<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9



                                      PDT, INC.
                               STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN

                         NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


    THIS NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION (THE "OPTION") is made and entered into at
Santa Barbara, California, on the date hereinafter set forth by and between PDT,
INC., a Delaware corporation, hereinafter called the "COMPANY", and the person
whose name is set forth on the signature page hereof, hereinafter called the
"OPTIONEE", who is an officer, key employee, employee director, independent
contractor or agent of the Company or one of its subsidiaries.

WHEREAS:

    A.   The Board of Directors of the Company (THE "BOARD") adopted on May 17,
1996, with subsequent stockholder approval, the PDT, Inc. 1996 Stock
Compensation Plan (THE "PLAN");

    B.   The Plan provides for the granting of Nonqualified Stock Options
("NQSOs") by a committee to be appointed by the Board (THE "PLAN
ADMINISTRATORS") to officers, key employees, employee directors, independent
contractors or agents of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to
purchase shares of the Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.01 (THE
"STOCK"), in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan; and

    C.   The Plan Administrators consider the Optionee to be a person who is
eligible for a grant of compensatory options under the Plan and have determined
that it would be in the best interest of the Company to grant a NQSO as
documented herein.

    NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby,
agree as follows:

    1.   GRANT OF OPTION.    Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan
and as hereinafter set forth, the Company, with the approval and at the
direction of the Plan Administrators, hereby grants to the Optionee, as of the
Date of Grant set forth on the signature page hereof, an option to purchase up
to the number of shares of Stock set forth on the signature page hereof at a
price per share set forth on the signature page hereof which shall be determined
pursuant to Section 11 hereof (THE "FAIR MARKET VALUE").  Such NQSO is
hereinafter referred to as the "OPTION" and the shares of stock purchasable upon
exercise of the Option are hereinafter referred to as the "OPTION SHARES".  The
Option is not intended by the parties hereto to be, or to be treated as, an
incentive stock option, as such term is defined under Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.


                                                       NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION
                                               PDT, INC. STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN
                                                                         Page-1-

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    2.   INSTALLMENT EXERCISE OF OPTION.    Subject to such further limitations
as set forth in the Plan and as are provided herein, the Option shall vest in
installments as set forth on the signature page hereof.  Employment with or
continued service for the Company is a condition of the vesting of this Option.

    3.   EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

         (a).  The Optionee may exercise the Option with respect to all or any
part of the number of Option Shares then vested and exercisable hereunder by
properly completing and delivering to the Company at its principal office an
exercise form prescribed by the Plan Administrators and attached hereto as
Exhibit 1, specifying the number of Options Shares as to which the Option is to
be exercised and the date of exercise thereof.  No NQSO may be exercised for a
fraction of a share of Stock.

         (b).  The purchase price of the Option Shares purchased shall be paid
in full, along with any applicable federal, state and local taxes due, in cash
or by certified cashier's check payable to the order of the Company or, with
prior written consent of the Plan Administrators, by shares of Stock or by the
surrender of all or part of an Award (including the NQSO being exercised), or in
other property, rights or credits deemed acceptable by the Plan Administrators
or, if permitted by the Plan Administrators, by a combination of the foregoing,
at the time of exercise of the NQSO.  If any portion of the purchase price is
paid in shares of  Stock, those shares shall be tendered at their then Fair
Market Value as determined by the Plan Administrators in accordance with Section
22 of Article I of the Plan.  Payment in shares of Stock includes the automatic
application of shares of Stock received upon the exercise of an NQSO or other
option or Award to satisfy the exercise price for additional NQSOs.

         (c).  On the exercise date specified in the Optionee's notice or as
soon as thereafter practicable, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the
Optionee, a certificate or certificates for the Option Shares then being
purchased upon full payment for such Option Shares.  Provided, however, that the
time of such delivery may be postponed by the Company for such period as may be
required for it, with reasonable diligence, to comply with any requirements of
any state or federal agency or any securities exchange.

         (d).  The obligation of the Company to deliver Stock hereunder shall
be subject to the condition that, if at any time the Plan Administrators
determine in their sole discretion that the listing, registration or
qualification of the Option or the Option Shares upon any securities exchange or
under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental
regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection
with, the Option or the issuance or purchase of  the Option Shares thereunder,
the Option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing,
registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or
obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Plan Administrators.

         (e).  If the Optionee fails to pay for any of the Option Shares
specified in such notice of exercise or fails to accept delivery thereof, the
Optionee's right to purchase such Option Shares may be terminated by the
Company.  The date specified in the Optionee's notice as the date of exercise
shall be deemed the date of exercise of the Option, provided that payment in
full for the Option Shares to be purchased upon such exercise shall have been
received by such date.


                                                                        Page-2-

<PAGE>

    4.   TERMINATION OF OPTION.    Except as herein otherwise stated, this
Option, to the extent not theretofore exercised, shall terminate forthwith on
the earliest of the following:

         (a).  If the Optionee ceases to be employed by, or provide services
to, the Company or any subsidiary for any reason other than death or disability,
the Option shall immediately terminate and be of no further force and effect,
provided, however, that the Plan Administrators may, in their sole discretion,
allow the Option to be exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date of
termination, at any time within three (3) months after the date of termination
of employment, but in no event later than the expiration date specified under
subparagraph (d) hereof; provided further, however, that all vesting of the
Option ceases at the date of termination, and if the Optionee is terminated "for
cause", the Option will terminate immediately upon the date of termination.

         (b).  If the Optionee becomes disabled within the meaning of Code
Section 422(e)(3) while employed by the Company or any subsidiary, the Plan
Administrators, in their sole discertion, may allow the Option to be exercised,
to the extent exercisable on the date of termination of employment, at any time
within one (1) year after the date of th termination of employment due to
disability, but in no event later than the expiration date specified under
subparagraph (d) hereof.

         (c).  If the Optionee dies while employed by the Company or any
subsidiary, or within three (3) months after ceasing to be an employee thereof,
the Option shall expire one (1) year after the date of death, but in no event
later than the expiration date specified in subparagraph (d) hereof.  During the
one (1) year period, the Option may be exercised, to the extent that it remains
unexercised on the date of death, by the person or persons whom the Optionee's
rights under the Option shall pass by will or by laws of descent and
distribution and pursuant to Article I, Section 19 of the Plan, but only to the
extent that the Optionee is entitled to exercise the Option at the time of
death.

         (d)  Ten (10) years from the Date of Grant.

    5.   ADJUSTMENTS.    If the outstanding shares of Stock are increased,
decreased, changed into, or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares
or securities through merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares,
other reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock
split or reverse stock split or other similar corporate transaction or event,
then: (i) the number and kind of shares which may thereafter be delivered in
connection with the Option; and (ii) the exercise price, grant price or purchase
price relating to the Option shall be proportionately and equitably adjusted by
the Plan Administrators, provided, however, that no such adjustment shall give
the Optionee any additional benefits under the Option.  Any such adjustment made
by the Plan Administrators will be final and binding.

    6.   CHANGE OF CONTROL.    If a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs
prior to vesting or settlement of the Option, then from and after the
Acceleration Date (as defined below), all outstanding and unexercised Options
shall be exercisable in full, whether or not otherwise exercisable and
certificates representing such Option Shares shall be delivered to the Optionee
no later than the fifth day following the Acceleration Date.

    As defined herein, "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean the occurrence of any of
the following: (i) any "person" or "group" (as such term is used in Sections
13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")), other than the Company, a trustee or other


                                                                        Page-3-

<PAGE>

fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a
company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company),
is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
20% or more of the total combined voting power represented by the Company's then
outstanding voting securities; or (ii) during any period of two consecutive
years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and
any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered
into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause
(i),  (iii) or (iv) of this definition) whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors who either were directors at the
beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election
was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority
thereof;  (iii) any Reorganization as defined below; or (iv) the stockholders of
the Company adopt a plan of complete liquidation of the Company.

    The term "REORGANIZATION" as used herein shall mean: (i) the approval by
the stockholders of the Company of any statutory merger, consolidation or share
exchange to which the Company is a party as a result of which the persons who
were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the effective date of such
Reorganization shall have beneficial ownership of less than fifty percent (50%)
of the total combined voting power in the election of directors of the surviving
corporation following the effective date of such Reorganization; or (ii) the
approval by stockholders of an agreement for the sale or disposition by the
Company of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

    For purposes of this definition of Reorganization, the term "sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company" shall mean a sale or other disposition transaction or series of related
transactions involving assets of the Company or any subsidiary thereof
(including the stock of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company) in
which the value of the assets or stock being sold or otherwise disposed of (as
measured by the purchase price being paid therefor or by such other method as
the Board of Directors of the Company determines is appropriate in a case where
there is no readily ascertainable purchase price) constitutes more than
two-thirds of the fair market value of the Company (as hereinafter defined).
For purposes of the preceding sentence, the "fair market value of the Company"
shall be the aggregate market value of the outstanding shares of Stock (on a
fully diluted basis) plus the aggregate market value of the Company's other
outstanding equity securities.  The aggregate market value of the shares of
Stock shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Stock (on a
fully diluted basis) outstanding on the date of the execution and delivery of a
definitive agreement with respect to the transaction or series of related
transactions (THE "TRANSACTION DATE") by the average closing price of the Stock
for the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the Transaction Date.  The
aggregate market value of any other equity securities of the Company shall be
determined in a manner similar to that prescribed in the immediately preceding
sentence for determining the aggregate market value of the shares of Stock or by
such other method as the Board shall determine is appropriate.

    As defined herein, "ACCELERATION DATE" shall mean the earliest date on
which any of the following events shall have first occurred: (i) the acquisition
described in clause (i) of the definition of Change of Control above; (ii) the
change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company described in
clause (ii) above; or (iii) the stockholder approval or adoption described in
clauses (iii) and (iv) above.


                                                                        Page-4-

<PAGE>

    7.   TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION.    During the lifetime of the Optionee,
only the Optionee (or such Optionee's legal representative) may exercise the
Option; provided, however, that the Plan Administrators may, in their sole
discretion, permit transfers of the Option for estate planning purposes if and
to the extent such transfers do not (a) cause the Optionee to lose the benefit
of the exemption under Rule 16b-3 relating to such Awards or (b) violate other
rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (THE "SEC") or
the Internal Revenue Service or (c) materially increase the cost of the
Company's compliance with such rules or regulations, including but not limited
to, any additional registration statements that the Company would be required to
file with the SEC if such transfer were allowed.  The Option may not be sold,
pledged, assigned, transferred in any manner (except as provided above or
elsewhere herein), exchanged or otherwise encumbered or made subject to any
creditor's process, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law,
and any attempt to do so shall be of no effect.

    8.   RIGHTS PRIOR TO EXERCISE OF OPTION.    The Optionee shall have none of
the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of the
Option or any Option Shares issuable pursuant to the Option until certificates
representing the Option Shares have been issued and delivered.  No Option Shares
shall be required to be issued and delivered upon any exercise of the Option
unless and until all of the requirements of law and of all regulatory agencies
having jurisdiction over the issuance and delivery of the securities shall have
been fully complied with.

    9.   COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS.    Shares of Stock shall not be
issued with respect to the Option, unless the exercise of the Option and the
issuance and delivery of the Option Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with
all applicable provisions of foreign, state and federal law including, without
limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any
stock exchange upon which shares of Stock may then be listed.  The Plan
Administrators may require the Optionee to furnish evidence satisfactory to the
Company, including a written and signed representation letter and consent to be
bound by any transfer restriction imposed by law, legend, condition or
otherwise, that the Option Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute the Option Shares in
violation of any state or federal law, rule or regulation, if required by the
Company.  Further, the Optionee shall consent to the imposition of a legend on
the Option Shares issued under the Option and the imposition of stop-transfer
instructions restricting their transferability as may be required by the Plan
Administrators in their discretion to ensure compliance with such laws.

    10.  CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT.  Nothing in the Plan or in the Option granted
hereunder shall confer upon any Optionee any right to continued employment by,
or service to, the Company or its subsidiaries or limit in any way the right of
the Company or its subsidiaries at any time to terminate or alter the terms of
that employment or service agreement.  In the discretion of the Plan
Administrators, the Optionee may also be required to agree to non-competition,
non-disclosure, non-solicitation or any other terms or provisions not
inconsistent with the Plan in consideration of the grant of the Option.

    11.  FAIR MARKET VALUE.    As used herein, "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall be
determined by the Plan Administrators on the basis of such factors as they deem
appropriate; provided, however, that Fair Market Value on any day shall be
deemed to be, if the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange or
the Nasdaq National Market, the closing price (or, if no reported sale takes
place on such day, the arithmetic mean of the reported bid and asked prices) of
the Common Stock on such day on the principal such exchange or market, or, if
the stock is reported on the composite tape, the


                                                                        Page-5-

<PAGE>

closing price as reported on the composite tape.  In each case, the Plan
Administrators' determination of Fair Market Value in accordance with the Code
shall be conclusive.

    12.  WITHHOLDING.    The grant or exercise of the Option or the sale and
issuance of any Option Shares to be purchased under the Option are subject to
the condition that if, at any time, the Company shall determine in its sole
discretion, that the satisfaction of withholding tax or other withholding
liabilities under any state or federal law is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, such grant or exercise or the delivery or
purchase of shares pursuant thereto, then in such event, the grant or exercise
of the Option or the sale and issuance of any Option Shares to be purchased
shall not be effective unless such withholding shall have been effected or
obtained in a manner acceptable to the Company.  At the Plan Administrator's
sole and complete discretion, the Company may, from time to time unilaterally
withhold or voluntarily accept shares of Stock already issued to the Optionee
and/or stock subject to an Award as defined in the Plan as the source of payment
for such liabilities.

    13.  BINDING EFFECT; AMENDMENT.   The Option shall be binding upon the
heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.  The
Option may be amended by the Plan Administrators at any time (i) if the Plan
Administrators determine, in their sole discretion, that amendment is necessary
or advisable in the light of any addition to or change in the Code or in the
regulations issued thereunder, or any federal or state securities law or other
law or regulation, which change occurs after the Date of Grant and by its terms
applies to the Option; or (ii) other than in the circumstances described in
clause (i) above, with the written consent of the Optionee.

    14.  NOTICES.    All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
Company's and the Optionee's addresses as set forth on the signature page
hereof.

    15.  INCORPORATION OF PLAN BY REFERENCE.    The Option is granted pursuant
to the terms of the PDT, Inc. 1996 Stock Compensation Plan, the terms of which
are incorporated herein by reference and the Option shall, in all respects, be
interpreted in accordance with the Plan.  A copy of the Plan has been given to
the Optionee and the Optionee agrees to be bound by the Plan.  The Plan
Administrators shall interpret and construe the Plan and the Option, and their
interpretations and determinations shall be conclusive and binding on the
parties hereto and any other person claiming an interest hereunder, with respect
to any issue arising hereunder or thereunder.  In case of any conflict in the
terms of the Plan, or between the Plan and the Option agreement, the provisions
in Article III of the Plan shall control those in a different Article and the
provisions of the Plan shall control those in the Option agreement.

    16.  CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE.    The Option, Plan and all related documents
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
California (except to the extent the provisions of Delaware corporate law may be
applicable).  Acceptance of the Option shall be deemed to constitute consent to
the jurisdiction and venue of the Superior Court of Santa Barbara County,
California and the United States District Court of the Central District of
California for all purposes in connection with any suit, action or other
proceeding relating to such Option, including the enforcement of any rights
under the Plan or any agreement or other document, and shall be deemed to
constitute consent to any process or notice of motion in connection with such
proceeding being served


                                                                        Page-6-

<PAGE>

by certified or registered mail or personal service within or without the State
of California, provided a reasonable time for appearance is allowed.






















                               SIGNATURES ON NEXT PAGE


                                                                        Page-7-

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    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused its duly authorized officers to
execute this Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement and the Optionee has placed his
or her signature hereon, effective as of the Date of Grant.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              THE OPTION: OPTION #
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPTIONEE:                         DATE OF GRANT:

NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES:          OPTION PRICE PER SHARE:

VESTING:



THE "COMPANY"
PDT, INC.

BY: _________________________________________
         GARY S. KLEDZIK, PH.D.
TITLE    CEO AND CHAIRMAN

ADDRESS: 7408 HOLLISTER AVENUE
         SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 93117
         805/685-9880


ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:

THE "OPTIONEE"

SIGNATURE:  ___________________________________________

ADDRESS:   ___________________________________________

           ___________________________________________

SOCIAL SECURITY #: ___________________________________


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<PAGE>

                                      EXHIBIT 1

                          NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTION




                                                                        PAGE-9-

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                                      PDT, INC.
                          NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION 1: PERSONAL DATA:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  NAME:  __________________________________________
2.  SSN:     ________________________________________
3.  ADDRESS FOR STOCK RECORD: ___________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

4.  PHONE EXTENSION:  ______________
5.  COMPANY:  ____________________________________________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION II: STATEMENT OF INTENT TO EXERCISE:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.  I WOULD LIKE TO EXERCISE THE FOLLOWING SHARES OF PDT, INC. COMMON STOCK:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    OPTION PLAN    OPTION #    DATE OF GRANT     OPTION PRICE     # OF SHARES
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION III: PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE AND TAXES:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.  I UNDERSTAND THAT FOR NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION EXERCISES I AM REQUIRED TO
    PAY WITHHOLDING TAXES ON THE GAIN AS MEASURED BY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
    OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE SHARES ON THE DATE
    OF EXERCISE.

CHECK ONE:
___ I WILL SUBMIT TO PDT, INC. A CASHIERS CHECK  IN PAYMENT.
___ I WILL WIRE FUNDS TO PDT, INC.  IN PAYMENT.
___ I AUTHORIZE MY STOCK BROKER TO WIRE FUNDS TO PDT, INC. ON MY BEHALF OUT OF
    THE NET PROCEEDS FROM THE SAME-DAY-SALE TRANSACTION FOR THE OPTION PRICE
    AND APPLICABLE TAXES OWED.   COMPLETE AND ATTACH THE COMPANY'S SECURITIES
    TRADING REPORT FORM.

         BROKERS NAME   ____________________________________
         FIRM           ____________________________________
         ADDRESS        ____________________________________
         PHONE/FAX      ____________________________________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECTION IV: ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.  IF THIS TRANSACTION IS NOT A SAME-DAY-SALE:

CHECK ONE:
___ ISSUE STOCK IN MY NAME INDIVIDUALLY.
___ ISSUE STOCK IN MY NAME AND _________________________________ AS JOINT
    TENANTS OR TENANTS IN COMMON
    (PLEASE CIRCLE THE CORRECT CHOICE).

ISSUE CERTIFICATES AS FOLLOWS:  ___ CERTIFICATES FOR ________________ SHARES
                                ___ CERTIFICATES FOR ________________ SHARES

MAILING ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT THAN STOCK RECORD ADDRESS: ________________________
                                                        ________________________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.  SIGNATURE:   _______________________         DATE:__________________

    VERIFIED BY: _______________________         DATE:__________________

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