Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                              DURECT CORPORATION

                                2000 STOCK PLAN

                           (as amended, April 2000)

     1.   Purposes of the Plan.  The purposes of this 2000 Stock Plan are to
          --------------------
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees and Consultants of
the Company and its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of the Company's
business.  Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options (as
defined under Section 422 of the Code) or Nonstatutory Stock Options, as
determined by the Administrator at the time of grant of an option and subject to
the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.  Stock purchase rights may also be granted
under the Plan.

     2.   Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
          -----------

          (a) "Administrator" means the Board or any of its Committees appointed
               -------------
pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

          (b) "Applicable Laws" means the legal requirements relating to the
               ---------------
administration of stock option and restricted stock purchase plans under
applicable U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and applicable state
securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange rules or regulations and the
applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Options or Stock
Purchase Rights are granted under the Plan, as such laws, rules, regulations and
requirements shall be in place from time to time.

          (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
               -----

          (d) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
               ----

          (e) "Committee" means the Committee appointed by the Board of
               ---------
Directors in accordance with Section 4(a) and (b) of the Plan.

          (f) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company.
               ------------

          (g) "Company" means Durect Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
               -------

          (h) "Consultant" means any person, including an advisor, who is
               ----------
engaged by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to render services and is
compensated for such services, and any Director of the Company whether
compensated for such services or not.

          (i) "Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant" means the absence
               ----------------------------------------------
of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee or Consultant.
Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant shall not be considered
interrupted in the case of:  (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any
other leave of absence approved by the Administrator, provided that
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such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon
the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless
provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; or (iv)
in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the
Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective successors. For purposes of this
Plan, a change in status from an Employee to a Consultant or from a Consultant
to an Employee will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Status as an
Employee or Consultant.

          (j) "Director" means a member of the Board of Directors of the
               --------
Company.

          (k) "Employee" means any person (including, if appropriate, Officers,
               --------
Directors and Named Executives), employed by the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company, with the status of employment determined based upon
such minimum number of hours or periods worked as shall be determined by the
Administrator in its discretion, subject to any requirements of the Code.  The
payment by the Company of a director's fee to a Director shall not be sufficient
to constitute "employment" of such Director by the Company.

          (l) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
               ------------
amended.

          (m) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the fair market value
               -----------------
of Common Stock determined as follows:

              (i)   If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system including without limitation the National
Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation ("Nasdaq") System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales
            ------
price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported), as quoted
on such system or exchange, or the exchange with the greatest volume of trading
in Common Stock for the last market trading day prior to the time of
determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Administrator deems reliable;

              (ii)  If the Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq System (but not
on the National Market thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities
dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the
mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock for the last
market trading day prior to the time of determination, as reported in The Wall
Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

              (iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Administrator.

          (n) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to qualify as an
               ----------------------
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, as
designated in the applicable written Option Agreement.

          (o) "Listed Security" means any security of the Company that is listed
               ---------------
or approved for listing on a national securities exchange or designated or
approved for designation

                                      -2-
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as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation system by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

          (p)  "Named Executive" means any individual who, on the last day of
               ---------------
the Company's fiscal year, is the chief executive officer of the Company (or is
acting in such capacity) or among the four most highly compensated officers of
the Company (other than the chief executive officer). Such officer status shall
be determined pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules under the
Exchange Act.

          (q)  "Officer" means a person who is an officer of the Company within
                -------
the meaning of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

          (r)  "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to
                -------------------------
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, as designated in the applicable written
Option Agreement.

          (s)  "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
                ------

          (t)  "Option Agreement" means a written agreement between an Optionee
                ----------------
and the Company reflecting the terms of an Option granted under the Plan and
includes any documents attached to such Option Agreement, including, but not
limited to, a notice of stock option grant and a form of exercise notice.

          (u)  "Optioned Stock" means the Common Stock subject to an Option or a
                --------------
Stock Purchase Right.

          (v)  "Optionee" means an Employee or Consultant who receives an Option
                --------
or a Stock Purchase Right.

          (w)  "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter
                ------
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor provision.

          (x)  "Plan" means this 2000 Stock Plan.
                ----

          (y)  "Reporting Person" means an Officer, Director, or greater than
                ----------------
10% stockholder of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-2 under the
Exchange Act, who is required to file reports pursuant to Rule 16a-3 under the
Exchange Act.

          (z)  "Restricted Stock" means shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant
                ----------------
to a grant of a Stock Purchase Right under Section 11 below.

          (aa) "Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement" means a written agreement
                -----------------------------------
between a holder of a Stock Purchase Right and the Company reflecting the terms
of a Stock Purchase Right granted under the Plan and includes any documents
attached to such agreement.

          (bb) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act,
                ----------
as the same may be amended from time to time, or any successor provision.

                                      -3-
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          (cc) "Share" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
                -----
accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

          (dd) "Stock Exchange" means any stock exchange or consolidated stock
                --------------
price reporting system on which prices for the Common Stock are quoted at any
given time.

          (ee) "Stock Purchase Right" means the right to purchase Common Stock
                --------------------
pursuant to Section 11 below.

          (ff) "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or
                ----------
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor
provision.

          (gg) "Ten Percent Holder" means a person who owns stock representing
                ------------------
more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.

     3.   Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 12 of
          -------------------------
the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be optioned and sold
under the Plan is 1,796,500 shares of Common Stock, plus an automatic annual
increase on the first day of each of the Company's fiscal years beginning in
2001 and ending in 2010 equal to the lesser of (i)  2,250,000 Shares, (ii) five
percent (5%) of the Shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately
preceding fiscal year, or (iii) such lesser number of shares as is determined by
the Board of Directors. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or
reacquired Common Stock.

     If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without
having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares that were subject thereto
shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future
grant under the Plan.  In addition, any Shares of Common Stock which are
retained by the Company upon exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right in
order to satisfy the exercise or purchase price for such Option or Stock
Purchase Right or any withholding taxes due with respect to such exercise shall
be treated as not issued and shall continue to be available under the Plan.
Shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to any repurchase right which the
Company may have shall not be available for future grant under the Plan.

     4.   Administration of the Plan.
          --------------------------

          (a)  General.  The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a
               -------
Committee, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Board.  The Plan may
be administered by different administrative bodies with respect to different
classes of Optionees and, if permitted by the Applicable Laws, the Board may
authorize one or more officers (who may (but need not) be Officers) to grant
Options and Stock Purchase Rights to Employees and Consultants.

          (b)  Administration With Respect to Reporting Persons.  With respect
               ------------------------------------------------
to Options and Stock Purchase Rights granted to Reporting Persons and Named
Executives, the Plan may (but need not) be administered so as to permit such
Options and Stock Purchase Rights

                                      -4-
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to qualify for the exemption set forth in Rule 16b-3 and to qualify as
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

          (c)  Committee Composition.  If a Committee has been appointed
               ---------------------
pursuant to this Section 4, such Committee shall continue to serve in its
designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. From time to time the
Board may increase the size of any Committee and appoint additional members
thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in
substitution therefor, fill vacancies (however caused) and remove all members of
a Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent
permitted by the Applicable Laws and, in the case of a Committee administering
the Plan pursuant to Section 4(b) above, to the extent permitted or required by
Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) of the Code.

          (d)  Powers of the Administrator.  Subject to the provisions of the
               ---------------------------
Plan and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board
to such Committee, and subject to the approval of any relevant authorities,
including the approval, if required, of any Stock Exchange, the Administrator
shall have the authority, in its discretion:

               (i)    to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, in
accordance with Section 2(m) of the Plan;

               (ii)   to select the Consultants and Employees to whom Options
and Stock Purchase Rights or any combination thereof may from time to time be
granted hereunder;

               (iii)  to determine whether and to what extent Options and Stock
Purchase Rights or any combination thereof are granted hereunder;

               (iv)   to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by each such award granted hereunder;

               (v)    to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

               (vi)   to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder;

               (vii)  to reduce the exercise price of any Option to the then
current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered
by such Option shall have declined since the date the Option was granted;

               (viii) to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to
Stock Purchase Rights and the Restricted Stock purchased by exercising such
Stock Purchase Rights; and

               (ix)   to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards
granted pursuant to the Plan; and

               (x)    in order to fulfill the purposes of the Plan and without
amending the Plan, to modify grants of Options or Stock Purchase Rights to
participants who are foreign

                                      -5-
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nationals or employed outside of the United States in order to recognize
differences in local law, tax policies or customs.

          (e)  Effect of Administrator's Decision.  All decisions,
               ----------------------------------
determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and
binding on all holders of Options or Stock Purchase Rights.

     5.   Eligibility.
          -----------

          (a)  Recipients of Grants.  Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock
               --------------------
Purchase Rights may be granted to Employees and Consultants.  Incentive Stock
Options may be granted only to Employees.  An Employee or Consultant who has
been granted an Option or Stock Purchase Right may, if he or she is otherwise
eligible, be granted additional Options or Stock Purchase Rights.

          (b)  Type of Option.  Each Option shall be designated in the Option
               --------------
Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate
Fair Market Value of Shares with respect to which Options designated as
Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee
during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as
Nonstatutory Stock Options.  For purposes of this Section 5(b), Incentive Stock
Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and
the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to an Incentive Stock Option shall
be determined as of the date of the grant of such Option.

          (c)  Employment Relationship.  The Plan shall not confer upon the
               -----------------------
holder of any Option or Stock Purchase Right any right with respect to
continuation of employment or consulting relationship with the Company, nor
shall it interfere in any way with such holder's right or the Company's right to
terminate his or her employment or consulting relationship at any time, with or
without cause.

     6.   Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
          ------------
occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the
stockholders of the Company as described in Section 20 of the Plan.  It shall
continue in effect for a term of ten years unless sooner terminated under
Section 16 of the Plan.

     7.   Term of Option.  The term of each Option shall be the term stated in
          --------------
the Option Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall be no more than ten
years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in
the Option Agreement and provided further that, in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns
stock representing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the
Option shall be five years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term
as may be provided in the Option Agreement.

                                      -6-
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     8.   Limitation on Grants to Employees.  Subject to adjustment as provided
          ---------------------------------
in Section 13 below, the maximum number of Shares which may be subject to
Options granted to any one Employee under this Plan for any fiscal year of the
Company shall be 1,500,000 Shares.

     9.   Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
          ---------------------------------------

          (a)  The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant
to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Board and
set forth in the applicable agreement, but shall be subject to the following:

               (i)   In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is:

                     (A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of
such Incentive Stock Option, is a Ten Percent Holder, the per Share exercise
price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date
of grant.

                     (B) granted to any other Employee, the per Share exercise
price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date
of grant.

               (ii)  In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option that is:

                     (A) granted prior to the date, if any, on which the Common
Stock becomes a Listed Security, to a person who, at the time of the grant of
such Option, is a Ten Percent Holder, the per Share exercise price shall be no
less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the grant.

                     (B) granted, prior to the date, if any on which the Common
Stock becomes a Listed Security, to any other person, the per share Exercise
Price shall be no less than 85% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant,
if required by the Applicable Laws and, if not so required, shall be such price
as it determined by the Administrator; or

                     (C) granted on or after the date, if any, on which the
Common Stock becomes a Listed Security to any person, the per Share exercise
price shall be such price as determined by the Administrator; provided, however,
that if the person is, at the time of grant of such option, a Named Executive of
the Company, the per share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value per Share on the date of grant if such Option is intended to
qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code; or

               (iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with
a per Share exercise price other than as required above pursuant to a merger or
other corporate transaction.

          (b)  The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon
exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by
the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be
determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of (1) cash, (2)
check, (3) promissory note (subject to the provisions of Section 153 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law), (4) other Shares that (x) in the case of
Shares acquired

                                      -7-
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upon exercise of an Option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six
months on the date of surrender or such other period as may be required to avoid
a charge to the Company's earnings, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date
of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which
such Option shall be exercised, (5) authorization for the Company to retain from
the total number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised that number of
Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise
price for the total number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised, (6)
delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with such other
documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if applicable, shall require
to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to the Company of the sale or
loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price and any applicable income or
employment taxes, (7) delivery of an irrevocable subscription agreement for the
Shares that irrevocably obligates the option holder to take and pay for the
Shares not more than twelve months after the date of delivery of the
subscription agreement, (8) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment,
or (9) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares
to the extent permitted under the Applicable Laws. In making its determination
as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if
acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the
Company.

     10.  Exercise of Option.
          ------------------

          (a)  Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder.  Any Option
               -----------------------------------------------
granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the Administrator, including performance criteria with respect
to the Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms
of the Plan; provided, however, that if required by the Applicable Laws, any
Option granted prior to the date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a
Listed Security shall become exercisable at the rate of at least 20% per year
over five years from the date the Option is granted.  In the event that any of
the Shares issued upon exercise of an Option (which exercise occurs prior to the
date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security) should be
subject to a right of repurchase in the Company's favor, such repurchase right
shall, if required by the Applicable Laws, lapse at the rate of at least 20% per
year over five years from the date the Option is granted.  Notwithstanding the
above, in the case of an Option granted to an officer (including but not limited
to Officers), Director or Consultant of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary
of the Company, the Option may become fully exercisable, and a repurchase right,
if any, in favor of the Company shall lapse, at any time or during any period
established by the Administrator.

     An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

     An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such
exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the
Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and the Company has
received full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is
exercised.  Full payment may, as authorized by the Board, consist of any
consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 9(b) of the Plan.
Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the
Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock
certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any
other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

the Optioned Stock, not withstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company
shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon
exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right
for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued,
except as provided in Section 13 of the Plan.

     Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the
number of Shares that thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan
and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is
exercised.

          (b)  Termination of Employment or Consulting Relationship.  Subject to
               ----------------------------------------------------
Section 10(c) below, in the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous
Status as an Employee or Consultant with the Company, such Optionee may, but
only within three months (or such other period of time not less than 30 days as
is determined by the Administrator, with such determination in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of grant of the Option and not
exceeding three months) after the date of such termination (but in no event
later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the
Option Agreement), exercise his or her Option to the extent that the Optionee
was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.  To the extent that
the Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of such
termination, or if the Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so
entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.  No
termination shall be deemed to occur and this Section 10(b) shall not apply if
(i) the Optionee is a Consultant who becomes an Employee, or (ii) the Optionee
is an Employee who becomes a Consultant.

          (c)  Disability of Optionee.
               ----------------------

          (i)  Notwithstanding Section 10(b) above, in the event of termination
of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of
his or her total and permanent disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code), such Optionee may, but only within twelve months from the
date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of the
term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the Option
to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.
To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the
date of termination, or if the Optionee does not exercise such Option to the
extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

          (ii) In the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as
an Employee or Consultant as a result of a disability which does not fall within
the meaning of total and permanent disability (as set forth in Section 22(e)(3)
of the Code), such Optionee may, but only within six months from the date of
such termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of
such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the Option to the
extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.
However, to the extent that such Optionee fails to exercise an Option which is
an Incentive Stock Option ("ISO") (within the meaning of Section 422 of the
                            ---
Code) within three months of the date of such termination, the Option will not
qualify for ISO treatment under the Code.  To the extent that the Optionee was
not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if the
Optionee

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within six months from
the date of termination, the Option shall terminate.

          (d)  Death of Optionee.  In the event of the death of an Optionee
               -----------------
during the period of Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant since the
date of grant of the Option, or within 30 days following termination of the
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant, the Option may be
exercised, at any time within six months following the date of death (but in no
event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in
the Option Agreement), by such Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the
right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent
of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of death or, if earlier,
the date of termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant.  To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise the
Option at the date of death or termination, as the case may be, or if the
Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time
specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

          (e)  Extension of Exercise Period.  The Administrator shall have full
               ----------------------------
power and authority to extend the period of time for which an Option is to
remain exercisable following termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as
an Employee or Consultant from the periods set forth in Sections 10(b), 10(c)
and 10(d) above or in the Option Agreement to such greater time as the Board
shall deem appropriate, provided that in no event shall such Option be
exercisable later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set
forth in the Option Agreement.

          (f)  Rule 16b-3.  Options granted to Reporting Persons shall comply
               ----------
with Rule 16b-3 and shall contain such additional conditions or restrictions as
may be required thereunder to qualify for the maximum exemption for Plan
transactions.

     11.  Stock Purchase Rights.
          ---------------------

          (a)  Rights to Purchase.  Stock Purchase Rights may be issued either
               ------------------
alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other awards granted under the Plan
and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan.  After the Administrator determines
that it will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall advise the
offeree in writing of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to the
offer, including the number of Shares that such person shall be entitled to
purchase, the price to be paid, and the time within which such person must
accept such offer, which shall in no event exceed 30 days from the date upon
which the Administrator made the determination to grant the Stock Purchase
Right. If required by the Applicable Laws, the purchase price of Shares subject
to Stock Purchase Rights shall not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of
the Shares as of the date of the offer, or, in the case of a Ten Percent Holder,
the price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares as
of the date of the offer.  If the Applicable Laws do not impose restrictions on
the purchase price, the purchase price of Shares subject to Stock Purchase
Rights shall be as determined by the Administrator.  The offer to purchase
Shares subject to Stock Purchase Rights shall be accepted by execution of a
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement in the form determined by the Administrator.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

          (b)  Repurchase Option. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise,
               -----------------
the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase
option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the
purchaser's employment with the Company for any reason (including death or
disability).  The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall be the original purchase price paid by
the purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the
purchaser to the Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at such rate as the
Administrator may determine; provided, however, that with respect to an Optionee
who is not an officer, director or Consultant of the Company or of any Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company, it shall lapse at a minimum rate of 20% per year if
required by the Applicable Laws.

          (c)  Other Provisions.  The Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall
               ----------------
contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the
Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.  In
addition, the provisions of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements need not be the
same with respect to each purchaser.

          (d)  Rights as a Stockholder.  Once the Stock Purchase Right is
               -----------------------
exercised, the purchaser shall have the rights equivalent to those of a
stockholder, and shall be a stockholder when his or her purchase is entered upon
the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company.  No adjustment
will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to
the date the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except as provided in Section 12
of the Plan.

     12.  Taxes.
          -----

          (a)  As a condition of the exercise of an Option granted under the
Plan, the Participant (or in the case of the Participant's death, the person
exercising the Option) shall make such arrangements as the Administrator may
require for the satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign
withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise of
Option and the issuance of Shares.  The Company shall not be required to issue
any Shares under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.

          (b)  In the case of an Employee and in the absence of any other
arrangement, the Employee shall be deemed to have directed the Company to
withhold or collect from his or her compensation an amount sufficient to satisfy
such tax obligations from the next payroll payment otherwise payable after the
date of an exercise of the Option.

          (c)  This Section 12(c) shall apply only after the date, if any, upon
which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security.  In the case of Participant
other than an Employee (or in the case of an Employee where the next payroll
payment is not sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, with respect to any
remaining tax obligations), in the absence of any other arrangement and to the
extent permitted under the Applicable Laws, the Participant shall be deemed to
have elected to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon
exercise of the Option that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value
determined as of the applicable Tax Date (as defined below) equal to the minimum
statutory amounts required to be withheld.  For purposes of this Section 12, the
Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be
determined under the Applicable Laws (the "Tax Date").
                                           --------

          (d)  If permitted by the Administrator, in its discretion, a
Participant may satisfy his or her tax withholding obligations upon exercise of
an Option or Stock Purchase Right by surrendering to the Company Shares that (i)
in the case of Shares previously acquired from the Company, have been owned by
the Participant for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii)
have a Fair Market Value determined as of the applicable Tax Date equal to the
minimum statutory amounts required to be withheld.

          (e)  Any election or deemed election by a Participant to have Shares
withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations under Section 12(c) or (d) above
shall be irrevocable as to the particular Shares as to which the election is
made and shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of the Administrator.
Any election by a Participant under Section 12(d) above must be made on or prior
to the applicable Tax Date.

          (f)  In the event an election to have Shares withheld is made by a
Participant and the Tax Date is deferred under Section 83 of the Code because no
election is filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Participant shall receive
the full number of Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised but such
Participant shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company the
proper number of Shares on the applicable Tax Date.

     13.  Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Merger or Certain Other
          -------------------------------------------------------------------
Transactions.
------------

          (a)  Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the
               -------------------------
stockholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, and the number of shares of
Common Stock that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to
which no Options or Stock Purchase Rights have yet been granted or that have
been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option or Stock
Purchase Right, and the number of shares set forth in Sections 3(a)(i) and 8
above, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each such
outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, shall be proportionately adjusted
for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock
resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination,
recapitalization or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase
or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without
receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of
any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been
"effected without receipt of consideration."  Such adjustment shall be made by
the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and
conclusive.  Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of
shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of
any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with
respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option
or Stock Purchase Right.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

          (b)  Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the proposed
               --------------------------
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Board shall notify the Optionee
at least 15 days prior to such proposed action.  To the extent it has not been
previously exercised, the Option or Stock Purchase Right will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

          (c)  Merger or Sale of Assets.  In the event of a proposed sale of all
               ------------------------
or substantially all of the Company's assets or a merger of the Company with or
into another corporation where the successor corporation issues its securities
to the Company's stockholders, each outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right
shall be assumed or an equivalent option or right shall be substituted by such
successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation,
unless the successor corporation does not agree to assume the Option or Stock
Purchase Right or to substitute an equivalent option or right, in which case
such Option or Stock Purchase Right shall accelerate immediately prior to the
consummation of the merger or sale of assets. For purposes of this Section
13(c), an Option or a Stock Purchase Right shall be considered assumed, without
limitation, if, at the time of issuance of the stock or other consideration upon
such merger or sale of assets, each holder of an Option or a Stock Purchase
Right would be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase
Right the same number and kind of shares of stock or the same amount of
property, cash or securities as such holder would have been entitled to receive
upon the occurrence of such transaction if the holder had been, immediately
prior to such transaction, the holder of the number of Shares of Common Stock
covered by the Option or the Stock Purchase Right at such time (after giving
effect to any adjustments in the number of Shares covered by the Option or Stock
Purchase Right as provided for in this Section 13).

          (d)  Certain Distributions.  In the event of any distribution to the
               ---------------------
Company's stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (other
than dividends payable in cash or stock of the Company) without receipt of
consideration by the Company, the Administrator may, in its discretion,
appropriately adjust the price per share of Common Stock covered by each
outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right to reflect the effect of such
distribution.

     14.  Non-Transferability of Options and Stock Purchase Rights.  Options and
          --------------------------------------------------------
Stock Purchase Rights may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated,
transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of
descent or distribution provided that, after the date, if any, upon which the
Common Stock becomes a Listed Security, the Administrator may in its discretion
grant transferable Nonstatutory Stock Options pursuant to Option Agreements
specifying (i) the manner in which such Nonstatutory Stock Options are
transferable and (ii) that any such transfer shall be subject to the Applicable
Laws.  The designation of a beneficiary by an Optionee will not constitute a
transfer.  Options and Stock Purchase Rights may be exercised or purchased
during the lifetime of the Optionee or Stock Purchase Rights Holder only by the
Optionee or Stock Purchase Rights Holder.

     15.  Time of Granting Options and Stock Purchase Rights.  The date of grant
          --------------------------------------------------
of an Option or Stock Purchase Right shall, for all purposes, be the date on
which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Option or Stock
Purchase Right, or such other date as is determined by the Board; provided,
however, that in the case of any Incentive Stock Option, the grant date shall be
the later of the date on which the Administrator makes the determination

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

granting such Incentive Stock Option or the date of commencement of the
Optionee's employment relationship with the Company. Notice of the determination
shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an Option or Stock
Purchase Right is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such
grant.

     16.  Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
          -------------------------------------

          (a)  Authority to Amend or Terminate.  The Board may at any time
               -------------------------------
amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration,
suspension or discontinuation shall be made that would impair the rights of any
Optionee under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In
addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with the Applicable
Laws, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in
such a manner and to such a degree as required.

          (b)  Effect of Amendment or Termination.  No amendment or termination
               ----------------------------------
of the Plan shall adversely affect Options already granted, unless mutually
agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board, which agreement must be in
writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

     17.  Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.  Shares shall not be issued
          ----------------------------------
pursuant to the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right unless the
exercise of such Option or Stock Purchase Right and the issuance and delivery of
such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law,
including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the
requirements of any Stock Exchange.

     As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the
person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such
exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any
present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by law.

     18.  Reservation of Shares.  The Company, during the term of this Plan,
          ---------------------
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.  The inability of the
Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which
authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful
issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any
liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which
such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

     19.  Agreements.  Options and Stock Purchase Rights shall be evidenced by
          ----------
written Option Agreements and Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements,
respectively, in such form(s) as the Administrator shall approve from time to
time.

     20.  Stockholder Approval.  Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
          --------------------
approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve months before or after
the date the Plan is

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

adopted. Such stockholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner
required under the Applicable Laws. All Options and Stock Purchase Rights issued
under the Plan shall become void in the event such approval is not obtained.

     21.  Information and Documents to Optionees and Purchasers.  Prior to the
          -----------------------------------------------------
date, if any, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security and if
required by the Applicable Laws, the Company shall provide financial statements
at least annually to each Optionee and to each individual who acquired Shares
Pursuant to the Plan, during the period such Optionee or purchaser has one or
more Options or Stock Purchase Rights outstanding, and in the case of an
individual who acquired Shares pursuant to the Plan, during the period such
individual owns such Shares.  The Company shall not be required to provide such
information if the issuance of Options or Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan
is limited to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure
their access to equivalent information.  In addition, at the time of issuance of
any securities under the Plan, the Company shall provide to the Optionee or the
Purchaser a copy of the Plan and any agreement(s) pursuant to which securities
granted under the Plan are issued.

                                      -15-<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                               DURECT CORPORATION

                       2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                       ---------------------------------

     The following constitute the provisions of the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan of Durect Corporation.

     1.   Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the
          -------
Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common
Stock of the Company.  It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan
qualify as an "Employee Stock Purchase Plan" under Section 423 of the Code.  The
provisions of the Plan shall, accordingly, be construed so as to extend and
limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section
of the Code.

     2.   Definitions.
          -----------

          (a) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
               -----

          (b) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
               ----

          (c) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company.
               ------------

          (d) "Company" means Durect Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
               -------

          (e) "Compensation" means all regular straight time gross earnings, and
               ------------
shall not include payments for overtime, shift premium, incentive compensation,
incentive payments, bonuses, commissions and other compensation.

          (f) "Continuous Status as an Employee" means the absence of any
               --------------------------------
interruption or termination of service as an Employee.  Continuous Status as an
Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) sick leave; (ii)
military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Administrator,
provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless
reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or
statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from
time to time; or (iv) in the case of transfers between locations of the Company
or between the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries.

          (g) "Contributions" means all amounts credited to the account of a
               -------------
participant pursuant to the Plan.

          (h) "Corporate Transaction" means a sale of all or substantially all
               ---------------------
of the Company's assets, or a merger, consolidation or other capital
reorganization of the Company with or into another corporation.

          (i) "Designated Subsidiaries" means the Subsidiaries which have been
               -----------------------
designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to
participate in the Plan; provided however that the Board shall only have the
discretion to designate Subsidiaries if
<PAGE>

the issuance of options to such Subsidiary's Employees pursuant to the Plan
would not cause the Company to incur adverse accounting charges.

          (j) "Employee" means any person, including an Officer, who is
               --------
customarily employed for at least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five
(5) months in a calendar year by the Company or one of its Designated
Subsidiaries.

          (k) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
               ------------
amended.

          (l) "Offering Date" means the first business day of each Offering
               -------------
Period of the Plan.

          (m) "Offering Period" means a period of [twenty-four (24)] months
               ---------------
commencing on [August 1] and [February 1] of each year, except for the first
Offering Period and as otherwise as set forth in Section 4(a).

          (n) "Officer" means a person who is an officer of the Company within
               -------
the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

          (o) "Plan" means this Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
               ----

          (p) "Purchase Date" means the last day of each Purchase Period of the
               -------------
Plan.

          (q) "Purchase Period" means a period of six (6) months within an
               ---------------
Offering Period, except for the first Purchase Period as set forth in Section
4(b).

          (r) "Purchase Price" means with respect to a Purchase Period an amount
               --------------
equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 7(b) below) of a
Share of Common Stock on the Offering Date or on the Purchase Date, whichever is
lower; provided, however, that in the event (i) of any increase in the number of
Shares available for issuance under the Plan as a result of a stockholder-
approved amendment to the Plan, and (ii) all or a portion of such additional
Shares are to be issued with respect to one or more Offering Periods that are
underway at the time of such increase ("Additional Shares"), and (iii) the Fair
                                        -----------------
Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the date of such increase (the
"Approval Date Fair Market Value") is higher than the Fair Market Value on the
--------------------------------
Offering Date for any such Offering Period, then in such instance the Purchase
Price with respect to Additional Shares shall be 85% of the Approval Date Fair
Market Value or the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the Purchase
Date, whichever is lower.

          (s) "Share" means a share of Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance
               -----
with Section 19 of the Plan.

          (t) "Subsidiary" means a corporation, domestic or foreign, of which
               ----------
not less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company or a Subsidiary,
whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired
by the Company or a Subsidiary.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     3.   Eligibility.
          -----------

          (a)  Any person who is an Employee as of the Offering Date of a given
Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in such Offering Period under
the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 5(a) and the limitations
imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code.

          (b)  Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no
Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) if, immediately after the
grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to
such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of
the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing five
percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes
of stock of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) if such
option would permit his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock
purchase plans (described in Section 423 of the Code) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000) of the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 7(b) below) of such
stock (determined at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in
which such option is outstanding at any time.

     4.   Offering Periods and Purchase Periods.
          -------------------------------------

          (a) Offering Periods.  The Plan shall be implemented by a series of
              ----------------
Offering Periods of approximately twenty-four (24) months duration, with new
Offering Periods commencing on or about August 1 and February 1 of each year (or
at such other time or times as may be determined by the Board of Directors).
The first Offering Period shall commence on the beginning of the effective date
of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 for the initial public offering of the
Company's Common Stock (the "IPO Date") and continue until July 31, 2002.    The
                             --------
Plan shall continue until terminated in accordance with Section 20 hereof.  The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the power to change the duration
and/or the frequency of Offering Periods with respect to future offerings
without stockholder approval if such change is announced at least five (5) days
prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected.

          (b) Purchase Periods.  Each Offering Period shall consist of four (4)
              ----------------
consecutive Purchase Periods of six (6) months' duration.  The last day of each
Purchase Period shall be the "Purchase Date" for such Purchase Period.  A
                              -------------
Purchase Period commencing on August 1 shall end on the next January 31 and a
Purchase Period commencing on February 1 shall end on the next July 31.  The
first Purchase Period shall commence on the IPO Date and shall end on January
31, 2001.  The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the power to change
the duration and/or frequency of Purchase Periods with respect to future
purchases without stockholder approval if such change is announced at least five
(5) days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Purchase Period to be
affected.

     5.   Participation.
          -------------

          (a)  An eligible Employee may become a participant in the Plan by
completing an enrollment agreement on the form provided by the Company and it to
the Company prior to

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

the applicable Offering Date. The enrollment agreement shall set forth the
percentage of the participant's Compensation (subject to Section 6(a) below) to
be paid as Contributions pursuant to the Plan.

          (b)  Payroll deductions shall commence on the first full payroll paid
following the Offering Date and shall end on the last payroll paid on or prior
to the last Purchase Period of the Offering Period to which the enrollment
agreement is applicable, unless sooner terminated by the participant as provided
in Section 10.

     6.   Method of Payment of Contributions.
          ----------------------------------

          (a)  A participant shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each
payday during the Offering Period in an amount not less that one percent (1%)
and not more than 20 (or such greater percentage as the Board may establish from
time to time before an Offering Date) of such participant's Compensation on each
payday during an Offering Period; provided that to the extent a participant is
participating in more than one Offering Period, the maximum percentage of
Compensation that may be contributed under the Plan shall be twenty percent
(20%).  All payroll deductions made by a participant shall be credited to his or
her account under the Plan.  A participant may not make any additional payments
into such account.

          (b)  A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the
Plan as provided in Section 10, or, on one occasion only during a Purchase
Period may increase and on one occasion only during a Purchase Period may
decrease the rate of his or her Contributions with respect to the Offering
Period, by completing and filing with the Company a new enrollment agreement
authorizing a change in the payroll deduction rate. Any change in rate of
Contributions pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be effective as of the
beginning of the next calendar month following the date of filing of the new
enrollment agreement, provided the agreement indicating such change is filed at
least ten (10) business days prior to such date and, if not, then as of the
beginning of the next succeeding calendar month.

          (c)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply
with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b), a participant's payroll
deductions may be decreased by the Company to 0% at any time during a Purchase
Period.  Payroll deductions shall re-commence at the rate provided in such
participant's enrollment agreement at the beginning of the first Purchase Period
which is scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by
the participant as provided in Section 10.  In addition, a participant's payroll
deductions may be decreased by the Company to 0% at any time during a Purchase
Period in order to avoid unnecessary payroll contributions as a result of
application of the maximum share limit set forth in Section 7(a), in which case
payroll deductions shall re-commence at the rate provided in such participant's
enrollment agreement at the beginning of the next Purchase Period, unless
terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10.

     7.   Grant of Option.
          ---------------

          (a)  On the Offering Date of each Offering Period, each eligible
Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an option to
purchase on each Purchase

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

Date a number of Shares of the Company's Common Stock determined by dividing
such Employee's Contributions accumulated prior to such Purchase Date and
retained in the participant's account as of the Purchase Date by the applicable
Purchase Price; provided however that the maximum number of Shares an Employee
may purchase during each Purchase Period shall be 2,000 Shares (subject to any
adjustment pursuant to Section 19 below), and provided further that such
purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 13.

          (b)  The fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on a given
date (the "Fair Market Value") shall be determined by the Board in its
           -----------------
discretion based on the closing sales price of the Common Stock for such date
(or, in the event that the Common Stock is not traded on such date, on the
immediately preceding trading date), as reported by the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (Nasdaq) National Market or, if such
price is not reported, the mean of the bid and asked prices per share of the
Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq or, in the event the Common Stock is listed
on a stock exchange, the Fair Market Value per share shall be the closing sales
price on such exchange on such date (or, in the event that the Common Stock is
not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date), as reported
in The Wall Street Journal.  For purposes of the Offering Date under the first
   -----------------------
Offering Period under the Plan, the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common
Stock of the Company shall be the Price to Public as set forth in the final
prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule
424 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     8.   Exercise of Option.  Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan as
          ------------------
provided in Section 10, his or her option for the purchase of Shares will be
exercised automatically on each Purchase Date of an Offering Period, and the
maximum number of full Shares subject to the option will be purchased at the
applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated Contributions in his or her
account. No fractional Shares shall be issued.  The Shares purchased upon
exercise of an option hereunder shall be deemed to be transferred to the
participant on the Purchase Date.  During his or her lifetime, a participant's
option to purchase Shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

     9.   Delivery.  As promptly as practicable after each Purchase Date of each
          --------
Offering Period, the Company shall arrange the delivery to each participant, as
appropriate, the Shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option.  No
fractional Shares shall be purchased; any payroll deductions accumulated in a
participant's account which are not sufficient to purchase a full Share shall be
retained in the participant's account for the subsequent Purchase Period or
Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the participant as provided in
Section 10 below.  Any other amounts left over in a participant's account after
a Purchase Date shall be returned to the participant.

     10.  Voluntary Withdrawal; Termination of Employment.
          -----------------------------------------------

          (a) A participant may withdraw all but not less than all the
Contributions credited to his or her account under the Plan at any time prior to
each Purchase Date by giving written notice to the Company.  All of the
participant's Contributions credited to his or her account will be paid to him
or her promptly after receipt of his or her notice of withdrawal and

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

his or her option for the current period will be automatically terminated, and
no further Contributions for the purchase of Shares will be made during the
Offering Period.

          (b)  Upon termination of the participant's Continuous Status as an
Employee prior to the Purchase Date of an Offering Period for any reason,
including retirement or death, the Contributions credited to his or her account
will be returned to him or her or, in the case of his or her death, to the
person or persons entitled thereto under Section 14, and his or her option will
be automatically terminated.

          (c)  In the event an Employee fails to remain in Continuous Status as
an Employee of the Company for at least twenty (20) hours per week during the
Offering Period in which the employee is a participant, he or she will be deemed
to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the Contributions credited to his
or her account will be returned to him or her and his or her option terminated.

          (d)  A participant's withdrawal from an offering will not have any
effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in a succeeding offering or in
any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company.

     11.  Automatic Withdrawal.  To the extent permitted by any applicable laws,
          --------------------
regulations or stock exchange rules, if the Fair Market Value of the Shares on
an Offering Date for an Offering Period (the "New Offering Period") commencing
in an Offering Period (the "Ongoing Offering Period") then in progress, is lower
than was the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Offering Date for the
Ongoing Offering Period, then every participant in the Ongoing Offering Period
shall automatically be deemed to have (i)withdrawn from the Ongoing Offering
Period at the close of the Purchase Period immediately preceding the New
Offering Period, and (ii) to have enrolled in such New Offering Period.  In
addition, participants shall automatically be withdrawn as of July 31, 2000 from
the Offering Period beginning on the IPO Date and re-enrolled in the Offering
Period beginning on August 1, 2000 if the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the
IPO Date is greater than the Fair Market Value of the Shares on August 1, 2000,
unless a participant notifies the Administrator prior to July 31, 2000 that he
or she does not wish to be withdrawn and re-enrolled under these circumstances.
All payroll deductions accumulated in a participant's account as of any
withdrawal date pursuant to this Section 11 shall be returned to the
participant.

     12.  Interest.  No interest shall accrue on the Contributions of a
          --------
participant in the Plan.

     13.  Stock.
          -----

          (a)  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 19, the maximum
number of Shares which shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be
150,000 Shares, plus an annual increase on the first day of each of the
Company's fiscal years beginning in 2001 through 2010 equal to the lesser of (i)
225,000 Shares (before giving effect to a stock split effected in connection
with the Company's initial public offering), (ii) one-half of one percent (0.5%)
of the Shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal
year, or (iii) such lesser

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

number of Shares as is determined by the Board. If the Board determines that, on
a given Purchase Date, the number of shares with respect to which options are to
be exercised may exceed (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that were
available for sale under the Plan on the Offering Date of the applicable
Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares available for sale under the Plan
on such Purchase Date, the Board may in its sole discretion provide (x) that the
Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares of Common Stock available
for purchase on such Offering Date or Purchase Date, as applicable, in as
uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole
discretion to be equitable among all participants exercising options to purchase
Common Stock on such Purchase Date, and continue all Offering Periods then in
effect, or (y) that the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares
available for purchase on such Offering Date or Purchase Date, as applicable, in
as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its
sole discretion to be equitable among all participants exercising options to
purchase Common Stock on such Purchase Date, and terminate any or all Offering
Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 20 below. The Company may make pro
rata allocation of the Shares available on the Offering Date of any applicable
Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any
authorization of additional Shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company's
stockholders subsequent to such Offering Date.

          (b)  The participant shall have no interest or voting right in Shares
covered by his or her option until such option has been exercised.

          (c)  Shares to be delivered to a participant under the Plan will be
registered in the name of the participant or in the name of the participant and
his or her spouse.

     14.  Administration.  The Board, or a committee named by the Board, shall
          --------------
supervise and administer the Plan and shall have full power to adopt, amend and
rescind any rules deemed desirable and appropriate for the administration of the
Plan and not inconsistent with the Plan, to construe and interpret the Plan, and
to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration
of the Plan.

     15.  Designation of Beneficiary.
          --------------------------

          (a)  A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who
is to receive any Shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account under
the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to the end of a
Purchase Period but prior to delivery to him or her of such Shares and cash.  In
addition, a participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is
to receive any cash from the participant's account under the Plan in the event
of such participant's death prior to the Purchase Date of an Offering Period.
If a participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the spouse,
spousal consent shall be required for such designation to be effective.

          (b)  Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant
(and his or her spouse, if any) at any time by written notice.  In the event of
the death of a participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly
designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such participant's death,
the Company shall deliver such Shares and/or cash to the executor or

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

administrator of the estate of the participant, or if no such executor or
administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company,
in its discretion, may deliver such Shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any
one or more dependents or relatives of the participant, or if no spouse,
dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the
Company may designate.

     16.  Transferability.  Neither Contributions credited to a participant's
          ---------------
account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive
Shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and
distribution, or as provided in Section 15) by the participant.  Any such
attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without
effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw
funds in accordance with Section 10.

     17.  Use of Funds.  All Contributions received or held by the Company under
          ------------
the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company
shall not be obligated to segregate such Contributions.

     18.  Reports.  Individual accounts will be maintained for each participant
          -------
in the Plan.  Statements of account will be given to participating Employees at
least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of Contributions,
the per Share Purchase Price, the number of Shares purchased and the remaining
cash balance, if any.

     19.  Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization; Corporate Transactions.
          ------------------------------------------------------------------

          (a)  Adjustment.  Subject to any required action by the stockholders
               ----------
of the Company, the number of Shares covered by each option under the Plan which
has not yet been exercised and the number of Shares which have been authorized
for issuance under the Plan but have not yet been placed under option
(collectively, the "Reserves"), as well as the maximum number of shares of
                    --------
Common Stock which may be purchased by a participant in a Purchase Period, the
number of shares of Common Stock set forth in Section 13(a) above, and the price
per Share of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not
yet been exercised, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or
decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock
(including any such change in the number of Shares of Common Stock effected in
connection with a change in domicile of the Company), or any other increase or
decrease in the number of Shares effected without receipt of consideration by
the Company; provided however that conversion of any convertible securities of
the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of
consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination
in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly
provided herein, no issue by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price
of Shares subject to an option.

          (b)  Corporate Transactions.  In the event of a dissolution or
               ----------------------
liquidation of the Company, any Purchase Period and Offering Period then in
progress will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action,
unless otherwise provided by the Board.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

In the event of a Corporate Transaction, each option outstanding under the Plan
shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by the successor
corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of such successor corporation. In the
event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for
outstanding options, each Purchase Period and Offering Period then in progress
shall be shortened and a new Purchase Date shall be set (the "New Purchase
                                                              ------------
Date"), as of which date any Purchase Period and Offering Period then in
----
progress will terminate. The New Purchase Date shall be on or before the date of
consummation of the transaction and the Board shall notify each participant in
writing, at least ten (10) days prior to the New Purchase Date, that the
Purchase Date for his or her option has been changed to the New Purchase Date
and that his or her option will be exercised automatically on the New Purchase
Date, unless prior to such date he or she has withdrawn from the Offering Period
as provided in Section 10. For purposes of this Section 19, an option granted
under the Plan shall be deemed to be assumed, without limitation, if, at the
time of issuance of the stock or other consideration upon a Corporate
Transaction, each holder of an option under the Plan would be entitled to
receive upon exercise of the option the same number and kind of shares of stock
or the same amount of property, cash or securities as such holder would have
been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of the transaction if the holder
had been, immediately prior to the transaction, the holder of the number of
Shares of Common Stock covered by the option at such time (after giving effect
to any adjustments in the number of Shares covered by the option as provided for
in this Section 19); provided however that if the consideration received in the
transaction is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its
parent (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Board may, with the
consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be
received upon exercise of the option to be solely common stock of the successor
corporation or its parent equal in Fair Market Value to the per Share
consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the transaction.

     The Board may, if it so determines in the exercise of its sole discretion,
also make provision for adjusting the Reserves, as well as the price per Share
of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option, in the event that the
Company effects one or more reorganizations, recapitalizations, rights offerings
or other increases or reductions of Shares of its outstanding Common Stock, and
in the event of the Company's being consolidated with or merged into any other
corporation.

     20.  Amendment or Termination.
          ------------------------

          (a)  The Board may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend
the Plan.  Except as provided in Section 19, no such termination of the Plan may
affect options previously granted, provided that the Plan or an Offering Period
may be terminated by the Board on a Purchase Date or by the Board's setting a
new Purchase Date with respect to an Offering Period and Purchase Period then in
progress if the Board determines that termination of the Plan and/or the
Offering Period is in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders or
if continuation of the Plan and/or the Offering Period would cause the Company
to incur adverse accounting charges as a result of a change after the effective
date of the Plan in the generally accepted accounting rules applicable to the
Plan.  Except as provided in Section 19 and in this Section 20, no amendment to
the Plan shall make any change in any option previously granted which adversely
affects the rights of any participant.  In addition, to the extent necessary to

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or under Section 423 of the Code
(or any successor rule or provision or any applicable law or regulation), the
Company shall obtain stockholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree
as so required.

          (b)  Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any
participant rights may be considered to have been adversely affected, the Board
(or its committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods and Purchase
Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld
during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts
withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in
excess of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays
or mistakes in the Company's processing of properly completed withholding
elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting
and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of
Common Stock for each participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from
the participant's Compensation, and establish such other limitations or
procedures as the Board (or its committee) determines in its sole discretion
advisable which are consistent with the Plan.

     21.  Notices.  All notices or other communications by a participant to the
          -------
Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by
the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

     22.  Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.  Shares shall not be issued with
          ----------------------------------
respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and
delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable
provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, applicable state securities laws and the requirements of
any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be
further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance.

     As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the
person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such
exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any
present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the
aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

     23.  Term of Plan; Effective Date.  The Plan shall become effective upon
          ----------------------------
the IPO Date.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless
sooner terminated under Section 20.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                               DURECT CORPORATION

                       2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                              ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

                                                             New Election ______
                                                       Change of Election ______

     1.  I, ________________________, hereby elect to participate in the Durect
Corporation 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") for the Offering
                                                    ----
Period ______________, ____ to _______________, ____, and subscribe to purchase
shares of the Company's Common Stock in accordance with this Enrollment
Agreement and the Plan.

     2.   I elect to have Contributions in the amount of ____% of my
Compensation, as those terms are defined in the Plan, applied to this purchase.
I understand that this amount must not be less than 1% and not more than 20% of
my Compensation during the Offering Period.  (Please note that no fractional
percentages are permitted).

     3.   I hereby authorize payroll deductions from each paycheck during the
Offering Period at the rate stated in Item 2 of this Enrollment Agreement.  I
understand that all payroll deductions made by me shall be credited to my
account under the Plan and that I may not make any additional payments into such
account.  I understand that all payments made by me shall be accumulated for the
purchase of shares of Common Stock at the applicable purchase price determined
in accordance with the Plan.  I further understand that, except as otherwise set
forth in the Plan, shares will be purchased for me automatically on the Purchase
Date of each Offering Period unless I otherwise withdraw from the Plan by giving
written notice to the Company for such purpose.

     4.   I understand that I may discontinue at any time prior to the Purchase
Date my participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10 of the Plan.  I also
understand that I can increase or decrease the rate of my Contributions during
an Offering Period by completing and filing with the Company a new Enrollment
Agreement with such increase or decrease taking effect as of the beginning of
the next following calendar month, if filed at least ten (10) business days
prior to the beginning of such month.  Further, I may change the rate of
deductions for future Offering Periods by filing a new Enrollment Agreement, and
any such change will be effective as of the beginning of the next Offering
Period.  In addition, I acknowledge that, unless I discontinue my participation
in the Plan as provided in Section 10 of the Plan, my election will continue to
be effective for each successive Offering Period.

     5.   I have received a copy of the Company's most recent description of the
Plan and a copy of the complete "Durect Corporation 2000 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan."  I understand that my participation in the Plan is in all respects
subject to the terms of the Plan.
<PAGE>

     6.   Shares purchased for me under the Plan should be issued in the name(s)
of (name of employee or employee and spouse only):

                                    ____________________________________

                                    ____________________________________

     7.   In the event of my death, I hereby designate the following as my
beneficiary(ies) to receive all payments and shares due to me under the Plan:

NAME:  (Please print)            _____________________________________
                                 (First)       (Middle)        (Last)

__________________________       _____________________________________
(Relationship)                   (Address)

Social Security #:________       _____________________________________

     8.   I understand that if I dispose of any shares received by me pursuant
to the Plan within 2 years after the Offering Date (the first day of the
Offering Period during which I purchased such shares) or within 1 year after the
Purchase Date, I will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having
received ordinary compensation income at the time of such disposition in an
amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the
Purchase Date over the price which I paid for the shares, regardless of whether
I disposed of the shares at a price less than their fair market value at the
Purchase Date. The remainder of the gain or loss, if any, recognized on such
disposition will be treated as capital gain or loss.

     I hereby agree to notify the Company in writing within 30 days after the
     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
date of any such disposition, and I will make adequate provision for federal,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
state or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the
------------------------------------------------------------------------
disposition of the Common Stock. The Company shall be entitled, to the extent
-------------------------------
required by applicable law, to withhold from my Compensation any amount
necessary to comply with applicable tax withholding requirements with respect to
the purchase or sale of shares under the Plan.

     9.   If I dispose of such shares at any time after expiration of the 2-year
and 1-year holding periods, I understand that I will be treated for federal
income tax purposes as having received compensation income only to the extent of
an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the excess of the fair market value of the
shares at the time of such disposition over the purchase price which I paid for
the shares under the option, or (2) 15% of the fair market value of the shares
on the Offering Date. The remainder of the gain or loss, if any, recognized on
such disposition will be treated as capital gain or loss.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     I understand that this tax summary is only a summary and is subject to
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
change.  I further understand that I should consult a tax advisor concerning the
------
tax implications of the purchase and sale of stock under the Plan.

     10.  In connection with the initial public offering of the Company's
securities and upon request of the Company or the underwriters managing any
underwritten offering of the Company's securities, I agree not to sell, make any
short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose
of any securities of the Company, however or whenever I acquired them, without
the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may
be, for such period of time (not to exceed 180 days) from the effective date of
such registration as may be requested by the Company or such managing
underwriters and to execute an agreement reflecting the foregoing as may be
requested by the underwriters at the time of the public offering.

     11.   I hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Plan. The
effectiveness of this Enrollment Agreement is dependent upon my eligibility to
participate in the Plan.

NAME (print):____________________________

SIGNATURE:_______________________________

SOCIAL SECURITY #:_______________________

DATE:____________________________________

SPOUSE'S SIGNATURE (necessary
if beneficiary is not spouse):

________________________________________
(Signature)

________________________________________
(Print name)

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                               DURECT CORPORATION

                       2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                              NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL
                              --------------------

     I, __________________________, hereby elect to withdraw my participation in
the Durect Corporation 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") for the
                                                               ----
Offering Period that began on _________ ___, _____.  This withdrawal covers all
Contributions credited to my account and is effective on the date designated
below.

     I understand that all Contributions credited to my account will be paid to
me within ten (10) business days of receipt by the Company of this Notice of
Withdrawal and that my option for the current period will automatically
terminate, and that no further Contributions for the purchase of shares can be
made by me during the Offering Period.

     The undersigned further understands and agrees that he or she shall be
eligible to participate in succeeding offering periods only by delivering to the
Company a new Enrollment Agreement.

Dated:___________________           ____________________________________
                                    Signature of Employee

                                    ____________________________________
                                    Social Security Number

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