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                                                                   Exhibit 10.40




                      SERVICE AGREEMENTS WITH THE COMPANY





Service Agreement dated June 30, 1997 between with the Company and Dr R.A.
Oakes


                                       33


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                         EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S AGREEMENT

AN AGREEMENT made the 30th day of June 1997.

                                    BETWEEN

SENETEK PLC ("the Company") whose registered office is situated at 23 Palace
Street, London SW1E 5HW, and

ROGER ANTHONY OAKES of Allstoe House, Church Lane, Greetham, Oakham, Rutland,
Leicestershire  LE15 7NF ("the Executive").

WHEREAS the Company employs the Executive and the Executive serves the Company
as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company's Pharmaceutical
Division pursuant to an Executive Officer's Agreement dated 16th October 1995
("the Existing Agreement") the Company and the Executive have agreed that the
Existing Agreement shall be superseded in its entirety by this present
Agreement of June 30, 1997.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED that the Company shall employ the Executive and the
Executive shall serve the Company as President of the Company's Pharmaceutical
Division, reporting to the Company's Board of Directors and/or its Chief
Executive Officer with effect from June 1, 1997, which reporting duties shall
confer an obligation upon the Executive to provide promptly and faithfully
full, detailed information covering the Company's research and development
activities, its clinical trials data, the stages reached in the application for
regulatory approvals world-wide, and any and all matters arising therefrom
relating to the Company's existing and potential future products, whenever
requested by the Board of Directors, the Company's Chief Executive Officer or
the Company's Chief Scientific Advisor, upon and subject to the following terms
and conditions:

1.   In this Agreement:

     (a)  the expression "the Board" means the Board of Directors for the
          time being of the Company.

     (b)  the expression "Subsidiary" means a subsidiary (as defined by
          Section 736 of the Companies Act 1985) for the time being of the
          Company.

     (c)  the expression "associated Company" means in relation to a
          company, its holding company (as defined by Section 736 of the
          Companies Act 1985) or any subsidiary of such holding company.

     (d)  the expression "the Group" means the Company and any
          subsidiaries of the Company.

     (e)  any reference to a statutory provision shall be deemed to
          include a reference to any statutory modification or re-enactment of
          the same.

2.   The employment shall be for a fixed period from June 1, 1997 to December
     31, 1999, and shall be subject to termination as hereinafter provided.

3.   (a)  The remuneration of the Executive shall be a salary (which shall
          accrue from day to day) at a rate of pounds sterling 122,480 pounds
          sterling per annum (representing US$200,000 per annum at the exchange
          rate ruling as at June 1, 1997), such remuneration not to be varied as
          a result of any subsequent change in the present rate of currency
          exchange. Such salary shall be payable by equal monthly installments
          on the last day of every month and the first of such payments shall be
          due with effect from June 30, 1997. The over-all remuneration (which
          term shall also include the cost to the Company of the total benefits
          enjoyed by the Executive) of the Executive shall be subject to review
          by the Company's Compensation Committee during the first quarter of
          each of the Company's fiscal years and the Compensation Committee
          shall decide what, if any, increase in the said over-all remuneration
          shall apply to the fiscal year in question.




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     (b)  The Executive shall be entitled to and the Company shall effect
          payment of a health insurance policy for the benefit of the Executive,
          his spouse and his immediate family with BUPA or a similar
          organisation offering equivalent benefits. Such policy to be reviewed
          and sanctioned by the Company prior to each renewal date.

     (c)  The Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company's
          Number 1 Executive Share Option Scheme for Employees ("the Option
          Scheme") under the terms and conditions of that scheme and shall be
          granted Options to subscribe for shares of the Company in accordance
          with the Schedule attached hereto. The grant of options listed on the
          said Schedule shall be in addition to the Executive's existing option
          entitlements, the rights to which shall remain in full force and
          effect.  The Company hereby confirms that the Board has undertaken to
          exercise its discretion in favor of the Executive under Clause 4.
          (1), (2) (a) & (b), and (4)(a) & (b), of the Option Scheme in
          connection with the Executive's right of conversion of his option
          entitlements into shares and the subsequent sale of the said shares
          subject only to (i) the termination of this Executive Agreement for
          cause as provided in Clause 6(b) below, and (ii) compliance with the
          relevant provisions of Rule 144 of the US Securities Act of 1933, as
          amended.

     (d)  During the period of his employment, the Company will effect insurance
          cover on the life of the Executive in the sum of pounds sterling
          306,200 (representing US$500,000 at the exchange rate ruling as at
          June 1, 1997), such cover not to be varied as a result of any change
          in the subsequent rate of currency exchange, expressed in favour of
          the Executive's dependants or as he may direct, on a term basis only.
          Such cover to be reviewed and sanctioned by the Company prior to each
          renewal date.

     (e)  The Company shall be entitled to require the Executive to work
          at such locations or offices of the Company, its subsidiaries or
          associated companies as it may direct.

     (f)  There are no fixed hours of work.


4.   The Company will provide the Executive with a car allowance of pounds
     sterling459 per month (representing US$750 per month at the exchange rate
     ruling as at June 1, 1997), such allowance not to be varied as a result of
     any change in the present rate of currency exchange, from which the
     Executive shall meet all costs relating to his use of whatever vehicle he
     may decide to utilise.  The existing Company owned vehicle, L69 DOM, Saab
     9000 CSE, 2.3, may either be returned to the Company's London office
     forthwith or alternatively the Executive may continue to utilise the
     vehicle on the present basis until 30th September 1997 at which date the
     vehicle shall be returned to the Company's London office.

5.   The Company shall reimburse the Executive all reasonable hotel and other
     expenses wholly and exclusively incurred by him in or about the
     performance of his duties.


6.   (a)  In the case of illness of the Executive or other cause incapacitating
          him from attending to his duties, the Executive shall continue to be
          paid during such absence provided that if such absence shall aggregate
          in all thirteen weeks in any twenty-six consecutive weeks, the Company
          may terminate the employment of the Executive hereunder by notice
          given on the date not more than fourteen days after the end of the
          last of such thirteen weeks.  In this event the Executive shall be
          paid 6 months salary in lieu of notice.

     (b)  Termination for cause.  The Company shall not be obligated to pay or
          provide for any compensation or other benefits to the Executive or
          give effect to any rights for the exercise of options for any period
          after termination for cause.  For the purposes of this Agreement,
          "cause" shall mean termination for personal dishonesty, wilful
          misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, wilful
          material violation of any law, rule or regulation or material breach
          of any provision of this Agreement.



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7.   The Executive shall (in addition  to the usual public and bank holidays) be
     entitled to four weeks holiday in each year to be taken at a time or times
     convenient to the Company.  Any vacation not taken during the 12 month
     period to December 31 of each year shall lapse and shall not be carried
     forward.  No payment shall be made in lieu of vacation time not taken.

8.   During the continuance of his employment hereunder, the Executive  shall,
     unless prevented by ill health, do all in his power to promote, develop,
     and extend the business of the Group and shall at all times and in all
     respects conform to and comply with the directions and regulations made by
     the Board and also shall not, without the previous consent of the Board,
     engage in any other business of a similar nature to or competitive with
     that carried on by the Group.

9.   Any invention, discovery or improvement upon or in addition to any of the
     Company's or the Group's inventions made by the Executive during the
     period of employment shall be forthwith communicated to the Company and
     shall be the absolute property of the Group and at the request of the
     Company the Executive shall give and supply all information, know-how and
     data as may be requisite to enable the Group to exploit such invention,
     discovery or improvement and shall execute and do all documents and things
     as may be necessary or desirable for obtaining patent or similar
     protection for the same in any parts of the world as may be specified by
     the Company and for vesting the same in the Group as it may direct.

10.  The Executive shall not (except in the proper course of his duties
     hereunder) either during or after the period of his employment hereunder,
     divulge to any person and shall use his best endeavors to prevent the
     publication or disclosure of any trade secret or manufacturing process or
     any information concerning the business or finances of the Group or any of
     its dealings, transactions or affairs or any trade secret or secret
     manufacturing process of any such confidential information governing the
     Group and all notes and memoranda of such trade secrets or information
     made or received by the Executive during the course of his employment
     hereunder shall be the property of the Company and shall be surrendered by
     the Executive or someone duly authorized in that behalf at the termination
     of his employment or at the request of the Board at any time during the
     course of his employment.

11.  The Executive hereby covenants with the Company that he will not, within
     2 years after ceasing to be employed hereunder, without the consent of the
     Company in writing under the hand of a Director duly authorized by a
     resolution of the Board, directly or indirectly seek to procure orders
     from or do business with any person, firm, or company who, on the date of
     the Executive ceasing to be employed hereunder or at any time in the
     twelve months prior to that date, was a client or customer of the Group
     and with whom in the course of his employment, the Executive shall have
     had dealings, provided always, that nothing in this clause contained shall
     be deemed to prohibit the seeking or procuring of orders or the doing of
     business not in direct or indirect competition with the business or
     businesses conducted by the Group.


12.  This Agreement shall not be terminated by any:

     (a)  merger or consolidation where the Company is not the consolidating or
          surviving entity; or

     (b)  transfer of all or a substantial majority of the assets of the
          Company.

     (c)  acquisition or control of 50 per cent or more of the Company's
          issued and voting equity share capital by any party, or by parties
          acting in concert or under common control.



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          In the event of any such merger or consolidation or transfer of all or
          a substantial majority of the assets of the Company or acquisition or
          control of 50 per cent or more of the Company's issued and voting
          equity share capital by any party, or by parties acting in concert or
          under common control, the surviving or resulting entity or the
          transferee or transferrees of the Company's assets or its issued and
          voting equity share capital shall be bound by, and shall have the
          benefit of, the provisions of this Agreement, and the Company shall
          endeavor to take all actions necessary to ensure that such entity or
          transferee or transferees is bound by the provisions of the Agreement.
          Moreover, in the event of such merger or consolidation, or transfer of
          all or a substantial majority of the assets of the Company or
          acquisition or control of 50 per cent or more of the Company's issued
          and voting equity share capital as aforesaid, the Executive may at his
          option at any time continue his employment under the terms and
          conditions of this Agreement, or upon giving not less than 28 days
          Notice at any time, by registered mail, to the registered office of
          the Company, require the Company to effect full settlement of all of
          the Executive's entitlements under the terms and conditions of this
          Agreement, which settlement shall also include the payment of his
          remuneration for the full term of the Agreement and the right to
          convert any and all Option entitlements, (whether such Options be
          vested or not) up to and including December 31, 1999 and the Company
          shall effect full and final settlement within 28 days of receiving the
          said Notice from the Executive.

13.  There is no pension payable, and there is no contracting out certificate in
     force in respect of the Executive's employment hereunder.

14.  There are no disciplinary rules or grievance procedures in place in
     relation to the Executive's employment hereunder.  The Executive may raise
     any grievance or concern about any disciplinary matter with the Board.

15.  This Agreement shall be construed and governed by the laws of England and
     Wales and to the jurisdiction of the English Courts.

                               *****************

     Signed by                    }
     for and on behalf of         }    ....................................
     SENETEK PLC in the presence  }    PAUL A. LOGAN
     of:

     Witness


     Signed by                    }
     ROGER ANTHONY OAKES          }    ....................................
     in the presence of:          }    ROGER ANTHONY OAKES

Witness

                                    SCHEDULE


<TABLE>
<S>                     <C>                   <C>               <C>
NO. OF OPTIONS GRANTED  CONVERSION SECURITY   CONVERSION PRICE    VESTING DATE

       100,000          5p Ordinary shares
                        of Senetek PLC            US$1.50       December 31, 1997

       100,000          5p Ordinary shares
                        of Senetek PLC            US$1.50       December 31, 1998

       100,000          5p Ordinary shares
                        of Senetek PLC            US$1.50       December 31, 1999
</TABLE>