<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                          SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 21,
2003, by and among Avanir Pharmaceuticals, a California corporation, with
headquarters located at 11388 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite 200, San Diego,
California (the "Company"), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers
attached hereto (each, a "Buyer" and collectively, the "Buyers").

                                   BACKGROUND:

         A.       The Company and the Buyers are executing and delivering this
Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded
by Rule 506 of Regulation D ("Regulation D") as promulgated by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933
(the "Securities Act");

         B.       The Company has authorized the issuance of up to 11,758,519
shares (the "Shares") of its Class A Common Stock, no par value (the "Common
Stock"); and

         C.       The Buyers wish to purchase, upon the terms and conditions
stated in this Agreement, the Shares in the respective amounts set forth
opposite each Buyer's name on the Schedule of Buyers and the Class A Common
Stock Warrants, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Warrants"), to
acquire one share of Class A Common Stock for each five Shares purchased
hereunder (the "Warrant Shares") (the Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares
collectively being, the "Securities").

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Buyers hereby agree as follows:

1.       PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON SHARES.

                  1.1.     Purchase of Common Shares. Subject to the
satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 5 and 6 below,
at the closing (the "Closing") the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer
and each Buyer severally agrees to purchase from the Company the respective
number of Shares set forth opposite such Buyer's name on the Schedule of Buyers,
along with Warrants to acquire the respective number of Warrant Shares set forth
opposite such Buyer's name on the Schedule of Buyers, at the respective purchase
price (the "Purchase Price") set forth opposite such Buyer's name on the
Schedule of Buyers. The purchase price per Share and the related Warrants at the
Closing shall be $1.49.

                  1.2.     Closing Date. The date and time of the Closing (the
"Closing Date") shall be 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on July 23, 2003, or
other mutually acceptable date, subject to satisfaction (or waiver) of the
conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 5 and 6 below (or such later
date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and the Buyers). The Closing shall
occur on the Closing Date at the offices of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP,
counsel to the Company, located at 4350 La Jolla Village Drive, 7th Floor, San
Diego, California.

                                      -1-

<PAGE>

                  1.3.     Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, (i) each Buyer
shall pay an amount equal to the Purchase Price to the Company for the Shares
and Warrants to be issued and sold to such Buyer at the Closing, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company's written
wire instructions, and (ii) the Company shall deliver to each Buyer, stock
certificates (the "Common Stock Certificates") representing such number of the
Shares which such Buyer is then purchasing (as indicated opposite such Buyer's
name on the Schedule of Buyers), along with the Warrants such Buyer is
purchasing (as indicated opposite such Buyer's name on the Schedule of Buyers)
hereunder, duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of
such Buyer.

2.       BUYERS' REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         Each Buyer represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, that:

                  2.1.     Purchase for Own Account for Investment. Such Buyer
(i) is acquiring the Shares and the Warrants and, upon exercise of the Warrants,
will acquire the Warrant Shares (collectively are referred to herein as the
"Securities"), for its own account and not with a view towards, or for resale in
connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to
sales registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed a representation or warranty by such Buyer to
hold any Securities for any period of time. Such Buyer is acquiring the
Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Buyer does not
have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to
distribute any of the Securities.

                  2.2.     Accredited Buyer Status. Such Buyer is an "accredited
investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D, and such
Buyer is also knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in making, and is
qualified to make decisions with respect to, investments in securities
presenting an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of the
Securities, including investments in securities issued by the Company and
investments in comparable companies.

                  2.3.     Reliance on Exemptions. Such Buyer understands that
the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific
exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state
securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and
accuracy of, and such Buyer's compliance with, the representations, warranties,
agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Buyer set forth herein in
order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of
such Buyer to acquire such securities.

                  2.4.     Information. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any,
have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and
operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the
Securities that have been requested by such Buyer. Such Buyer and its advisors,
if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company. Such
Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree
of risk. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on
behalf of such Buyer or its advisors shall modify, amend or affect such Buyer's
right to rely on the truth, accuracy and

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

completeness of the disclosure made to such Persons in respect of the Company or
this transaction and the Company's representations and warranties contained in
this Agreement.

                  2.5.     No Governmental Review. Such Buyer understands that
no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental
agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities
or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such
authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the
Securities.

                  2.6.     Certain Trading Activities. Such Buyer has not
directly or indirectly, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to
any understanding with such Buyer, engaged in any Short Sales (defined below)
involving the Company's securities during the 30 days prior to the date of this
Agreement, and no open position or Short Sale exists on the date hereof in the
name or on behalf of, or in conjunction with, such Buyer. For purposes of this
Section, "Short Sales" include, without limitation, all types of direct and
indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, short
sales, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and
sales and other transactions through non-US broker dealers or foreign regulated
brokers having the effect of hedging the securities or investment made under
this Agreement.

                  2.7.     Transfer or Resale. Such Buyer understands that: (i)
the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state
securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, transferred, pledged or
otherwise assigned unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder, or (B) such
Buyer shall have delivered to the Company, at the expense of such Buyer or its
transferee, an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the
effect that such Securities to be sold, transferred, pledged or otherwise
assigned may be sold, transferred, pledged or otherwise assigned pursuant to an
exemption from such registration, and (ii) any sale of the Securities made in
reliance on Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor rule
thereto ("Rule 144") may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144
and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under
circumstances in which the seller (or the person through whom the sale is made)
may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the Securities
Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the Securities Act
or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

                  2.8.     Legends. Such Buyer understands that the certificates
or other instruments representing the Warrants shall and, until such time as the
resale of the Shares and the Warrant Shares (as the case may be) have been
registered under the Securities Act, the Shares and the Warrant Shares shall,
bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a
stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such certificates or
instruments):

         THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
         UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "ACT") OR APPLICABLE STATE
         SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT
         PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED,
         PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
         REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE ACT

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

         OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
         REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT
         REQUIRED UNDER THE ACT OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE
         SECURITIES [AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THESE
         SECURITIES] MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN
         ACCOUNT.

                  2.9.     Validity; Enforcement. Such Buyer has the requisite
right, power, authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and,
assuming due execution and delivery hereof by the Company, is a valid and
binding agreement of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance
with its terms, subject as to enforceability to general principles of equity and
to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable
creditors' rights and remedies.

                  2.10.    Residency. Such Buyer is a resident of that state and
country specified in its address on the Schedule of Buyers.

                  2.11.    Legal, Tax or Investment Advice. Such Buyer
understands that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented to
such Buyer in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities
constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. Such Buyer has consulted such
legal, tax and investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed
necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of Securities.

                  2.12.    Such Buyer is not a registered broker dealer.

3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

         The Company represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that:

                  3.1.     Good Standing; Qualification. The Company is duly
organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of
California. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act) has full power and authority to own, operate and
occupy its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as
described in the documents filed by the Company under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), since September 30, 2002 through the date
hereof, including, without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended September 30, 2002, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three
months ended December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2003, and Proxy Statement on
Schedule 14-A for the 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Exchange Act
Documents") and is registered or qualified to do business and in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the
location of the properties owned or leased by it requires such qualification and
where the failure to be so qualified would have a material adverse effect upon
the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or business prospects
(such business prospects being as described in the Exchange Act Documents and in
any press release issued by the Company since March 31, 2003 (collectively, the
"Press Releases")), properties or operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

enterprise, or impair the Company's ability to perform on a timely basis its
obligations under this Agreement or the Warrants (any of the foregoing, a
"Material Adverse Effect"), and no proceeding has been instituted in any such
jurisdiction, revoking, limiting or curtailing, or seeking to revoke, limit or
curtail, such power and authority or qualification.

                  3.2.     Due Authorization and Valid Issuance. (a) The Company
has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations hereunder, and this Agreement has been duly authorized and validly
executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due execution and delivery
hereof by the Buyers, constitute legal, valid and binding agreements of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except
as rights to indemnity and contribution may be limited by state or federal
securities laws or the public policy underlying such laws, except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' and contracting
parties' rights generally and except as enforceability may be subject to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law), and (b) the Shares and Warrant Shares being
purchased by the Buyer hereunder will, upon issuance and payment therefor
pursuant to the terms hereof, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully-paid and
nonassessable.

                  3.3.     Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Securities, the fulfillment of the terms
of this Agreement and the Warrants and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will not (A) conflict with or constitute a
violation of, or default (with the passage of time or otherwise) under, (i) any
contract, agreement or other instrument filed or incorporated by reference as an
exhibit to any of the Exchange Act Documents (any such contract, agreement or
instrument, an "Exchange Act Exhibit"), (ii) the charter, by-laws or other
organizational documents of the Company or any subsidiary, or (iii) assuming the
correctness of the representations and warranties of the Buyers set forth
herein, any law, administrative regulation, ordinance or order of any court or
governmental agency, arbitration panel or authority applicable to the Company or
any subsidiary or their respective properties, except in the case of clauses (i)
and (iii) for any such conflicts, violations or defaults which do not have or
would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (B) result
in the creation or imposition of any lien, encumbrance, claim, security interest
or restriction whatsoever upon any of the material properties or assets of the
Company or any subsidiary or an acceleration of indebtedness pursuant to any
obligation, agreement or condition contained in any Exchange Act Exhibit.
Assuming the correctness of the representations and warranties of the Buyers set
forth herein, no consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration, qualification or filing with, any regulatory body, administrative
agency, or other governmental body in the United States or any other person is
required for the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the valid issuance
and sale of the Securities to be sold hereunder, other than such as have been
made or obtained, and except for any post-closing securities filings or
notifications required to be made under federal or state securities laws.

                  3.4.     Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company as
of March 31, 2003 is as set forth in the most recent applicable Exchange Act
Documents, increased as set forth in the next sentence. The Company has not
issued any capital stock since that date other than pursuant to (i) employee
benefit plans disclosed in the Exchange Act Documents, or (ii)

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

outstanding warrants, options or other securities disclosed in the Exchange Act
Documents. The Shares and Warrant Shares to be sold pursuant to this Agreement
and the Warrant have been duly authorized, and when issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Warrant will be duly and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state
securities laws, and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights or
similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. Except as set forth in
the Exchange Act Documents, there are no outstanding rights (including, without
limitation, preemptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments
convertible into or exchangeable for, any unissued shares of capital stock or
other equity interest in the Company or any subsidiary, or any contract,
commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind to which the
Company is a party and relating to the issuance or sale of any capital stock of
the Company or any subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities
or any such rights, warrants or options. Without limiting the foregoing, no
preemptive right, co-sale right, right of first refusal, registration right, or
other similar right exists with respect to the Securities or the issuance and
sale thereof. No further approval or authorization of any shareholder, the Board
of Directors of the Company or others is required for the issuance and sale of
the Securities. The Company owns the entire equity interest in each of its
subsidiaries, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest,
encumbrance, claim or equitable interest, other than as described in the
Exchange Act Documents. Except as disclosed in the Exchange Act Documents, there
are no shareholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements
with respect to the voting of the Shares to which the Company is a party or, to
the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company's
shareholders.

                  3.5.     Legal Proceedings. There is no material legal or
governmental proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
to which the Company or any subsidiary is or may be a party or of which the
business or property of the Company or any subsidiary is subject that is not
disclosed in the Exchange Act Documents or in any of the Press Releases.

                  3.6.     No Violations. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary
is in violation of its charter, bylaws, or other organizational document, or in
violation of any law, administrative regulation, ordinance or order of any court
or governmental agency, arbitration panel or authority applicable to the Company
or any subsidiary, which violation, individually or in the aggregate, would be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, or is in default (and there
exists no condition which, with the passage of time or otherwise, would
constitute a default) in any material respect in the performance of Exchange Act
Exhibit, which would have or reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.

                  3.7.     Governmental Permits, Etc. Each of the Company and
its subsidiaries has all necessary franchises, licenses, certificates and other
authorizations from any foreign, federal, state or local government or
governmental agency, department, or body that are currently necessary for the
operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently
conducted and as described in the Exchange Act Documents except where the
failure to currently possess could not have or reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

                  3.8.     Intellectual Property. Except as specifically
disclosed in the Exchange Act Documents, (i) each of the Company and its
subsidiaries owns or possesses sufficient rights to use all patents, patent
rights, trademarks, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, trade names
and know-how (collectively, "Intellectual Property") described or referred to in
the Exchange Act Documents as owned or possessed by it or that are necessary for
the conduct of its business as described in the Exchange Act Documents, except
where the failure to currently own or possess would not have or reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) to the knowledge of the
Company, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is infringing any
rights of a third party with respect to any Intellectual Property, (iii) neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of, or has any
knowledge of, any asserted infringement by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of, any rights of a third party with respect to any Intellectual
Property that would, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect if determined adversely to the
Company and (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received
any notice of, or has any knowledge of, infringement by a third party with
respect to any Intellectual Property rights of the Company or of any subsidiary
that, individually or in the aggregate, would have or reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  3.9.     Financial Statements. The financial statements of the
Company and the related notes contained in the Exchange Act Documents present
fairly, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the
financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates
indicated, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods
therein specified consistent with the books and records of the Company and its
subsidiaries, except that the unaudited interim financial statements were or are
subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments which are not expected to
be material in amount. Such financial statements (including the related notes)
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods therein specified, except
as may be disclosed in the notes to such financial statements, or in the case of
unaudited statements, as may be permitted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act and except as
disclosed in the Exchange Act Documents.

                  3.10.    No Material Adverse Change. Except as disclosed in
the Exchange Act Documents and the Press Releases, since March 31, 2003, there
has not been (i) any material adverse change in the financial condition or
earnings of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (ii)
any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, incurred by the Company, except
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (iv) any loss or damage (whether or not
insured) to the physical property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
which has been sustained which has had or reasonably would be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that changes in the ordinary
course of business, including but not limited to the use of cash and increases
in liabilities in the ordinary course of business, shall not be deemed to be a
material adverse change or to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

                  3.11.    Disclosure. The representations and warranties of the
Company contained in this Section 3 as of the date hereof and as of the Closing
Date, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement, which shall be publicly disclosed by
the Company pursuant to Section 8.9 hereof, the Company confirms that neither it
nor any person acting on its behalf has provided any Buyer with any information
that the Company believes constitutes material non-public information unless
such Buyer has executed and delivered to the Company a written agreement
regarding confidentiality and the use of such information. The Company
understands and confirms that the Buyers will rely on the foregoing
representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.

                  3.12.    Securities Exchange Compliance. The Company's Class A
Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is
listed on The American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX"), and the Company has taken no
action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the
registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act or de-listing the Shares from
the AMEX, nor has the Company received any notification that the SEC or the AMEX
is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.

                  3.13.    Reporting Status. The Company has filed in a timely
manner all documents that the Company was required to file under the Exchange
Act during the 12 months preceding the date of this Agreement. All such filings
complied in all material respects with the SEC's requirements as of their
respective filing dates, and the information contained therein as of the date
thereof did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not
misleading.

                  3.14.    Listing. The Company shall comply with all
requirements of the AMEX with respect to the issuance of the Shares and the
Warrant Shares and the listing thereof on the AMEX. The Company has not, in the
two years preceding the date hereof, received notice (written or oral) from the
AMEX to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or
maintenance requirements thereof. The Company is in compliance with the listing
and maintenance requirements for continued listing of the Common Stock on the
AMEX. The issuance and sale of the Securities hereunder does not contravene the
rules and regulations of the AMEX and no approval of the shareholders of the
Company is required for the Company to issue and deliver to the Buyers the
maximum number of Securities contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant.

                  3.15.    No Manipulation of Stock. The Company has not taken
and will not, in violation of applicable law, take, any action designed to or
that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Shares to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Shares.

                  3.16.    Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company, nor
to the knowledge of the Company, any agent or other person acting on behalf of
the Company, has (i) directly or

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

indirectly, used any corrupt funds for unlawful contributions, gifts,
entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic
political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic
government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political
parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any
contribution made by the Company (or made by any person acting on its behalf of
which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in
any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977,
as amended.

                  3.17.    Accountants. To the Company's knowledge, Deloitte &
Touche LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial
statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 2002 and who the Company expects will consent to the
incorporation by reference of their opinion in the Registration Statement, as
defined herein, and the prospectus which forms a part thereof, are independent
accountants as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

                  3.18.    Contracts. The contracts described in the Exchange
Act Documents are in full force and effect on the date hereof, and neither the
Company nor, to the Company's knowledge, any other party to such contracts is in
breach of or default under any of such contracts which would have or reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                  3.19.    Taxes. The Company has filed all necessary federal,
state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid or accrued all
taxes shown as due thereon, and the Company has no knowledge of a tax deficiency
which has been or might be asserted or threatened against it.

                  3.20.    Transfer Taxes. On the Closing Date, all stock
transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes) which are required to be paid
in connection with the sale and transfer of the Shares to be sold to the Buyers
hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company
and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been fully complied with.

                  3.21.    Private Offering; Certain Registration Matters.
Assuming the correctness of the representations and warranties of the Buyers set
forth in Section 2 hereof, the offer and sale of Securities hereunder is and
will be exempt from registration under the Securities Act. The Company is
eligible to register the resale of its Common Stock for resale by the Buyers
under Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities Act. Except as disclosed in the
Exchange Act Documents, the Company has not granted or agreed to grant to any
person any rights (including "piggy-back" registration rights) to have any
securities of the Company registered with the SEC or any other governmental
authority that have not been satisfied or expired.

                  3.22.    Disclosure Controls and Procedures; Internal
Controls. The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the Company and designed
such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information
relating to the Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to the
certifying officers by others within those entities, particularly during the
period in which the

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as the case may be, is being prepared. The Company's
certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure
controls and procedures as of a date within ninety (90) days prior to the filing
date of the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 (such date, the
"Evaluation Date"). The Company presented in the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2003 the conclusions of the certifying officers about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their
evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have
been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls (as such term is
used in Item 307(b) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) or, to the
Company's knowledge, in other factors that could significantly affect the
Company's internal controls.

                  3.23.    Transactions With Affiliates. Except as disclosed in
the Exchange Act Documents, none of the officers or directors of the Company is
presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any subsidiary (other
than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract,
agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or
by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise
requiring payments to or from any officer or director or, to the knowledge of
the Company, any entity in which any officer or director has a substantial
interest or is an officer, director, trustee or partner.

                  3.24.    No Additional Agreements. The Company does not have
any agreement or understanding with any Buyer with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement other than as specified in this Agreement.

                  3.25.    Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an
Affiliate of, an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                  3.26.    Compliance. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary
(i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has
not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a
default by the Company or any subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any
subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is
in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement
or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is
bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in
violation of any order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body, or (iii)
is or has been in violation of any statute, rule or regulation of any
governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state
and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health
and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except
in each case as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

4.       COVENANTS.

                  4.1.     Commercially Reasonable Efforts. Each party shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to timely satisfy each of the conditions to be
satisfied by it as provided in Sections 5 and 6 of this Agreement.

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

                  4.2.     Blue Sky. The Company shall, on or before the Closing
Date, take such action to obtain an exemption for or to qualify the Securities
for sale to the Buyers at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement under
applicable securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the states of the United States. The
Company shall make all filings and reports relating the offer and sale of the
Securities required under applicable securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the states
of the United States following the Closing Date.

                  4.3.     Reporting Status. Until the earlier of (i) the date
as of which the Buyers may sell all of the Shares and the Warrant Shares without
restriction (including, without limitation, as to volume, but by complying with
the manner of sale and Form 144 filing requirements, if applicable) within a
three-month period pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, or
(ii) the date on which the Buyers shall have sold all the Shares and the Warrant
Shares (the "Registration Period"), the Company shall file all reports required
to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, and the Company shall not
terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act
even if the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would otherwise
permit such termination. Until such time as the Buyers may sell the Shares and
Warrant Shares pursuant to Rule 144(k), if the Company is not required to file
reports pursuant to the 1934 Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Buyers and
make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c)(2) such information as is
required for the Buyers to sell the Shares and Warrant Shares under Rule 144.

                  4.4.     Reservation of Shares. The Company shall take all
action necessary to, at all times, have authorized and reserved for issuance
that number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all
outstanding Warrants.

                  4.5.     Non-Public Information. The Company covenants and
agrees that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf will provide
any Buyer or its agents or counsel with any information that the Company
believes constitutes material non-public information, unless prior thereto such
Buyer shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and
use of such information. The Company understands and confirms that each Buyer
shall be relying on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in
securities of the Company.

                  4.6.     Listing. After the Closing Date, but before the
Registration Statement is declared effective, the Company shall promptly secure
the listing of the Shares and the Warrant Shares on the AMEX and shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Company's Class A
Common Stock on the AMEX or other national securities exchange or quotation
service (each, a "National Market").

                  4.7.     Expenses. Subject to Section 8.11 below, at the
Closing, the Company shall reimburse the lead Buyer $20,000 for legal fees and
expenses incurred by Bryan Cave LLP on its behalf in negotiating and preparing
this Agreement and consummating the transactions contemplated thereby.

                  4.8.     Restriction on Sales, Short Sales and Hedging
Transactions. The Buyers will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, pledge,
transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase or
otherwise acquire or take a pledge of) any of the Shares or the Warrant

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

Shares, or sell short or enter into any hedging transaction with respect to the
Shares or Warrant Shares except in compliance with the Securities Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, applicable state securities laws
and the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  4.9.     Limitation on Issuances of Securities. During the
period which is the longer of (i) 90 days after the Closing Date or (ii) 60 days
after the Registration Statement is declared effective, the Company shall not
issue any Common Stock or rights, warrants, options or other securities or debt
instruments that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of Common
Stock or any other securities without the prior written consent of 66 2/3% in
interest of the Buyers' or except pursuant to employee benefit or stock option
or incentive plans and other outstanding securities disclosed in the Exchange
Act Documents. During the six months following the Closing Date, the Company
shall not issue any "Future Priced Securities" as such term is described by NASD
IM-4350-1.

                  4.10.    Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. Prior to 8:30
a.m. (New York time) on the Closing Date, the Company shall issue a press
release reasonably acceptable to the Buyers disclosing the transactions
contemplated hereby and file a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing the
transactions contemplated hereby. In addition, the Company will make such other
filings and notices in the manner and time required by the SEC and the National
Market on which the Common Stock is listed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Buyer, or include the name
of any Buyer in any filing with the Commission (other than the Registration
Statement and any exhibits to filings made in respect of this transaction in
accordance with periodic filing requirements under the Exchange Act) or any
regulatory agency or National Market, without the prior written consent of such
Buyer, except to the extent such disclosure is required by law or National
Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide the Buyers with
prior notice of such disclosure.

5.       CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO SELL.

         The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Shares to
each Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the
Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these
conditions are for the Company's sole benefit and may be waived by the Company
at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with prior written
notice thereof:

                  5.1.     Such Buyer shall have executed this Agreement and the
Investor Questionnaire, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, and delivered
the same to the Company.

                  5.2.     Such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company the
Purchase Price for the Shares and the related Warrants being purchased by such
Buyer at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to
the wire instructions provided by the Company.

                  5.3.     The representations and warranties of such Buyer
shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent that
any of such representations and warranties is already qualified as to
materiality in Section 2 above, in which case, such representations and

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

warranties shall be true and correct without further qualification) as of the
date when made and as of the Closing Date, as though made at that time (except
for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date), and such
Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with
the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be
performed, satisfied or complied with by such Buyer at or prior to the Closing
Date.

6.       CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER'S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.

         The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase the Shares at the
Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date of each of
the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer's
sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion
by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:

                  6.1.     The Company shall have executed this Agreement and
delivered same to such Buyer.

                  6.2.     The SEC or the AMEX shall not have suspended trading
in the Company's Class A Common Stock.

                  6.3.     The representations and warranties of the Company
shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent that
any of such representations and warranties is already qualified as to
materiality in Section 3 above, in which case, such representations and
warranties shall be true and correct without further qualification) as of the
date when made and as of the Closing Date as though made at that time (except
for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date) and the
Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects
with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be
performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing
Date. Such Buyer shall have received a certificate, executed by the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date to the foregoing
effect.

                  6.4.     Such Buyer shall have received the opinion of the
Company's counsel, dated as of the Closing Date, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C.

                  6.5.     The Company shall have executed and delivered to such
Buyer the Warrants and the Stock Certificates (in such denominations as such
Buyer shall request) for the Shares and Warrants being purchased by such Buyer
at the Closing.

                  6.6.     The Company shall have reserved out of its authorized
and unissued Class A Common Stock a sufficient number of shares for the purpose
of effecting the exercise of the Warrants.

                  6.7.     The Company shall have made all filings under all
applicable federal and state securities laws necessary, if any, to consummate
the issuance of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement in compliance with
such laws.

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

                  6.8.     The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer such
other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as
such Buyer or its counsel shall reasonably request (including, without
limitations, signature pages to this Agreement indicating that the aggregate
purchase price payable to the Company hereunder on the Closing Date is not less
than $10,000,000).

7.       REGISTRATION OF THE SHARES; COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

                  7.1.     Registration Procedures and Other Matters.

                           (a)      The Company shall:

                                    (i)      as soon as possible but in any
                  event not later than the 30th day after the Closing Date (or,
                  if such day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, then by the next
                  succeeding business day), file a registration statement on
                  Form S-3 to enable the resale of the Shares and the Warrant
                  Shares by the Buyers from time to time (the "Registration
                  Statement") through the AMEX or in privately-negotiated
                  transactions;

                                    (ii)     use commercially reasonable efforts
                  to cause a Registration Statement to be declared effective by
                  the SEC as soon as possible, but in any event not later than
                  the earlier of (a) the 90th day following the Closing Date,
                  and (b) the fifth trading day following the date on which the
                  Company is notified by the SEC that the Registration Statement
                  will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review
                  and comments;

                                    (iii)    use commercially reasonable efforts
                  to prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
                  supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus
                  used in connection therewith (the "Prospectus") as may be
                  necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously
                  current, effective and free from any material misstatement or
                  omission to state a material fact for a period not exceeding,
                  with respect to each Buyer's Shares and Warrant Shares
                  purchased hereunder from the date it is first declared
                  effective until, the earlier of (A) two years from the date of
                  the final exercise of all of the Warrants, (B) the date on
                  which the Buyer may sell all Shares and Warrant Shares then
                  held by the Buyer without restriction by the volume
                  limitations of Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act, or (iii) the
                  public sale of all of the Shares and the Warrant Shares (such
                  period, the "Effectiveness Period");

                                    (iv)     if (A) the Registration Statement
                  is not filed on or prior to the date of filing required
                  pursuant to Section 7.1(a), (B) the Registration Statement is
                  not declared effective on or prior to the date required by
                  Section 7.1(a)(ii), or (C) notwithstanding Section 7.2, after
                  the date first declared effective by the SEC and prior to the
                  expiration of the Effectiveness Period, the Registration
                  Statement ceases to be effective and available to each Buyer
                  as to its Shares and Warrant Shares (whether pursuant to
                  Section 7.2(c), or otherwise) without being succeeded within
                  twenty trading days by an effective amendment

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

                  thereto or by a subsequent registration statement filed with
                  and declared effective by the SEC, (any such failure being
                  referred to as an "EVENT" and the date of such failure being
                  the "EVENT DATE"), then, in addition to any other rights
                  available to the Holders under this Agreement or applicable
                  law: (x) on each such Event Date the Company shall pay to each
                  Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a
                  penalty, equal to one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate purchase
                  price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement;
                  and (y) on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date
                  thereof (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by
                  such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company
                  shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated
                  damages and not as a penalty, equal to one percent (1.0%) of
                  the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to
                  the Purchase Agreement. If the Company fails to pay any
                  liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within
                  seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay
                  interest thereon at a rate of 12% per annum (or such lesser
                  maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law)
                  to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such liquidated
                  damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest
                  thereon, are paid in full. The liquidated damages pursuant to
                  the terms hereof shall apply on a pro rata basis for any
                  portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event;

                                    (v)      furnish to the Buyer with respect
                  to the Shares and the Warrant Shares registered under the
                  Registration Statement such number of copies of the
                  Registration Statement, Prospectuses and Preliminary
                  Prospectuses in conformity with the requirements of the
                  Securities Act and such other documents as the Buyer may
                  reasonably request in writing, in order to facilitate the
                  public sale or other disposition of all or any of the Shares
                  or Warrant Shares by the Buyer; provided, however, that the
                  obligation of the Company to deliver copies of Prospectuses or
                  Preliminary Prospectuses to the Buyer shall be subject to the
                  receipt by the Company of reasonable assurances from the Buyer
                  that the Buyer will comply with the applicable provisions of
                  the Securities Act and of such other securities or blue sky
                  laws as may be applicable in connection with any use of such
                  Prospectuses or Preliminary Prospectuses;

                                    (vi)     file documents required of the
                  Company for blue sky clearance in states specified in writing
                  by the Buyer and use its commercially reasonable efforts to
                  maintain such blue sky qualifications during the period the
                  Company is required to maintain the effectiveness of the
                  Registration Statement pursuant to Section 7.1(c); provided,
                  however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify to
                  do business or consent to service of process in any
                  jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or has not so
                  consented;

                                    (vii)    bear all expenses in connection
                  with the procedures in paragraph (a) through (e) of this
                  Section 7.1 (other than any underwriting discounts or
                  commissions, brokers' fees and similar selling expenses, and
                  any other fees or expenses incurred by the Buyer, including
                  attorneys' fees); and

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

                                    (viii)   advise the Buyer in writing
                  promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge of
                  the issuance of any stop order by the SEC delaying or
                  suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
                  of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for that
                  purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable
                  efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain
                  its withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop
                  order should be issued.

                           (b)      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
herein, the Registration Statement shall cover only the Shares and the Warrant
Shares. In no event at any time before the Registration Statement becomes
effective with respect to the Shares shall the Company publicly announce or file
any other registration statement, other than registrations on Form S-8, without
the prior written consent of 66 2/3% in interest of the Buyers.

                           (c)      The Registration Statement shall contain
(except if otherwise agreed by the Holders) the "Plan of Distribution" attached
hereto as Annex A.

                  7.2.     Transfer of Shares After Registration; Suspension.

                           (a)      The Buyer agrees that it will not effect any
disposition of the Securities or its right to purchase the Securities that would
constitute a "sale" within the meaning of the Securities Act, except as
contemplated in the Registration Statement referred to in Section 7.1 and as
described below or as otherwise permitted by law, and that it will promptly
notify the Company of any material changes in the information set forth in the
Registration Statement regarding the Buyer or its plan of distribution.

                           (b)      Except in the event that paragraph (c) below
applies, the Company shall (i) if deemed necessary by the Company, prepare and
file from time to time with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement
or amendment to any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other
required document so that such Registration Statement will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Shares and Warrant Shares
being sold thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; (ii) provide the Buyer copies of any
documents filed pursuant to Section 7.2(b)(i) as the Buyer may reasonably
request; and (iii) inform each Buyer that the Company has complied with its
obligations in Section 7.2(b)(i) (or that, if the Company has filed a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement which has not yet been
declared effective, the Company will notify the Buyer to that effect, will use
its commercially reasonable efforts to secure the effectiveness of such
post-effective amendment as promptly as possible and will promptly notify the
Buyer pursuant to Section 7.2(b)(i) hereof when the amendment has become
effective).

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

                           (c)      Subject to paragraph (d) below, in the event
of: (i) any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental
authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement for
amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or
for additional information; (ii) the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or
state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iii) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the
Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) any event or circumstance which, upon the
advice of its counsel, necessitates the making of any changes in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference, so that, in the case of the Registration
Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any
omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the
Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any
omission to state a 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; then the Company shall deliver a certificate in
writing to the Buyer (the "Suspension Notice") to the effect of the foregoing
and, upon receipt of such Suspension Notice, the Buyer will refrain from selling
any Shares and Warrant Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement (a
"Suspension") until the Buyer's receipt of copies of a supplemented or amended
Prospectus prepared and filed by the Company, or until it is advised in writing
by the Company that the current Prospectus may be used, and has received copies
of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed
incorporated by reference in any such Prospectus. In the event of any
Suspension, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the use of the Prospectus so suspended to be resumed as soon as reasonably
practicable within 20 trading days after the delivery of a Suspension Notice to
the Buyer.

                           (d)      Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs of
this Section 7.2, the Buyer shall not be prohibited from selling Shares under
the Registration Statement as a result of Suspensions on more than two occasions
of not more than 20 trading days each in any twelve month period.

                           (e)      Provided that a Suspension is not then in
effect, the Buyer may sell the Shares and the Warrant Shares under the
Registration Statement, provided that it arranges for delivery of a current
Prospectus to the transferee of such Shares or Warrant Shares, as applicable.
The Company shall provide such number of current Prospectuses to the Buyer as
the Buyer may reasonably request, and shall supply copies to any other parties
reasonably requiring such Prospectuses.

                  7.3.     Indemnification.

                           (a)      The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Selling Shareholder (defined below), the officers, directors,
agents, investment advisors and employees of each of them, each natural person,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity
(each, a "Person") who controls any such Selling Shareholder (within the

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law from and against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any such Person(s) may become
subject (under the Securities Act or otherwise) insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out
of, or are based upon (i) any Untrue Statement (defined below), or (ii) any
failure by the Company to fulfill any undertaking included in the Registration
Statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, which indemnification
will include reimbursement for any reasonable legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action,
proceeding or claim, or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or
claim, provided, however, that 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, an Untrue Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Selling
Shareholder specifically for use in preparation of the Registration Statement,
as amended or supplemented from time to time (including, without limitation,
information set forth in the Investor Questionnaire), or the failure of such
Selling Shareholder to comply with its covenants and agreements contained in
Section 7.2 hereof respecting sale of the Shares or Warrant Shares or any
statement or omission in any Prospectus that is corrected in any subsequent
Prospectus that was delivered to the Selling Shareholder prior to the pertinent
sale or sales by the Selling Shareholder. The Company shall reimburse each
Selling Shareholder for the indemnifiable amounts provided for herein on demand
as such expenses are incurred.

                           (b)      The Buyer agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company (and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, each officer of the Company who
signs the Registration Statement and each director of the Company) from and
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company (or any
such officer, director or controlling person) may become subject (under the
Securities Act or otherwise), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of, or are
based upon, (i) any Untrue Statement if such Untrue Statement was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on
behalf of the Buyer specifically for use in preparation of the Registration
Statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time (including, without
limitation, information set forth in the Investor Questionnaire), or (ii) the
failure of such Selling Shareholder to comply with its covenants and agreements
contained in Section 7.2 hereof respecting sale of the Shares or Warrant Shares
or any statement or omission in any Prospectus that is corrected in any
subsequent Prospectus that was delivered to the Selling Shareholder prior to the
pertinent sale or sales by the Selling Shareholder; and the Buyer will reimburse
the Company or such officer, director or controlling person, as the case may be,
for any reasonable legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating,
defending or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or claim. The Buyer
shall reimburse the Company or such officer, director or controlling person, as
the case may be, for the indemnifiable amounts provided for herein on demand as
such expenses are incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Buyer's aggregate
obligation to indemnify the Company and such officers, directors and controlling
persons shall be limited to the net amount received by the Buyer from the sale
of Shares or Warrant Shares that are the subject of such loss.

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

                           (c)      Promptly after receipt by any indemnified
person of a notice of a claim or the beginning of any action in respect of which
indemnity is to be sought against an indemnifying person pursuant to this
Section 7.3, such indemnified person shall notify the indemnifying person in
writing of such claim or of the commencement of such action, but the omission to
so notify the indemnifying person will not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified person under this Section 7.3 (except to the
extent that such omission materially and adversely affects the indemnifying
person's ability to defend such action) or from any liability otherwise than
under this Section 7.3. Subject to the provisions hereinafter stated, in case
any such action shall be brought against an indemnified person, the indemnifying
person shall be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it
shall elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified person promptly after
receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified person, shall be entitled
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified person. After notice from the indemnifying person to such
indemnified person of its election to assume the defense thereof, such
indemnifying person shall not be liable to such indemnified person for any legal
expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified person in connection with the
defense thereof, provided, however, that if there exists or shall exist a
conflict of interest that would make it inappropriate, in the opinion of counsel
to the indemnified person, for the same counsel to represent both the
indemnified person and such indemnifying person or any affiliate or associate
thereof, the indemnified person shall be entitled to retain its own counsel at
the expense of such indemnifying person; provided, however, that no indemnifying
person shall be responsible for the fees and expenses of more than one separate
counsel (together with appropriate local counsel) for all indemnified parties.
In no event shall any indemnifying person be liable in respect of any amounts
paid in settlement of any action unless the indemnifying person shall have
approved the terms of such settlement; provided that such consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed. No indemnifying person shall, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified person, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified person is
or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder
by such indemnified person, unless such settlement includes an unconditional
release of such indemnified person from all liability on claims that are the
subject matter of such proceeding.

                           (d)      If the indemnification provided for in this
Section 7.3 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
person under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred
to therein, then each indemnifying person shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified person as a result of such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the
Buyer, as well as any other Selling Shareholders under such Registration
Statement on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or other
matters which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, in the case of an Untrue Statement, whether the Untrue Statement
relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or an Buyer or
other Selling Shareholder on the other and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
Untrue Statement. The Company and the Buyer agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d)

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Buyer and other Selling
Shareholders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method
of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations
referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified person as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified person in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), the Buyer shall
not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
net amount received by the Buyer from any and all sales of the Securities to
which such loss relates exceeds the amount of any damages which such Buyer has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such Untrue Statement. 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. The Buyer's obligations in this
subsection to contribute shall be in proportion to its sale of Securities to
which such loss relates and shall not be joint with any other Selling
Shareholders.

                           (e)      The parties to this Agreement hereby
acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented by
counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 7.3, and are fully informed
regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this
Section 7.3 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to
investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure is made in the Registration Statement as required by the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act. The parties are advised that federal or state public
policy as interpreted by the courts in certain jurisdictions may be contrary to
certain of the provisions of this Section 7.3, and the parties hereto hereby
expressly waive and relinquish any right or ability to assert such public policy
as a defense to a claim under this Section 7.3 and further agree not to attempt
to assert any such defense.

                           (f)      For the purpose of this Section 7.3:

                                    (i)      the term "Selling Shareholder"
means the Buyer and any affiliate of such Buyer;

                                    (ii)     the term "Registration Statement"
shall include the Prospectus in the form first filed with the SEC pursuant to
Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or filed as part of the Registration Statement
at the time of effectiveness if no Rule 424(b) filing is required, and any
exhibit, supplement or amendment included in or relating to the Registration
Statement referred to in Section 7.1; and

                                    (iii)    the term "Untrue Statement" means
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or any omission or alleged
omission to state in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented from
time to time, a 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.

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

                  7.4.     Information Available. So long as the Registration
Statement is effective covering the resale of Shares and Warrant Shares owned by
the Buyer, the Company will, at Buyer's written request, furnish to the Buyer:

                           (a)      as soon as practicable after it is
available, one copy of (i) its Annual Report to Shareholders (which Annual
Report shall contain financial statements audited in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles by a national firm of certified public
accountants), (ii) its Annual Report on Form 10-K and (iii) its Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q (the foregoing, in each case, excluding exhibits);

                           (b)      any and all exhibits to the reports set
forth in Section 7.4(a) as filed with the SEC and all other information that is
made available to shareholders; and

                           (c)      an adequate number of copies of the
Prospectuses to supply to any other party requiring such Prospectuses.

8.       GOVERNING LAW; MISCELLANEOUS.

                  8.1.     Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably
waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any
suit, action or proceeding arising under or relating to this Agreement (a
"Proceeding") by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or
overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in
effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall
constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process
in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by
jury in any Proceeding. If either party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce
any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding
shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorney's fees and other costs
and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of
such Proceeding. Each party agrees that all Proceedings concerning the
interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective
affiliates, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and
federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan (the "New
York Courts"). Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute
hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby
or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in
any Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction
of any such New York Court, or that such Proceeding has been commenced in an
improper or inconvenient forum.

                  8.2.     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the
other parties; provided that a facsimile signature shall be considered due
execution and shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force
and effect as if the signature were an original, not a facsimile signature.

                  8.3.     Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for
convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the
interpretation of, this Agreement.

                  8.4.     Severability. If any provision of this Agreement
shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the
remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or
enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

                  8.5.     Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement
supersedes all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyers, the
Company, their affiliates and persons acting on their behalf with respect to the
matters discussed herein, and this Agreement and the instruments referenced
herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
matters covered herein. No provision of this Agreement may be amended other than
by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the holders of at least
66 2/3% of the Shares, and no provision hereof may be waived other than by an
instrument in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. No
such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all
of the holders of the Shares then outstanding.

                  8.6.     Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other
communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this
Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon
receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) when sent by facsimile (provided
confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and
kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with
a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly
addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers
for such communications shall be:

                  If to the Company:

                           Avanir Pharmaceuticals
                           11388 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite 200
                           San Diego, CA 92121
                           Attn: Chief Financial Officer
                           Telephone: (858) 622-5201
                           Facsimile: (858) 658-7455

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

                  With a copy to:

                           Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP
                           4350 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 700
                           San Diego, CA 92122
                           Attn: Alan Jacobs, Esq.
                           Telephone: (858) 450-8400
                           Facsimile: (858) 450-8499

                           If to a Buyer: at the address and facsimile number
                           set forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto,
                           with copies to such Buyer's representatives, if any,
                           specified on the Schedule of Buyers,

or at such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such
other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to
each other party in accordance with the above provisions five (5) days prior to
the effectiveness of such change.

                  8.7.     Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective
successors and assigns, including any purchasers of the Shares. A Buyer may not
assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior
written consent of the Company, except for assignments to affiliates of Buyer or
to other Buyers.

                  8.8.     No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is
intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted
successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision
hereof be enforced by, any other person.

                  8.9.     Publicity. The Company and each Buyer shall have the
right to approve before issuance any press releases or any other public
statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided,
however, that the Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of any
Buyer, to make any press release or other public disclosure with respect to such
transactions as is required by applicable law and regulations (although each
Buyer shall be consulted by the Company in connection with any such press
release or other public disclosure prior to its release and shall be provided
with a copy thereof).

                  8.10.    Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform,
or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall
execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and
documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the
intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

                  8.11.    Termination. In the event that the Closing shall not
have occurred with respect to a Buyer on or before five (5) business days from
the date hereof due to the Company's or such Buyer's failure to satisfy the
conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above (and the non-breaching party's
failure to waive such unsatisfied condition(s)), the non-breaching party shall
have the option to terminate this Agreement with respect to such breaching party
at the close of business on such date without liability of any party to any
other party; provided, however, that if

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

this Agreement is terminated by the Buyer pursuant to this Section 8.11, the
Company shall remain obligated to reimburse the non-breaching Buyers for the
expenses described in Section 4.6 above.

                  8.12.    Placement Agent. The Company acknowledges that it has
engaged ThinkEquity Partners LLC as placement agent in connection with the sale
of the Securities, which placement agent may have formally or informally engaged
other agents on its behalf. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of
any placement agent's fees or broker's commissions relating to or arising out of
the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer
harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' fees and out-of-pocket expenses) in connection with any
such claim.

                  8.13.    Remedies. Each Buyer and each holder of the
Securities shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and
all of the rights that such holders have under any law. Any person having any
rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such
rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover
damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to
exercise all other rights granted by law.

                  8.14.    Obligations of Buyers Several and Not Joint. The
obligations of each Buyer hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Buyer, and no Buyer shall be responsible in any way for
the performance of the obligations of any other Buyer under any Agreement.
Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Buyer hereto, shall be
deemed to constitute the Buyers as a partnership, an association, a joint
venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Buyers are
in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or
the transactions contemplated hereby, provided that such obligations or the
transactions contemplated hereby may be modified, amended or waived in
accordance with Section 8.5 of this Agreement. Each Buyer shall be entitled to
independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the
rights arising out of this Agreement (provided, that such rights may be
modified, amended or waived in accordance with Section 8.5), and it shall not be
necessary for any other Buyer to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.

                                      * * *

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyers and the Company have caused this
Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed on the date first written
above.

                                                COMPANY:

                                                AVANIR PHARMACEUTICALS

                                                By: /s/ Gerald J. Yakatan
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                    Gerald J. Yakatan, Ph.D.
                                                    Chief Executive Officer

THE BUYER'S SIGNATURE TO THE INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE DATED OF EVEN DATE HEREWITH
SHALL CONSTITUTE THE BUYER'S SIGNATURE TO THIS SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT.

                                      -25-