<PAGE>
[LOGO]
                                 PROMISSORY NOTE


$3,000,000.00                                                   October 6, 2000

PRWW, Ltd.
30 South 17th Street, 8th Floor
Phildelphia, Pennsylvania  19103

eResearchTechnology, Inc.
30 South 17th Street, 8th Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103

PRWW Investment Corporation
103 Springer Building - 3411 Silverside Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19810
(Individually and collectively "Borrower")

First Union National Bank
190 River Road
Summit, New Jersey  07901
(Hereinafter referred to as "Bank")

Borrower promises to pay to the order of Bank, in lawful money of the United
States of America, at its office indicated above or wherever else Bank may
specify, the sum of Three Million and No/100 Dollars ($3,000,000.00) or such sum
as may be advanced and outstanding from time to time, with interest on the
unpaid principal balance at the rate and on the terms provided in this
Promissory Note (including all renewals, extensions or modifications hereof,
this "Note").

RENEWAL/MODIFICATION. This Promissory Note renews, extends and/or modifies that
certain Promissory Note i/n/o Premier Research Worldwide, Ltd. dated July 27,
1999 (the "Original Promissory Note"), evidencing an original principal amount
of $3,000,000.00. This Promissory Note is not a novation.

INTEREST RATE. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this
Note from the date hereof at the Bank's Prime Rate minus 0.35%, as that rate may
change from time to time in accordance with changes in the Bank's Prime Rate,
("Interest Rate"). "Bank's Prime Rate" shall be that rate announced by Bank from
time to time as its prime rate and is one of several interest rate bases used by
Bank. Bank lends at rates both above and below Bank's Prime Rate, and Borrower
acknowledges that Bank's Prime Rate is not represented or intended to be the
lowest or most favorable rate of interest offered by Bank.

DEFAULT RATE. In addition to all other rights contained in this Note, if a
Default (as defined herein) occurs and as long as a Default continues, all
outstanding Obligations shall bear interest at the Interest Rate plus 3%
("Default Rate"). The Default Rate shall also apply from acceleration until the
Obligations or any judgment thereon is paid in full.

INTEREST AND FEE(S) COMPUTATION (ACTUAL/360). Interest and fees, if any, shall
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days in the
applicable period ("Actual/360 Computation"). The Actual/360 Computation
determines the annual effective interest yield by taking the stated (nominal)
rate for a year's period and then dividing said rate by 360 to determine the
daily periodic rate to be applied for each day in the applicable period.
Application of the Actual/360 Computation produces an annualized effective rate
exceeding the nominal rate.

REPAYMENT TERMS. This Note shall be due and payable in consecutive monthly
payments of accrued interest only, commencing on November 1, 2000, and

<PAGE>

continuing on the same day of each month thereafter until fully paid. In any
event, all principal and accrued interest shall be due and payable on June 30,
2001.

APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. Monies received by Bank from any source for application
toward payment of the Obligations shall be applied to accrued interest and then
to principal. If a Default occurs, monies may be applied to the Obligations in
any manner or order deemed appropriate by Bank.

If any payment received by Bank under this Note or other Loan Documents is
rescinded, avoided or for any reason returned by Bank because of any adverse
claim or threatened action, the returned payment shall remain payable as an
obligation of all persons liable under this Note or other Loan Documents as
though such payment had not been made.

DEFINITIONS. Loan Documents. The term "Loan Documents" used in this Note and the
other Loan Documents refers to all documents executed in connection with or
related to the loan evidenced by this Note and any prior notes which evidence
all or any portion of the loan evidenced by this Note, and any letters of credit
issued pursuant to any loan agreement to which this Note is subject, any
applications for such letters of credit and any other documents executed in
connection therewith or related thereto, and may include, without limitation, a
commitment letter that survives closing, a loan agreement, this Note, guaranty
agreements, security agreements, security instruments, financing statements,
mortgage instruments, any renewals or modifications, whenever any of the
foregoing are executed, but does not include swap agreements (as defined in 11
U.S.C. ss. 101). Obligations. The term "Obligations" used in this Note refers to
any and all indebtedness and other obligations under this Note, all other
obligations under any other Loan Document(s), and all obligations under any swap
agreements (as defined in 11 U.S.C. ss. 101) between Borrower and Bank whenever
executed. Certain Other Terms. All terms that are used but not otherwise defined
in any of the Loan Documents shall have the definitions provided in the Uniform
Commercial Code.

LATE CHARGE. If any payments are not timely made, Borrower shall also pay to
Bank a late charge equal to 5% of each payment past due for 10 or more days.

Acceptance by Bank of any late payment without an accompanying late charge shall
not be deemed a waiver of Bank's right to collect such late charge or to collect
a late charge for any subsequent late payment received.

ATTORNEYS' FEES AND OTHER COLLECTION COSTS. Borrower shall pay all of Bank's
reasonable expenses incurred to enforce or collect any of the Obligations
including, without limitation, reasonable arbitration, paralegals', attorneys'
and experts' fees and expenses, whether incurred without the commencement of a
suit, in any trial, arbitration, or administrative proceeding, or in any
appellate or bankruptcy proceeding.

USURY. If at any time the effective interest rate under this Note would, but for
this paragraph, exceed the maximum lawful rate, the effective interest rate
under this Note shall be the maximum lawful rate, and any amount received by
Bank in excess of such rate shall be applied to principal and then to fees and
expenses, or, if no such amounts are owing, returned to Borrower.

DEFAULT. If any of the following occurs, a default ("Default") under this Note
shall exist: Nonpayment; Nonperformance. The failure of timely payment or
performance of the Obligations or Default under this Note or any other Loan
Documents. False Warranty. A warranty or representation made or deemed made in
the Loan Documents or furnished Bank in connection with the loan evidenced by
this Note proves materially false, or if of a continuing nature, becomes
materially false. Cross Default. At Bank's option, any default in payment or
performance of any obligation under any other loans, contracts or agreements of
Borrower, any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Borrower, any general partner of or the
holder(s) of the majority ownership interests of Borrower with Bank or its
affiliates ("Affiliate" shall have the meaning as defined in 11 U.S.C. ss. 101,
except that the term "Borrower" shall be substituted for the term "Debtor"
therein; "Subsidiary" shall mean any business in which Borrower holds, directly
or indirectly, a controlling interest). Cessation; Bankruptcy. The death of,
appointment of a guardian for, dissolution of, termination of existence of, loss


                                     Page 2
<PAGE>

of good standing status by, appointment of a receiver for, assignment for the
benefit of creditors of, or commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceeding by or against Borrower, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, if any, or
any general partner of or the holder(s) of the majority ownership interests of
Borrower, or any party to the Loan Documents. Material Capital Structure or
Business Alteration. Without prior written consent of Bank, (i) a material
alteration in the kind or type of Borrower's business or that of Borrower's
Subsidiaries or Affiliates, if any; (ii) the sale of substantially all of the
business or assets of Borrower, any of Borrower's Subsidiaries or Affiliates or
any guarantor, or a material portion (10% or more) of such business or assets if
such a sale is outside the ordinary course of business of Borrower, or any of
Borrower's Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any guarantor, or more than 50% of the
outstanding stock or voting power of or in any such entity in a single
transaction or a series of transactions; (iii) the acquisition of substantially
all of the business or assets or more than 50% of the outstanding stock or
voting power of any other entity; or (iv) should any Borrower or any of
Borrower's Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any guarantor enter into any merger or
consolidation.

REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT. If a Default occurs under this Note or any Loan
Documents, Bank may at any time thereafter, take the following actions: Bank
Lien. Foreclose its security interest or lien against Borrower's accounts
without notice. Acceleration Upon Default. Accelerate the maturity of this Note
and, at Bank's option, any or all other Obligations, whereupon this Note and the
accelerated Obligations shall be immediately due and payable. Cumulative.
Exercise any rights and remedies as provided under the Note and other Loan
Documents, or as provided by law or equity.

FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION. Borrower shall deliver to Bank such information
as Bank may reasonably request from time to time, including without limitation,
financial statements and information pertaining to Borrower's financial
condition. Such information shall be true, complete, and accurate.

FINANCIAL COVENANTS. Borrower agrees to the following provisions from the date
hereof until final payment in full of the Obligations, unless Bank shall
otherwise consent in writing, using the financial information for Borrower, its
subsidiaries, affiliates and its holding or parent company, as applicable: Total
Liabilities to Effective Net Worth Ratio. Borrower shall, at all times, maintain
a ratio of Total Liabilities to Tangible Net Worth of not more than 0.50 to
1.00. "Total Liabilities" shall mean all liabilities of Borrower, including
capitalized leases and all reserves for deferred taxes and other deferred sums
appearing on the liabilities side of a balance sheet of Borrower, in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.
"Effective Tangible Net Worth" shall mean total assets minus total liabilities.
For purposes of this computation, the aggregate amount of any intangible assets
of Borrower including, without limitation, goodwill, franchises, licenses,
patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, service marks, and brand names,
shall be subtracted from total assets, and total liabilities shall include debt
fully subordinated to Bank on terms and conditions acceptable to Bank.

LINE OF CREDIT ADVANCES. Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow, and Bank may
advance and readvance under this Note respectively from time to time until the
maturity hereof (each an "Advance" and together the "Advances"), so long as the
total principal balance outstanding under this Note at any one time does not
exceed the principal amount stated on the face of this Note, subject to the
limitations described in any loan agreement to which this Note is subject.
Bank's obligation to make Advances under this Note shall terminate if Borrower
is in Default. As of the date of each proposed Advance, Borrower shall be deemed
to represent that each representation made in the Loan Documents is true as of
such date. 30-Day Payout. During the term of the Note, Borrower agrees to pay
down the outstanding balance to a maximum of $100.00 for 30 consecutive days
annually.

If Borrower subscribes to Bank's cash management services and such services are
applicable to this line of credit, the terms of such service shall control the
manner in which funds are transferred between the applicable demand deposit
account and the line of credit for credit or debit to the line of credit.

WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS. No waivers, amendments or modifications of this Note and
other Loan Documents shall be valid unless in writing and signed by an officer
of Bank. No waiver by Bank of any Default shall operate as a waiver of any other
Default or the same Default on a future occasion. Neither the failure nor any


                                     Page 3
<PAGE>

delay on the part of Bank in exercising any right, power, or remedy under this
Note and other Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a
single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.

Each Borrower or any person liable under this Note waives presentment, protest,
notice of dishonor, demand for payment, notice of intention to accelerate
maturity, notice of acceleration of maturity, notice of sale and all other
notices of any kind. Further, each agrees that Bank may extend, modify or renew
this Note or make a novation of the loan evidenced by this Note for any period,
and grant any releases, compromises or indulgences with respect to any
collateral securing this Note, or with respect to any other Borrower or any
other person liable under this Note or other Loan Documents, all without notice
to or consent of each Borrower or each person who may be liable under this Note
or any other Loan Document and without affecting the liability of Borrower or
any person who may be liable under this Note or any other Loan Document.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. Assignment. This Note and the other Loan Documents
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their
respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns. Bank's
interests in and rights under this Note and the other Loan Documents are freely
assignable, in whole or in part, by Bank. In addition, nothing in this Note or
any of the other Loan Documents shall prohibit Bank from pledging or assigning
this Note or any of the other Loan Documents or any interest therein to any
Federal Reserve Bank. Borrower shall not assign its rights and interest
hereunder without the prior written consent of Bank, and any attempt by Borrower
to assign without Bank's prior written consent is null and void. Any assignment
shall not release Borrower from the Obligations. Applicable Law; Conflict
Between Documents. This Note and, unless otherwise provided in any other Loan
Document, the other Loan Documents shall be governed by and construed under the
laws of the state named in Bank's address shown above without regard to that
state's conflict of laws principles. If the terms of this Note should conflict
with the terms of any loan agreement or any commitment letter that survives
closing, the terms of this Note shall control. Borrower's Accounts. Except as
prohibited by law, Borrower grants Bank a security interest in all of Borrower's
accounts with Bank and any of its affiliates. Jurisdiction. Borrower irrevocably
agrees to non-exclusive personal jurisdiction in the state named in Bank's
address shown above. Severability. If any provision of this Note or of the other
Loan Documents shall be prohibited or invalid under applicable law, such
provision shall be ineffective but only to the extent of such prohibition or
invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the
remaining provisions of this Note or other such document. Notices. Any notices
to Borrower shall be sufficiently given, if in writing and mailed or delivered
to the Borrower's address shown above or such other address as provided
hereunder, and to Bank, if in writing and mailed or delivered to Bank's office
address shown above or such other address as Bank may specify in writing from
time to time. In the event that Borrower changes Borrower's address at any time
prior to the date the Obligations are paid in full, Borrower agrees to promptly
give written notice of said change of address by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, all charges prepaid. Plural; Captions. All references
in the Loan Documents to Borrower, guarantor, person, document or other nouns of
reference mean both the singular and plural form, as the case may be, and the
term "person" shall mean any individual, person or entity. The captions
contained in the Loan Documents are inserted for convenience only and shall not
affect the meaning or interpretation of the Loan Documents. Use of Proceeds. The
proceeds of the loan(s) evidenced by this Note shall be used for the commercial
purposes of Borrower. Advances. Bank may, in its sole discretion, make other
advances which shall be deemed to be advances under this Note, even though the
stated principal amount of this Note may be exceeded as a result thereof.
Posting of Payments. All payments received during normal banking hours after
2:00 p.m. local time at the office of Bank first shown above shall be deemed
received at the opening of the next banking day. Joint and Several Obligations.
Each person who signs this Note as a Borrower (as defined herein) is jointly and
severally obligated. Fees and Taxes. Borrower shall promptly pay all
documentary, intangible recordation and/or similar taxes on this transaction
whether assessed at closing or arising from time to time.

ARBITRATION. Upon demand of any party hereto, whether made before or after
institution of any judicial proceeding, any claim or controversy arising out of
or relating to the Loan Documents between parties hereto (a "Dispute") shall be
resolved by binding arbitration conducted under and governed by the Commercial
Financial Disputes Arbitration Rules (the "Arbitration Rules") of the American


                                     Page 4
<PAGE>

Arbitration Association (the "AAA") and the Federal Arbitration Act. Disputes
may include, without limitation, tort claims, counterclaims, a dispute as to
whether a matter is subject to arbitration, claims brought as class actions, or
claims arising from documents executed in the future. A judgment upon the award
may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
this arbitration provision does not apply to disputes under or related to swap
agreements. Special Rules. All arbitration hearings shall be conducted in the
city named in the address of Bank first stated above. A hearing shall begin
within 90 days of demand for arbitration and all hearings shall conclude within
120 days of demand for arbitration. These time limitations may not be extended
unless a party shows cause for extension and then for no more than a total of 60
days. The expedited procedures set forth in Rule 51 et seq. of the Arbitration
Rules shall be applicable to claims of less than $1,000,000.00. Arbitrators
shall be licensed attorneys selected from the Commercial Financial Dispute
Arbitration Panel of the AAA. The parties do not waive applicable Federal or
state substantive law except as provided herein. Preservation and Limitation of
Remedies. Notwithstanding the preceding binding arbitration provisions, the
parties agree to preserve, without diminution, certain remedies that any party
may exercise before or after an arbitration proceeding is brought. The parties
shall have the right to proceed in any court of proper jurisdiction or by
self-help to exercise or prosecute the following remedies, as applicable: (i)
all rights to foreclose against any real or personal property or other security
by exercising a power of sale or under applicable law by judicial foreclosure
including a proceeding to confirm the sale; (ii) all rights of self-help
including peaceful occupation of real property and collection of rents, set-off,
and peaceful possession of personal property; (iii) obtaining provisional or
ancillary remedies including injunctive relief, sequestration, garnishment,
attachment, appointment of receiver and filing an involuntary bankruptcy
proceeding; and (iv) when applicable, a judgment by confession of judgment. Any
claim or controversy with regard to any party's entitlement to such remedies is
a Dispute. Waiver of Exemplary Damages. The parties agree that they shall not
have a remedy of punitive or exemplary damages against other parties in any
Dispute and hereby waive any right or claim to punitive or exemplary damages
they have now or which may arise in the future in connection with any Dispute
whether the Dispute is resolved by arbitration or judicially. Waiver of Jury
Trial. THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BY AGREEING TO BINDING ARBITRATION THEY HAVE
IRREVOCABLY WAIVED ANY RIGHT THEY MAY HAVE TO JURY TRIAL WITH REGARD TO A
DISPUTE.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower, on the day and year first above written, has
caused this Note to be executed under seal.

PLACE OF EXECUTION AND DELIVERY. Borrower hereby certifies that this Note and
the Loan Documents were executed in the State of New Jersey and delivered to
Bank in the State of New Jersey.

                              PRWW, Ltd..
                              Taxpayer Identification Number: 22-3264604


                              By: /s/ Joel Morganroth                 (SEAL)
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  Joel Morganroth, Chief Executive Officer


                              eResearchTechnology, Inc.
                              Taxpayer Identification Number: 23-3027275


                              By: /s/ Joel Morganroth                 (SEAL)
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  Joel Morganroth, Chairman

                              PRWW Investment Corporation
                              Taxpayer Identification Number:  52-2013373


                              By: /s/ Joel Morganroth                 (SEAL)
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  Joel Morganroth, Chairman


                                     Page 5