AMENDMENT TO
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                     BETWEEN
                            KV PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
                              AND MARC S. HERMELIN


         This Amendment to the Employment Agreement dated December 16, 1996 (the
"Employment  Agreement") by and between KV Pharmaceutical  Company  ("Employer")
and Marc S. Hermelin  ("Employee")  is hereby entered into as of the 30th day of
October, 1998.

         Whereas, the Employment  Agreement  contemplated certain death benefits
in the event the Employee's employment is terminated by Employer  involuntarily,
or if  the  Employee's  employment  is  terminated;  voluntarily  by  virtue  of
retirement, pre-retirement or succession, and;

         Whereas,  Employer  has deemed it  desirable  to also  contemplate  and
protect such said death benefits for the Employee  during his continued  service
to Employer for the remaining term of this Agreement; and

         Whereas,   Employer   desires  to  assure   itself  of  the   continued
availability of the services of the Employee; and

         Whereas,  it is deemed desirable to provide assurances to Employee with
respect to death  benefits that shall be provided to the Employee and his estate
in the event his  employment  should be  terminated  with  Employer by reason of
death.

         Now therefore, Employer hereby agrees with Employee that:

         1. Section 4 of the  Employment  Agreement is hereby  amended by adding
the  following  paragraph at the end thereof to  henceforth be read as paragraph
(j):

         (j)  In the event the Employee's employment with Employer is terminated
              as a result of the  Employee's  death,  and the  Employee  has not
              elected pre-retirement,  retirement or succession, as contemplated
              under paragraphs 6, 7 and 13 respectively  then Employer shall pay
              Employee's designated  beneficiary or beneficiaries the sum of 60%
              of the Employee's then Final Average  Compensation for a period of
              ten (10) years in equal monthly installments.  Such payments shall
              be made in lieu of any death  benefits that  otherwise  would have
              been  payable  to  the   Employee's   designated   beneficiary  or
              beneficiaries  under paragraphs 6, 7 and 13 herein,  but in no way
              can be  construed so as to prevent or preclude the payment of life
              insurance  benefits to the  Employee's  designated  beneficiary or
              beneficiaries  as defined in paragraph 5(a).  Notwithstanding  the
              foregoing,  at such time as the  Employee  elects  pre-retirement,
              retirement  or  succession,  as defined in  paragraphs 6, 7 and 13
              respectively,  the  Employee's  death  benefits as defined  herein
              paragraph 4(j) shall lapse.

         2. Except as amended hereby,  the Employment  Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect.


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Employer  and  Employee  have agreed to amend the
Employment Agreement, as hereinabove provided, as of the date set forth above.




                                                KV PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY



                                                By:
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                    Marc S. Hermelin
                                                    Title: