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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.168

                    FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, made this 19th day of
February, 2001 and effective January 1, 2001 (the "Effective Date"), by and
between PPD Development, LLC, a Texas limited liability company and
successor-in-interest to PPD Development, Inc. (hereinafter "PPD Development"),
and Francis J. Casieri (hereinafter "Employee"), amends that certain Employment
Agreement dated December 17, 1999, by and between PPD Development and Employee
(the "Agreement").

     For and in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and
considerations herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby amend the
Agreement as follows:

     1.  Attached hereto as Appendix I (effective January 1, 2001) is the bonus
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plan agreed upon by Employee and PPD Development for the one-year renewal term
beginning on the Effective Date.

     2.  Section 3 of the Agreement entitled "Salary" is rewritten as follows:
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         "For all services rendered by Employee under this Agreement, PPD
         Development shall pay to Employee for the one-year term beginning on
         January 1, 2001 (the "First Renewal Term") an annual base salary of
         $171,720. Employee shall also be entitled to a Quarterly Bonus if the
         Businesses (as hereinafter defined) attain a certain level of
         Authorizations for the applicable calendar quarter of the First Renewal
         Term, as set forth in Appendix I (effective January 1, 2001) attached.
         Each Quarterly Bonus, if any, to which Employee is entitled shall be
         paid within thirty (30) days after its determination. Employee shall
         also be entitled to a Plan Bonus as provided for in Appendix I
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         (effective January 1, 2001) attached, which Plan Bonus, which shall be
         paid to Employee at the same time annual bonuses, if any, for the First
         Renewal Term are or would have been paid to other senior executives of
         PPD Development. In addition, Employee shall be entitled to an award of
         non-qualified stock options under the Pharmaceutical Product
         Development, Inc. ("PPD") Equity Compensation Plan if Authorizations
         for the Businesses attain the Annual Target for the First Renewal Term
         hereof as set forth in Appendix I (effective January 1, 2001).  Any
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         award of stock options for the First Renewal Term shall have an
         exercise price equal to the NASDAQ closing price on December 31, 2001,
         and shall contain such other terms and conditions, including a
         three-year linear vesting schedule, as included in stock option awards
         generally for other senior executives of PPD Development. A new bonus
         plan shall be agreed upon by Employee and PPD Development for each
         one-year renewal term of this Agreement."
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     3.  The Agreement, as herein amended, shall continue in full force and
effect.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this First Amendment to
Employment Agreement to be executed effective the Effective Date.



                                                PPD DEVELOPMENT, LLC

                                                By: /s/ Fredric N. Eshelman
                                                Name: Fredric N. Eshelman
                                                Title: Chief Executive Officer



                                                /s/ Francis J. Casieri  (SEAL)
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                                                Francis J. Casieri