EXHIBIT 10.8
                            RED BRANCH CENTER
                           9110 Red Branch Road
                            Columbia, Maryland

                         FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE
                         ________________________

     THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE made this 13th day of September, 2000,
     by and between RED BRANCH CENTER, LLC, successor to Columbia Warehouse
     Limited Partnership and Glenborough Properties, L.P. (hereinafter
     "Landlord") and IGENE BIOTECHNOLOGY, INC. (hereinafter "Tenant").

     WHEREAS, Tenant and Columbia Warehouse Limited Partnership executed
     a lease agreement dated December 15, 1995 (hereinafter the "Lease"),
     for certain commercial premises known as 9110 Red Branch Road, Bays
     G, H, I & J, Columbia, Maryland (hereinafter the "Premises") the terms
     and conditions of which Lease are incorporated herein by reference and
     expressly acknowledged to be binding upon Tenant; and

     WHEREAS, all right, title and interest under the lease was assigned
     from Columbia Warehouse Limited Partnership to Glenborough Properties,
     L.P. and subsequently assigned from Glenborough Properties, L.P. to
     Red Branch Center, LLC on or about February, 2000; and

     WHEREAS, the term of the lease expires January 31, 2001, and

     WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Lease by extending the term
     thereof and adjusting the rent and other charges due thereunder, all
     upon the terms and condtions herein contained.

     NOW, THREFORE, in consideration of $1.00, the Premises, the mutual
     promises herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration,
     the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
     parties covenant and agree as follows:

     1.   TERM:  The term of the Lease hereby is extended for an additional
     three (3) years commencing February 1, 2001 and terminating on January
     31, 2004 (hereinafter "Extended Term").

     2.   BASE RENT:  Tenant shall pay to Landlord monthly Base Rent
     throughout the Extended Term as follows:

                      TERM           MONTHLY
                 ______________     __________
                 2/1/01-1/31/02     $ 7,208.00
                 2/1/02-1/31/03     $ 7,496.32
                 2/1/03-1/31/04     $ 7,796.17

     All Base Rent shall be payable without notice, demand or set off
     in advance on the first day of each month at the address set forth
     in the Lease, or at such place as the Landlord designated or may
     designate from time to time.

     3.   COMMON AREA EXPENSES:  Tenant shall include with every monthly
     installment of Base Rent set forth in Section 2, its estimated
     pro-rata share of all common area operating expenses for the Property.
     For purposes hereof, Tenant's estimated monthly share of operating
     expenses shall be $1,236.66, subject to year end adjustment based
     upon actual charges as set forth in the Lease.

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     4.   UTILITIES:  Tenant shall remain solely responsible for the
     payment of all utility charges associated with its use and occupancy
     of the Premises.

     5.   BROKERAGE:  Landlord and Tenant recognize Site Leasing, Inc.
     ("Agent") as the sole broker involved in this transaction, and each
     party shall defend and indemnify the other for claims of any other
     agents in connection with this transaction.  Agent has provided the
     form of this Lease for the convenience of Landlord and Tenant
     without representation regarding its form or contents.  Landlord
     and Tenant have each individually consulted legal counsel (or
     had the opportunity to consult legal counsel and chose not to
     do so) and expressly waive any claim whatsoever against the Agent
     arising from the form of this Lease.

     6.   Rider No. 1 titled "Right of First Refusal" and Rider No. 2
     titled "Renewal Option" contained in the Lease are hereby deleted
     in their entirety.

     7.   Tenant hereby covenants and warrants that Tenant is a duly
     constituted corporation qualified to do business in Maryland and
     the person executing this First Amendment to Lease is duly
     authorized by the board of director of Tenant to execute and
     deliver this Lease on behalf of Tenant.

     8.   Except as expressly modified hereby, all terms and conditions
     of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect as if expressly
     incorporated herein by reference.  In the event of any conflict
     between the lease and this First Amendment, the terms of this First
     Amendment shall govern and control.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment to
     lease as of the date and year first written above intending it to
     be a document under seal.

WITNESS:                                 LANDLORD: RED BRANCH CENTER, LLC

/s/ Richard Cole                         BY: /s/ Robert S. Cook
_____________________________                _____________________________

WITNESS:                                 TENANT: IGENE BIOTECHNOLOGY, INC.

/s/ Melissa M. Stump                     BY: /s/ Stephen F. Hiu, Ph.D.
_____________________________                _____________________________
                                             President

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