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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                      NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                             (NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR)

      This document sets forth the terms of a Stock Option (the "Option")
granted by Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
pursuant to a Certificate of Stock Option Grant ("Certificate") displayed at the
website of AST StockPlan, Inc. The Certificate, which specifies the person to
whom the Option is granted ("Grantee") and other specific details of the grant,
and the electronic acceptance of the Certificate at the website of AST
StockPlan, Inc., are incorporated herein by reference.

                                   BACKGROUND

      A. Grantee is a non-employee director of the Company.

      B. In consideration of services to be performed, Company desires to afford
Grantee an opportunity to purchase shares of its common stock in accordance with
Company's 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") as hereinafter provided.

      C. Any capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meaning accorded them under the Plan.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set
forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties, hereto,
intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Grant of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this
Option, Company hereby grants to Grantee the right and option (the "Option") to
purchase all or any part of the aggregate number of shares (the "Option Shares")
of the common stock of Company, par value $.0001 per share ("Common Stock")
specified on the Certificate at the grant price listed in the Certificate (the
"Option Price"). The Option is not intended to constitute an "incentive stock
option" as that term is used in Code section 422.

2. Option Period. The Option may be exercised in accordance with the provisions
of Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 hereof during the Option Period, which shall begin on
the Grant Date specified in the Certificate and shall end on the Option
Expiration Date (as defined in paragraph 4). All rights to exercise the Option
shall terminate on the Option Expiration Date.

3. Exercisability. Subject to the limitations of the Plan and this Option, the
Option shall be exercisable according to the vesting schedule specified on the
Certificate. An installment of this Option shall not become exercisable on the
otherwise applicable vesting date if the Grantee's Date of Termination (as
defined in paragraph 8) occurs on or before such vesting date. Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this paragraph 3, the Option shall become
exercisable with respect to all of the Option Shares (to the extent it is not
then otherwise exercisable) as follows:

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Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

      A. The Option shall become fully exercisable upon the Grantee's Date of
Termination, if the Grantee's Date of Termination occurs by reason of the
Grantee's death or Disability.

      B. The Option shall become fully exercisable upon a Change in Control (as
defined in the Plan), if the Grantee's Date of Termination does not occur on or
before the Change in Control.

The Option may be exercised on or after the Date of Termination only as to that
portion of the Option Shares as to which it was exercisable immediately prior to
the Date of Termination, or as to which it became exercisable on the Date of
Termination in accordance with this paragraph 3.

4. Expiration. The Option Period shall terminate and this Option shall not be
exercisable after the Company's close of business on the last business day that
occurs prior to the Option Expiration Date. The "Option Expiration Date" shall
be the earliest to occur of:

      A. the Option Expiration Date specified on the Certificate;

      B. if the Grantee's Date of Termination occurs by reason of death,
Disability or Retirement, the one-year anniversary of such Date of Termination;
or

      C. the Grantee's Date of Termination, if the Grantee's Date of Termination
occurs for any of the reasons specified in clause (a) of Section 9A of this
Option; or

      D. if the Grantee's Date of Termination occurs for reasons other than
death, Disability, Retirement, or the reasons specified in C above, the 90 day
anniversary of such Date of Termination.

5. Method of Option Exercise. Subject to this Agreement and the Plan, the Option
may be exercised in whole or in part by filing a written notice with the
Secretary of the Company at its corporate headquarters prior to the Company's
close of business on the last business day that occurs prior to the Option
Expiration Date. Such notice shall specify the number of shares of Common Stock
which the Grantee elects to purchase, and shall be accompanied by payment of the
Option Price for such shares of Common Stock indicated by the Grantee's
election. Payment shall be by cash or by check payable to the Company. Except as
otherwise provided by the Committee before the Option is exercised: (i) all or a
portion of the Option Price may be paid by the Grantee by delivery of shares of
Common Stock owned by the Grantee and acceptable to the Committee having an
aggregate fair market value (valued as of the date of exercise) that is equal to
the amount of cash that would otherwise be required; and (ii) the Grantee may
pay the Option Price by authorizing a third party to sell shares of Common Stock
(or a sufficient portion of the shares) acquired upon exercise of the Option and
remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the

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Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

sale proceeds to pay the entire Option Price and any tax withholding resulting
from such exercise. The Option shall not be exercisable if and to the extent the
Company determines that such exercise would violate applicable state or Federal
securities laws or the rules and regulations of any securities exchange on which
the Common Stock is traded. If the Company makes such a determination, it shall
use all reasonable efforts to obtain compliance with such laws, rules or
regulations. In making any determination hereunder, the Company may rely on the
opinion of counsel for the Company.

6. Withholding. All deliveries and distributions under this Agreement are
subject to withholding of all applicable taxes. At the election of the Grantee,
and subject to such rules and limitations as may be established by the Committee
from time to time, such withholding obligations may be satisfied through the
surrender of shares of Common Stock which the Grantee already owns, or to which
the Grantee is otherwise entitled under the Plan.

7. Transferability. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or this paragraph
7, the Option is not transferable other than as designated by the Grantee by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and during the Grantee's life,
may be exercised only by the Grantee. However, the Grantee, with the approval of
the Committee, may transfer the Option for no consideration to or for the
benefit of the Grantee's Immediate Family (including, without limitation, to a
trust for the benefit of the Grantee's Immediate Family or to a partnership or
limited liability company of which only one or more members of the Grantee's
Immediate Family hold an interest), subject to such limits as the Committee may
establish, and the transferee shall remain subject to all the terms and
conditions applicable to the Option prior to such transfer. The foregoing right
to transfer the Option shall apply to the right to consent to amendments to this
Agreement and, in the discretion of the Committee, shall also apply to the right
to transfer ancillary rights associated with the Option. The term "Immediate
Family" shall mean the Grantee's spouse, parents, children, sisters, brothers
and grandchildren (whether by blood, marriage or adoption) and, for this
purpose, shall also include the Grantee.

8. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the terms used in this Agreement
shall be subject to the following:

      A. Date of Termination. The Grantee's "Date of Termination" shall be the
first day occurring on or after the Grant Date on which the Grantee is not
serving as a director or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, regardless
of the reason for the termination of service; provided, however, that a "Date of
Termination" shall not be deemed to occur by reason of Grantee ceasing to be an
Outside Director of the Company but continuing thereafter without interruption
to serve as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided
further, however, that if Grantee thereafter ceases to serve as an employee of
the Company and its Subsidiaries without immediately resuming service to the
Company as an Outside Director then

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Grantee's "Date of Termination" shall be the first day on which Grantee no
longer serves as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

      B. Disability. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, the Grantee
shall be considered to have a "Disability" during the period in which the
Grantee is unable, by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental
impairment, to engage in Grantee's duties as a director of the Company, which
condition has, or, in the opinion of an independent physician selected by the
Committee, is expected to have, a duration of not less than 120 days.

      C. Retirement. "Retirement" of the Grantee shall mean, with the approval
of the Committee, the occurrence of the Grantee's Date of Termination on or
after the date the Grantee attains age 55.

      D. Plan Definitions. Except where the context clearly implies or indicates
the contrary, a word, term, or phrase used in the Plan is similarly used in this
Agreement.

9. Forfeiture Provisions.

      A. Forfeiture of option gain and unexercised options in certain
circumstances. If (a) Grantee's Date of Termination occurs during the twelve
months following any exercise of all or any portion of this Option by reason of
Grantee engaging in any activity in violation of any non-competition,
confidentiality or other duty or obligation Grantee has to the Company, or that
is otherwise inimical, contrary or harmful to the interests of the Company,
including, but not limited to: (i) conduct related to Grantee's employment which
could result in either criminal or civil penalties against Grantee or the
Company, (ii) violation of the Company's policies, including, without
limitation, the Company's insider trading policy, (iii) Grantee's accepting
employment with or serving as a consultant, advisor or in any other capacity to
any other person or entity which or who is not in competition with or known to
Grantee to be acting against the interests of Company without Company's prior
written consent, or (iv) proposing, whether publicly or otherwise, or engaging
in (whether as a member of a group or otherwise) any of the activities specified
in clauses (b) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act
without the prior written consent of Company or (b) during the twelve months
after Grantee's Date of Termination Grantee violates any non-competition,
confidentiality or other duty or obligation Grantee has to the Company then (1)
this Option shall be deemed to have terminated effective as of the earlier of
(A) the Grantee's Date of Termination and (B) the date on which Grantee entered
into such activity, unless terminated sooner by operation of another term or
condition of this Option or the Plan, and (2) Grantee shall pay to Company the
amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of the exercise of
this Option during such twelve month period, as applicable.

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Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

      B. Right of Set-Off. By accepting this agreement, Grantee consents to a
deduction from any amounts the Company owes Grantee from time to time (including
amounts owed to Grantee as wages or other compensation, fringe benefits, or
vacation pay, as well as any other amounts owed to Grantee by the Company), to
the extent of the amounts Grantee owes the Company under paragraph A above.
Whether or not the Company elects to make any set-off in whole or in part, if
the Company does not recover by means of set-off the full amount Grantee owes
it, calculated as set forth above, Grantee agrees to pay immediately the unpaid
balance to the Company.

      C. Committee Discretion. Grantee may be released from Grantee's
obligations under paragraphs A and B above only if the Committee (or its duly
appointed agent) determines in its sole discretion that such action is in the
best interests of the Company.

10. Heirs and Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the
benefit of, the Company and its successors and assigns, and upon any person
acquiring, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets or otherwise,
all or substantially all of the Company's assets and business. If any rights
exercisable by the Grantee or benefits deliverable to the Grantee under this
Agreement have not been exercised or delivered, respectively, at the time of the
Grantee's death, such rights shall, subject to the terms of the Plan and this
Option, be exercisable by the Designated Beneficiary, and such benefits shall be
delivered to the Designated Beneficiary, in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement and the Plan. The "Designated Beneficiary" shall be the
beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Grantee in a writing filed with
the Committee in such form and at such time as the Committee shall require. If a
deceased Grantee fails to designate a beneficiary, or if the Designated
Beneficiary does not survive the Grantee, any rights that would have been
exercisable by the Grantee and any benefits distributable to the Grantee shall
be exercised by or distributed to the legal representative of the estate of the
Grantee. If a deceased Grantee designates a beneficiary but the Designated
Beneficiary dies before the Designated Beneficiary's exercise of all rights
under this Agreement or before the complete distribution of benefits to the
Designated Beneficiary under this Agreement, then any rights that would have
been exercisable by the Designated Beneficiary shall be exercised by the legal
representative of the estate of the Designated Beneficiary, and any benefits
distributable to the Designated Beneficiary shall be distributed to the legal
representative of the estate of the Designated Beneficiary.

11. Administration. The authority to manage and control the operation and
administration of this Agreement shall be vested in a committee of the Company's
Board of Directors (the "Committee"), and the Committee shall have all powers
with respect to this Agreement as it has with respect to the Plan. Any
interpretation of the Agreement by the Committee and any decision made by it
with respect to the Agreement is final and binding on all persons.

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12. Plan Governs. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
the terms of this Agreement shall be subject to the terms of the Plan, a copy of
which may be obtained by the Grantee from the office of the Secretary of the
Company; and this Agreement is subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules
and regulations promulgated by the Committee from time to time pursuant to the
Plan. By accepting this Agreement, the Grantee acknowledges receipt of a copy of
the Plan and of the most recent Prospectus relating to the Plan.

13. Not An Employment Contract. The Option will not confer on the Grantee any
right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the
Company or any Subsidiary, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the
Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate or modify the terms
of such Grantee's employment or other service at any time.

14. Notices. Any written notices provided for in this Agreement or the Plan
shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficiently given if either hand
delivered or if sent by fax or overnight courier, or by postage paid first class
mail. Notices sent by mail shall be deemed received three business days after
mailed but in no event later than the date of actual receipt. Notices shall be
directed, if to the Grantee, at the Grantee's address indicated by the Company's
records, or if to the Company, at the Company's principal executive office.

15. Fractional Shares. In lieu of issuing a fraction of a share upon any
exercise of the Option, resulting from an adjustment of the Option pursuant to
paragraph 14 of the Plan or otherwise, the Company will be entitled to pay to
the Grantee an amount equal to the fair market value of such fractional share.

16. No Rights As Shareholder. The Grantee shall not have any rights of a
shareholder with respect to the Option Shares, until a stock certificate has
been duly issued following exercise of the Option as provided herein.

17. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by written agreement of the Grantee
and the Company, without the consent of any other person.

18. Law Governing. This Option shall be governed in accordance with and governed
by the internal laws of the State of Florida.

19. Receipt of Plan. Grantee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and
represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and
hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof.
Grantee has reviewed the Plan and this Option in their entirety, has had an
opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel and Grantee's tax advisor prior to
accepting this Option, and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and this
Option.

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20. Acknowledgement of Grantee. As a material inducement to Company to grant the
Option to Grantee, Grantee represents and warrants to the Company that Grantee
is not now in violation and has not at any time violated any non-competition,
confidentiality or other duty or obligation Grantee has to the Company.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused these presents to be executed
in its name and on its behalf, all as of the Grant Date.

                                        NOVEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                                        By: ____________________________
                                        Robert C. Strauss
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer

                                        GRANTEE

                                        (Acceptance designated electronically at
                                        the website of AST StockPlan)

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