effect to the terms of such Section or part of a Section to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.

17. CHOICE OF LAW. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) will be governed by the law of the state of California without regard to such state’s conflicts of laws rules.

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18. AMENDMENT. This Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) may not be modified, amended or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by you and by a duly authorized representative of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) may be amended solely by the Board by a writing which specifically states that it is amending this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors), so long as a copy of such amendment is delivered to you, and provided that no such amendment adversely affecting your rights hereunder may be made without your written consent. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board reserves the right to change, by written notice to you, the provisions of this Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) in any way it may deem necessary or advisable to carry out the purpose of the grant as a result of any change in applicable laws or regulations or any future law, regulation, ruling, or judicial decision, provided that any such change shall be applicable only to rights relating to that portion of your option which is then subject to restrictions as provided herein.

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