<PAGE>
 
                                                                            10.5
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                   AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                   -----------------------------------------


          THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is
made as of June 24, 1998, between CHIREX INC., a Delaware corporation
("ChiRex"), its wholly owned subsidiary, CHIREX (HOLDINGS) LTD., a U.K. company
("Holdings"; collectively ChiRex and Holdings shall be referred to herein as the
"Company"), and Francis Jackson Wright ("Executive").
 -------                                 ---------   


                                   RECITALS
                                   --------

Executive is presently Vice President, Annan Operations and previously entered
into a Service Agreement dated November 1, 1997 with a subsidiary of the Company
known as ChiRex (Annan) Limited (the "Original Agreement"). Effective as of June
16, 1998, Executive has also taken on additional responsibility and the title of
Vice President Operations. The parties hereto desire to set forth in writing the
terms of Executive's employment relationship with the Company in light of his
new responsibilities.

          In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          1.   EMPLOYMENT. (a) The Company hereby agrees continue to employ
               ----------                                                   
Executive to render exclusive and full-time services to the Company as its Vice
President Operations, and to perform such other duties commensurate with such
office as he shall reasonably be directed by the Chief Executive Officer and/or
Board of Directors of the Company, for the period specified in Section 2.

          (b)  Executive hereby accepts such employment and agrees to render the
services described above to the best of his abilities in a diligent,
trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner. Executive further agrees to
accept election and to serve during all or any part of the term of this
Agreement as an officer or director of the Company and of any subsidiary or
affiliate of the Company, without any compensation therefor, other than that
specified in this Agreement or as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company or of any subsidiary or affiliate, as the case may be.

          (c)  The duties to be performed by Executive hereunder shall be
performed within the Company's U.K. facilities. Executive agrees that he shall
also travel and work outside the U.K. during the Employment Period as may be
required by the Company from time to time.

          2.   TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.  The Employment Period of Executive by the
               ------------------                                            
Company shall commence as of June 24, 1998 and subject to Section 4, shall
continue until terminated by at least six (6) months written notice given by
either party to the other. If the Company gives Executive notice that it does
not wish to extend this Agreement during its term, Executive shall be entitled
to the severance payments provided in Section 4(d) hereof As used herein, the
"Employment Period" shall refer to the term of Executive's employment with the
 -----------------                                                            
Company commencing June 24, 1998.

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<PAGE>
 
          3.  BASE SALARY AND BENEFITS.  (a) During the Employment Period,
              ------------------------                                    
Executive's base salary shall be f 95,000 per annum or such higher rate as the
Board may designate from time to time (the "Base Salary"), which salary shall be
                                            -----------                         
payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company's general payroll
practices and shall be subject to customary withholding. Executive's Base Salary
shall be subject to review by the Board on an annual basis. During the
Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the
Company's employee benefit programs for which senior executive employees based
in the U.K. of the Company and its subsidiaries are generally eligible.
Executive agrees that the Company may pay all or any part of Executive's Base
Salary or benefits through one or more of its affiliated companies.

          (b) The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable expenses
incurred by him in the course of performing his duties under this Agreement
which are consistent with the Company's policies in effect from time to time
with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to
the Company's requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such
expenses.

          (c) In addition to the Base Salary, Executive shall be entitled to a
bonus following the end of each fiscal year during the Employment Period, which
bonus shall be based upon the Company's operating results during such year and
upon Executive achieving defined specific goals and objectives during the twelve
months prior to review. The bonus shall be on the basis that the Executive is
entitled, subject to achievement of such goals and objectives, to a payment of a
sum equivalent to an additional 30% of his Base Salary beginning for calendar
year 1998.

          (d) Executive may be awarded, from time to time, additional
compensation (such as stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance
shares, restricted stock or unrestricted stock) pursuant to the Company's 1995
or 1997 Stock Incentive Plan or any additional or replacement incentive
compensation program established for the key employees of the Company. Any
awards under such programs shall be at such levels or in such amounts as the
Board of Directors deems, in its sole discretion, appropriate for the position
occupied by Executive and his performance therein. Subject to Section 4 herein,
the terms, conditions and rights with respect to any such grants will be subject
to the actual provisions and conditions applicable to such plans.

          (e) Executive shall continue to receive a motor car (together with
petrol and running cost benefits) as specified in the Company's U.K. car policy.

          (f) Executive shall continue to be entitled to be a member of the
ChiRex U.K. Pension Plan subject to and in accordance with its terms and
conditions as amended from time to time. The current terms and conditions
include the right of the Company to discontinue such plan.

          (g) Executive shall be entitled to benefits under the Company's U.K.
Private Health Care Scheme or to a scheme offering broadly equivalent benefits
to the Executive as the Company shall determine. In addition, the Executive
shall be entitled to an annual private medical examination at the cost of the
Company.

          (h) Executive shall be entitled to a mobile phone including payment of
the cost of all charges relating to the rental or use thereof

          (i) Executive shall be entitled to 28 working days holiday (and any
public/bank holidays) in each holiday year such holidays to be taken at such
time or times as the Board shall agree. The Company's holiday year runs from 1
January. The Executive may not carry any unused part of his holiday entitlement
to a subsequent holiday year or claim pay in lieu thereof without the 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
prior consent of the Board. In the event Executive's employment terminates for
any reason other than cause, the Executive shall be entitled to a ratable
proportion of his annual holiday entitlement.

          (j) Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event his position
is moved to a fixed location outside the U.K., he will not be entitled to the
U.K. benefits enumerated herein and will instead receive benefits appropriate to
the location where he is assigned.

          4.  TERMINATION AND CHANGE OF CONTROL.  (a) If Executive shall die
              ---------------------------------                             
during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate, except that (i)
Executive's surviving spouse or, if none, his estate, shall be entitled to
receive Executive's compensation (including bonus) to the last day of the third
calendar month following the date of his death; and (ii) such termination shall
not affect any rights which Executive may have at the time of his death pursuant
to any insurance or other death benefit, retirement, stock option or other plans
or arrangements of the Company or of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company,
which rights shall continue to be governed by the provisions of such plans and
arrangements.

          (b) At the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, Executive may be
terminated if the Executive is disabled (as defined below) and shall have been
absent from his duties with the Company on a full time basis for one hundred and
eighty (180) consecutive days, and within thirty (30) days after written notice
by the Company to do so, the Executive shall not have returned to the
performance of his duties hereunder on a full time basis. In the event of such
termination, the Company shall make to Executive the payments specified in
Section 4(d). As used herein, the term "disabled" shall (i) mean that Executive
                                        --------                               
is unable, as a result of a medically determinable physical or mental
impairment, to perform the duties and services of his position, or (ii) have the
meaning specified in any disability insurance policy maintained by the Company,
whichever is more favorable to the Executive.

          (c) The Company may, by written notice to Executive, terminate
Executive's employment hereunder for cause, which termination shall be effective
as of the date of receipt of such notice by Executive. In the event of a
termination for cause, the Company shall not be required to give any prior
notice per Section 2 herein, and Executive shall receive no severance benefits
whatsoever. As used herein, "cause" shall mean (i) the conviction of Executive
                             -----                                            
of a felony or conviction of a misdemeanor if such misdemeanor involves moral
turpitude; or (ii) Executive's voluntary engagement in conduct constituting
larceny, embezzlement, conversion or any other act involving the
misappropriation of Company funds in the course of his employment; or (iii) the
willful refusal to carry out specific directions of the Board of Directors,
which directions shall be consistent with the provisions hereof, or (iv)
Executive's committing any act of gross negligence or intentional misconduct in
the performance or non-performance of his duties as an employee of the Company;
or (v) any material breach by the Executive of any material provision of this
Agreement (other than for reasons related only to the business performance of
the Company or business results achieved by the Executive). For purposes of this
Section 4(c), no act or failure to act on Executive's part shall be considered
to be reason for termination for cause if done, or omitted to be done, by
Executive in good faith and with the reasonable belief that the action or
omission was in the best interests of the Company.

          (d) Executive's employment may be terminated at any time by the
Company without cause; provided, however, that in such event Executive shall be
entitled to receive (so long as he executes and delivers the Company's standard
form of release),

               (i)  in the event Executive is terminated on or before December
                    31, 1999, 250% of Executive's then effective annual Base
                    Salary;

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<PAGE>
 
               (ii) in the event Executive is terminated after December 31,
                    1999, 130% of Executive's then effective annual Base Salary.

In either case, amounts paid under subsection (i) or (ii) above shall be payable
in one lump sum payment within five (5) days after Executive's last day of
active employment. In addition, Executive shall be entitled to continue
participation in the Company's health and other welfare benefit plans for a
period of up to one (1) year or until Executive is covered by a successor
employer's benefit plans, whichever is sooner.

          (e) If a "Change in Control" of the Company (as defined in Section
4(f) below) occurs or if Executive is terminated without cause before December
31, 1999, all stock options, restricted stock, deferred compensation and similar
benefits which have not yet become vested on the date of a Change in Control or
the aforementioned termination shall become vested upon such event, and
Executive shall be permitted to exercise all such rights in accordance with the
administrative provisions of those plans, whether or not Executive remains
employed with the Company or terminates his employment in accordance with this
subsection (e) in a Change of Control situation. If a Change in Control event
involves a tender offer for all or part of the Company's shares, the vesting
date for stock options and restricted stock pursuant to this subsection (e)
shall be a date which permits Executive to participate in such tender offer with
such stock options or restricted shares.

          (f) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the
                                                 -----------------        
Company shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) any person (as such term is
used in Sections 13 )(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of Company
securities representing 30% or more of the capital stock of the Company; or (ii)
individuals who constitute the Company's Board of Directors as of the date of
this Agreement (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at
                     ---------------                                        
least a majority thereof, provided, however, that any person becoming a director
subsequent to the date of this Agreement whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least 5 1 %
of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by
approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as
a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be, for the
purpose of this clause (ii), considered as though such person were a member of
the Incumbent Board; or (iii) the Company's shareholders approve a merger or
consolidation (where in either case the Company is not the survivor thereof) in
which shareholders of the Company cease to own at least 80% of the surviving
entity's voting power, or a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of
the Company's assets or a plan of partial or complete liquidation of the
Company.

          (g) Executive's employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good
Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean: (i) the
assignment to Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with
Executive's position (including status, offices, titles, and reporting
requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section
1(a) hereof, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in
such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose
an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and
which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 3 hereof, other than an isolated, insubstantial and
inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the
Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by Executive; (iii) the
Company's requiring Executive to be based at any office or location other than
as provided in Section 1(c) hereof, (iv) any purported termination by the
Company of Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this
Agreement; or (v) any failure by the

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
Company to obtain an express assumption of this Agreement by a successor as
required pursuant to Section 15 hereof. For purposes of this Section 4(g), any
good faith determination of "Good Reason" made by Executive shall be conclusive.
Upon any termination pursuant to this subsection (g), Executive shall be
entitled to the payment specified in Section 4(d) hereof and to the other rights
described therein (subject to his compliance therewith).

          5.   CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.  (a) Executive acknowledges and agrees
               ------------------------                                        
that the information, observations and data obtained by him while employed by
the Company and its subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of the
Company or any other subsidiary ("Confidential Information") are the property of
                                  ------------------------                      
the Company or such subsidiary. Therefore, Executive agrees to keep secret and
retain in the strictest confidence all Confidential Information, including
without limitation, trade "know-how" secrets, customer lists, pricing policies,
operational methods, technical processes, formulae, inventions and research
projects and other business affairs of the Company, learned by him prior to or
after the date of this Agreement, and not to disclose them to anyone outside the
Company, either during or after his employment with the Company, except (i) in
the course of performing his duties hereunder; (ii) with the Company's express
written consent; (iii) to the extent that the Confidential Information becomes
generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of
Executive's acts or omissions; or (iv) where required to be disclosed by court
order, subpoena or other government process. If Executive shall be required to
make disclosure pursuant to the provisions of clause (iv) of the preceding
sentence, Executive promptly, but in no event more than 48 hours after learning
of such subpoena, court order or other governmental process, shall notify the
Company, by personal delivery or fax (pursuant to Section 10 hereof), and, at
the Company's expense, shall take all reasonably necessary steps requested by
the Company to defend against the enforcement of such subpoena, court order or
other governmental process and permit the Company to intervene and participate
with counsel of its own choice in any related proceeding.

          (b)  Executive shall deliver to the Company at the termination of his
employment, or at any other time the Company may request, all memoranda, notes,
plans, records, reports, computer tapes, printouts and software and other
documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential
Information, Work Product (as defined below) or the business of the Company or
any subsidiary which he may then possess or have under his control.

          6.   INVENTIONS AND PATENTS. Executive acknowledges that all
               ----------------------                                 
inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses,
drawings, reports and all similar or related information (whether or not
patentable) which relate to the Company's or any of its subsidiaries' actual or
anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or
services and which are conceived, developed or made by Executive while employed
by the Company or its predecessor and its subsidiaries ("Work Product") belong
                                                         ------------         
to the Company or such subsidiary. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work
Product to the Board and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board
(whether during or after his employment) to establish and confirm such-ownership
(including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney and
other instruments).

          7.   ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.  Clauses 3.3, 3.4, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5,
               ------------------                                             
9.6, and 9.7 of the Original Agreement shall continue as therein written in full
force and effect.

          8.   INDEMNIFICATION.  The Company will indemnify Executive and his
               ---------------                                               
legal representatives, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State
of Delaware and the existing by-laws of the Company or any other applicable laws
or the provisions of any other corporate document of the Company, and Executive
shall be entitled to the protection of any insurance policies 

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
the Company may elect to obtain generally for the benefit of its directors and
officers, against all costs, charges and expenses whatsoever incurred or
sustained by him or his legal representatives in connection with any action,
suit or proceeding to which he or his legal representatives may be made a party
by reason of his being or having been a director or officer of the Company or of
any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or actions taken purportedly on behalf of
the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

          9.   EXECUTIVE'S REPRESENTATIONS.  Executive hereby represents and
               ---------------------------                                  
warrants to the Company that (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or
cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or
decree to which Executive is a party or by which he is bound, and (b) upon the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be
the valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with
its terms. Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that he fully
understands the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

          10.  NOTICES.  Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in
               -------                                                        
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally with
receipt acknowledged or sent by registered or certified mail or equivalent, if
available, postage prepaid, or by fax (which shall be confirmed by a writing
sent by registered or certified mail or equivalent on the same day that such fax
was sent), addressed to the parties at the following addresses or to such other
address as such party shall hereafter specify by notice to the other:

          Notices to Executive:    Francis Jackson Wright
          --------------------                           
                                   [DELETED]

          Notices to the Company:  ChiRex Inc.
          ----------------------              
                                   300 Atlantic Street        
                                   Suite 402                  
                                   Stamford, Connecticut 06901
                                   (203) 351-2300 (Phone)     
                                   (203) 425-9996 (Fax)       
                                   Attention: General Counsel  

          11.  SEVERABILITY.  Whenever possible, each provision of this
               ------------                                            
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

          12.  COMPLETE AGREEMENT.  Except as set forth in Section 7 herein,
               ------------------                                           
this Agreement constitutes the complete agreement and understanding among the
parties and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or
representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related
to the subject matter hereof in any way, including without limitation, the
Original Agreement.

          13.  NO STRICT CONSTRUCTION.  The language used in this Agreement
               ----------------------                                      
shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their
mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any
party.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          14.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in separate
               ------------                                             
counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together constitute one and the same agreement.

          15.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This Agreement is intended to bind and
               ----------------------                                         
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, the Company and their
respective heirs, successors and assigns, except that Executive may not assign
his rights or delegate his obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the Company. The Company will require any successor to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume
expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession
had taken place.

          16.  CHOICE OF LAW.  All issues and questions concerning the
               -------------                                          
construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the
exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of
law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of
the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

          17.  AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.  The provisions of this Agreement may be
               --------------------                                          
amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and
Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the
provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement.

          18.  ARBITRATION.  Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating
               -----------                                                      
to this Agreement, the making, interpretation or the breach thereof, other than
a claim solely for injunctive relief for any alleged breach of the provisions of
Section 5 as to which the parties shall have the right to apply for specific
performance to any court having equity jurisdiction, shall be settled by
arbitration in London, England by one arbitrator in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association and
judgement upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereof (in the U.S. and in the U.K.) and any party to the
arbitration may, if he elects, institute proceedings in any court having
jurisdiction for the specific performance of any such award. The powers of the
arbitrator shall include, but not be limited to, the awarding of injunctive
relief The Company shall reimburse Executive for all expenses incurred by
Executive in connection with any arbitration, including reasonable attorney's
fees, to the extent the arbitration is concluded in Executive's favor.

          19.  NO MITIGATION OR SET-OFF.  The provisions of this Agreement are
               ------------------------                                       
not intended to, nor shall they be construed to require that Executive mitigate
the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking or accepting
other employment, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in this
Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of his
employment by another employer or otherwise. The Company's obligations to make
the payments to Executive required under this Agreement, and otherwise to
perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action that the
Company may have against Executive.


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

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written above.


                                   CHIREX INC. and its subsidiary         
                                   CHIREX (HOLDINGS) LTD.                
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                    /s/ Michael A. Griffith             
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   MICHAEL A. GRIFFITH                   
                                   DIRECTOR AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER  
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                    /s/ Francis Jackson Wright          
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   FRANCIS JACKSON WRIGHT                 

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE 1
                                  ----------

WRITTEN STATEMENT OF MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AS REQUIRED BY THE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT 1996
                          --------------------------

1.  Parties: The names and addresses of the Company and Executive are set out on
    -------                                                                     
    page I of this Agreement and in Section 10 of this Agreement.

2.  Commencement of Continuity of Employment. The Executive's continuous period
    ----------------------------------------                                   
    commenced on 1 November 1997. No previous employment of the Executive with
    previous employers counts as part of the Executive's employment.

3.  Job Title. The job title of the Executive is set out on page I of this
    ---------                                                             
    Agreement.

4.  Place of Work. The Executive's place of work is set out in Section 1(c) of
    -------------                                                             
    this Agreement.

5.  Remuneration. See Section 3 of this Agreement.
    ------------                                  

6.  Hours of Work. The hours of work shall be such hours as may be required for
    -------------                                                              
    the proper performance of the Executive's duties under this Agreement.

7.  Holidays. See Section 3(i) of this Agreement.
    --------                                     

8.  Notice Period. See Section 2 of this Agreement.
    -------------                                  

9.  Sick Pay. See Section 4(b) of this Agreement.
    --------                                     

10. Retirement. The normal age of retirement is 65.
    ----------                                     

11. Pensions. See Section 4(f) of this Agreement. A contracting out certificate
    --------                                                                   
    is in force in respect of the Employment.

12. Grievance Procedure. The Executive should refer any grievance he may have
    --------------------                                                     
    about his employment or about any disciplinary decision relating to him to
    the Chairman of the Board in writing. The reference will be dealt with by a
    majority present at a Board meeting whose decision shall be final.

13. Disciplinary Rules. Any appeal against disciplinary action will be dealt
    ------------------                                                      
    with by the Board.

14. Miscellaneous. There are no collective agreements in force which affect the
    -------------                                                              
    terms and conditions of Executive's employment.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                                                            10.5
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                              AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                              ------------------
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                   -----------------------------------------
                BETWEEN CHIREX INC. AND FRANCIS JACKSON WRIGHT
                ----------------------------------------------

          This Amendment No. I (the "Amendment") to the Amended and Restated
Employment Agreement dated June 24, 1998 (the "Agreement") between ChiRex Inc.,
a Delaware corporation ("ChiRex"), its wholly owned subsidiary, ChiRex
(Holdings) Ltd., a U.K. company ("Holdings"; collectively ChiRex and Holdings
shall be referred to herein as the "Company") and Francis Jackson Wright
("Executive"), is made as of December 15, 1998.

                                   Recitals
                                   --------

          WHEREAS, Executive has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice
President and will relocate from the Company's Annan, Scotland location to its
corporate office in Stamford, Connecticut USA; and

          WHEREAS, this Amendment contains those changes to the Agreement which
shall be in effect as of January 1, 1999 which reflect Executive's new position
and location.

          NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   Section 1. Section I (a) of the Agreement is amended so that Executive's
     ---------                                                               
     title is changed from Vice President Operations to Executive Vice
     President. Section 1(c) of the Agreement is amended so that Executive shall
     perform his duties at the Company's U.S. facilities rather than its U.K.
     facilities.

2.   Section 3. Section 3(a) of the Agreement is amended, effective January 1,
     ---------                                                                
     1999 as follows: (a) Executive's base salary shall be U.S. $160,000 per
     annum, (b) Executive shall also receive a cost-of-living adjustment in the
     amount of $50,000 per annum, paid monthly per usual U.S. payroll practices
     with tax withholding, it being understood that if Executive is relocated
     outside the U.S., such amount shall no longer be paid to Executive, (c)
     Executive shall be paid, no later than January 31, 1999, a one-time payment
     of $24,000 to cover moving expenses per the ChiRex Relocation Policy, and
     (d) Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company's UK benefit
     programs only to the extent permitted by the ChiRex Relocation Policy.
     Section 3(c) of the Agreement is amended, effective January 1, 1999 to
     delete the last sentence of such section, it being understood that
     Executive will be eligible for a bonus when and if the Company puts in
     place a new bonus plan. Section 3(e) is deleted in its
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               2

     entirety. Section 3(g) is amended so that Executive shall be entitled to
     participate in the Company's U.S. and U.K. health plans.

3.   Section 10. Notices shall be sent to Executive at his new home address in
     ----------                                                                
     Connecticut.

4.   Section 18. Arbitration, if necessary, shall be in New York, NY, and not
     ----------                                                               
     London, England.

5.   Agreement Continuation. Except as amended as set forth herein, the
     ----------------------                                             
     Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.


ChiRex Inc. and its subsidiary
ChiRex (Holdings) Ltd.

 /s/ Michael A. Griffith
----------------------------
Michael A. Griffith
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

 /s/ Francis Jackson Wright
----------------------------
Francis Jackson Wright