Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.9
                                                                    ------------

                                                         Translation from French
                                                         -----------------------

                              EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

BETWEEN

SYNBIOTICS EUROPE SAS, whose registered office is at 299, avenue Jean Jaures,
69007 Lyon, registered with the Lyons RCS under number 412 381 212, and
represented by Mr. Kenneth M. Cohen, fully empowered for the purposes hereof,
pursuant to a decision of the Partners dated July 29, 1997,

Hereinafter referred to as the "Company"

                                                                 ON THE ONE HAND

AND

Mr. Francois Guillemin, residing at 76, boulevard des Belges, 69006 Lyon, born
on February 18, 1950, a French national, Social Security No. 150026938608410,

                                                              ON THE OTHER HAND.

                                  WITNESSETH:
                                  -----------

Pursuant to an employment contract dated March 30, 1977, Mr. Guillemin was hired
by Rhone-Merieux.  Most recently, Mr. Guillemin held the position of delegate
responsible veterinarian in the diagnostics department of Rhone-Merieux.  This
department was contributed to the Company on July 9, 1997 in the form of the
contribution of an autonomous branch of activity, thus the purpose of this
contract is to define the duties and conditions of Mr. Guillemin's employment
with the Company.

This contract cancels and supersedes any employment contract or any agreement or
understanding of any kind whatsoever which might have been entered into
previously with the Company or the legal entities of which it has become the
assign, it being understood that Mr. Guillemin shall under this contract retain
the benefits he had acquired prior to the contribution.

                  IT HAS BEEN DECIDED AND AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
                  ------------------------------------------

1.   Mr. Guillemin shall be hired by the Company as Director of Research &
Development for an indefinite term.  His seniority under his employment contract
dated March 30, 1977 shall be taken over by the Company.
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2.   As Director of Research & Development, and responsible pharmacist
veterinarian, Mr. Guillemin shall have the following responsibilities, the list
hereinafter being not limitative or exhaustive:

-    participation in preparing the Company's research and study program;

-    filing of the applications for authorization to market regulated products;

-    organization and supervision, in particular, of the manufacture, packaging,
     storage, control and delivery of regulated products.

Mr. Guillemin shall report regularly on the developments in his activities to
the Committee responsible for research & development.

3.   Mr. Guillemin shall receive a gross annual compensation of FF 832,510,
payable in 14 installments.  Mr. Guillemin's gross annual compensation has been
agreed in view of the nature of his duties and responsibilities and shall be
independent of the time he will actually devote to performing his duties.  This
compensation could be increased every year depending on the results achieved by
Mr. Guillemin and the Company.  Mr. Guillemin may not, throughout the entire
term of this contract, carry on any professional activity other than the one
described herein, without first obtaining the Company's written consent.

4.   In addition to this fixed compensation, Mr. Guillemin will receive a bonus,
pursuant to the Synbiotics group's senior managers' program, as determined from
time to time.

5.   Mr. Guillemin will be granted options covering fifty thousand (50,000)
shares of Synbiotics Corporation.  The purchase price of these shares will be
the share price at the close of trading on July 9, 1997.  Each option shall be
valid for a period of 10 years, Mr. Guillemin being granted an option for 25% of
all the shares mentioned above upon expiration of each of the four first years
of his duties with the Company.

It is specified that in the event of transfer of the Company, Mr. Guillemin will
have the possibility, without respecting the above-mentioned conditions, of
acquiring the balance of the shares not already acquired by him on the date of
the transfer.

6.   The Company shall provide Mr. Guillemin with a company car of the Monospace
type (Renault Espace) for his business and personnel requirements.  The Company
shall bear the leasing costs of the vehicle and the reasonable expenses incurred
by Mr. Guillemin for his business activities, upon presentation of the
corresponding receipts, up to an approximate amount of FF 68,000 per year.

7.   Mr. Guillemin will have 31 work days of paid vacation per year according to
legal conditions, in addition to the legal holidays granted by labor laws in
France, to be taking depending on work requirements.

8.   Mr. Guillemin shall normally carry out his duties at the Company's
registered office in Lyon, it being understood that this place of work may, as
the case may be, be transferred to another place depending on work requirements,
it being understood that such transfer shall not constitute a material
modification of his employment contract.

The parties shall agree reciprocally, in good faith, on the terms and
conditions of this transfer.

9.   In view of his duties, Mr. Guillemin will need to travel frequently for
business purposes both in France and abroad, which he declares that he expressly
accepts.

The business expenses on the one hand and the reasonable travel expenses on the
other hand which Mr. Guillemin incurs at such times will be reimbursed to him
upon presentation of receipts, in accordance with the usual practice applicable
within the profession.
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10.  Mr. Guillemin undertakes to respect the terms of the confidentiality
undertaking attached to this contract.

11.  In the event of termination of this employment contract for dismissal other
than for serious or gross misconduct (faute grave or faute lourde), Mr.
Guillemin shall, in addition to the collective bargaining agreement and legal
severance payments, receive an amount equal to six months of salary.

In any event, the total amount received by Mr. Guillemin shall be equal to the
greater of (a) 12 months of salary or (b) the total amount of the legal and
collective bargaining agreement severance payments.

Moreover, an additional indemnity equal to six months of salary shall be paid to
Mr. Guillemin in the event that the termination of this contract occurs
following the acquisition of the Company by another company, or following any
change of control occurring in the Company's capital.

12.  For all that is not provided for herein, the parties refer to the labor
regulations in force in France, and to the provisions of the National Collective
Bargaining Agreement of the Pharmaceutical Industry as extended.

                                                   Executed in two originals
                                                   In Lyon on October 12, 1997

Signature (preceded by the handwritten words
in French "lu et approuve" - read and approved)

/s/  Francois Guillemin                    /s/  Kenneth M. Cohen
----------------------------               -------------------------
Francois Guillemin                         For Synbiotics Corporation<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.41.2
                                                                 ---------------

                                THIRD AMENDMENT
                                ---------------

The Agreement between Merial Limited ("Merial') and Synbiotics Corporation
("Synbiotics"), dated January 1, 1992 and amended on July 27, 1993 and August
22, 1996 (as so amended, the "Agreement"), is amended as follows on March 1,
1999, effective as of July 1, 1998:

     A.   Paragraph 1.2.3 is amended to add "This includes the right to sell
FeLV "Product" and any FeLV "Product" combination vaccines in the USA through
ethical distributors acting as sales agents toward USA veterinarians; it is
understood, however, that Merial doing so will not prevent Synbiotics from
selling FeLV "Product" and FeLV "Product" combination vaccines through the same
and/or other ethical distributors acting as ethical distributors as contemplated
by the Agreement."

     B.   Paragraph 3.3.2 as amended is deleted in its entirety.

     C.   Synbiotics agrees to use its reasonable best efforts and work with
Merial to try to negotiate amendments to Synbiotics' current agreement with Bio-
Trends International, Inc. to allow Bio-Trends International, Inc. and Merial to
deal directly with each other (while preserving Synbiotics' other rights) to
facilitate the operation of Merial's business (as contemplated by the Agreement,
as hereby amended) with respect to the North American/Central American market.

     D.   In consideration for the above, Merial agrees to pay Synbiotics
$1,600,000 immediately.  Royalties paid by Merial to Synbiotics for the quarter
ended September 30, 1998 will be deducted from this amount.

     E.   Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, the Agreement remains
unchanged and in full force and effect.

Synbiotics Corporation              Merial Limited (domesticated in Delaware as
                                    Merial LLC, and the successor in interest to
                                    Rhone Merieux, Inc.)

By  /s/ Michael Green               By  /s/ Donald G. Hildebrand
    ----------------------              ------------------------
Title  V.P. Finance                 Title  V.P. Merial Limited
Print Name  Michael Green           Print Name  Donald G. Hildebrand<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.49
                                                                   -------------

                            AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE
                                      TO
                        AGREEMENT REGARDING LICENSING,
                   DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING AND MANUFACTURING

     This Amendment Number Three to Agreement Regarding Licensing, Development,
Marketing and Manufacturing ("Amendment") is made and entered into as of April
20, 1999 by and between Synbiotics Corporation, a California corporation
("Synbiotics"), and Binax, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Binax").

                                   RECITALS

     WHEREAS, Synbiotics and Binax entered into that certain Agreement Regarding
Licensing, Development, Marketing and Manufacturing dated June 30, 1993, as
previously amended by Amendment Number One thereto dated December 9, 1993 and
Amendment Number Two thereto dated July 27, 1994 (together, the "Agreement").

     WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend and modify certain of the provisions
of the Agreement pursuant to Section 16.2 of the Agreement to memorialize the
results of their good faith negotiations pursuant to Section 3.7 of the
Agreement.

                                   AGREEMENT

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

   1.  The FeLV Synbiotics Sublicensed Product (the "FeLV product") is hereby
licensed back to Binax for development, manufacture, sale and distribution
anywhere in the world as contemplated by the second, the next-to-last, and the
last sentence of Section 3.7, provided that Binax's obligation to make royalty
payments to Synbiotics under the second sentence of Section 3.7 shall terminate
when Binax has paid Synbiotics a total of $150,000 in royalties on its FeLV
product.  Synbiotics agrees to amend its Distribution Agreement with Daiichi
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Daiichi") to delete the FeLV product therefrom (but
nonetheless also to amend Section 3(b)(ii) thereof to provide for payment to
Synbiotics by Daiichi of $75,000 within 30 days of registration of the FeLV
product in Japan by Daiichi in furtherance of any Binax/Daiichi Distribution
Agreement).  Binax agrees to negotiate in good fait the terms of a Distribution
Agreement with Daiichi for the registration and sale of the FeLV product in
Japan.  Synbiotics acknowledges that Daiichi and Binax may not come to an
agreement regarding registration and sale of the FeLV product in Japan and
therefore that the $75,000 payment by Daiichi to Synbiotics may never be made.
Synbiotics shall allow Daiichi/Binax to use the ICT GOLD trademark for such FeLV
product in Japan, an if requested to do so shall supply reagents for it on
commercially reasonable terms.  Binax may distribute the FeLV product
independently or through a third party.
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   2.  The rights and duties of the parties with regard to the existing ICT Gold
HW canine heartworm test shall remain unchanged for as long as Synbiotics wishes
to market such a test.  (E.g., Synbiotics cannot lose such rights under section
3.7 or  5.3.2(a)(iii) of the Agreement.)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, and
notwithstanding the exclusivity of the rights granted to Synbiotics under the
Section 3.1(a) of the Agreement, Binax may develop and manufacture (but not
sell) and may, any time after April 1, 2000, manufacture, market and sell a
proprietary rapid canine heartworm test in the ICT Format, or another format
controlled by Binax, (the "Binax Test") anywhere in the world.  Synbiotics need
not provide reagents or other products to Binax for the Binax Test, or provide
the use of any Synbiotics Confidential Information, Synbiotics Developments,
intellectual property or technology, or provide any other development,
manufacturing or marketing assistance to Binax for the Binax Test.   Synbiotics
grants no license to use any Synbiotics trademarks, tradenames, logos or other
marks or other intellectual property in connection with the Binax Test, except
as provided in Section 3 below.  Because the parties agree to deem the Binax
Test not to constitute a reverted Synbiotics sublicensed Product, Binax nee not
pay the 7.5% royalty or recoupment of development costs which was contemplated
by Section 3.7 of the Agreement.  Because the Binax Test, if developed and
marketed, will compete with Synbiotics' ICT Gold HW and other heartworm
products, it is agreed that the relation of the parties with regard to marketing
their respective products shall be that of arms-length competitors.

   3.  Synbiotics hereby grants Binax a limited, nonsublicensable,
nonassignable, nonexclusive license under U.S. Patent No. 4,789,631 to develop,
make, sell, market, distribute and use the Binax Test.  Such license requires
both an upfront consideration and a running royalty.  The upfront consideration
is Binax's agreement not to market or sell the Binax Test before April 1, 2000.
The running royalty is 8% of the net selling price received by Binax and its
Affiliates upon sales of units of the Binax Test which are made, sold, marketed,
distributed or used in the United States (net of returns and customary trade
discounts actually allowed and taken), and shall be paid at Synbiotics;
headquarters in U.S. dollars within 30 days after the end of each calendar
quarter, accompanied by a detailed net-sales report for such quarter signed by
Binax's President.  No royalty or other payments shall be due on units of the
Binax Test which are neither made, sold, marketed, distributed or used in the
United States.  Binax's obligation to make royalty payments on sales of Binax
Tests units made, sold, marketed, distributed or used within the United States
shall expire on December 5, 2005.  Binax shall maintain at its headquarters
full, complete and accurate books and records showing the calculation of such
net sales of the Binax Test, and Synbiotics may audit those books and records
upon reasonable notice. Such audit shall be at Synbiotics' expense unless it
shows a Binax underpayment of more than 5% for any audited period, in which case
Binax shall reimburse Synbiotics for the reasonable costs of such audit.

   4.  It is understood Binax may also have to pay royalties to Becton-
Dickinson, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Carter-Wallace and/or SmithKline Diagnostics
on the Binax Test.  Synbiotics agrees that, if all the other licensors reduce
their royalty rates to Binax, Synbiotics will reduce its running royalty rate to
Binax by the same percentage.

                                       2
<PAGE>

   5.   The license specified in Section 3 of this Amendment shall terminate (a)
30 days after written notice by Synbiotics to Binax of material breach of the
Agreement or this Amendment by Binax, which breach is not cured within such 30
days, (b) upon sale of Binax or its stock (by merger or otherwise) before
December 5, 2005 to any company with a substantial animal health business that
does not already have a license of the above-referenced patent from Synbiotics,
or (c) upon any sale of the Binax Test udne a trademark or trade name not owned
by Binax of its Affiliates.  A "substantial animal health business" means at
least $10 million in total assets or annual net sales pertaining to animal
health diagnostics, or at least $500 million in total assets or annual net sales
in animal health.  A breach described in this Section 5(a) can also, but would
not necessarily, also result in termination of the entire Agreement as provided
in Article 8 of the Agreement.

   6.   Synbiotics does not represent or warrant that the Binax Test will be
free from infringement of any patents or other proprietary rights of any third
parties, nor does Synbiotics represent or warrant the validity or scope of U.S.
Patent No. 4,789,631 r make any other express or implied warranty, including any
warranty of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose, with regard
either to the licensed Synbiotics patented technology or the Binax Test.

   7.   Binax shall mark all Binax Test units sold in the United States (or
their product inserts) with the following patent notice: "Licensed under U.S.
Patent No. 4,789,631."

   8.   Binax agrees that the transfer price for ICT Gold HW will in no event be
increased to above $1.40 before April 1, 2000.

   9.   Except as provided in Section 1 of this Amendment, Section 3.7 of the
Agreement is deleted from the Agreement.

   10.  Section 5.11.1 of the Agreement is amended by adding at the end: "or (d)
for any third party claims against Synbiotics as a result of Binax's
manufacture, marketing, sale or use, after April 20, 1999, of the FeLV product
or the Binax Test, unless such claim relates to Synbiotics' right to grant a
license to use, or Binax's right to exercise its rights as licensee with respect
to, U.S. Patent No. 4,789,631."

   11.  The second sentence of Section 5.12.1 of the Agreement is amended by
inserting after the word "Products": "or Binax's manufacture, marketing, sale or
use, after April 20, 1999, of the FeLV product or the Binax Test."

   12.  Except as expressly set forth in the Agreement or herein, Synbiotics
grants no licenses whatsoever to Binax.

   13.  Except as amended as set forth in Sections 1 through 12 above, the
Agreement shall remain unchanged and shall remain in full force and effect.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       3
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    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment Number
Three to the Agreement to be effective as of the date first above written.

WITNESS:                                   SYNBIOTICS CORPORATION

/s/ Judith Francello                       By: /s/ Kenneth M. Cohen
--------------------                           --------------------

                                           Its:  President and CEO

WITNESS:                                   BINAX, INC.

/s/                                        By: /s/ Roger U. Piasio
                                               -------------------

                                           Its:  President and CEO

                 (SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO
                  AGREEMENT REGARDING LICENSING, DEVELOPMENT,
                         MARKETING AND MANUFACTURING)

                                       4

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