<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.5


                                  $300,000,000

                           KING PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

               2 3/4% CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES DUE NOVEMBER 15, 2021

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                                                November 1, 2001

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
UBS WARBURG LLC,
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
    Eleven Madison Avenue
    New York, New York 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

         King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Tennessee corporation (the "COMPANY"),
proposes to issue and sell to the several initial purchasers named in Schedule A
hereto (each a "PURCHASER"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement
dated November 1, 2001 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), $300,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of its 2 3/4% Convertible Debentures due November 15, 2021 (the
"OFFERED SECURITIES") to be guaranteed (each, a "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE") on an
unsecured, senior subordinated basis by each of the Company's subsidiaries
listed on Schedule B to the Purchase Agreement (the "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS").
The Offered Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as
November 1, 2001 (the "INDENTURE"), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors
and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). Under the terms of the
Indenture, the Offered Securities are convertible, in whole or in part, into
shares of the Company's common stock, no par value (the "UNDERLYING SHARES", and
together with the Offered Securities, the "SECURITIES"). As an inducement, the
Company agrees with the Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the
Offered Securities (including, without limitation, the Purchasers) and
Underlying Shares (collectively the "HOLDERS"), as follows:

                  1. Shelf Registration. (a) The Company shall promptly (but in
         no event more than 90 days after the first date of initial issuance of
         the Offered Securities (such 90th day being the "FILING DEADLINE")) use
         its reasonable best efforts to file with the Securities and Exchange
         Commission (the "COMMISSION") and thereafter use its reasonable best
         efforts to cause to be declared effective no later than 180 days after
         the first date of initial issuance of the Offered Securities (such
         180th day being the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE") a registration statement
         (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate form under the
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), relating to
         the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in
         Section 5 hereof) by the Holders thereof from time to time in
         accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the
         Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act
         (hereinafter, the "SHELF REGISTRATION"); provided, however, that no
         Holder (other than a Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the
         Securities held by it covered by such Registration Statement unless
         such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this
         Agreement applicable to such Holder.

                  (b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep
         the Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit
         the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders
         of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such
         longer period if extended pursuant to Section 2(h) below) from the date
         of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when
         all the Securities covered by the Registration Statement (i) have been
         sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities (as
         defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) (in any such case, such
         period being called the "SHELF REGISTRATION PERIOD"). The Company shall
         be deemed not to have used its best




<PAGE>

         efforts to keep the Registration Statement effective during the
         requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result
         in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and
         sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required
         by applicable law.

                  (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
         the contrary, the Company shall cause the Registration Statement and
         the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of
         the effective date of the Registration Statement, amendment or
         supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
         requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material
         fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

              2. Registration Procedures. In connection with the Shelf
Registration contemplated by Section 1 hereof the following provisions shall
apply:

         (a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Purchaser, prior to the
filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and
each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included
therein and, in the event that a Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an
unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the
Registration Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments
as such Purchaser reasonably may propose; and (ii) subject to paragraph (l) of
this Section 2, include the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement as selling securityholders.

         (b) The Company shall give written notice to the Purchasers and the
Holders of the Securities (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof
shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
until the requisite changes have been made):

                        (i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment
                thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
                Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
                has become effective;

                        (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
                supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
                included therein or for additional information;

                        (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
                order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
                or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

                        (iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel
                of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
                qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or
                the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
                purpose; and

                        (v) of the happening of any event that requires the
                Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
                prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
                prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
                nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
                or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the
                prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they
                were made) not misleading.

         (c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the
withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

         (d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included
within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy
of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in
writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by
reference).



                                       2
<PAGE>

         (e) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to
each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf
Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each
preliminary prospectus) included in the Registration Statement and any amendment
or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company
consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the
prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders
of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities
covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in
the Registration Statement.

         (f) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any
Registration Statement the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate with
the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer
and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of such states of the United
States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any
and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale
in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified
or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or
to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

         (g) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the
Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any
restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as
the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

         (h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii)
through (v) of Section 2(b) above during the Shelf Registration Period, the
Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other
required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities
or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that the Company may delay preparing, filing and distributing any such
supplement or amendment if the Company determines in good faith that such
supplement or amendment would, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, (i)
interfere with or affect the negotiation or completion of a transaction that is
being contemplated by the Company (whether or not a final decision has been made
to undertake such transaction) or (ii) involve initial or continuing disclosure
obligations that are not in the best interests of the Company's stockholders at
such time; provided further, however, that such delay shall not extend for a
period of more than 30 business days in any three month period or more than 60
business days in any twelve month period. If the Company notifies the Purchasers
and the Holders of the Securities in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v)
of Section 2(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite
changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Purchasers and the Holders of
the Securities shall suspend use of such prospectus, and the Shelf Registration
Period shall be extended by the number of days from and including the date of
the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Purchasers and the
Holders of the Securities shall have received such amended or supplemented
prospectus pursuant to this Section 2(h).

         (i) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration
Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Offered Securities
and the Underlying Shares registered under the Registration Statement and
provide the Trustee with printed certificates for the Offered Securities in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

         (j) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the
Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Shelf
Registration and will make generally available to its security holders (or
otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an
earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if
such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of the Company's
first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration
Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.


                                       3
<PAGE>

         (k) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as amended (the "TRUST INDENTURE ACT"), in a timely
manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a
new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

         (l) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold
pursuant to the Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the
Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the
Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the
Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

         (m) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including,
if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such
other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request
in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf
Registration.

         (o) The Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by
the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to the Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other
agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter all
relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company's officers, directors,
employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information
reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter,
attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Registration Statement, in
each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act;
provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall
be coordinated on behalf of the Purchasers by Credit Suisse First Boston
Corporation and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and
on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 3 hereof.

         (p) The Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered by
the Registration Statement, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion
and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form addressed to
such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the
case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Registration Statement
(it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include,
without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of the Company and
its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company and its subsidiaries to
transact business as foreign corporations; the due authorization, execution and
delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 2(m)
hereof; the due authorization, execution, authentication and issuance, and the
validity and enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of
material legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company and its
subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be obtained in
connection with the Registration Statement, the offering and sale of the
applicable Securities, or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 2(m)
hereof; the compliance as to form of such Registration Statement and any
documents incorporated by reference therein and of the Indenture with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively;
and, as of the date of the opinion and as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the
case may be, the absence from such Registration Statement and the prospectus
included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from any documents
incorporated by reference therein, of an untrue statement of a material fact or
the omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any such
documents, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such
documents were filed with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, the "Exchange Act"); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver
all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any
underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public
accountants and the independent public accountants with respect to any other
entity for which financial information is provided in the Registration Statement
to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any
underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of
the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary
underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate


                                       4

<PAGE>

documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72, as amended or supplemented.

         (q) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to (a) if the
Offered Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Offered
Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a
Registration Statement, or (b) if the Offered Securities were not previously
rated, cause the Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with
the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement,
or by the managing underwriters, if any.

         (r) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange
Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an
underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the distribution" (within
the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "RULES") of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof, whether as a Holder of such
Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or
dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will assist such
broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including,
without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require,
engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720) to
participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such
Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and,
if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an
underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to
recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified
independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters
provided in Section 4 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such
broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with
the requirements of the Rules.

         (s) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all other
steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by the
Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

         3. Registration Expenses. (a) All expenses incident to the Company's
performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes
effective, including without limitation;

                (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses;

                (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities
        and state "blue sky" or securities laws;

                (iii) all expenses of printing, messenger and delivery services
        and telephone;

                (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

                (v) all application and filing fees in connection with listing
        the Securities on a national securities exchange; and

                (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public
        accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit
        and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Company will bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses
of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

         (b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer
Restricted Securities who are selling or reselling Securities pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contained in the Registration Statement for the
reasonable fees and



                                       5
<PAGE>

disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE
unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being
prepared.

         4. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of the Securities and each person, if any, who controls
such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each
Holder and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") from and against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but
not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to
purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may
become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of, or are
based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf
Registration, or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that
(i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for
inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating
to a Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder from whom the person
asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the
Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such
Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder under the Securities Act
in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability
of such Holder results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such
person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities
to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company had previously
furnished copies thereof to such Holder; provided further, however, that this
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify
underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such
underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the
same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders
of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

         (b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect
thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may
otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 4
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect



                                       6
<PAGE>

thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 4,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the
indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the
indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any
such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 4 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of
investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter
of such action, and does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the sale of the Securities,
pursuant to the Shelf Registration, or (ii) if allocation provided by the
foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
(i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on
the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or
such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 4(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such
Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to
pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

         (e) The agreements contained in this Section 4 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and shall remain in
full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         5. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional
interest (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST") with respect to the Offered Securities
shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such
event in clauses (i) through (iii) below being herein called a "REGISTRATION
DEFAULT"):


                                       7
<PAGE>

        (i)     If the Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
                filed with the Commission on or prior to the Filing Deadline;

        (ii)    If the Registration Statement has not been declared effective by
                the Commission by the Effectiveness Deadline; or

        (iii)   If the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
                Commission but (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases
                to be effective or (B) such Registration Statement or the
                related prospectus ceases to be usable in connection with
                resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods
                specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result
                of which the related prospectus forming part of such
                Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a
                material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
                make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
                under which they were made, not misleading, or (2) it shall be
                necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the
                related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the
                Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.

Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason
for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the
control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any
action or inaction by the Commission.

         Additional Interest shall accrue on the Offered Securities over and
above the interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including
the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the
date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, (A) at a rate of
0.25% per annum in the case of clause (i) above and (B) at a rate of 0.50% per
annum in the case of clause (ii) and clause (iii) above (the "ADDITIONAL
INTEREST RATE").

         (b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 5(a)(iii) hereof
shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial
information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is
not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use
the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect to the Company
that would need to be described in the Registration Statement or the related
prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding
promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement the Registration Statement and
related prospectus to describe such events; provided, however, that in any case
if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30
days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above
paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration
Default is cured.

         (c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 5(a)
will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to
the Offered Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by
multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of
the Offered Securities and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during
such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve
30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

         (d) "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" means each Security until (i) the
date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities
Act and disposed of in accordance with the Registration Statement or (ii) the
date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act.

         6. Rules 144 and 144A. The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not
required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of
Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to
permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company



                                       8
<PAGE>

covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of Offered
Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time
to enable such Holder to sell Offered Securities without registration under the
Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and
144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a
copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Offered Securities
identified to the Company by the Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of
any Holder of Offered Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a
written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6 shall be deemed to
require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange
Act.

         7. Underwritten Registrations. Holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities may elect to have one
underwritten offering of the Transfer Restricted Securities. If any of the
Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold
in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and
manager or managers that will administer the offering ("MANAGING UNDERWRITERS")
will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering, and must be
reasonably acceptable to the Company.

         No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements. The Holders participating in any underwritten
offering shall be responsible for any expenses customarily borne by selling
securityholders, including underwriting discounts and commissions and fees and
expenses of counsel to the selling securityholders to the extent not required to
be paid by the Company pursuant to Section 3 hereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing or the provisions of Section 2(m) hereof, upon receipt of a request
from the managing underwriter or a representative of Holders of a majority of
the Transfer Restricted Securities outstanding to prepare and file an amendment
or supplement to the Registration Statement in connection with an underwritten
offering, the Company may delay the filing of such amendment or supplement as
set forth in Section 2(h).

         8. Miscellaneous.

         (a) Remedies. The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure by
the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 1 hereof may result in
material irreparable injury to the Purchasers or the Holders for which there is
no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for
such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the
Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Section 1 hereof. The
Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific
performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

         (b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not on or after the
date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities
that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the
Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with
the rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any
agreement in effect on the date hereof.

         (c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.

         (d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

                  (1)      if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Company.



                                       9
<PAGE>

                  (2)      if to the Purchasers;

                           Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
                           Eleven Madison Avenue
                           New York, NY 10010-3629
                           Fax No.: (212) 325-8278
                           Attention: Transactions Advisory Group

                  (3)      if to the Company, at its address as follows:

                           King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
                           501 Fifth Street
                           Bristol, Tennessee  37620
                           Fax No.: (423) 274-8677
                           Attention: Kyle P. Macione
                                      Executive Vice President,
                                      Corporate Affairs

                           With a copy to:

                           Linda M. Crouch-McCreadie, Esq.
                           Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell, P.C.
                           SunTrust Bank Building, Suite 300
                           207 Mockingbird Lane
                           Johnson City, Tennessee  37604
                           Fax No.: (423) 979-7623

         All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.

         (e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one
hand, and the Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce
such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary
or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

         (f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.

         (g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

         (i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.



                                       10
<PAGE>

         (j) Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

         (k) Securities Held by the Company. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.






                                       11
<PAGE>

         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the several Purchasers and the Company in accordance with its terms.

                                       KING PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


                                       By:  /s/ Jefferson J. Gregory
                                            ---------------------------------
                                            Name: Jefferson J. Gregory
                                            Title: President


The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement
   is hereby confirmed and accepted as
   of the date first above written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
UBS WARBURG LLC

By: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION


    By: /s/ Paul Henderson
        ----------------------------------
        Name: Paul Henderson
        Title: Managing Director







                                       12

<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE A

PURCHASERS

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Banc of America Securities LLC
UBS Warburg LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
CIBC World Markets Corp.
First Union Securities, Inc.
Gruntal & Co., L.L.C.
Prudential Securities Incorporated
SG Cowen Securities Corporation
Sun Trust Capital Markets, Inc.








                                       13