EXHIBIT 10.8

FIFTH AMENDMENT AND FIRST EXTENSION OPTION

THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT AND FIRST EXTENSION OPTION TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this
"Amendment") is made and entered into as of December 30, 2009 by and between TEKELEC, a California
corporation (the "U.S. Borrower"), Tekelec International, SPRL, a societe privee a responsabilité
limitée organized under the laws of the Kingdom of Belgium (the "Belgian Borrower", and together with
the U.S. Borrower, each a "Borrower" and collectively, the "Borrowers"), the lenders who are
or may become a party to this Agreement (collectively, the "Lenders") and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the "Administrative
Agent").

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Lenders have extended certain credit facilities to the Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement,
dated October 2, 2008 by and among the Borrowers, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented
or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").

Pursuant to Section 2.8 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrowers hereby exercise one of the two
Extension Options provided for in the Credit Agreement and request that the Lenders extend the Revolving Credit Maturity Date to
October 2, 2012.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lenders party hereto are willing to agree to such
modifications.

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

1. Capitalized Terms.  All capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
2. Amendment.  Pursuant to Sections 2.8 and 14.2 of the Credit Agreement as the first
Extension Option and effective in accordance with Section 4 hereof, the Lenders hereby agree that Section 1.01 of
the Credit Agreement shall be amended by deleting the definition of "Revolving Credit Maturity Date" in its entirety and
substituting, in lieu thereof, the following:
3. Confirmation of Extension Option.  The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that as of the Fifth
Amendment Effective Date, the Borrowers have fully exercised one of the Exercise Options available to the Borrowers pursuant to
Section 2.8 of the Credit Agreement.  Accordingly, the Borrowers only have one additional Exercise Option remaining under
Section 2.8(b) of the Credit Agreement.

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1. Conditions to Effectiveness.  Upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions, this
Amendment shall be deemed to be effective as of the date above stated (the "Fifth Amendment Effective
Date"):
2. Limited Effect of Amendment.  Except as expressly modified herein, the Credit Agreement and the
Loan Documents shall continue to be, and shall remain, in full force and effect.  This Amendment shall not be deemed (a) to be a
waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan
Document or (b) to prejudice any other right or remedies which the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may now have or may have in
the future under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any of the instruments or agreements
referred to therein, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.  On and after the effectiveness of
this Amendment, each reference in the Credit Agreement to "this Agreement," "hereunder," "hereof"
or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the Credit Agreement, the Notes and each of the other
Loan Documents to "the Credit Agreement," "thereunder," "thereof" or words of like import referring
to the Credit Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.  This Amendment
constitutes a "Loan Document" as defined in the Credit Agreement.
3. Representations and Warranties.  After giving effect to the amendments set forth herein, each
Borrower hereby certifies that (a) each of the representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents is true and correct in all material respects as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date as if fully set forth herein (except for
any representation and warranty made as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct as of such
earlier date) and (b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.
4. Release.  For and in consideration of the agreements of the Administrative Agent and the other
Lenders contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
the Borrowers hereby forever release and discharge the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, each of their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, affiliates, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Released
Parties") from any and all claims, causes of actions, damages and liabilities of any nature

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1. Covenant Not to Sue.  The Borrowers, on behalf of themselves and their successors, assigns, and
other legal representatives, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably, covenant and agree with and in favor of each Released
Party that they will not sue (at law, in equity, in any regulatory proceeding or otherwise) any Released Party on the basis of any Claim
released, remised and discharged by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 7 above.  If the Borrowers or any of their respective
successors, assigns or other legal representatives, or any Loan Party, or its respective successors, assigns, and other legal
representatives violates the foregoing covenant, each of the Borrowers, for itself and its respective successors, assigns and legal
representatives, agrees to pay, in addition to such other damages as any Released Party may sustain as a result of such violation, all
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by any Released Party as a result of such violation.
2. Miscellaneous.

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[Signature Pages To Follow]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date
and year first above written.

TEKELEC, 
as Borrower and Borrower Agent

By: /s/ William H. Everett   	Name: William H. Everett   	Title: EVP & CFO



TEKELEC INTERNATIONAL, SPRL,
as Borrower

By:/s/ William H. Everett   	Name:William H. Everett   	Title:EVP & CFO





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AGENTS AND LENDERS:

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By: /s/ Waymon W. Wood, Jr.   	Name: Waymon W. Wood, Jr.   	Title: SVP

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