<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

            [X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                      For the Year Ended December 31, 2000
                                       OR

          ( ) Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File Number 000-23019

                            KENDLE INTERNATIONAL INC.

Ohio                                                           IRS Employer ID
(State or other jurisdiction                                   No. 31-1274091
of incorporation or organization)

                                1200 Carew Tower
                                 441 Vine Street
                             Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                  513-381-5550

           Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                      None

           Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                           Common Stock, No Par Value

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  X  No
                                       ---    ---

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]

As of February 28, 2001 the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
non-affiliates was $120,754,422 (based on the closing price of the Company's
Common Stock on The Nasdaq National Market on February 28, 2001 of $13.44).

As of February 28, 2001, 12,168,457 shares of no par value Common Stock were
issued and outstanding.

                       Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of the Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended
December 31, 2000 furnished to the Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-3(c) and
portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission for
its 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Parts
I, II, III, and IV as specified.

See Exhibit Index on page 10.

                                 13 Total Pages


<PAGE>   2



                            KENDLE INTERNATIONAL INC.
                             INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT
                                  ON FORM 10-K

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                 <C>
Part I                                                                                              Page

         Item 1 - Business.............................................................................3
         Item 2 - Properties...........................................................................5
         Item 3 - Legal Proceedings....................................................................5
         Item 4 - Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders..................................5


Part II

         Item 5 - Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
                       Shareholder Matters.............................................................6
         Item 6 - Selected Financial Data..............................................................7
         Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                       Condition and Results of Operations.............................................7
         Item 7A - Quantitative and Qualitative Information about Market Risk..........................7
         Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data..........................................7
         Item 9 - Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
                       and Financial Disclosure........................................................8


Part III

         Item 10 - Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant..................................8
         Item 11 - Executive Compensation..............................................................9
         Item 12 - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management......................9
         Item 13 - Certain Relationships and Related Transactions......................................9


Part IV

         Item 14 - Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports
                         on Form 8-K...................................................................9
</TABLE>

                                       2

<PAGE>   3



                                     PART I

                                     ITEM 1.

                                    BUSINESS
                                    --------

         Kendle International Inc., an Ohio corporation established in 1989,
(the "Company"), is a contract research organization (CRO) that provides a broad
range of Phase I through IV clinical research and drug development services to
the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The Company augments the
research and development activities of pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies by offering high quality, value added clinical research services and
proprietary information technology designed to reduce drug development time and
expense. The Company is organized into two segments for financial reporting
purposes. The contract research services group conducts clinical trial
management, clinical data management, statistical analysis, medical writing, and
regulatory consulting and representation. The medical communications group,
Health Care Communications Inc. (HCC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company,
provides organizational, meeting management, and publication services to
professional associations and pharmaceutical companies.

         The Company believes that the outsourcing of drug development
activities by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies has been increasing and
will continue to increase as these companies strive to increase revenues through
faster drug development while also dealing with cost containment pressures. The
CRO industry, by specializing in clinical trial management, is often able to
perform the needed services with a higher level of expertise or specialization,
more quickly and at a lower cost than a customer could perform the services
internally.

         The Company's strategy is to continue to enhance its reputation as a
high-quality provider of a full range of CRO services. The Company's strategy
consists of the following key elements: (i) continue to expand its broad range
of therapeutic expertise; (ii) offer its customers a full range of services that
encompass the clinical research process and complement the research and
development departments of its customers; (iii) expedite the drug development
process through innovative information technology offered via the Company's
proprietary TrialWare(R) software including TrialWeb(TM), its clinical trial
information web service; (iv) continue to build a brand presence that portrays
high-quality work; and (v) supplement internal growth through strategic
acquisitions that expand the Company's geographic presence and add to the
Company's clinical development capabilities in existing or new therapeutic areas
or service offerings.

         In February 2001, the Company acquired AAC Consulting Group, Inc., a
regulatory consulting firm located in Rockville, Maryland. Total acquisition
costs consisted of approximately $10.7 million in cash and approximately 375,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock.

         In April 2000, the Company acquired SYNERmedica Pty Ltd., a contract
research organization with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. Total
acquisition costs consisted of approximately $2.2 million in cash and 78,500
shares of the Company's Common Stock.

         In August 1999, the Company acquired Specialist Monitoring Services
Limited (SMS), a U.K based CRO, for approximately $7.5 million in cash and
141,680 shares of the Company's Common Stock.

         In July 1999, the Company acquired Health Care Communications Inc.
(HCC), a New Jersey-based medical communications company, and HCC Health Care
Communications (1991), a Toronto-based CRO, for approximately $5.7 million in
cash and 174,559 shares of the Company's Common Stock. The purchase price of HCC
may be increased dependent upon the achievement of certain operating results
from acquisition date

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

through December 31, 2001. For the period from acquisition date through December
31, 1999 HCC reached its operating target, and in April, 2000 the Company paid
$2.7 million in cash and issued 124,473 shares of the Company's Common Stock to
the former shareholders of HCC. For the year 2000, HCC reached its operating
target, and approximately $3.0 million in cash and Common Stock will be paid to
the former shareholders of HCC. The purchase price has been increased by $6.7
million as a result of the 1999 and 2000 additional consideration.

         In June 1999, the Company acquired ESCLI S.A., a CRO located in Paris,
France, for approximately $2.7 million in cash.

         In January 1999, the Company acquired Research Consultants
(International) Holdings Limited ("IRC"), a U.K. based regulatory affairs
company for approximately $4.4 million in cash and 87,558 shares of the
Company's Common Stock.

         In January 1999, the Company also acquired a minority interest in
Digineer, Inc. ("Digineer", formerly Component Software International, Inc.), an
Internet healthcare consulting and software development company for
approximately $1.6 million in cash and 19,995 shares of the Company's Common
Stock. Additionally, the Company entered into a Multi-Year Strategic Service
Agreement with Digineer whereby the Company could pay Digineer $7.0 million over
a four year period in exchange for strategic software consulting and development
services. During the first two years of the agreement, the Company was required
to pay $3.5 million. The Company reached this minimum fee obligation for the
first two years, and in October 2000, the Company exercised its right to
terminate the Multi-Year Strategic Service Agreement. No further payments are
due under the Agreement.

         Revenues from the top five customers accounted for approximately 48% of
the Company's total net revenues for the year 2000. The Company's net revenues
from Pharmacia Corporation and Pfizer Inc. accounted for approximately 15% and
13%, respectively, of the Company's net revenues for the year 2000.

         Segment and geographic information of the Company is contained in Note
17 to the consolidated financial statements on page 26 of the financial results
section of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for 2000, and is
incorporated herein by reference.

Backlog
-------

         Backlog is based on signed contracts and letters of intent. Backlog at
December 31, 2000 was approximately $148 million compared to approximately $128
million at December 31, 1999. Total backlog plus verbally awarded business at
December 31, 2000 was approximately $170 million compared to approximately $147
million at December 31, 1999. No assurance can be given that the Company will be
able to realize the net revenues that are included in the backlog and verbal
awards. Backlog and verbal awards are not necessarily meaningful indicators of
future results for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, the
following: (i) contracts vary in size and duration, with revenue from some
studies realized over a number of years; (ii) the scope of contracts may change,
either increasing or decreasing the value of the contract; and (iii) studies may
be terminated or delayed by the sponsor or by regulatory authorities.

Competition
-----------

         The Company competes primarily against in-house research and
development departments of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies,
universities, teaching hospitals and other full-service CROs, some which possess
substantially greater capital, technical and other resources than the Company.
CROs generally compete on the basis of previous experience, medical and
scientific expertise in specific therapeutic

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

areas, the quality of services provided, the ability to manage large-scale
trials on a global basis, medical database management capabilities, the ability
to provide statistical and regulatory services, the ability to recruit
investigators, the ability to recruit patients into studies, the ability to
integrate information technology with systems to improve the efficiency of
contract research, an international presence with strategically located
facilities, financial viability and price.

         The CRO industry is highly fragmented with several hundred CROs ranging
from small, limited-service providers to full-service, global drug development
corporations. The Company competes with the following CROs, among others:
ClinTrials Research Inc., Covance, Inc., PAREXEL International Corporation,
Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc. and Quintiles Transnational
Corporation.


Employees
---------

         As of February 28, 2001, the Company had approximately 1,500 employees.
None of the Company's employees are covered by a collective bargaining
agreement.

                                     ITEM 2.

                                   PROPERTIES
                                   ----------

         The Company leases all of its facilities with the exception of the
Company-owned facility in Ely, United Kingdom. The Company's principal executive
offices are located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where it leases approximately 118,000
square feet under a lease expiring in 2006. The Company also maintains offices
in various other U.S. locations and in Europe and the Pacific Rim.

         Management believes that such offices are sufficient to meet its
present needs and does not anticipate any difficulty in securing additional
space, as needed, on terms acceptable to the Company.

                                     ITEM 3.

                                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
                                -----------------

         The Company currently is not involved in any material litigation, nor,
to the Company's knowledge, is any material litigation currently threatened
against the Company.

                                     ITEM 4.

               SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
               ---------------------------------------------------

         No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the
fourth quarter of 2000.

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                                     PART II

                                     ITEM 5.

                         MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON
                     EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
                     --------------------------------------

         "Quarterly Financial Data" on page 2 of the financial results section
of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for 2000 is incorporated herein
by reference. As of March 5, 2001, there were approximately 3,694 beneficial
shareholders. The Company has not paid dividends on its Common Stock since its
initial public offering in August 1997. The Company does not currently intend to
pay dividends in the foreseeable future, but intends instead to reinvest
earnings in its business.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
---------------------------------------

         In April 2000, the Shareholders of Synermedica received a total of
78,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock. At February 28, 2001, the shares
remained in a general escrow established as of the acquisition date to provide
indemnification for any breach of the sellers' representations and warranties.

         In April 2000, the Shareholders of HCC received a total of 124,473
shares of the Company's Common Stock related to a contingency from a prior
acquisition.

         During the time period from April 1, 1998 to January 2, 2001, Philip E.
Beekman, Dr. Charles A. Sanders, M.D., Robert R. Buck, directors of Kendle, and
Mary Beth Price, a former director of Kendle, received a total of 6,148 shares
of the Company's Common Stock pursuant to the table below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PHILIP E. BEEKMAN                                                      CHARLES A. SANDERS
-----------------                                                      ------------------
<S>                                                                    <C>
April 1, 1998 - 81 Shares                                              April 1, 1998 - 81 Shares
July 1, 1998 - 58 Shares                                               July 1, 1998 - 58 Shares
October 1, 1998 - 33 Shares                                            October 1, 1998 - 33 Shares
January 1, 1999 - 68 Shares                                            January 1, 1999 - 68 Shares
April 2, 1999 - 75 Shares                                              April 2, 1999 - 137 Shares
July 2, 1999 - 122 Shares                                              July 2, 1999 - 122 Shares
October 2, 1999 - 181 Shares                                           October 2, 1999 - 121 Shares
January 2, 2000 - 153 Shares                                           January 2, 2000 - 77 shares
April 3, 2000 - 99 Shares                                              April 3, 2000 - 99 Shares
July 2, 2000 - 136 Shares                                              July 2, 2000 - 136 Shares
October 2, 2000 - 521 Shares                                           October 2, 2000 - 521 Shares
January 2, 2001 - 454 Shares                                           January 2, 2001 - 454 Shares

ROBERT BUCK                                                            MARY BETH PRICE
-----------                                                            ---------------

April 2, 1999 - 112 Shares                                             April 2, 1999 - 100 Shares
July 2, 1999 - 122 Shares                                              July 2, 1999 - 92 Shares
October 2, 1999 - 181 Shares                                           October 2, 1999 - 241 Shares
April 3, 2000 - 74 Shares                                              January 2, 2000 - 153 Shares
July 2, 2000 - 136 Shares                                              April 3, 2000 - 74 Shares
October 2, 2000 - 521 Shares
January 2, 2001 - 454 Shares
</TABLE>

                                       6

<PAGE>   7

         Mr. Beekman, Dr. Sanders, Mr. Buck, and Ms. Price received these
securities in exchange for their services as directors of the Company pursuant
to the 1997 Directors' Compensation Plan.

         These issuances were exempt from registration under the Securities Act
of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) as transactions by an issuer not involving any
public offering.

                                     ITEM 6.

                             SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
                             -----------------------

         "Selected Financial Data" on page 1 of the financial results section of
the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for 2000 is incorporated herein by
reference.

                                     ITEM 7.

                MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                       CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                       -----------------------------------

         "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" begins on page 3 of the financial results section of the
Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for 2000 and is incorporated herein by
reference.

                                    ITEM 7A.

           QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE INFORMATION ABOUT MARKET RISK
           ----------------------------------------------------------

         "Quantitative and Qualitative Information about Market Risk" is
contained in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" beginning on page 3 of the financial results section of
the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for 2000 and is incorporated herein
by reference.

                                     ITEM 8.

                   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
                   -------------------------------------------

         The following Financial Statements of the Registrant beginning on page
9 of the financial results section of its Annual Report to Shareholders for
2000, are incorporated herein by reference:

         1.       Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
                  December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998.

         2.       Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2000 and 1999.

         3.       Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years
                  ended December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

         4.       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
                  December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998.

         5.       Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

         6.       Report of Independent Accountants.

         All supplemental schedules are omitted because of the absence of
conditions under which they are required or because the information is shown in
the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.

Unaudited Supplementary Data
----------------------------

         "Selected Quarterly Financial Data" on page 2 of the financial results
section of the Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for 2000 is
incorporated herein by reference.

                                     ITEM 9.

                  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
                     ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
                     --------------------------------------

                                      None

                                    PART III
                                    --------

                                    ITEM 10.

               DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
               --------------------------------------------------

DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

The name, age and background information for each of the Company's Directors is
set forth in the section entitled "Election Of Directors" contained in the
Company's Proxy Statement for its 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and is
incorporated herein by reference.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

The Executive Officers of the Company at March 1, 2001, were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                       AGE              POSITION                                OFFICER SINCE
----                       ---              --------                                -------------
<S>                        <C>              <C>                                     <C>
Candace Kendle             54               Chief Executive Officer and Chairman         1989
                                            of the Board of Directors

Christopher C. Bergen      50               President, Chief Operating                   1989
                                            Officer and Director
</TABLE>

                                       8
<PAGE>   9



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                        <C>              <C>                                     <C>
Timothy M. Mooney          53               Executive Vice President, Chief              1996
                                            Financial Officer and Director

Thomas E. Stilgenbauer     53               Executive Vice President and Chief           1999
                                            Marketing Officer
</TABLE>



Prior to being elected Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Mr.
Stilgenbauer was Executive Vice President - Operations of the Company; prior
thereto Mr. Stilgenbauer was Senior Vice President - Organizational Development
of the Company; prior thereto, Mr. Stilgenbauer was Vice President - Operations
for The Loewen Group; and prior thereto, he was the Senior Vice President -
Operations of Hook-SupeRx, Inc.

Information on compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act set forth in
the section entitled "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance"
is contained in the Company's Proxy Statement for its 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, and is incorporated herein by reference.

                                  ITEMS 11-13.


Information on executive compensation set forth in the section entitled
"Executive Compensation" and the tables therein, the number of shares
beneficially owned by each Director and by all Directors and Executive Officers
as a group set forth in the section entitled "Securities Ownership", and the
table therein, and information on certain transactions with management set forth
in the section entitled "Certain Transactions" are contained in the Company's
Proxy Statement for its 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and are
incorporated herein by reference. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
forth herein or in any of the Company's previous filings under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
that might incorporate future filings, including this Form 10-K, the sections
entitled "Compensation Subcommittee Report on Executive Compensation" and the
Performance Graph, which are set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement for its
2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, are not deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Form 10-K.

                                     PART IV

                                    ITEM 14.

               EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
               ---------------------------------------------------------------

          (a)  1 and 2 - All financial statements and schedules required to be
               filed by Item 8 of this Form and included in this report have
               been listed previously beginning on page 7. No additional
               financial statements or schedules are being filed since the
               requirements of paragraph (d) under Item 14 are not applicable to
               the Company.

          (b)  3 - Exhibits. (see page 10)

          (c)  Reports on Form 8-K

         During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2000, the Company filed no
reports on Form 8-K.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number    Description of Exhibit                                                                            Filing Status
------    ----------------------                                                                            -------------

<S>       <C>                                                                                               <C>
2.1       Stock Purchase Agreement dated July 1, 1997 by and among the Company and Shareholders
          of U-Gene Research B.V.                                                                                  A

2.2       Escrow Agreement dated June 27, 1997 among the Company, Keating, Muething & Klekamp,
          P.L.L., Bio-Medical  Research Holdings, B.V., Utrechtse Particatiemaatschappij B.V., P.J. Morrison,
          T.S. Schwarz, I.M. Hoepelman , Ph.K. Peterson, J. Remington, M. Rozenberg-Arska and
          L.G.W. Sterkman                                                                                          A

2.3       Share Purchase Agreement dated July 2, 1997 by and among the Company and the Shareholders of GMI
          Gescellschaft fur Angewandte Mathematick und Informatik mbH                                              A

2.4       Stock Purchase Agreement dated February 11, 1998 by and among the Company
          and the Shareholders of ACER/EXCEL Inc.                                                                  B

2.5       Escrow Agreement dated February 11, 1998 among the Company, Tzuo-Yan Lee,
          Jean C. Lee, Michael Minor, Conway Lee, Steven Lee, Jean C. Lee, as Trustee under
          a Trust dated March 8, 1991 fbo Jennifer Lee, Citicorp Trust-South Dakota and The
          Fifth Third Bank                                                                                         C

2.6       Registration Rights Agreement dated February 11, 1998 among the Company and
          Tzuo-Yan Lee, Jean C. Lee, Michael Minor, Conway Lee, Steven Lee, Jean C. Lee, as Trustee under
          a Trust dated March 8, 1991 fbo Jennifer Lee, Citicorp Trust-South Dakota                                C

2.7       Share Purchase Agreement dated December 23, 1998 by and among the Company and the Shareholders
          of Research Consultants (International) Holdings Limited                                                 D

2.8       Escrow Agreement dated January 5, 1999 among the Company, John Glasby, Gillian
          Gregory, Michael Roy Broomby and Peter Nightingale                                                       D

2.9       Option Agreement dated September 9, 1998 by and between the Company and Component
          Software International, Inc.                                                                             D

2.10      Notice of Option Exercise dated January 11, 1999 of the Option Agreement dated September 9, 1998         D

2.11      Multi-Year Strategic Services Agreement dated January 20,1999 by and between the
          Company and Component Software International, Inc.                                                       D

2.12      Asset Purchase Agreement dated June 27, 1999 by and among the Company and the Shareholders of
          Health Care Communications, Inc.                                                                         F

2.13      Stock Purchase Agreement dated June 4, 1999 by and among the Company and the Shareholders of
          ESCLI S.A.                                                                                               G

2.14      Asset Purchase Agreement dated July 13, 1999 by and among the Company
          and the Shareholders of HCC Health Care Communications (1991), Ltd.                                      G

2.15      Share Purchase Agreement dated August 31, 1999 by and among the Company and the Shareholder
          of  Specialist Monitoring Services Limited                                                               G

2.16      Escrow Agreement dated July 13, 1999 by and among the Company, Geoffrey H. Kalish, M.D.,
          Bradley D. Kalish, Jill Kalish, and The Fifth Third Bank, as Escrow Agent                                I

2.17      Escrow Agreement dated August 31, 1999 by and among the Company, Paul Martin, and The
          Fifth Third Bank, as Escrow Agent                                                                        I

2.18      Units Purchase Agreement dated April 7, 2000 by and among the Company
          and the Shareholders of SYNERmedica PTY Limited and SYNERmedica Unit
          Trust                                                                                                    J

2.19      Stock Purchase Agreement dated February 27, 2001 by and among the Company and the Shareholders
          of AAC Consulting Group, Inc.                                                                            M

3.1       Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation                                                           A

3.2       Amended and Restated Code of Regulations                                                                 A

3.3       Amendment of the Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation to Increase the Authorized Shares        E

4         Specimen Common Stock Certificate                                                                        A

4.1       Shareholder Rights Agreement dated August 13, 1999 between the Company and The Fifth Third
          Bank, as Rights Agent                                                                                    H

10.1      Amended and Restated Shareholders' Agreement dated June 26, 1997                                         A
</TABLE>

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>       <C>                                                                                               <C>
10.2      Master Lease Agreement dated November 27, 1996 by and between the
          Company and Bank One Leasing Corporation, as amended on April 18, 1997                                   A

10.6      Master Equipment Lease dated August 16, 1996 by and between the Company and
          The Fifth Third Leasing Company                                                                          A

10.7      Lease Agreement dated December 9, 1991 by and between the Company and
          Carew Realty, Inc., as amended on December 30, 1991, March 18, 1996,
          October 8, 1996, January 29, 1997, and February 16, 1999                                                 D

10.8      Indemnity Agreement dated June 21, 1996 by and between the Company and Candace
          Kendle Bryan                                                                                             A

10.9      Indemnity Agreement dated June 21, 1996 by and between the Company and Christopher
          C. Bergen                                                                                                A

10.10     Indemnity Agreement dated June 21, 1996 by and between the Company and Timothy M.
          Mooney                                                                                                   A

10.11     Indemnity Agreement dated May 14, 1997 by and between the Company and Charles A. Sanders                 C

10.12     Indemnity Agreement dated May 14, 1997 by and between the Company and Philip E. Beekman                  C

10.13     Indemnity Agreement dated December 10, 1998 by and between the Company and Robert Buck                   D

10.14     Indemnity Agreement dated December 10, 1998 by and between the Company and Mary Beth Price               D

10.17     Clinical Trial Service Agreement between the Company and G.D. Searle & Company
          dated September 23, 1997                                                                                 C

10.19     Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 26, 1998 by and between
          the Company and NationsBank, N.A.                                                                        C

10.21     First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as
          of November 25, 1998 by and between the Company and NationsBank, N.A.                                    D

10.22     Credit Agreement dated as of October 13, 2000 among the Company, the Several Lenders from Time
          to Time Party Hereto, and Bank One, NA, As Agent                                                         K

10.20                      MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS AND COMPENSATION PLANS

          (a)   1995 Stock Option and Stock Incentive Plan                                                         A

          (b)   1995 Stock Option and Stock Incentive Plan--Individual Stock Option Agreement
                for Incentive Stock Option (contained in Exhibit 10.20(a))                                         A

          (c)   1997 Stock Option and Stock Incentive Plan                                                         A

          (d)   Amendment to 1997 Stock Option and Stock Incentive Plan                                            L

          (d)   Form of Protective Compensation and Benefit Agreement                                              A

          (e)   1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan                                                                  D

          (f)   1997 Directors' Compensation Plan                                                                  D

13        Annual Report to Shareholders for 2000                                                                   M

21        List of Subsidiaries                                                                                     M

23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP                                                                     M
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Filing
Status                                     Description of Filing Status
------                                     ----------------------------
<S>       <C>
A         Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-30581 filed under the
          Securities Act of 1933

B         Filed as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 13, 1997

C         Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
          December 31, 1997
</TABLE>

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>      <C>
D        Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
         December 31, 1998

E        Incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1999 Annual Shareholders' Meeting

F        Incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly  period ended
         June 30, 1999

G        Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
         ended September 30, 1999

H        Incorporated by reference to the Company's filing on Form 8-A dated September 7, 1999

I        Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
         December 31, 1999

J        Incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly  period ended
         March 31, 2000

K        Incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly  period ended
         September 30, 2000

L        Incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement for its 2000 Annual Shareholders' Meeting

M        Filed herewith
</TABLE>

                                       12
<PAGE>   13


                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                            KENDLE INTERNATIONAL INC.

DATE SIGNED:  March 30, 2001                 /s/  Candace Kendle
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Candace Kendle
                                             Chairman and CEO

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                                  Capacity                      Date
---------                                                  --------                      ----

<S>                                              <C>                                     <C>
/s/  Candace Kendle                              Chairman of the Board of                March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------------        Directors and Chief Executive
Candace Kendle                                   Officer


/s/ Christopher C. Bergen                        President, Chief Operating              March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------------        Officer, Secretary and Director
Christopher C. Bergen


/s/ Timothy M. Mooney                            Executive Vice President,               March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------------        Chief Financial Officer,
Timothy M. Mooney                                Treasurer, Assistant Secretary
                                                 (Chief Accounting Officer) and
                                                 Director

/s/ Philip E. Beekman                            Director                                March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------------
Philip E. Beekman

/s/ Robert R. Buck                               Director                                March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------------
Robert R. Buck

/s/ Charles A. Sanders                           Director                                March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------------
Charles A. Sanders
</TABLE>

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