Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                       APPLIED ANALYTICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

1.       PURPOSE

         The purpose of the Applied Analytical Industries, Inc. 1997 Stock
Option Plan (the "Plan") is to promote the growth and profitability of Applied
Analytical Industries, Inc. (the "Company") and its subsidiaries
("Subsidiaries") from time to time by increasing the personal participation of
officers and key employees in the financial performance of the Company and by
providing such officers and key employees with an equity opportunity in the
Company. This purpose will be achieved through the grant of stock options
("Options") to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, $.001 par value
("Common Stock"), subject to restrictions on transfer or such other restrictions
as the administrators of the Plan may determine.

2.       ADMINISTRATION

         The Plan will be administered by the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Board"); provided, however, if the Board includes members who are not
"non-employee directors" (as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any applicable successor rule or
regulation) or "outside directors" (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (the "Code")),
then all authority of the Board under the Plan shall be exercised by a committee
of the Board (the "Committee") composed solely of at least two members thereof
who are both "non-employee directors" and "outside directors" (as so defined).

         The Board or the Committee shall have complete authority to: (i)
interpret all terms and provisions of the Plan consistent with law; (ii) select
from the group of officers and key employees eligible to participate in the Plan
the officers and key employees to whom Options shall be granted; (iii) within
the limits established herein, determine the number of shares to be subject to
and the exercise price of, each Option; (iv) prescribe the form of instrument(s)
evidencing Options granted under the Plan; (v) determine the time or times at
which Options shall be granted to officers or key employees; (vi) provide, if
appropriate, for the exercisability of Options in installments or subject to
specified conditions; (vii) determine the method of exercise of Options; (viii)
adopt, amend and rescind general and special rules and regulations for the
Plan's administration; and (ix) make all other determinations necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan.

         Any action which the Board or the Committee is authorized to take may
be taken without a meeting if all the members of the Board or the Committee sign
a written document authorizing such action to be taken, unless different
provision is made by the By-Laws of the Company or by resolution of the Board or
the Committee.

<PAGE>

         The Board or the Committee may designate selected Board or Committee
members or certain employees of the Company to assist the Board or the Committee
in the administration of the Plan and may grant authority to such persons to
execute documents, including Options, on behalf of the Board or the Committee.

         No member of the Board or the Committee or employee of the Company
assisting the Board or the Committee pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall
be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith.

3.       STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

         The stock to be offered under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued
shares of the Company's Common Stock. An aggregate of 2,644,000 shares of Common
Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of Options. Any or all of the
Options granted under SECTION 4 hereof may, at the Board or the Committee's
discretion, be intended to qualify as incentive stock options ("Incentive Stock
Options") under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"). The number of shares reserved under the Plan may be adjusted to
reflect any change in the capitalization of the Company as contemplated by
SECTION 9 hereof and occurring after the adoption of the Plan. The Board or the
Committee will maintain records showing the cumulative total of all shares
subject to Options outstanding under the Plan.

4.       OPTION AWARDS

         (a)      Eligibility and Factors Considered in Granting Options

         The grant of Options under this SECTION 4 shall be limited to those
officers and key employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who have
the greatest contribution to the Company's long-term performance and are
selected by the Board or the Committee. In making any determination as to the
officer(s) and key employee(s) to whom Options shall be granted under this
SECTION 4 and as to the number of shares to be subject thereto, the Board or the
Committee shall take into account, in each case, the level and responsibility of
the person's position, the level of the person's performance, the person's level
of compensation, the assessed potential of the person and such additional
factors as the Board or the Committee shall deem relevant to the accomplishment
of the purposes of the Plan.

                                      -2-
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         (b)      Allotment of Shares

         The Board or the Committee, in its sole discretion and subject to the
provisions of the Plan, may grant Options to participants eligible under this
SECTION 4, on or after the date hereof. Options may be, at the discretion of the
Board or the Committee: (i) Options that are intended to qualify as Incentive
Stock Options; or (ii) Options that are not intended to be Incentive Stock
Options; or (iii) both of the foregoing, if granted separately, and not in
tandem. Each Option granted under the Plan must be clearly identified as to its
status as an Incentive Stock Option or not.

         Options granted under this SECTION 4 may be allotted to participants in
such amounts, subject to the limitations specified in the Plan, as the Board or
the Committee, in its sole discretion, may from time to time determine, provided
that, except as otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee, no
participant may be granted Options with respect to more than 200,000 shares of
Common Stock.

         In the case of Options intended to be Incentive Stock Options, the
aggregate fair market value (determined at the time of such Incentive Stock
Options' respective grants) of the shares with respect to which Incentive Stock
Options are exercisable for the first time by a participant hereunder during any
calendar year (under all plans taken into account pursuant to Section 422(d) of
the Code) shall not exceed $100,000. Options under this SECTION 4 not intended
to qualify as Incentive Stock Options may be granted to any Plan participant
without regard to the Section 422(d) limitations.

         (c)      Time of Granting Options

         The date of grant of an Option under this SECTION 4 shall be, for all
purposes, the date on which the Board or the Committee makes the determination
of granting such Option (each such date, a "Grant Date"). Notice of the
determination shall be given to each officer or key employee to whom an Option
is so granted under this SECTION 4 within a reasonable time after the Grant
Date.

         (d)      Exercise Price for Options

         The price per share at which each Option granted under this SECTION 4
may be exercised shall be such price as shall be determined by the Board or the
Committee at the time of grant based on such criteria as may be adopted by the
Board or the Committee at the time of grant in good faith, taking into account,
in each case, the fair market value of the common stock, the level and
responsibility of the person's position, the level of the person's performance,
the person's level of compensation, the assessed potential of the person, and
such additional factors as the Board or the Committee shall deem relevant to the
accomplishment of the purposes of the Plan; provided, however, that in no event
shall the exercise price per share of an Option be less than 100% of the fair
market value of the Company's shares of common stock on the Grant Date for such
Option. In the case of an Option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock
Option, the price per share shall not be less than 100% (or 110% for owners of
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
Grant Date for such Option. Fair market value shall be the average of the high
and low sales prices per share as reported by the exchange on which the Common
Stock is trading, including without limitation the NASDAQ National Market, on
any Grant Date.

                                      -3-
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         (e)      Term of Options

         The term of each Option granted under this SECTION 4 shall be
established by the Board or the Committee, but shall not exceed 10 years (or 5
years for owners of more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or of a Subsidiary) from the Grant Date for such
Option.

         (f)      Cancellation and Replacement of Options

         The Board or the Committee may at any time or from time to time permit
the voluntary surrender by the holder of any outstanding Option granted under
this SECTION 4 where such surrender is conditioned upon the granting under this
SECTION 4 to such holder of new Option(s) for such number of shares as the Board
or the Committee shall determine, or may require such a voluntary surrender as a
condition precedent to the grant under this SECTION 4 of new Option(s) to such
holder.

         The Board or the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of
any such new Option(s), including their exercise price and the periods during
which they may be exercised, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of
the Plan, all or any of which may differ from the terms and conditions of the
Option(s) surrendered. Any such new Option(s) shall be subject to all the
relevant provisions of the Plan.

         The shares subject to any Option so surrendered or terminated shall no
longer be charged against the limitation or limitations provided in SECTION 3 of
the Plan and may thereafter become the subject of new Option grants under the
Plan.

         The granting of new Option(s) in connection with the surrender of
outstanding Option(s) under the Plan shall be considered for the purposes of the
Plan as the grant of new Option(s) and not an alteration, amendment or
modification of the Plan or of the Option(s) being surrendered.

         (g)      Vesting

         Except as otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee, Options
shall vest as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                               Aggregate Percentage of
                                                Shares under Options
         Date                                    Vested on such Date
         ----                                  -----------------------
<S>                                            <C>
Twelve months after Grant Date                         33%

Twenty-four months after Grant Date                    66%

Thirty-six months after Grant Date                    100%
</TABLE>

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
         Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Option granted pursuant to this Plan
shall be deemed fully vested immediately prior to an Acquisition Transaction.
For the purposes of the Plan, an "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean and
include the following:

                  (a) An acquisition of any common stock, par value $0.001 per
         share, of the Corporation ("Common Stock") or other Voting Securities
         (as hereinafter defined) by any "Person" (as the term person is used
         for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), immediately after which such
         Person has "Beneficial Ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
         promulgated under the Exchange Act) of thirty percent (30%) or more of
         either (i) the then-outstanding Common Stock or (ii) the combined
         voting power of the Corporation's then-outstanding voting securities
         entitled to vote for the election of directors (the "Voting
         Securities"); provided, however, in determining whether a Change in
         Control has occurred, Common Stock or Voting Securities which are
         acquired in a "Non-Control Acquisition" (as hereinafter defined) shall
         not constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control. A
         "Non-Control Acquisition" shall mean an acquisition of Common Stock (i)
         directly from the Corporation, (ii) by an employee benefit plan (or a
         trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Corporation or (B)
         any corporation or other Person of which a majority of its voting power
         or its voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly
         or indirectly, by the Corporation (for purposes of this definition, a
         "Related Entity"), (iii) by the Corporation or any Related Entity, or
         (iv) by any Person in connection with a "Non-Control Transaction" (as
         hereinafter defined);

                  (b) The individuals who, as of March 24, 2002, are members of
         the Board (the "Incumbent Board"), cease for any reason to constitute
         at least a two-thirds of the members of the Board, or following a
         Merger (as hereinafter defined), the board of directors of the ultimate
         Parent Corporation (as hereinafter defined); provided, however, that if
         the election, or nomination for election by the Corporation's common
         stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least
         two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for
         purposes of this Agreement, be considered as a member of the Incumbent
         Board; provided, further, however, that no individual shall be
         considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially
         assumed office as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of
         proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a
         "Proxy Contest"), including by reason of any agreement intended to
         avoid or settle any Proxy Contest; or

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                  (c)      The consummation of:

                           (i) A merger, consolidation or reorganization with or
                  into the Corporation, or in which securities of the
                  Corporation are issued (a "Merger"), unless the Merger is a
                  "Non-Control Transaction." A "Non-Control Transaction" shall
                  mean a Merger if:

                                            (A) the stockholders of the
                           Corporation immediately before such Merger own
                           directly or indirectly immediately following the
                           Merger at least fifty percent (50%) of the
                           outstanding common stock and the combined voting
                           power of the outstanding voting securities of (x) the
                           corporation resulting from such Merger (the
                           "Surviving Corporation"), if fifty percent (50%) or
                           more of the combined voting power of the then
                           outstanding voting securities of the Surviving
                           Corporation is not Beneficially Owned, directly or
                           indirectly by another corporation (a "Parent
                           Corporation"), or (y) if there is one or more Parent
                           Corporations, the ultimate Parent Corporation;

                                            (B) the individuals who were members
                           of the Incumbent Board immediately prior to the
                           execution of the agreement providing for the Merger,
                           constitute at least two-thirds of the members of the
                           board of directors of, (x) the Surviving Corporation,
                           if fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting
                           power of the then outstanding voting securities of
                           the Surviving Corporation is not Beneficially Owned,
                           directly or indirectly by a Parent Corporation, or
                           (y) if there is one or more Parent Corporations, the
                           ultimate Parent Corporation; and

                                            (C) no Person other than (1) the
                           Corporation, (2) any Related Entity, or (3) any
                           employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part
                           thereof) that, immediately prior to the Merger, was
                           maintained by the Corporation or any Related Entity,
                           or (4) any Person who, immediately prior to the
                           Merger had Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent
                           (30%) or more of the then outstanding Common Stock or
                           Voting Securities, has Beneficial Ownership, directly
                           or indirectly, of thirty percent (30%) or more of the
                           combined voting power of the outstanding voting
                           securities or common stock of (x) the Surviving
                           Corporation, if fifty percent (50%) or more of the
                           combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
                           securities of the Surviving Corporation is not
                           Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly by a
                           Parent Corporation, or (y) if there is one or more
                           Parent Corporations, the ultimate Parent Corporation;
                           or

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

                           (ii)  A complete liquidation or dissolution of the
                  Corporation; or

                           (iii) The direct or indirect sale or other
                  disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
                  Corporation to any Person (other than a transfer to a Related
                  Entity or under conditions that would constitute a Non-Control
                  Transaction (with the disposition of assets being regarded as
                  a Merger for this purpose) or the distribution to the
                  Corporation's stockholders of the stock of a Related Entity or
                  any other assets).

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed
         to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person") acquired
         Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then
         outstanding Common Stock or Voting Securities as a result of the
         acquisition of Common Stock or Voting Securities by the Corporation
         which, by reducing the number of Common Stock or Voting Securities then
         outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially
         Owned by the Subject Persons, provided that if a Change in Control
         would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the
         acquisition of Common Stock or Voting Securities by the Corporation,
         and after such share acquisition by the Corporation, the Subject Person
         becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Stock or Voting
         Securities which increases the percentage of the then outstanding
         Common Stock or Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject
         Person, then a Change in Control shall occur. For purposes of the
         foregoing, "Affiliate" means any entity, directly or indirectly,
         controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Corporation
         or any corporation or other person, entity or group of person(s) or
         entity(ies) acquiring, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all
         the assets and business of the Corporation, whether by operation of law
         or otherwise.

5.       NON-TRANSFERABILITY

         An Option granted to a participant under the Plan shall not be
transferable by him or her except: (i) by will; (ii) by the laws of descent and
distribution; (iii) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined
by the Code or in Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the
rules thereunder; or (iv) as otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee.
In the case of an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, such Option
shall not be transferable by a participant other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution and during the optionee's lifetime shall be exercisable
only by him or her.

6.       EXERCISABILITY OF OPTIONS

         Subject to the provisions of the Plan, Options granted under SECTION 4
hereof shall be exercisable at such time or times after the Grant Date to the
extent such Options are vested.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
         Any Option shall terminate in full (whether or not previously
exercisable) prior to the expiration of its term on the date thirty (30) days
after the date the optionee ceases to be an employee of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, unless (i) the optionee shall (a) die while an
employee of the Company or such Subsidiary, in which case the participant's
legatee(s) under his or her last will or the participant's personal
representative or representatives may exercise all or part of the previously
unexercised portion of such Option at any time within one year, but not beyond
the expiration of its term, after the participant's death to the extent the
optionee could have exercised the Option immediately prior to his or her death,
(b) become permanently or totally disabled within the meaning of section
22(e)(3) of the Code (or any successor provision) while an employee of the
Company or such Subsidiary, in which case the participant or his or her personal
representative may exercise the previously unexercised portion of such Option at
any time within one year, but not beyond the expiration of its term, after
termination of his or her employment or directorship to the extent the optionee
could have exercised the Option immediately prior to such termination, or (c)
resign or retire after age 62 with the consent of the Company, in which case the
participant may exercise the previously unexercised portion of such Option at
any time within six months, but not beyond the expiration of its term, after the
participant's resignation or retirement to the extent the optionee could have
exercised the Option immediately prior to such resignation or retirement, or
(ii) the Board or the Committee shall determine otherwise.

         In no event may an Option be exercised after the expiration of its
fixed term.

7.       METHOD OF EXERCISE

         Each Option granted under the Plan shall be deemed exercised when the
holder (a) shall indicate the decision to do so in writing delivered to the
Company, (b) shall at the same time tender to the Company payment in full of the
exercise price for the shares for which the Option is exercised, which payment
may be made in cash, and (c) shall comply with such other reasonable
requirements as the Board or the Committee may establish; provided that in order
to enable an optionee (including but not limited to officers) to exercise
options granted under the Plan, the Board or the Committee may determine, in the
exercise of its discretion, to (i) cause the Company to lend money or other
property to such optionee upon such terms and conditions and in such amounts as
the Board or the Committee may determine, (ii) grant such optionee permission to
pay the exercise price in installments, or to accept such optionee's note as
whole or partial payment, (iii) permit such optionee to repay loans made by the
Company to such optionee for the exercise of options with issued and outstanding
shares of common stock, (iv) grant such optionee permission to pay the exercise
price by delivering for cancellation Options having an aggregate value
(calculated by subtracting the exercise price per share from the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock) equal to the total amount of the exercise
price, or (v) provide such financial assistance to such optionee as the Board or
the Committee determines to be desirable. The exercise of any option granted
under the Plan may be made subject to the condition that, if at any time the
Board or the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, that the satisfaction
of withholding tax or other withholding liabilities under any state or federal
law is

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, such exercise
or the delivery or purchase of shares pursuant thereto, then in such event, the
exercise of the option shall not be effective unless such withholding tax or
other withholding liabilities shall have been satisfied in a manner acceptable
to the Company, which may include the withholding by the Company of shares of
Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of an Option having a fair market value
equal to the required withholding amount. With respect to the foregoing
sentences, the value of the shares of Common Stock shall be the fair market
value determined in accordance with SECTION 4(D) of the Plan as of the day of
such payment or withholding.

      No person, estate or other entity shall have any of the rights of a
shareholder with reference to shares subject to an Option until a certificate
for such shares has been issued by the Company.

         An Option granted under the Plan may be exercised for any lesser number
of shares than the full amount for which it could be exercised. Such a partial
exercise of an Option shall not affect the right to exercise the Option from
time to time in accordance with the Plan for the remaining shares subject to the
Option.

8.       TERMINATION OF OPTIONS

         An Option granted under the Plan shall be considered terminated in
whole or in part, to the extent that, in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan and such Option, it can no longer be exercised for any shares originally
subject to the Option.

9.       ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

         In the event of any change in the outstanding Common Stock of the
Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split, stock consolidation,
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, split up or the like, the shares
available for purposes of the Plan or under option in outstanding option
agreements pursuant to the Plan (and the option price under such agreements)
shall be appropriately adjusted so as to preserve, but not increase, the
benefits of the Plan to the Company and the benefits to the holders of such
Options; provided, however, that for any Incentive Stock Options, in the case of
a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation,
reorganization or liquidation, the excess of the aggregate fair market value of
the shares subject to any Options immediately after such event over the
aggregate option price of such shares is not more than the excess of the
aggregate fair market value of all shares subject to such Options immediately
before such event over the aggregate option price of such shares.

         Adjustments under this Section shall be made by the Board or the
Committee, whose determination as to what adjustments shall be made and the
extent thereof, shall be final, binding and conclusive.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

10.      COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

         No certificate(s) for shares shall be issued upon exercise of an Option
until the Company shall have taken such action, if any, as is then required to
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the North
Carolina Uniform Securities Act, as amended, any other applicable state
securities law(s) and the requirements of any exchange (including the NASDAQ
National Market) on which the Common Stock may, at the time, be listed.

         In the case of the exercise of an Option by a person or estate
acquiring the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, the Board
or the Committee may require reasonable evidence as to the ownership of the
Option and may require such consents and releases of taxing authorities as it
may deem advisable.

11.      NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT

         Neither the adoption of the Plan nor its operation, nor any document
describing or referring to the Plan, or any part thereof, shall confer upon any
employee participant under the Plan any right to continue in the employ of the
Company, or shall in any way affect the right and power of the Company to
terminate the employment or position with the Company of any participant under
the Plan at any time with or without assigning a reason therefor, to the same
extent as the Company might have done if the Plan had not been adopted.

12.      EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN

         The Plan was adopted by the Board on March 21, 1997, and shall be
effective until March 21, 2007 after which time no Option shall be granted, but
such termination shall not affect any Option previously granted under the Plan.

13.      STOCK CERTIFICATE LEGEND. Each stock certificate issued for options
intended to be Incentive Stock Options shall bear the following legend:

         THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ACQUIRED PURSUANT TO A
         STOCK OPTION PLAN AND WERE INTENDED TO BE A QUALIFIED OPTION AS SET
         FORTH IN SECTION 422 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. IF THESE SHARES ARE
         TRANSFERRED OR SOLD PRIOR TO __________, ____, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO
         NOTIFY THE CORPORATION'S HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AT (910) 392-1606.

                                      -10-

<PAGE>
Dear

In accordance with the 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") of Applied Analytical
Industries, Inc. (the "Company"), you, as an officer or a key employee of the
Company or its subsidiaries, and in order to give you an added proprietary
interest in the Company and an additional incentive to advance the interest of
the Company, were granted on __________________, _____, an option to purchase
_____ shares of the common stock of the Company upon the following terms and
conditions:

         (1)      The exercise price shall be $__________ (___% of the fair
                  market value of a share as determined in accordance with
                  Section 4(d) of the Plan on the date of grant - _______,
                  _____);

         (2)      This Option will vest and become exercisable according to the
                  schedule set forth in the Plan;

         (3)      Once exercisable, this Option may be exercised until
                  __________, _____, subject to the terms and conditions of the
                  Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated
                  herein by reference. This Option is granted subject to the
                  Plan and shall be construed in accordance with the Plan.

         (4)      This Option is (is not) intended to be treated as an
                  "incentive stock option" for purposes of Section 422 of the
                  Internal Revenue Code.

         (5)      To exercise this Option, the holder must deliver written
                  notice of the decision to do so and at the same time tender to
                  the Company payment in full of the exercise price for the
                  shares for which the Option is exercised, which payment may be
                  made in cash or as otherwise provided for in accordance with
                  Section 7 of the Plan.

         (6)      The exercise of this Option shall be subject to the condition
                  that, if at any time the Board or the Committee (as defined in
                  the Plan) shall determine, in its discretion, that the
                  satisfaction of withholding tax or other withholding
                  liabilities under any state or federal law is necessary or
                  desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, such
                  exercise or the delivery or purchase of shares pursuant
                  thereto, then in such event, the exercise of the option shall
                  not be effective unless such withholding tax or other
                  withholding liabilities shall have been satisfied in a manner
                  acceptable to the Company, which may include the withholding
                  by the Company of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon
                  exercise of an Option having a fair market value equal to the
                  required withholding amount.

This Option is not transferable except pursuant to the terms and conditions of
the Plan.

<PAGE>
                                                     Very truly yours,

                                            APPLIED ANALYTICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                            By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                            Title:
                                                  ------------------------------

I hereby accept the within Option and
acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Plan.

------------------------------
Optionee

Date:
     -------------------------

                                      -2-<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

                       APPLIED ANALYTICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

I.       PURPOSE

         The purpose of the Applied Analytical Industries, Inc. 2000 Stock
Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan") is to provide for
stock-based compensation to directors who are not employees of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries ("Directors") of the Company. This purpose will be
achieved through the grant of stock options ("Options") to purchase shares of
the Company's common stock, $.001 par value ("Common Stock"), subject to
restrictions on transfer or such other restrictions as the administrators of the
Plan may determine.

2.       ADMINISTRATION

         The Plan will be administered by the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Board").

         The Board shall have complete authority to: (i) interpret all terms and
provisions of the Plan consistent with law; (ii) select from the group of
Directors eligible to participate in the Plan the Directors to whom Options
shall be granted; (iii) within the limits established herein, determine the
number of shares to be subject to, and the exercise price of, each Option; (iv)
prescribe the form of instrument(s) evidencing Options granted under the Plan;
(v) determine the time or times at which Options shall be granted to Directors;
(vi) provide, if appropriate, for the exercisability of Options in installments
or subject to specified conditions; (vii) determine the method of exercise of
Options; (viii) adopt, amend and rescind general and special rules and
regulations for the Plan's administration; and (ix) make all other
determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

         Any action which the Board is authorized to take may be taken without a
meeting if all the members of the Board sign a written document authorizing such
action to be taken, unless different provision is made by the By-Laws of the
Company or by resolution of the Board.

         The Board may designate selected Board members or certain employees of
the Company to assist the Board in the administration of the Plan and may grant
authority to such persons to execute documents, including Options, on behalf of
the Board.

         No member of the Board or employee of the Company assisting the Board
pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be liable for any action taken or
determination made in good faith.

3.   STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

         The stock to be offered under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued
shares of the Company's Common Stock. An aggregate of 410,000 shares of Common
Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of Options. The number of shares
reserved under the Plan may be

<PAGE>
adjusted to reflect any change in the capitalization of the Company as
contemplated by Section 9 hereof and occurring after the adoption of the Plan.
The Board will maintain records showing the cumulative total of all shares
subject to Options outstanding under the Plan.

         None of the Options granted under Section 4 hereof are intended to
qualify as, or shall be deemed to be, incentive stock options under Section 422
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

4.       OPTION AWARDS

         (A)      ELIGIBILITY AND FACTORS CONSIDERED IN GRANTING OPTIONS

         The grant of Options under this Section 4 shall be limited to those
Directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who are not employees
thereof and who have are selected by the Board. In making any determination as
to the Director(s) to whom Options shall be granted under this Section 4 and as
to the number of shares to be subject thereto, the Board shall take into
account, in each case, such factors as the Board shall deem relevant to the
accomplishment of the purposes of the Plan.

         (B)      TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS

         The date of grant of an Option under this Section 4 shall be, for all
purposes, the date on which the Board makes the determination of granting such
Option (each such date, a "Grant Date"). Notice of the determination shall be
given to each Director to whom an Option is so granted under this Section 4
within a reasonable time after the Grant Date.

         (C)      EXERCISE PRICE FOR OPTIONS

         The price per share at which each Option granted under this Section 4
may be exercised shall be such price as shall be determined by the Board at the
time of grant based on such criteria as may be adopted by the Board at the time
of grant in good faith, taking into account, in each case, the fair market value
of the common stock and such additional factors as the Board shall deem relevant
to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Plan; provided, however, that in no
event shall the exercise price per share of an Option be less than 100% of the
fair market value of the Company's shares of common stock on the Grant Date for
such Option. Fair market value shall be the average of the high and low sales
prices per share as reported by the exchange on which the Common Stock is
trading, including without limitation the NASDAQ National Market, on any Grant
Date.

         (E)      TERM OF OPTIONS

         The term of each Option granted under this Section 4 shall be
established by the Board, but shall not exceed 10 years from the Grant Date for
such Option.

<PAGE>

         (F)      CANCELLATION AND REPLACEMENT OF OPTIONS

         The Board may at any time or from time to time permit the voluntary
surrender by the holder of any outstanding Option granted under this Section 4
where such surrender is conditioned upon the granting under this Section 4 to
such holder of new Option(s) for such number of shares as the Board shall
determine, or may require such a voluntary surrender as a condition precedent to
the grant under this Section 4 of new Option(s) to such holder.

         The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of any such new
Option(s), including their exercise price and the periods during which they may
be exercised, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, all
or any of which may differ from the terms and conditions of the Option(s)
surrendered. Any such new Option(s) shall be subject to all the relevant
provisions of the Plan.

         The shares subject to any Option so surrendered or terminated shall no
longer be charged against the limitation or limitations provided in Section 3 of
the Plan and may thereafter become the subject of new Option grants under the
Plan.

         The granting of new Option(s) in connection with the surrender of
outstanding Option(s) under the Plan shall be considered for the purposes of the
Plan as the grant of new Option(s) and not an alteration, amendment or
modification of the Plan or of the Option(s) being surrendered.

         (G)      VESTING

         Except as otherwise determined by the Board, Options shall vest as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Aggregate Percentage of
                                            Shares under Options Vested on
                  Date                      such Date
                  ----                      ------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>
Twelve months after Grant Date                       33%
Twenty-four months after Grant Date                  66%
Thirty-six months after Grant Date                   100%
</TABLE>

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Option granted pursuant to this Plan
shall be deemed fully vested immediately prior to an Acquisition Transaction.
For the purposes of the Plan, an "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean and
include the following:

                  (a)      An acquisition of any common stock, par value $0.001
         per share, of the Corporation ("Common Stock") or other Voting
         Securities (as hereinafter defined) by any "Person" (as the term person
         is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), immediately
         after which such Person has "Beneficial Ownership" (within the meaning
         of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of thirty percent
         (30%) or more of either (i) the then-outstanding Common Stock or (ii)
         the combined voting power of the Corporation's then-outstanding voting
         securities entitled to vote for the

<PAGE>

         election of directors (the "Voting Securities"); provided, however, in
         determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, Common Stock or
         Voting Securities which are acquired in a "Non-Control Acquisition" (as
         hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an acquisition which would
         cause a Change in Control. A "Non-Control Acquisition" shall mean an
         acquisition of Common Stock (i) directly from the Corporation, (ii) by
         an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained
         by (A) the Corporation or (B) any corporation or other Person of which
         a majority of its voting power or its voting equity securities or
         equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation
         (for purposes of this definition, a "Related Entity"), (iii) by the
         Corporation or any Related Entity, or (iv) by any Person in connection
         with a "Non-Control Transaction" (as hereinafter defined);

                  (b)      The individuals who, as of March 24, 2002, are
         members of the Board (the "Incumbent Board"), cease for any reason to
         constitute at least a two-thirds of the members of the Board, or
         following a Merger (as hereinafter defined), the board of directors of
         the ultimate Parent Corporation (as hereinafter defined); provided,
         however, that if the election, or nomination for election by the
         Corporation's common stockholders, of any new director was approved by
         a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director
         shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be considered as a member of the
         Incumbent Board; provided, further, however, that no individual shall
         be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual
         initially assumed office as a result of an actual or threatened
         solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
         than the Board (a "Proxy Contest"), including by reason of any
         agreement intended to avoid or settle any Proxy Contest; or

                  (c)      The consummation of:

                           (i)      A merger, consolidation or reorganization
                  with or into the Corporation, or in which securities of the
                  Corporation are issued (a "Merger"), unless the Merger is a
                  "Non-Control Transaction." A "Non-Control Transaction" shall
                  mean a Merger if:

                                   (A)      the stockholders of the Corporation
                           immediately before such Merger own directly or
                           indirectly immediately following the Merger at least
                           fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding common stock
                           and the combined voting power of the outstanding
                           voting securities of (x) the corporation resulting
                           from such Merger (the "Surviving Corporation"), if
                           fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting
                           power of the then outstanding voting securities of
                           the Surviving Corporation is not Beneficially Owned,
                           directly or indirectly by another corporation (a
                           "Parent Corporation"), or (y) if there is one or more
                           Parent Corporations, the ultimate Parent Corporation;

                                    (B)      the individuals who were members of
                           the Incumbent Board immediately prior to the
                           execution of the agreement providing for the Merger,
                           constitute at least two-thirds of the members of the
                           board of directors of, (x) the Surviving Corporation,
                           if fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting
                           power of the then outstanding voting securities of
                           the Surviving Corporation is not Beneficially Owned,
                           directly or indirectly by a Parent Corporation, or

<PAGE>

                           (y) if there is one or more Parent Corporations, the
                           ultimate Parent Corporation; and

                                    (C)      no Person other than (1) the
                           Corporation, (2) any Related Entity, or (3) any
                           employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part
                           thereof) that, immediately prior to the Merger, was
                           maintained by the Corporation or any Related Entity,
                           or (4) any Person who, immediately prior to the
                           Merger had Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent
                           (30%) or more of the then outstanding Common Stock or
                           Voting Securities, has Beneficial Ownership, directly
                           or indirectly, of thirty percent (30%) or more of the
                           combined voting power of the outstanding voting
                           securities or common stock of (x) the Surviving
                           Corporation, if fifty percent (50%) or more of the
                           combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
                           securities of the Surviving Corporation is not
                           Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly by a
                           Parent Corporation, or (y) if there is one or more
                           Parent Corporations, the ultimate Parent Corporation;
                           or

                           (ii)     A complete liquidation or dissolution of the
                  Corporation; or

                           (iii)    The direct or indirect sale or other
                  disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
                  Corporation to any Person (other than a transfer to a Related
                  Entity or under conditions that would constitute a Non-Control
                  Transaction (with the disposition of assets being regarded as
                  a Merger for this purpose) or the distribution to the
                  Corporation's stockholders of the stock of a Related Entity or
                  any other assets).

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed
         to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person") acquired
         Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then
         outstanding Common Stock or Voting Securities as a result of the
         acquisition of Common Stock or Voting Securities by the Corporation
         which, by reducing the number of Common Stock or Voting Securities then
         outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially
         Owned by the Subject Persons, provided that if a Change in Control
         would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the
         acquisition of Common Stock or Voting Securities by the Corporation,
         and after such share acquisition by the Corporation, the Subject Person
         becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Stock or Voting
         Securities which increases the percentage of the then outstanding
         Common Stock or Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject
         Person, then a Change in Control shall occur. For purposes of the
         foregoing, "Affiliate" means any entity, directly or indirectly,
         controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Corporation
         or any corporation or other person, entity or group of person(s) or
         entity(ies) acquiring, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all
         the assets and business of the Corporation, whether by operation of law
         or otherwise.

5.       NON-TRANSFERABILITY

         An Option granted to a participant under the Plan shall not be
transferable by him or her except: (i) by will; (ii) by the laws of descent and
distribution; (iii) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined
by the Code or in Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the
rules thereunder; or (iv) as otherwise determined by the Board.

<PAGE>

6.       EXERCISABILITY OF OPTIONS

         Subject to the provisions of the Plan, Options granted under Section 4
hereof shall be exercisable at such time or times after the Grant Date to the
extent such Options are vested.

         Any Option shall terminate in full (whether or not previously
exercisable) prior to the expiration of its term on the date thirty (30) days
after the date the optionee ceases to be a director of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, unless (i) the optionee shall (a) die while a
director of the Company or such Subsidiary, in which case the participant's
legatee(s) under his or her last will or the participant's personal
representative or representatives may exercise all or part of the previously
unexercised portion of such Option at any time within one year, but not beyond
the expiration of its term, after the participant's death to the extent the
optionee could have exercised the Option immediately prior to his or her death,
(b) become permanently or totally disabled within the meaning of section
22(e)(3) of the Code (or any successor provision) while a director of the
Company or such Subsidiary, in which case the participant or his or her personal
representative may exercise the previously unexercised portion of such Option at
any time within one year, but not beyond the expiration of its term, after
termination of his or her directorship to the extent the optionee could have
exercised the Option immediately prior to such termination, or (c) resign or not
be a candidate for reelection as a director of the Company or any Subsidiary
after age 62, in which case the participant may exercise the previously
unexercised portion of such Option at any time within six months, but not beyond
the expiration of its term, after the participant's resignation or cessation of
being a director of the Company or any Subsidiary to the extent the optionee
could have exercised the Option immediately prior to such resignation or
retirement, or (ii) the Board shall determine otherwise.

         In no event may an Option be exercised after the expiration of its
fixed term.

7.       METHOD OF EXERCISE

         Each Option granted under the Plan shall be deemed exercised when the
holder (a) shall indicate the decision to do so in writing delivered to the
Company, (b) shall at the same time tender to the Company payment in full of the
exercise price for the shares for which the Option is exercised, which payment
may be made in cash, and (c) shall comply with such other reasonable
requirements as the Board may establish; provided that in order to enable an
optionee to exercise options granted under the Plan, the Board may determine, in
the exercise of its discretion, to (i) cause the Company to lend money or other
property to such optionee upon such terms and conditions and in such amounts as
the Board may determine, (ii) grant such optionee permission to pay the exercise
price in installments, or to accept such optionee's note as whole or partial
payment, (iii) permit such optionee to repay loans made by the Company to such
optionee for the exercise of options with issued and outstanding shares of
common stock, (iv) grant such optionee permission to pay the exercise price by
delivering for cancellation Options having an aggregate value (calculated by
subtracting the exercise price per share from the fair market value of a share

<PAGE>
of Common Stock) equal to the total amount of the exercise price, or (v) provide
such financial assistance to such optionee as the Board determines to be
desirable. The exercise of any option granted under the Plan may be made subject
to the condition that, if at any time the Board shall determine, in its
discretion, that the satisfaction of withholding tax or other withholding
liabilities under any state or federal law is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, such exercise or the delivery or purchase
of shares pursuant thereto, then in such event, the exercise of the option shall
not be effective unless such withholding tax or other withholding liabilities
shall have been satisfied in a manner acceptable to the Company, which may
include the withholding by the Company of shares of Common Stock to be issued
upon exercise of an Option having a fair market value equal to the required
withholding amount. With respect to the foregoing sentences, the value of the
shares of Common Stock shall be the fair market value determined in accordance
with Section 4(c) of the Plan as of the day of such payment or withholding.

         No person, estate or other entity shall have any of the rights of a
shareholder with reference to shares subject to an Option until a certificate
for such shares has been issued by the Company.

         An Option granted under the Plan may be exercised for any lesser number
of shares than the full amount for which it could be exercised. Such a partial
exercise of an Option shall not affect the right to exercise the Option from
time to time in accordance with the Plan for the remaining shares subject to the
Option.

8.       TERMINATION OF OPTIONS

         An Option granted under the Plan shall be considered terminated in
whole or in part, to the extent that, in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan and such Option, it can no longer be exercised for any shares originally
subject to the Option.

9.       ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

         In the event of any change in the outstanding Common Stock of the
Company by reason of a stock dividend, stock split, stock consolidation,
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, split up or the like, the shares
available for purposes of the Plan or under option in outstanding option
agreements pursuant to the Plan (and the option price under such agreements)
shall be appropriately adjusted so as to preserve, but not increase, the
benefits of the Plan to the Company and the benefits to the holders of such
Options.

         Adjustments under this Section shall be made by the Board, whose
determination as to what adjustments shall be made and the extent thereof, shall
be final, binding and conclusive.

<PAGE>
10.      COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

         No certificate(s) for shares shall be issued upon exercise of an Option
until the Company shall have taken such action, if any, as is then required to
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the North
Carolina Uniform Securities Act, as amended, any other applicable state
securities law(s) and the requirements of any exchange (including the NASDAQ
National Market) on which the Common Stock may, at the time, be listed.

         In the case of the exercise of an Option by a person or estate
acquiring the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, the Board
may require reasonable evidence as to the ownership of the Option and may
require such consents and releases of taxing authorities as it may deem
advisable.

11.      NO RIGHT TO DIRECTORSHIP

         Neither the adoption of the Plan nor its operation, nor any document
describing or referring to the Plan, or any part thereof, shall confer upon any
Director participant under the Plan any right to continue as a director of the
Company, or shall in any way affect the right and power of the Company or its
stockholders to terminate the directorship, or not to reelect as a director,
with the Company of any participant under the Plan at any time with or without
assigning a reason therefor, to the same extent as the Company might have done
if the Plan had not been adopted.

<PAGE>
12.      EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN

         The Plan was adopted by the Board on June 16, 2000, and shall be
effective until June 16, 2010, after which time no Option shall be granted, but
such termination shall not affect any Option previously granted under the Plan.

13.      CONDITION PRECEDENT FOR PLAN

         The Plan is expressly conditioned upon the approval, following its
adoption by the Board, of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company at the
annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company occurring in 2001 or at any
special meeting of the stockholders occurring prior to such annual meeting at
which the Plan is considered. In the event that the stockholders reject the Plan
or fail to approve the Plan at such meeting, then the Plan and all grants made
under it by the Board shall automatically cease to exist and be of no further
effect.

<PAGE>

FORM OF OPTION GRANT LETTER

Dear

In accordance with the 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") of Applied
Analytical Industries, Inc. (the "Company"), you, as a non-employee director of
the Company, were granted on __________________, _____, an option to purchase
_____ shares of the common stock of the Company upon the following terms and
conditions:

         (1)      The exercise price shall be $_________ (__% of the fair market
                  value of a share as determined in accordance with Section 4(c)
                  of the Plan on the date of grant - _______, __)

         (2)      This Option will vest and become exercisable according to the
                  schedule set forth in the Plan;

         (3)      Once exercisable, this Option may be exercised until
                  __________, ___ subject to the terms and conditions of the
                  Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated
                  herein by reference. This Option is granted subject to the
                  Plan and shall be construed in accordance with the Plan.

         (4)      To exercise this Option, the holder must deliver written
                  notice of the decision to do so and at the same time tender to
                  the Company payment in full of the exercise price for the
                  shares for which the Option is exercised, which payment may be
                  made in cash or as otherwise provided for in accordance with
                  Section 7 of the Plan.

         (5)      The exercise of this Option shall be subject to the condition
                  that, if at any time the Board (as defined in the Plan) shall
                  determine, in its discretion, that the

<PAGE>

                  satisfaction of withholding tax or other withholding
                  liabilities under any state or federal law is necessary or
                  desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, such
                  exercise or the delivery or purchase of shares pursuant
                  thereto, then in such event, the exercise of the option shall
                  not be effective unless such withholding tax or other
                  withholding liabilities shall have been satisfied in a manner
                  acceptable to the Company, which may include the withholding
                  by the Company of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon
                  exercise of an Option having a fair market value equal to the
                  required withholding amount.

This Option is not transferable except pursuant to the terms and conditions of
the Plan.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            APPLIED ANALYTICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                            By:

                                            Title:

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