<PAGE>   1

                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.1(B)

                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 31st day of July, 1996,

BY AND BETWEEN:                      MICHAEL F. ANKCORN

                                     (hereinafter referred to as the "Employee")


AND:                                 CLINTRIALS BIORESEARCH LTD.

                                     (hereinafter referred to as the "Employer")

          WHEREAS the  Employee is a key  executive of the Employer and has made
valuable contributions to the productivity and profitability of the Employer;

         AND WHEREAS the Employer considers it essential and in the best
interests of the Employer that the Employee be encouraged to remain with the
Employer and to continue to devote his full attention to the Employer's
business;

         AND WHEREAS the Employer and the Employee desire to enter into this
Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of employment of the Employee
with the Employer and the benefits attaching thereto.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1.
                                 INTERPRETATION

1.1 Definitions. Where used herein or in any amendments hereto or in any
communication required or permitted to be given hereunder, the following terms
shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context otherwise
requires:

(a)  "Activity" shall mean any act, undertaking or decision whatsoever taken,
     effectuated or made in respect of, or relating to, the Business; and
     "Activities" shall mean the aggregate thereof.

(b)  "Agreement" shall mean this Employment Agreement and all instruments
     supplemental hereto or in amendment or confirmations hereof; "herein",
     "hereof", "hereto", "hereunder" and similar expressions mean and refer to
     this Agreement and not to any particular Article, Section, Subsection or
     other subdivision; "Article", "Section", "Subsection" or other subdivision
     of this Agreement means and refers to the specified Article, Section,
     Subsection or other subdivision of this Agreement.






<PAGE>   2



(c)  "Bonus" shall mean the amounts payable to the Employee pursuant to any
     bonus or incentive compensation plan referred to at Section 8.1.

(d)  "Business" shall mean, in relation to the Employer, the business now and
     hereafter conducted by the Employer up to the date of termination of this
     Agreement, as well as the business that the Employer is in the process of
     developing at the time of termination of this Agreement. Without limiting
     the generality of the foregoing, the business at the time of signature of
     this Agreement can generally be described as the business of designing and
     conducting research programs for pharmaceuticals, bioengineered products,
     chemical compounds, biomaterials and other similar substances.

(e)  "Cause" shall mean any event or circumstance which, pursuant to applicable
     law, constitutes cause for dismissal without either notice or payment in
     lieu of notice.

(f)  "Change of Control" shall mean:

     the sale by ClinTrials Research, Inc. ("CTR") of shares and/or other
     securities of the Employer to which are attached votes which may be cast to
     elect directors of the Employer ("Voting Shares") such that the remaining
     Voting Shares held by CTR are, in the aggregate, equal to or fewer than
     fifty percent (50%) of all Voting Shares of the Employer, as a result of
     which a Person, or a group of Persons, or Persons acting in concert, or
     Persons associated or affiliated with any such Person or group withing the
     meaning of the Canada Business Corporation Act, other than CTR would be in
     a position to exercise effective control over the Employer.

(g)  "Confidential Information" shall mean all information (including, without
     limiting the generality of the foregoing, all information related to
     processes, formulae, research and development, finance, marketing, and all
     names of, or lists of, customers or sponsors) howsoever received by the
     Employee from, through or relating to the Employer, and in whatever form
     (whether oral, written, machine readable or otherwise), which pertains to
     the Employer; provided, however, that the term "Confidential Information"
     shall not include information which:

     (i)  is in the public domain without any fault or responsibility on the
          Employee's part; or

     (ii) is properly within the legitimate possession of the Employee prior to
          its disclosure and without any obligation of confidentiality attaching
          thereto; or

     (iii) after disclosure, is lawfully received by the Employee from another
          Person who is lawfully in possession of such Confidential Information
          and such other Person was not restricted from disclosing the said
          information to the Employer; or


                                       2

<PAGE>   3

     (iv) is independently developed by the Employee through Persons who have
          not had access to, or knowledge of, the Confidential Information; or

     (v)  is approved by the Employer for disclosure prior to its actual
          disclosure.

(h)  "Embodiments" shall include, without limitation, all designs, drawings,
     sketches, blueprints, photographs, films, models, charts and maps.

(i)  "Governmental Body" shall mean:

          (i)  any domestic or foreign national, federal, provincial, state,
               municipal or other government body;

          (ii) any subdivision, ministry, department, secretariat, bureau,
               agency, commission, board, instrumentality or authority of any of
               the foregoing governments or bodies;

          (iii) any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any
               regulatory, expropriation or taxing authority under or for the
               account of any of the foregoing governments or bodies; or


          (iv) any domestic or foreign judicial, quasi-judicial, arbitration or
               administrative court, grand jury, commission, board or panel.

(j)  "Incapacity" shall mean any medical condition whatsoever which leads to the
     Employee's absence from the Employee's job function for a continuous period
     of six (6) months, without the Employee being able to resume functions on a
     full time basis at the expiration of such period, and any unsuccessful
     attempts to return to work for periods under fifteen (15) days shall not
     interrupt the calculation of the said six (6) months period; or

     a condition of total and continuing disability which renders the Employee
     incapable of performing his essential job duties and functions.

(k)  "Involuntary Termination" shall mean:

     (i)  any actual or express termination by the Employer of the Employee's
          employment following any Change of Control which is not due to the
          death of the Employee, the Employee's voluntary resignation or
          Incapacity;

     (ii) any requirement by the Employer that the Employee's position and
          principal office be based and located more than twenty (20) miles
          outside the boundaries of the City of Montreal;

                                       3

<PAGE>   4

    (iii) any change in the Employee's title, reporting relationship,
          responsibilities or authority as in effect immediately prior to any
          Change of Control which is made within twenty-four (24) months of such
          Change of Control and which adversely affects to a material degree his
          role in the management of the Employer;

     (iv) any reduction in the Employee's salary paid to him by the Employer as
          in effect immediately prior to any Change of Control or, if such
          salary has been subsequently increased at any time or from time to
          time, any reduction in such increased salary;

     (v)  any termination or reduction in value of the Employee's employee
          benefit programs, including, but not limited to, any pension plan,
          stock option plan, investment plan, savings plan, incentive
          compensation plan or life insurance, medical plans or disability plans
          provided by the Employer to the Employee and in which the Employee is
          participating or under which the Employer is covered, all as in effect
          immediately prior to any Change of Control; and

     (vi) any failure or refusal of the Employer to renew the Termination
          Benefits under this Agreement as outlined in Section 19.2 after any
          Change of Control shall have occurred.

(l)  "PERMITTED USES" shall mean the analysis and utilization of Confidential
     Information by the Employee in relation to any Activity for purposes of
     fulfilling and executing the Employee's duties, responsibilities and
     functions hereunder.

(m)  "PERSON" shall mean any individual or other entity possessed of judicial
     personality, including, without limitation, a corporation, company,
     cooperative, partnership, trust, unincorporated association, Affiliate or
     Governmental Body; and pronouns when they refer to a Person shall have a
     similarly extended meaning.

(n)  "TERMINATION BENEFITS" shall mean the rights and benefits in favour of the
     Employee provided for under Article 17 of this Agreement as well as the
     obligations of the Employer under the said Article.

(o)  "TERRITORY" shall mean North America, as well as any other country in which
     the Employer may carry on business at any time during the three (3) year
     period following the date of termination of this Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE 2.
                                      TERM

2.1  Term. This Agreement is hereby concluded for a term of five (5) years,
     effective as of the date hereof.

                                       4

<PAGE>   5

                                   ARTICLE 3.
                           DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Duties and Responsibilities. As Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Employer, the Employee's duties and responsibilities
shall include, above and beyond those inherent to the Employee's office and
normally pertaining to it, those compatible with the Employee's position and
which the Employer or its Board of Directors or the Board of Directors of
ClinTrials Research, Inc. may delegate to the Employee from time to time.

3.2 Additional Duties.  The Employee hereby agrees to execute such
additional tasks compatible with his position as may be assigned by the
Employer from time to time, the whole according to the directives of the
Employer.

                                   ARTICLE 4.
                                     LOYALTY

4.1 Loyalty. The Employee shall devote the whole of his working time, attention,
skills and competence to the Employer and to the Business. The Employee shall
act with diligence, loyalty and honesty and shall make all necessary efforts to
promote the Employer's legitimate interests for the term of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 5.
                                 CONFIDENTIALITY

5.1 Obligation of Confidentiality. The Employee hereby agrees not to, use,
divulge, diffuse, sell, transfer, give, circulate, or otherwise distribute to
any Person, or otherwise make public, any Confidential Information during the
term of this Agreement and for a period of thirty -six (36) months following the
termination of this Agreement.

5.2 Trade Secrets. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Employee shall not, at any time while an employee of the Employer
or at any time thereafter, use, divulge, diffuse, sell, transfer, give,
circulate or otherwise distribute to any Person Confidential Information which
constitutes a trade secret of the Employer.

5.3 Exception. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, the
Employee shall have the right to use Confidential Information in relation to
Permitted Uses; in which event, the Employee shall, at all times, take all
necessary, useful or desirable measures in order to prevent the disclosure or
non-authorized use of such Confidential Information.

5.4 No Unauthorized Reproductions. Except when authorized in accordance with the
Permitted Uses, under no circumstances shall the Employee reproduce any
Confidential Information without


                                      5

<PAGE>   6

the Employer's prior written consent. All reproductions of Confidential
Information shall be governed by this Agreement and shall be treated as
Confidential Information hereunder.

5.5 Return of Confidential Information. All Confidential Information and all
Embodiments thereof (including any reproductions) shall remain the sole property
of the Employer and shall be returned to the Employer immediately upon request
to this effect or immediately after the termination of this Agreement.

5.6 Exceptions. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, nothing in
this Agreement shall prevent the disclosure of Confidential Information if such
disclosure must be made in response to the formal request of a Governmental Body
or is otherwise required under any applicable law; it being understood, however,
that to the extent possible, the Employee shall inform the Employer of such a
request for disclosure in order that the latter may, at the appropriate time,
decide whether or not the contest the said disclosure. The Employee shall fully
cooperate with the Employer in any efforts to obtain any type of protective
order or any other remedy or recourse which the Employer may seek to obtain in
this regard.

                                   ARTICLE 6.
               OBLIGATION OF NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION

6.1 Obligation of Non-Competition. The Employee shall not, during the term of
this Agreement and, on condition that the Employee receives payment of the
Termination Benefits as a result of an Involuntary Termination, for a period of
thirty-six (36) months after the date of termination of the Employee's
employment, on the Employee's own behalf or on behalf of any Person, whether
directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever, whether alone, through or in
connection with any Person, carry on or be engaged in or have any financial or
other interest in or be otherwise commercially involved in any endeavor,
activity or business in all or part of the Territory which is in competition, in
whole or in part, with the Business.

6.2 Exception. The Employee shall not be in default under this Article by virtue
of the Employee holding, strictly for portfolio purposes and as a passive
investor, no more than five percent (5%) of the issued and outstanding shares of
any body corporate which is listed on a recognized stock exchange, the business
of which body corporate is in competition, in whole or in part, with the
Business.

6.3 Obligations of Non-Solicitation. The Employee shall not, during the term of
this Agreement and, on condition that the Employee receives payment of the
Termination Benefits as a result of an Involuntary Termination, for a period of
thirty-six (36) months after the date of termination of the Employee's
employment, solicit the employment or other services of any employee of the
Employer.

                                   ARTICLE 7.
                                     SALARY

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

7.1 Salary. The Employee shall receive an annual gross base salary of two
hundred and twenty thousand dollars Canadian ($220,000) (the "Base Salary"),
less the appropriate legal deductions, to be paid in twenty-six (26) bi-weekly
and equal instalments. Such salary shall be reviewed annually by the
Compensation Committee of the Employer in accordance with its internal policies
in effect from time to time but shall not, at any time, be reduced to less than
two hundred and twenty thousand dollars Canadian ($220,000).

                                   ARTICLE 8.
                            BONUS AND INCENTIVE PLANS

8.1 Bonus and Incentive Plans. The Employee shall be eligible to participate in
all of the Employer's bonus and incentive compensation plans in force and
offered to senior executives of the Employer at the time, which plans may be
modified by the Employer at its sole discretion from time to time.

                                   ARTICLE 9.
                              BENEFITS AND VACATION

9.1 Benefits and Vacation. The Employee shall have the right to participate in
all benefit programs and/or plans granted to senior executives of the Employer,
the whole in accordance with the actual programs or plans that the Employer may
institute from time to time or as otherwise required under any applicable law.
The Employee shall be granted vacation in accordance with the Employer's policy
as amended from time to time, which at the date of signing of the present
Agreement is the following: four (4) weeks of vacation after fifteen (15) years
of uninterrupted service and five (5) weeks of vacation after twenty (20) years
of uninterrupted service.

                                   ARTICLE 10.
                                    EXPENSES

10.1 Expenses. The Employer hereby agrees to reimburse to the Employee all
expenses and fees reasonably incurred by the Employee in the exercise of the
Activities upon presentation of appropriate receipts or other evidence thereof.

                                   ARTICLE 11.
                                   AUTOMOBILE

11.1 Automobile. The Employee shall be entitled during the term of the Agreement
to the use of one (1) automobile vehicle fully expensed by the Employer and
commensurate to the Employee's position.

                                   ARTICLE 12.
                                CLUB MEMBERSHIPS

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
12.1 Club Memberships. The Employee shall be entitled to membership in the
Forest and Stream Club, the West Island Health Club and in any other club(s) or
association(s) selected by the Employee and acceptable to the Employer,
whereupon all membership fees and dues shall be paid by the Employer and the
ownership of which shall be the property of the Employee.

                                   ARTICLE 13.
                                  STOCK OPTIONS

13.1 Stock Options. The Employee shall be eligible to participate in and benefit
from any stock option and/or stock purchase plan that is offered or adopted by
ClinTrials Research Inc. for the benefit of its senior executives and key
employees, the whole in accordance with the terms and conditions of such a plan,
as approved and modified from time to time by the Board of Directors of
ClinTrials Research Inc.

                                   ARTICLE 14.
                                PENSION BENEFITS

14.1 Pension Benefits. The Employee shall continue to participate in and benefit
from the existing Pension Plan for Designated Employees of Employer, in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the said plan, as approved and
modified from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Employers. This
Agreement does not affect Employee's pension rights under existing pension
agreements.

                                   ARTICLE 15.
                          TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT

15.1 Termination of the Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and expressly
agree that the present Agreement may only be terminated in any of the following
eventualities:

 a)  at any time, for fraud or gross misconduct, on simple notice from the
     Employer to the Employee, the whole without other notice or any pay in
     lieu of notice or any indemnity whatsoever, except as may otherwise be
     required by applicable law; or

(b)  at any time for any reason other than fraud or gross misconduct, by
     remitting to the Employee the amounts and benefits referred to in
     section 17.2, applied mutatis mutandis, whether or not there is a Change
     of Control; or

(c)  at any time in accordance with Article 17; or

(d)  upon the death or the Incapacity of the Employee.



                                      8
<PAGE>   9

                                   ARTICLE 16.
                          OBLIGATION TO REMAIN EMPLOYED

16.1 Employee to Remain Employed. If a Person takes any steps to effect a Change
of Control, the Employee shall not voluntarily leave his employment with the
Employer, other than by way of normal retirement, and shall continue to perform
his duties related to his employment until such person has abandoned or
terminated his or its efforts to effect a Change of Control or until after a
Change of Control has been effected, except as may be permitted by other
provisions of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 17.
                              TERMINATION BENEFITS

17.1 Conditions of Payment. The benefits outlined in Section 17.2 shall become
due and payable if:

(a)  there has been a Change of Control of the Employer; and

(b)  the employment of the Employee with the Employer has been terminated by an
     Involuntary Termination;

but, subject to Section 17.7 hereof, no such benefits shall be payable in
relation to any particular Change of Control if within twenty-four (24) months
next following that particular Change of Control, the employment of the Employee
with the Employer has not been terminated by an Involuntary Termination.

17.2 Termination Benefits. If the events outlined in Section 17.1 have occurred,
the Employer shall:

(a)  pay to the Employee on the same basis as in effect immediately prior to
     such Involuntary Termination for a period of three (3) years following such
     Involuntary Termination an amount equivalent to the Employee's salary and
     Bonus at the rate in effect immediately prior to such Involuntary
     Termination or on the effective date of the Change of Control, whichever is
     higher;

(b)  pay to the Employee within sixty (60) days following the end of the fiscal
     year of the Employer in which the Involuntary Termination occurs, a lump
     sum equivalent to the amount, if any, of such Bonus which would otherwise
     have been payable to the Employee had he remained employed to the end of
     such fiscal year, calculated on the basis that the number of months,
     including the month in which such Involuntary Termination occurs, bears to
     the total number of months for which the Bonus would otherwise have been
     paid during such fiscal year and calculated in accordance with the terms
     for Bonus payments as in effect


                                       9
<PAGE>   10

     immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination or on the effective date
     of the Change of Control, whichever would yield a higher Bonus payment to
     the Employee;

(c)  pay to the Employee the amount of any unpaid salary earned by the Employee
     up to and including the date of such Involuntary Termination;

(d)  pay to the Employee any unpaid vacation pay earned by him up to and
     including the date of such Involuntary Termination;

(e)  continue to make the employer contributions necessary to maintain the
     Employee's coverage pursuant to all benefit plans provided to the Employee
     by the Employer immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination or on the
     effective date of the Change of Control, whichever is more beneficial to
     the Employee, for a period of three (3) years following such Involuntary
     Termination and shall deduct from any payments payable to the Employee
     pursuant to Subsection 17.2(a) hereof the amount of any employee
     contributions necessary to maintain such coverage for the above-noted
     period based on any such contributions which were in effect immediately
     prior to such Involuntary Termination or on the effective date of the
     Change of Control, whichever are lower;

(f)  pay to the Employee an amount equivalent to the leasing cost of any car
     provided by the Employer to the Employee and any operating expenses of such
     car paid for by the Employer, all as in effect immediately prior to such
     Involuntary Termination or on the effective date of the Change of Control,
     whichever is more beneficial to the Employee, for a period of three (3)
     years following such Involuntary Termination;

(g)  pay to the Employee for a period of three (3) years following such
     Involuntary Termination the amount of any annual club dues and club
     expenses paid for by the Employer on behalf of the Employee immediately
     prior to such Involuntary Termination or on the effective date of the
     Change of Control, whichever is more beneficial to the Employee;

(h)  in respect of all stock options granted to Employee under any stock option
     plan in effect immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination whether or
     not such options are currently exercisable all options shall vest, and
     remain exercisable for a six (6) month period following Termination.

(i)  credit the Employee with service for the purposes of any pension plan or
     pension arrangements in which the Employee participated or which pertained
     to the Employee immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination or which
     were in effect on the effective date of the Change of Control, whichever
     were more beneficial to the Employee, for the period of three (3) years
     following such Involuntary Termination and include in calculating the
     Employee's earnings for the purpose of determining any benefits payable to
     the

                                       10

<PAGE>   11



     Employee pursuant to such plan or arrangements all amounts (other than any
     Bonus) payable to the Employee pursuant to Subsection 17.2(a);

(j)  until the Employee accepts a position of substantially similar character
     and compensation in the industry, his Retirement Compensation Arrangement
     (or supplementary pension plan) with the Employer will be properly funded
     annually, for past services, on the basis of the information set forth in
     the letter of Towers Perrin dated November 16, 1990, a copy of which is
     annexed hereto as Appendix "A";

(k)  until the Employee accepts a position of substantially similar character
     and compensation in the industry, his pension plan will continue to be
     available and fully paid-up, on the basis of the information set forth in
     the letter of Towers Perrin dated November 16, 1990, copy attached, until
     the Employee attains the age of sixty (60), as though the Employee's
     employment with the Employer was uninterrupted until that time;

(l)  proper arrangements satisfactory to the parties will be made at the time of
     termination of the Employee's employment by an Involuntary Termination so
     as to secure the payment of all sums due to him; and

(m)  should the Employee accept alternative work outside Quebec, Employee shall
     use his best efforts to cause his new employer to pay moving expenses, and
     failing that, then the Employee will also be reimbursed for unreimbursed
     moving expenses up to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).

17.3 SUCCESSOR. The Employer shall use its best efforts to require any
successor, whether direct or indirect, to all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Employer to expressly agree to assume and to
perform this Agreement in the same manner that the Employer would have been
required to perform it if no such succession had occurred. If the Employer fails
to obtain such agreement prior to the effective date of such succession, such
failure shall be deemed to be an Involuntary Termination of the Employee's
employment by the Employer and such termination shall be deemed to have occurred
on the said effective date.

17.4 MITIGATION. Following an Involuntary Termination of the Employee's
employment with the Employer after a Change of Control the Employee shall use
all reasonable efforts to mitigate any damages resulting from such Involuntary
Termination provided, however, that the Employee shall not be required to accept
a position of substantially different character than the position held by him
with the Employer immediately prior to such Involuntary Termination or on the
effective date of the Change of Control, whichever was a more responsible
position, nor shall he be required to accept a position in a location which is
unreasonable, given the personal circumstances of the Employee at the time any
such position is offered to him.

                                       11


<PAGE>   12

17.5 LUMP SUM PAYMENT. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement,
if the Employee successfully mitigates any damages as outlined in Section 17.4
within the period of three (3) years following such Involuntary Termination:

(a)  the Employer's obligations pursuant to Subsections 17.2(a), (e), (f) and
     (g) shall thereupon cease;

(b)  the Employee shall immediately notify the Employer of such mitigation; and

(c)  following receipt of such notice, the Employer shall pay to the Employee a
     lump sum equivalent to the balance of the payment which it would otherwise
     have made to the Employee pursuant to Subsection 17.2(a) but for such
     mitigation.

17.6 FAIR AND REASONABLE. The parties confirm that the provisions of this
Article 17 are reasonable and that the total benefits payable as outlined herein
are reasonable estimates of the damages which will be suffered by the Employee
in the event of an Involuntary Termination following a Change of Control.

17.7 OTHER RIGHTS NOT AFFECTED. The lapse of rights under Section 17.1 with
respect to any particular Change of Control shall not limit the entitlement of
the Employee to benefits becoming due and payable with in twenty-four (24)
months next following any subsequently Change of Control.

                                   ARTICLE 18.
                                   LIMITATION

18.1 LIMITATION. The Employee hereby recognizes and accepts that the Employer
shall not, under any circumstances, be responsible of any additional amount,
indemnity in lieu of notice, severance pay or other damages arising from the
termination of this Agreement, above and beyond the amounts specifically
provided for herein.


                                   ARTICLE 19.
                    TERM AND RENEWAL OF TERMINATION BENEFITS

19.1 TERM OF TERMINATION BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, the Termination Benefits under this Agreement shall
extend for an initial period of five (5) years, commencing on the date hereof.

19.2 OFFER TO RENEW BY EMPLOYER. The Employer may offer to renew the Termination
Benefits under this Agreement for a period of Five (5) years and so on for
successive periods of five (5) years

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

each (a "Renewal Period") by giving notice in writing to the Employee by not
later than the 31st day of July, 2001 or the last day of any Renewal Period, as
applicable.

19.3 NON-RENEWAL. If the Employer offers to renew the Termination Benefits under
this Agreement and the Employee does not accept such offer, then the Termination
Benefits under this Agreement shall terminate on the 31st day of July, 2001 or
on the last day of the applicable Renewal Period, as the case may be. In the
event Employer does not intend to renew this Agreement or the Termination
Benefits at the end of the initial period of five (5) years, the Employer shall
give notice to Employee of its present intention not to so renew on or before
six months from the fifth anniversary hereof. In the event that Employer does
not renew this Agreement beyond the initial term of five years, Employer shall
pay Employee upon termination of this Agreement a lump sum of money equal to
Employee's most recent annual base salary as a severance payment.

                                   ARTICLE 20.
                                     GENERAL

20.1 NUMBER. In this Agreement, words importing the singular number only shall
include the plural and vice versa, and words importing the masculine gender
shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa, and words
importing persons shall include individuals, partnerships, associations, trusts,
unincorporated organizations and corporations.

20.2 BENEFITS OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and legal personal
representatives of the Employee as well as the successors and permitted assigns
of the Employers.

20.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and cancels and supersedes
any prior understandings and agreements between the parties hereto with respect
thereto. There are no representations, warranties, forms, conditions,
undertakings or collateral agreements, express, implied or statutory between the
parties with respect to the subject matter dealt with herein other than as
expressly set forth in this Agreement.

20.4 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid or
binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by both of the parties
hereto. No waiver of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall be
effective or binding unless made in writing and signed by the party purporting
to give the same and, unless otherwise provided in the written waiver, shall be
limited to the specific breach waived.

20.5 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be
invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such invalidity or
uneforceability shall attach only to such provision or part thereof and the
remaining part of such provision and all other provisions hereof shall continue
in full force and effect.

                                       13

<PAGE>   14
20.6 NOTICES. Any notice consent, authorization, direction or other
communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be delivered either by personal delivery or by telex, telecopier or
similar telecommunications device and addressed as follows:

(a)      in the case of the Employee, to:

         3 Kirkland Avenue
         Beaconsfield, Quebec H9W 5L1 Canada

         Attention: Michael Ankcorn

         Fax:     (514) 630-8239

(b)      in the case of the Employer, to:

         ClinTrials BioResearch Ltd.

         Care of:

         ClinTrials Research, Inc.
         One Burton Hills Blvd., Suite 210
         Nashville, TN  37215
         Attention:        Chief Executive Officer

         Copy:             Harwell Howard Hyne Gabbert & Manner, P.C.
                           1800 First American Center
                           315 Deaderick Street
                           Nashville, Tennessee 37238
                           Attention:       Mark Manner

Any notice, consent, authorization, direction or other communication delivered
as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been effectively delivered and received, if
sent by telex, telecopier or similar telecommunications device, on the calendar
day next following receipt of such transmission or, if delivered, to have been
delivered and received on the date of such delivery, provided, however, that if
such date is not a business day, then it shall be deemed to have been delivered
and received on the business day next following such delivery. Either Party may
change its address for service by notice delivered as aforesaid.

20.7 Governing Laws. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
     accordance withe the laws of the Province of Quebec.


                                       14

<PAGE>   15

20.8 ARBITRATION. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of, or relating
to this Agreement, or the breach, interpretation, termination or invalidity
thereof (hereinafter "Dispute"), shall be definitely settled in accordance with
the provisions on arbitration in the Code of Civil Procedure of Quebec and the
Civil Code of Quebec by a tribunal of three (3) arbitrators. Each party shall
appoint one arbitrator.

(a)  The party wishing to initiate arbitration (hereinafter "Claimant") shall
     send a notice of arbitration (hereinafter "Notice") to the other party
     (hereinafter "Respondent"), specifying the object of the Dispute and naming
     the Arbitrator of its choice..

(b)  The Respondent will then have fifteen (15) calendar days to notify the
     Claimant of its choice of arbitrator.

(c)  The two arbitrators thus appointed by the parties shall together, within
     thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Claimant of the Respondent's notice
     of its choice of arbitrator, designate the third (3rd) arbitrator who shall
     preside over the Arbitration Tribunal.

(d)  The presiding arbitrator shall be a member of the Quebec Bar with at least
     ten (10) years experience in the filed of labor relations and employment
     law.

(e)  If the two arbitrators appointed by the parties are unable to agree on the
     selection of the third arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the receipt by
     the Claimant of the Respondent's Notice of its choice of arbitrator, the
     third arbitrator shall be designated by the highest ranking officer of the
     Quebec National and International Commercial Arbitration Centre upon a
     motion of either party hereto.

(f)  The seat of arbitration shall be Montreal, Canada and the language of
     arbitration shall be English. The arbitral tribunal may, without changing
     the seat of arbitration, hold hearings elsewhere for reasons of
     convenience, but only with the agreement of the parties.

20.9 COPY OF AGREEMENT. The Employee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of
this Agreement duly signed by the Employer

20.10 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original, and such
counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

20.11 LANGUAGE. The parties hereto acknowledge that they have requested and are
satisfied that this Agreement and all related documents be drawn up in the
English language. Les parties aux presentes reconnaisset avoir requis que la
presente enrente et les documents qui y sont relarifs soient rediges en langue
anglaise.

                                      15
<PAGE>   16

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first hereinabove mentioned.

                                               ---------------------------------
                                               MICHAEL F. ANKCORN

                                               CLINTRIALS BIORESEARCH LTD.


                                               Per:
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   Name: William C. O'Neil, Jr.


                                       16