Document:

EXHIBIT 10.1

                          EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
                          BIOQUEST INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                       AND
                                 PETER J. EWENS

<PAGE>

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT,  made  as of  the  21st  day  of  August  2000,  among  BIOQUEST
INTERNATIONAL (U.S.A.), INC., a Virginia corporation ("Employer"),  and Peter J.
Ewens,   residing  at  11217   Silverleaf   Drive,   Fairfax,   Virginia   22039
("Executive").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  Executive  is  being  retained  as a key  executive  officer  and
employee of Employer and Employer  wishes to retain the services of Executive as
an  employee  and  officer of  Employer,  and  Executive  desires to render such
services;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  mutual  covenants  hereinafter
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   PRIOR AGREEMENTS SUPERSEDED;  EFFECTIVENESS.  This Agreement supersedes any
     employment agreements,  oral or written, entered into between Executive and
     Employer prior to the date of this Agreement.

2.   RETENTION OF SERVICES.  The Employer  hereby agrees to employ the Executive
     and the Executive agrees to accept employment on, and subject to, the terms
     and conditions hereinafter set forth.

3.   TERM OF  EMPLOYMENT.  Subject to earlier  termination  in  accordance  with
     Section 8 hereof,  the term of this Agreement shall commence on October 15,
     2000 and end on October 14, 2005 ("Term of Employment").

4.   DUTIES.  During the Term of Employment,  the Executive shall be employed by
     the  Employer  as  President  and  Chief  Executive   Officer  of  BioQuest
     International,  Inc. and Employer. The Executive agrees that he will devote
     his full  business  time and best efforts  exclusively  to the faithful and
     diligent performance of all of the duties and responsibilities  incident to
     that   position   as  well  as  all  such   other   executive   duties  and
     responsibilities  for or on  behalf  of the  Employer  and  its  parent  or
     subsidiaries  (or other  affiliates  it may  acquire in the future) in that
     executive  capacity as required  to be  performed  from time to time by the
     Board of Directors.

5.   COMPENSATION.  For so long as the Executive is employed by the Employer, in
     consideration  of the services  rendered by the  Executive  hereunder,  the
     Employer agrees to pay to the Executive during the Term of Employment,  and
     the Executive agrees to accept as compensation:

     (a)  A salary of two hundred  forty  thousand  dollars  ($240,000)  for the
          first year of the Agreement with such  subsequent  increases in salary
          during  the  term  of  this  Agreement  as  may be  determined  by the
          Compensation  Committee  of the  Board of  Directors.  In  determining
          salary  increases,  the  Compensation  Committee  may  compensate  the
          Employee for  increases in the cost of living and may also provide for
          performance or merit increases. The Salary shall be payable in monthly
          installments  or in  accordance  with the  Employer's  normal  payroll
          policies.

     (b)  In addition to the  foregoing,  the Executive  shall be entitled to an
          incentive in the form of options to be issued under its proposed stock
          option  plan.  Such  stock  option  plan to be  established  for  this
          incentive,  as described  in (c)(iv),  is in lieu of or in addition to
          cash bonuses.  The terms of such  incentive plan will be developed and
          approved by the Board of Directors acting as a Compensation Committee.

     (c)  During the Term of  Employment,  Executive  shall be  entitled  to the
          following benefits and perquisites:

          (i)  participation,  subject  to  qualification  requirements,  in all
               medical  and  hospitalization   plans,  presently  in  effect  or
               hereinafter  instituted  by the  Employer and  applicable  to its
               Executive employees;

          (ii) the use of a suitable automobile and the payment or reimbursement
               of all  expenses  incidental  thereto  including  fuel,  repairs,
               insurance as well as registration and inspection fees;

          (iii)sick leave in accordance  with the Employer's  policies in effect
               from time to time for executives of the Employer;

          (iv) participation  in any stock option  and/or stock  purchase  plans
               existing now or hereafter instituted by Employer;

          (v)  participation in the existing or any successor pension and profit
               sharing plans of the Employer ("Employer's Plans");

          (vi) reimbursement  of reasonable  premiums  expended by Executive for
               Disability  Insurance in the maximum  principal amount attainable
               commensurate with Executive's Salary;

          (vii)reimbursement for all reasonable and customary  expenses incurred
               by  the  Employee  in  performing   services  for  the  Employer,
               including all travel and living  expenses while away from home on
               business or at the request of, and in the service of the Company,
               provided  that such  expenses are incurred and  accounted  for in
               accordance  with the policies and  procedures  established by the
               Employer;

          (viii) without loss of pay, to be absent  voluntarily  for  reasonable
               periods  of  time  from  the   performance   of  the  duties  and
               responsibilities   under  this  Agreement.   All  such  voluntary
               absences  shall  count as paid  vacation  time,  unless the Board
               otherwise approves; and

          (ix) entitled to an annual paid vacation of two weeks per year for the
               first  three (3)  years,  three (3) weeks for the next  three (3)
               years and four (4) weeks  thereafter with vacation not taken in a
               calendar year cumulative for a maximum period of three (3) years.
               The timing of paid  vacations  shall be scheduled in a reasonable
               manner by the Employee but,  without prior approval of Employer's
               CEO, may not be taken more than two (2) consecutive  weeks at any
               given time.

6.   DEATH  BENEFIT.  If  Executive  dies during the Term of  Employment,  then,
     provided the Executive  was not in breach of this  Agreement on the date of
     his death,  his monthly  salary shall be continued  for a twelve (12) month
     period  following the date of death and shall be paid to his widow, or to a
     designee  other  than his widow if such  designation  is made in writing by
     Executive,  or if no widow  survives him and no  designation  has been made
     hereunder,  then to his estate  provided that such monthly salary shall not
     be paid for any period beyond the Term of Employment.

7.   DISABILITY.  Subject  to  Section  8 (c)  (iii),  if  during  the  Term  of
     Employment,  the Executive becomes unable for six (6) consecutive months or
     more or during nine (9) out of any twelve (12) months, due to ill health or
     other  incapacitation,  to perform his duties hereunder,  then, on at least
     thirty  (30)  days'  written  notice,   Employer  may  place  Executive  on
     disability status (and he shall then receive such disability  benefits then
     provided to other executive  employees of Employer) at the end of any month
     after said six-month or nine-month period at no salary for the remainder of
     the Term of  Employment  or until  his  disability  ends,  whichever  first
     occurs,  in either case so long as he is otherwise in full  compliance with
     all the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

8.   TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  This  Agreement and,  accordingly,  the Term of
     Employment,  may be  terminated  earlier  than as  specified  in  Section 3
     hereof, upon the happening of any of the following events:

     (a)  Whenever Employer and the Executive shall mutually agree in writing to
          terminate this Agreement.

     (b)  Upon the death of the  Executive,  provided  that in such  event,  the
          amounts due under Paragraph 6 (a) will be paid as provided therein.

     (c)  At the option of the  Employer,  for "Good  Cause",  if the  Executive
          shall:

          (i)  be in breach of or default  under any material  provision of this
               Agreement for a period of thirty (30) days after  written  notice
               of such breach is given by Employer to the Executive; or

          (ii) be  convicted  or have  acknowledged  the  commission  of  fraud,
               misappropriation, embezzlement or a felony of any kind; or

          (iii)become  totally  incapacitated  so as to preclude  performance of
               the duties of his  employment  hereunder  for a period of six (6)
               consecutive  months or nine (9) months in any  twelve  (12) month
               period.

     (d)  At the  Executive's  option,  if  Employer  shall be in  breach  of or
          default under any material provision of this Agreement for a period of
          thirty (30) days after  written  notice of such breach is given by the
          Executive to the Employer.

9.   COVENANTS.

     (a)  Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. The Executive agrees, that
          at any time during or after he ceases to be employed by the  Employer,
          he will not directly or  indirectly  (except  where  authorized by the
          Board of Directors of the Employer)  divulge to any persons,  firms or
          corporations (hereinafter referred to collectively as "third parties")
          or  use,  or  cause  to  authorize  any  third  parties  to  use,  any
          information  regarded as  confidential  and  valuable by the  Employer
          which he knows or should know is regarded as confidential and valuable
          by the Employer. The non-disclosure  obligations of this Section 9 (a)
          shall  not  be  imposed  with  regard  to  information   which  is  or
          subsequently  becomes,  through  no  fault  of  Executive,   generally
          available  to the public or is disclosed as required by court order or
          by  an  order  of  any  state  or  federal   regulatory   agency.

(b)       Non-Competition.

          (i)  During the Term of Employment, the Executive will not, anywhere:

               (a') engage,  directly or indirectly,  either  individually or as
                    stockholder,    partner,   officer,   director,    employee,
                    consultant,  agent or otherwise, in any business which is in
                    competition with the Employer or any affiliate thereof;

               (b') solicit  for  employment  or employ,  or cause or  authorize
                    directly or  indirectly  to be solicited  for  employment or
                    employ,  for  or on  behalf  of  himself  or  third  parties
                    ("raid")  any persons  who were at the time the  Executive's
                    employment  hereunder  ended or within six (6) months  prior
                    thereto,   employees  of  the  Employer  or  any  affiliates
                    thereof; or

               (c') at  any  time  remove  from  the  Employer's   premises  any
                    drawings,  notebooks, data and other documents and materials
                    relating to the business  and  procedures  of the  Employer,
                    including any patents,  intellectual  property or inventions
                    developed  by or  for  the  Company,  except  as  reasonably
                    necessary  to the  discharge  of his  duties  hereunder  and
                    shall, upon termination of employment for any reason, return
                    to the Employer all such  documents and materials and copies
                    or extracts thereof.

          (ii) For  three  (3)  years  following  the  Term of  Employment,  the
               Executive will not, anywhere:

               (a') engage,  directly or indirectly,  either  individually or as
                    stockholder,    partner,   officer,   director,    employee,
                    consultant,  agent or otherwise, in any business which is in
                    competition with the Employer or any affiliate thereof;

               (b') solicit  for  employment  or employ,  or cause or  authorize
                    directly or  indirectly  to be solicited  for  employment or
                    employ,  for  or on  behalf  of  himself  or  third  parties
                    ("raid")  any persons  who were at the time the  Executive's
                    employment  hereunder  ended or within six (6) months  prior
                    thereto,   employees  of  the  Employer  or  any  affiliates
                    thereof; or

               (c') remove  at  any  time  from  the  Employer's   premises  any
                    drawings,  notebooks, data and other documents and materials
                    relating to the business  and  procedures  of the  Employer,
                    including any patents,  intellectual  property or inventions
                    developed  by  or  for  the  Company  except  as  reasonably
                    necessary to the discharge of his duties hereunder and shall
                    upon  termination  of employment  for any reason,  return to
                    Employer  all such  documents  and  materials  and copies or
                    extracts thereof.

10.  INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND OTHER REMEDIES.

     (a)  Executive  agrees that any breach or  threatened  breach by him of any
          Section 9 covenants  shall  entitle the  Employer,  on a  non-mutually
          exclusive basis, in addition to any other legal remedies  available to
          it,  to  apply to any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  to  enforce
          specifically the terms of this Agreement.  The parties  understand and
          intend  that  each  restriction  agreed  to  by  Executive  above  and
          elsewhere  herein will be construed as separable  and  divisible  from
          every other restriction and that the unenforceability,  in whole or in
          part, of any other  restriction will not affect the  enforceability of
          the  remaining  restriction  and  that  one or  more  or  all of  such
          restrictions may be enforced in whole or in part, as the circumstances
          warrant.

     (b)  In the event of a breach of the  foregoing  Section 9  covenants,  the
          parties  acknowledge that the Employer may be irreparably  damaged and
          may not  have an  adequate  remedy  at law.  Therefore,  Employer  may
          obtain,  without the necessity of posting a bond,  injunctive or other
          appropriate  equitable  relief for any breach or threatened  breach of
          such  covenants.  The parties  hereto  further  acknowledge  that such
          covenants are intended to conform to the extent required with the laws
          of Virginia.  Any court of competent jurisdiction is hereby authorized
          to expand or contract the geographical, temporal or other restrictions
          of such  covenants  in order to conform  with the laws of  Virginia so
          that it shall  bind the  parties  hereto  and be  enforceable  by that
          court.

     (c)  If any of the covenants  contained in Section 9 or any aspects thereof
          are  construed  to be  invalid  or  unenforceable,  the same shall not
          affect the  remainder  of the  covenant or  covenants,  which shall be
          given full effect, without regard to the invalid parts.

11.  OWNERSHIP. All improvements,  discoveries,  inventions, designs, documents,
     licenses and patents, or other data devised,  conceived,  made,  developed,
     obtained,  filed,  perfected,  acquired,  or first reduced to practice,  in
     whole or in part,  or in the regular  cause of  employment  by the Employee
     during the term of this Agreement,  and related in any way to the Business,
     including  development  and research,  of the Employer or any subsidiary or
     affiliate engaged in business substantially similar to that of the Employer
     shall be promptly  disclosed to the Employer.  The Employee  hereby assigns
     and  transfers to the Employer all his right,  interest and title  thereon,
     and  such  improvements,   discoveries,   inventions,  designs,  documents,
     licenses  and  patents,  or other data shall  become  the  property  of the
     Employer. During the term of this Agreement and at any time therefore, upon
     request of the Company, the Employee will join and render assistance in any
     proceedings  and  execute  any  papers  necessary  to  file  and  prosecute
     applications  for, and to acquire,  maintain and enforce,  letters  patent,
     trademarks,  registrations  and/or  copyrights,  both domestic and foreign,
     with  respect  to  such  improvements,  discoveries,  inventions,  designs,
     documents,  licenses  and patents or other data as required for vesting and
     maintaining title to same in the Employer.

12.  COST OF  ENFORCEMENT.  In the  event  the  employment  of the  Employee  is
     terminated by the Employer, whether because of disability or without cause,
     or by the Employee for Good  Reason,  and the Company  fails to make timely
     payment of the  amounts  owed to the  Employee  under this  Agreement,  the
     Employee  shall be  entitled to  reimbursement  for all  reasonable  costs,
     incurred  by the  Employee  in taking  action to  collect  such  amounts or
     otherwise to enforce this  Agreement,  plus interest on such amounts at the
     rate of one  percent  above the  prime  rate  (defined  as the base rate or
     corporate loans at large U.S. money center commercial banks as published by
     the Wall Street Journal),  compounded monthly, for the period from the date
     of  employment  termination  until  payment is made to the  Employee.  Such
     reimbursement  and interest shall be in addition to all rights to which the
     Employee is otherwise entitled under this Agreement.

13.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and
     shall be binding upon the parties hereto and the  Employer's  successors or
     assigns (whether resulting from any reorganization, consolidation or merger
     of the Employer) and the Executive's  heirs,  executors and legal regard to
     the invalid parts.

14.  ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.   This  Agreement  contains  the  entire  agreement  and
     understanding  of the parties  with respect to the subject  matter  hereof,
     supercedes all prior agreements and understanding  with respect thereto and
     cannot be modified,  amended,  waived or  terminated,  in whole or in part,
     except in accordance with the terms hereof or by a writing signed by all of
     the parties.  No course of dealings  between the parties during the term of
     this Agreement shall be deemed to amend or expand the obligations of any of
     the  parties  hereto  unless   incorporated  in  a  written  instrument  as
     aforesaid.

15.  NOTICE. Any notice to a party hereto pursuant to this Agreement shall be in
     writing.  Such notice shall be deemed given (i) when delivered  personally,
     by nationally recognized overnight courier service or given by facsimile to
     such party,  upon receipt and confirmation  thereof;  and (ii) when sent by
     certified mail return receipt requested, upon return receipt therefor.

16.  GOVERNING  LAW.  This  Agreement  and all issues  regarding  the  validity,
     construction, interpretation, performance and enforceability thereof, shall
     be  governed  and  construed  exclusively  in  accordance  with the laws of
     Virginia, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern this Agreement
     under applicable conflicts of law principles.

17.  MISCELLANEOUS.  This Agreement:

     (a)  may not  (except as  specifically  provided)  be assigned by any party
          hereto  without the prior  written  consent of the other  parties (any
          purported  assignment hereof in violation of this provision being null
          and void); but

     (b)  may be executed in various counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
          an original,  but all of which together  shall  constitute one and the
          same instrument.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have duly executed this Employment
Agreement this 21st day of August 2000.

                                      BIOQUEST INTERNATIONAL (U.S.A.), INC.

                                      By: /s/ Peter J. Ewens
                                      ---------------------------------
                                      Peter J. Ewens, President and CEO

                                      /s/ Peter J. Ewens
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Peter J. Ewens, individually ("Executive")EXHIBIT 10.2

                          EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
                          BIOQUEST INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                       AND
                                  ROGER MILLER

<PAGE>

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT,  made  as of  the  21st  day  of  August  2000,  among  BIOQUEST
INTERNATIONAL  (U.S.A.),  INC., a Virginia corporation  ("Employer"),  and Roger
Miller,  residing  at 223 Dolphin  Cove  Court,  Bonita  Shores,  Florida  34134
("Executive").
                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  Executive  is  being  retained  as a key  executive  officer  and
employee of Employer and Employer  wishes to retain the services of Executive as
an  employee  and  officer of  Employer,  and  Executive  desires to render such
services;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  mutual  covenants  hereinafter
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   PRIOR AGREEMENTS SUPERSEDED;  EFFECTIVENESS.  This Agreement supersedes any
     employment agreements,  oral or written, entered into between Executive and
     Employer prior to the date of this Agreement.

2.   RETENTION OF SERVICES.  The Employer  hereby agrees to employ the Executive
     and the Executive agrees to accept employment on, and subject to, the terms
     and conditions hereinafter set forth.

3.   TERM OF  EMPLOYMENT.  Subject to earlier  termination  in  accordance  with
     Section 8 hereof,  the term of this Agreement shall commence on October 15,
     2000 and end on October 14, 2005 ("Term of Employment").

4.   DUTIES.  During the Term of Employment,  the Executive shall be employed by
     the Employer as Chief Financial Officer of BioQuest International, Inc. and
     Employer.  The Executive  agrees that he will devote his full business time
     and best efforts  exclusively  to the faithful and diligent  performance of
     all of the duties and responsibilities incident to that position as well as
     all such other executive  duties and  responsibilities  for or on behalf of
     the Employer and its parent or  subsidiaries  (or other  affiliates  it may
     acquire  in the  future)  in that  executive  capacity  as  required  to be
     performed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

5.   COMPENSATION.  For so long as the Executive is employed by the Employer, in
     consideration  of the services  rendered by the  Executive  hereunder,  the
     Employer agrees to pay to the Executive during the Term of Employment,  and
     the Executive agrees to accept as compensation:

     (a)  No salary for the first year of the  Agreement,  and then one  hundred
          fifty thousand dollars ($150,000),  with such subsequent  increases in
          salary  during the term of this  Agreement as may be determined by the
          Compensation  Committee  of the  Board of  Directors.  In  determining
          salary  increases,  the  Compensation  Committee  may  compensate  the
          Employee for  increases in the cost of living and may also provide for
          performance or merit increases. The Salary shall be payable in monthly
          installments  or in  accordance  with the  Employer's  normal  payroll
          policies.

     (b)  In addition to the  foregoing,  the Executive  shall be entitled to an
          incentive in the form of options to be issued under its proposed stock
          option  plan.  Such  stock  option  plan to be  established  for  this
          incentive,  as described  in (c)(iv),  is in lieu of or in addition to
          cash bonuses.  The terms of such  incentive plan will be developed and
          approved by the Board of Directors acting as a Compensation Committee.

     (c)  During the Term of  Employment,  Executive  shall be  entitled  to the
          following benefits and perquisites:

          (i)  participation,  subject  to  qualification  requirements,  in all
               medical  and  hospitalization   plans,  presently  in  effect  or
               hereinafter  instituted  by the  Employer and  applicable  to its
               Executive  employees;  (ii) the use of a suitable  automobile and
               the payment or reimbursement of all expenses  incidental  thereto
               including fuel,  repairs,  insurance as well as registration  and
               inspection fees;

          (iii)sick leave in accordance  with the Employer's  policies in effect
               from time to time for executives of the Employer;

          (iv) participation  in any stock option  and/or stock  purchase  plans
               existing now or hereafter instituted by Employer;

          (v)  participation in the existing or any successor pension and profit
               sharing plans of the Employer ("Employer's Plans");

          (vi) reimbursement  of reasonable  premiums  expended by Executive for
               Disability  Insurance in the maximum  principal amount attainable
               commensurate with Executive's Salary;

          (vii)reimbursement for all reasonable and customary  expenses incurred
               by  the  Employee  in  performing   services  for  the  Employer,
               including all travel and living  expenses while away from home on
               business or at the request of, and in the service of the Company,
               provided  that such  expenses are incurred and  accounted  for in
               accordance  with the policies and  procedures  established by the
               Employer;

          (viii) without loss of pay, to be absent  voluntarily  for  reasonable
               periods  of  time  from  the   performance   of  the  duties  and
               responsibilities   under  this  Agreement.   All  such  voluntary
               absences  shall  count as paid  vacation  time,  unless the Board
               otherwise approves; and

          (ix) entitled to an annual paid vacation of two weeks per year for the
               first  three (3)  years,  three (3) weeks for the next  three (3)
               years and four (4) weeks  thereafter with vacation not taken in a
               calendar year cumulative for a maximum period of three (3) years.
               The timing of paid  vacations  shall be scheduled in a reasonable
               manner by the Employee but,  without prior approval of Employer's
               CEO, may not be taken more than two (2) consecutive  weeks at any
               given time.

6.   DEATH  BENEFIT.  If  Executive  dies during the Term of  Employment,  then,
     provided the Executive  was not in breach of this  Agreement on the date of
     his death,  his monthly  salary shall be continued  for a twelve (12) month
     period  following the date of death and shall be paid to his widow, or to a
     designee  other  than his widow if such  designation  is made in writing by
     Executive,  or if no widow  survives him and no  designation  has been made
     hereunder,  then to his estate  provided that such monthly salary shall not
     be paid for any period beyond the Term of Employment.

7.   DISABILITY.  Subject  to  Section  8 (c)  (iii),  if  during  the  Term  of
     Employment,  the Executive becomes unable for six (6) consecutive months or
     more or during nine (9) out of any twelve (12) months, due to ill health or
     other  incapacitation,  to perform his duties hereunder,  then, on at least
     thirty  (30)  days'  written  notice,   Employer  may  place  Executive  on
     disability status (and he shall then receive such disability  benefits then
     provided to other executive  employees of Employer) at the end of any month
     after said six-month or nine-month period at no salary for the remainder of
     the Term of  Employment  or until  his  disability  ends,  whichever  first
     occurs,  in either case so long as he is otherwise in full  compliance with
     all the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

8.   TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  This  Agreement and,  accordingly,  the Term of
     Employment,  may be  terminated  earlier  than as  specified  in  Section 3
     hereof, upon the happening of any of the following events:

     (a)  Whenever Employer and the Executive shall mutually agree in writing to
          terminate this Agreement.

     (b)  Upon the death of the  Executive,  provided  that in such  event,  the
          amounts due under Paragraph 6 (a) will be paid as provided therein.

     (c)  At the option of the  Employer,  for "Good  Cause",  if the  Executive
          shall:

          (i)  be in breach of or default  under any material  provision of this
               Agreement for a period of thirty (30) days after  written  notice
               of such breach is given by Employer to the Executive;  or (ii) be
               convicted  or  have   acknowledged   the   commission  of  fraud,
               misappropriation, embezzlement or a felony of any kind; or

          (iii)become  totally  incapacitated  so as to preclude  performance of
               the duties of his  employment  hereunder  for a period of six (6)
               consecutive  months or nine (9) months in any  twelve  (12) month
               period.

     (d)  At the  Executive's  option,  if  Employer  shall be in  breach  of or
          default under any material provision of this Agreement for a period of
          thirty (30) days after  written  notice of such breach is given by the
          Executive to the Employer.

9.   COVENANTS.

     (a)  Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. The Executive agrees, that
          at any time during or after he ceases to be employed by the  Employer,
          he will not directly or  indirectly  (except  where  authorized by the
          Board of Directors of the Employer)  divulge to any persons,  firms or
          corporations (hereinafter referred to collectively as "third parties")
          or  use,  or  cause  to  authorize  any  third  parties  to  use,  any
          information  regarded as  confidential  and  valuable by the  Employer
          which he knows or should know is regarded as confidential and valuable
          by the Employer. The non-disclosure  obligations of this Section 9 (a)
          shall  not  be  imposed  with  regard  to  information   which  is  or
          subsequently  becomes,  through  no  fault  of  Executive,   generally
          available  to the public or is disclosed as required by court order or
          by an order of any state or federal regulatory agency.

     (b)  Non-Competition.

          (i)  During the Term of Employment, the Executive will not, anywhere:

               (a') engage,  directly or indirectly,  either  individually or as
                    stockholder,    partner,   officer,   director,    employee,
                    consultant,  agent or otherwise, in any business which is in
                    competition with the Employer or any affiliate thereof;

               (b') solicit  for  employment  or employ,  or cause or  authorize
                    directly or  indirectly  to be solicited  for  employment or
                    employ,  for  or on  behalf  of  himself  or  third  parties
                    ("raid")  any persons  who were at the time the  Executive's
                    employment  hereunder  ended or within six (6) months  prior
                    thereto,   employees  of  the  Employer  or  any  affiliates
                    thereof; or

               (c') at  any  time  remove  from  the  Employer's   premises  any
                    drawings,  notebooks, data and other documents and materials
                    relating to the business  and  procedures  of the  Employer,
                    including any patents,  intellectual  property or inventions
                    developed  by or  for  the  Company,  except  as  reasonably
                    necessary  to the  discharge  of his  duties  hereunder  and
                    shall, upon termination of employment for any reason, return
                    to the Employer all such  documents and materials and copies
                    or extracts thereof.

          (ii) For  three  (3)  years  following  the  Term of  Employment,  the
               Executive will not, anywhere:

               (a') engage,  directly or indirectly,  either  individually or as
                    stockholder,    partner,   officer,   director,    employee,
                    consultant,  agent or otherwise, in any business which is in
                    competition with the Employer or any affiliate thereof; (b')
                    solicit  for  employment  or employ,  or cause or  authorize
                    directly or  indirectly  to be solicited  for  employment or
                    employ,  for  or on  behalf  of  himself  or  third  parties
                    ("raid")  any persons  who were at the time the  Executive's
                    employment  hereunder  ended or within six (6) months  prior
                    thereto,   employees  of  the  Employer  or  any  affiliates
                    thereof; or

               (c') remove  at  any  time  from  the  Employer's   premises  any
                    drawings,  notebooks, data and other documents and materials
                    relating to the business  and  procedures  of the  Employer,
                    including any patents,  intellectual  property or inventions
                    developed  by  or  for  the  Company  except  as  reasonably
                    necessary to the discharge of his duties hereunder and shall
                    upon  termination  of employment  for any reason,  return to
                    Employer  all such  documents  and  materials  and copies or
                    extracts thereof.

10.  INCENTIVE RELIEF AND OTHER REMEDIES.

     (a)  Executive  agrees that any breach or  threatened  breach by him of any
          Section 9 covenants  shall  entitle the  Employer,  on a  non-mutually
          exclusive basis, in addition to any other legal remedies  available to
          it,  to  apply to any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  to  enforce
          specifically the terms of this Agreement.  The parties  understand and
          intend  that  each  restriction  agreed  to  by  Executive  above  and
          elsewhere  herein will be construed as separable  and  divisible  from
          every other restriction and that the unenforceability,  in whole or in
          part, of any other  restriction will not affect the  enforceability of
          the  remaining  restriction  and  that  one or  more  or  all of  such
          restrictions may be enforced in whole or in part, as the circumstances
          warrant.

     (b)  In the event of a breach of the  foregoing  Section 9  covenants,  the
          parties  acknowledge that the Employer may be irreparably  damaged and
          may not  have an  adequate  remedy  at law.  Therefore,  Employer  may
          obtain,  without the necessity of posting a bond,  injunctive or other
          appropriate  equitable  relief for any breach or threatened  breach of
          such  covenants.  The parties  hereto  further  acknowledge  that such
          covenants are intended to conform to the extent required with the laws
          of Virginia.  Any court of competent jurisdiction is hereby authorized
          to expand or contract the geographical, temporal or other restrictions
          of such  covenants  in order to conform  with the laws of  Virginia so
          that it shall  bind the  parties  hereto  and be  enforceable  by that
          court.

     (d)  If any of the covenants  contained in Section 9 or any aspects thereof
          are  construed  to be  invalid  or  unenforceable,  the same shall not
          affect the  remainder  of the  covenant or  covenants,  which shall be
          given full effect, without regard to the invalid parts.

11.  OWNERSHIP. All improvements,  discoveries,  inventions, designs, documents,
     licenses and patents, or other data devised,  conceived,  made,  developed,
     obtained,  filed,  perfected,  acquired,  or first reduced to practice,  in
     whole or in part,  or in the regular  cause of  employment  by the Employee
     during the term of this Agreement,  and related in any way to the Business,
     including  development  and research,  of the Employer or any subsidiary or
     affiliate engaged in business substantially similar to that of the Employer
     shall be promptly  disclosed to the Employer.  The Employee  hereby assigns
     and  transfers to the Employer all his right,  interest and title  thereon,
     and  such  improvements,   discoveries,   inventions,  designs,  documents,
     licenses  and  patents,  or other data shall  become  the  property  of the
     Employer. During the term of this Agreement and at any time therefore, upon
     request of the Company, the Employee will join and render assistance in any
     proceedings  and  execute  any  papers  necessary  to  file  and  prosecute
     applications  for, and to acquire,  maintain and enforce,  letters  patent,
     trademarks,  registrations  and/or  copyrights,  both domestic and foreign,
     with  respect  to  such  improvements,  discoveries,  inventions,  designs,
     documents,  licenses  and patents or other data as required for vesting and
     maintaining title to same in the Employer.

12.  COST OF  ENFORCEMENT.  In the  event  the  employment  of the  Employee  is
     terminated by the Employer, whether because of disability or without cause,
     or by the Employee for Good  Reason,  and the Company  fails to make timely
     payment of the  amounts  owed to the  Employee  under this  Agreement,  the
     Employee  shall be  entitled to  reimbursement  for all  reasonable  costs,
     incurred  by the  Employee  in taking  action to  collect  such  amounts or
     otherwise to enforce this  Agreement,  plus interest on such amounts at the
     rate of one  percent  above the  prime  rate  (defined  as the base rate or
     corporate loans at large U.S. money center commercial banks as published by
     the Wall Street Journal),  compounded monthly, for the period from the date
     of  employment  termination  until  payment is made to the  Employee.  Such
     reimbursement  and interest shall be in addition to all rights to which the
     Employee is otherwise entitled under this Agreement.

13.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and
     shall be binding upon the parties hereto and the  Employer's  successors or
     assigns (whether resulting from any reorganization, consolidation or merger
     of the Employer) and the Executive's  heirs,  executors and legal regard to
     the invalid parts.

14.  ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.   This  Agreement  contains  the  entire  agreement  and
     understanding  of the parties  with respect to the subject  matter  hereof,
     supercedes all prior agreements and understanding  with respect thereto and
     cannot be modified,  amended,  waived or  terminated,  in whole or in part,
     except in accordance with the terms hereof or by a writing signed by all of
     the parties.  No course of dealings  between the parties during the term of
     this Agreement shall be deemed to amend or expand the obligations of any of
     the  parties  hereto  unless   incorporated  in  a  written  instrument  as
     aforesaid.

15.  NOTICE. Any notice to a party hereto pursuant to this Agreement shall be in
     writing.  Such notice shall be deemed given (i) when delivered  personally,
     by nationally recognized overnight courier service or given by facsimile to
     such party,  upon receipt and confirmation  thereof;  and (ii) when sent by
     certified mail return receipt requested, upon return receipt therefore.

16.  GOVERNING  LAW.  This  Agreement  and all issues  regarding  the  validity,
     construction, interpretation, performance and enforceability thereof, shall
     be  governed  and  construed  exclusively  in  accordance  with the laws of
     Virginia, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern this Agreement
     under applicable conflicts of law principles.

17.  MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement:

     (a)  may not  (except as  specifically  provided)  be assigned by any party
          hereto  without the prior  written  consent of the other  parties (any
          purported  assignment hereof in violation of this provision being null
          and void); but

     (c)  may be executed in various counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
          an original,  but all of which together  shall  constitute one and the
          same instrument.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have duly executed this Employment
Agreement this 21st day of August 2000.

                                        BIOQUEST INTERNATIONAL (U.S.A.), INC.

                                        By: /s/Peter J. Ewens
                                        ------------------
                                        Peter J. Ewens, President

                                        By: /s/ Roger Miller
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Roger Miller, individually ("Executive")

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