Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

This Replacement Promissory Note and payment hereof is subject to and secured by
the terms of a certain Stock Pledge Agreement dated February 11, 1998 between
the Maker and the Payee, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and
made a part hereof. By executing below, the Maker hereby affirms the terms and
conditions of such Stock Pledge Agreement and acknowledges that this Replacement
Promissory Note is in substitution for, replacement of, and shall constitute the
"Note" as defined in such Stock Pledge Agreement.

                           REPLACEMENT PROMISSORY NOTE

$238,700                                                       February 11, 2001
                                                       South St. Paul, Minnesota

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Gary Olen, an individual resident of the State of
Minnesota ("Maker"), hereby promises to pay to the order of THE SPORTSMAN'S
GUIDE, INC., its successors and assigns ("Payee") at its offices located at 411
Farwell Avenue, South St. Paul, Minnesota (or at such other place as the holder
hereof may specify in writing to the Maker from time to time) the principal
amount of TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS ($238,700) in
five (5) equal annual installments of principal and interest, such interest on
the unpaid principal amount hereof to be calculated at a rate per annum equal to
5.69%.

         This Note is dated the date hereof, relates back to, and has been
executed and delivered by the Maker in the amount of $238,700, in replacement
of, and in substitution for, the Promissory Note issued by the Maker to the
Payee dated February 11, 1998, as replaced and substituted for pursuant to a
Replacement Promissory Note dated February 11, 2000 (the "Original Note").

         Interest shall accrue from the date hereof to the date of repayment of
the principal amount hereof in full (calculated on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed over a year of 365 days). Annual principal and interest
payments (including, interest accruing pursuant to the Original Note) shall be
due and payable on each February 11, commencing February 11, 2003, at maturity
(whether by acceleration or otherwise) and, after maturity, upon demand. The
amount of any payment shall be applied first to the payment of accrued interest
on the unpaid principal amount hereof through the date of such payment and then
to the outstanding principal.

         Overdue principal and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest
shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to 7.69%.

         Whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on
a day which is not a business day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the
next succeeding business day and, if payment of principal has been so extended,
interest shall be payable on such principal at the applicable rate during such
extension.

         This Note may be prepaid, in whole at any time and in part from time to
time, without premium or penalty, on any business day.

         All payments under this Note shall be made without set-off, deduction
or counterclaim on the date due in U.S. dollars and in immediately available
funds.

<PAGE>   2

         Until the indebtedness evidenced hereby is paid in full, the Maker
shall promptly, after obtaining knowledge, notify the Payee of the occurrence of
any Event of Default or of any event, act or condition which with notice or
lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

         Upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each an "Event of
Default"):

         (a)    default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of any
         principal and/or interest on this Note and such default shall continue
         for thirty days after written notice of such nonpayment is made by the
         Payee to the Maker;

         (b)    the occurrence of any default or event of default under any
         other agreement, document or instrument executed and delivered by the
         Payee to the Maker whether currently in existence or entered into after
         the date of this Note; including without limitation, the Employment
         Agreement dated July 1, 2000 between Maker and Payee;

         (c)    Maker commences, or there is commenced against the Maker (or any
         material assets of the Maker), any proceedings under any bankruptcy,
         insolvency, reorganization, receivership, relief of debtors,
         dissolution, liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction and, if
         commenced against the Maker, such proceedings remain undismissed for a
         period of 30 days; or

         (d)    Maker ceases, for any reason, to be employed by the Payee;
         provided, however, if Maker ceases to be employed by the Payee for
         reason of death or disability, such default shall not exist until 120
         days after such death or disability. For purposes of this provision,
         disability means a mental or physical condition which causes the Maker
         to be unable to perform his employment duties;

then, in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default
shall then be continuing, the Payee, by written notice to the Maker, may declare
the principal of, and accrued interest in respect of, this Note to be, whereupon
the same shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand,
protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by the Maker; provided, however, that if an Event of Default described in
clause (c) above shall occur, the result which would otherwise occur only upon
the giving of written notice as specified herein, shall occur automatically
without the giving of any such notice.

         The Maker shall promptly pay all out-of-pocket costs and expenses
(including attorneys' fees and expenses) reasonably incurred by Payee in
connection with the enforcement or collection of this Note.

         This Note shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Minnesota.

                                    /s/ Gary Olen
                                    --------------------------
                                    Gary Olen

                                       2<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                                 CIMA LABS INC.
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                WITH DAVID FESTE

         THIS AGREEMENT is entered into effective as of the date of signing by
and between CIMA LABS INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and David
Feste (the "Employee").

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage the Employee in the position of
Chief Financial Officer to render services for the Company on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement;

         WHEREAS, the Employee desires to be retained by the Company as its
Chief Financial Officer; and

         WHEREAS, both parties recognize the critical importance to the Company,
its employees, and its investors of preserving the confidentiality of the
Company's trade secrets and confidential information and of protecting the
Company against competition from former Employees or other key employees of the
Company following their separation from the Company;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the
parties' mutual covenants and undertakings contained in this Agreement, the
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Employee agree
as follows:

         1. Employment and Term. Subject to the terms and conditions herein
provided, the Company hereby continues employment of the Employee, and the
Employee hereby accepts employment by the Company, for a term continuing as of
January 1, 2001, and thereafter for three (3) years to January 1, 2004. The
employment term of the Employee will expire at the expiration of this three (3)
year employment continuation term, without further obligation for

<PAGE>   2
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

either party. On or before July 1, 2003, the Company expects to indicate to the
Employee whether the Company is interested in continuing employment of the
Employee with respect to a new employment agreement.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may terminate the Employee's
employment at any time with or without cause. In the event the Employee's
employment is terminated without cause prior to the end prior to January 1,
2004, the Board of Directors shall approve a resolution, effective on the date
of the Employee's date of termination, to immediately accelerate any option(s)
granted under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan, or a successor plan, that
would have otherwise vested by the terms of the Employee's option agreement(s)
on or before January 1, 2004. For the sake of clarity, the Employee will not
receive any acceleration of vesting with respect to his then outstanding
options, nor severance pay, should the Employee terminate his employment
voluntarily or should the Company terminate his employment for cause. For
purposes of this Agreement, "cause" means:

         (a) any felony conviction;

         (b) use of intoxicating beverages or chemical abuse that negatively
         affects job performance (following at least one written warning);

         (c) an act or acts of personal dishonesty taken by the Employee and
         intended to result in personal enrichment of the Employee at the
         expense of the Company;

         (d) any material breach of the Employee's obligations under this
         Agreement:

         (e) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Employee in
         connection with the performance of his duties, responsibilities,
         agreements, and covenants hereunder, or his failure to comply with the
         reasonable rules, regulations, policies, directions, and restrictions
         as may be established from time to time by the Board of Directors, and
         which

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

         misconduct, negligence, or failure shall continue for a period of
         thirty (30) days after written notice to the Employee; or

         (f) willful conduct of the Employee which brings discredit to the
         Company, its products, or its services.

         It is further agreed that the term of the Employee's employment under
this Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of the Employee's
death.

         2. Duties and Representations of the Employee. During the Employee's
employment hereunder, he shall serve as the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
The Employee shall devote his full time, attention, knowledge, and skill
exclusively to the loyal service of the Company. The Employee represents and
warrants to the Company that: (a) his acceptance of employment under this
Agreement and his performance of the duties contemplated herein are not in
conflict with any obligation, undertaking, or agreement between the Employee and
any third party; and (b) he has not and will not, during the course of his
employment with the Company, disclose or utilize without permission, any
confidential or proprietary information, trade secrets, materials, documents, or
property owned by any third party. The Company through the Compensation
Committee expects to evaluate the Employee's performance annually during the
term of this Agreement.

         3. Compensation. The Company shall pay to the Employee the following
compensation:

            (a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Employee an annual
         base salary of $185,000 beginning January 1, 2001, less legally
         required deductions and withholdings, payable in periodic installments
         in accordance with the standard payroll

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

         practices of the Company in effect from time-to-time. On January 1,
         2002, the annual base salary will be adjusted upwards by not less than
         5%. On January 1, 2003, the annual base salary will be adjusted upwards
         from the 2002 increase by not less than 5%. Employee may elect to
         forego all or any portion of this increase and direct at his sole
         discretion that the bonus of one or more employees at the Company be
         increased in the aggregate by the amount of such increase.

            (b) Incentive Bonus. The Employee will be entitled to receive an
         incentive bonus award of up to fifty percent (50%) of his base salary
         depending upon the achievement of objectives defined and agreed to by
         the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors prior to the last
         Board meeting of each calendar year. The award for achievement that
         occurs against objectives in that year will be agreed-upon by the
         Compensation Committee and paid before March 1 of the next year. The
         determination of whether and when any of the objectives are achieved
         shall be in the reasonable discretion of the Compensation Committee.
         The determination of any additional incentive bonus programs shall be
         in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee.

            (c) Participation in Benefit Plans. The Employee shall also be
         entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans or programs of
         the Company, including any disability and life insurance group plans,
         to the extent that his position, title, tenure, salary, age, health,
         and other qualifications make him eligible to participate.

            (d) Paid Time Off. During the term of the Employee's employment
         under this Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to take twenty
         (20) days of

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

         paid time off ("PTO")per year with pay, at such times as shall be
         mutually convenient to the Company and the Employee.

            (e) Employment-Related Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse
         the Employee for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses
         incurred by him in the performance of his duties under this Agreement,
         subject to the presentment of appropriate vouchers in accordance with
         the Company's normal policies for expenses verification.

            (f) Stock Option. Subject to the terms of a successor plan to the
         Company's Equity Incentive Plan, and subject to the Employee executing
         this document and the Board of Directors granting the option, the
         Company shall cause to be issued to the Employee an incentive stock
         option to purchase up to seventy-five thousand (75,000) shares of
         common stock in the Company, effective with the approval by
         stockholders of any successor plan to the Equity Incentive Plan. This
         award to the Employee will vest as follows: (i) thirty-three percent
         (33%) of the shares subject to the option will vest on December 31,
         2001; (ii) thirty-three percent (33%) of the shares subject to the
         option will vest on December 31, 2002; (iii) thirty-three percent (34%)
         of the shares subject to the option will vest on December 31, 2003;
         subject to accelerated vesting as provided in a successor plan to the
         Equity Incentive Plan.

            (g) Car Allowance. The Employee will be paid a car allowance in the
         amount of five hundred fifty dollars ($550.00) per month, consistent
         with the Company's payroll and accounting practices.

         4.  Change in Control

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

    (a) In the event (x) a Change in Control (as defined in Section 4(b)) occurs
which leads to the termination or separation of the Employee because (1) his
position is eliminated, (2) continuing to work in the position would require the
Employee to transfer to a work site outside a 100-mile radius of his work
location at the time of change in control and the Employee is unwilling to
relocate, or (3) his responsibilities change so substantially that the Employee
has effectively been removed from the position held by him prior to the Change
in Control, or (y) Employee reasonably demonstrates that his termination or
separation arose in connection with or in anticipation of a Change in Control,
the Employee

        (i) shall be entitled to receive from the Company or its successor, upon
    such termination of employment with the Company or its successor, a cash
    payment in an amount equal to 2 times the average annual base salary and
    bonus payable by the Company and included in the gross income for federal
    income tax purposes of the Employee during the shorter of the period
    consisting of the five most recently completed taxable years of the Employee
    ending before the Change in Control or that portion of such period during
    which the Employee was employed by the Company (for which purpose
    compensation for a partial year shall be annualized, in accordance with
    temporary or final regulations promulgated under Section 280G(d) of the
    Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any successor
    provision thereto, before determining average annual compensation for the
    period, such average annual compensation to be determined in accordance with
    temporary or final regulations promulgated under Section 280G(d) of the Code
    or any successor provision thereto and such

                                       6
<PAGE>   7
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

    payment to be made to the Employee by the Company or its successor in a lump
    sum at the time of such termination of employment; and

        (ii) shall be entitled for two years after the termination of the
    Employee's employment with the Company to participate in any health,
    disability and life insurance plan or program in which the Employee was
    entitled to participate immediately prior to the Change in Control as if he
    were an employee of the Company during such one-year period (except, with
    respect to health insurance coverage, for those portions remaining during
    such one-year period that duplicate health insurance coverage that is in
    place for the Employee under any other policy provided at the expense of
    another employer); provided however, that in the event that the Employee's
    participation in any such health, disability or life insurance plan or
    program of the Company is barred, the Company or its successor, at its sole
    cost and expense, shall arrange to provide the Employee with benefits
    substantially similar to those which the Employee would be entitled to
    receive under such plan or program if he were not barred from participation.

    (b) "Change in Control" means:

        (i) a majority of the directors of the Company shall be persons other
        than persons

            (A) for whose election proxies shall have been solicited by the
        Board or

            (B) who are then serving as directors appointed by the Board to fill
        vacancies on the Board caused by death or resignation (but not by
        removal) or to fill newly-created directorships,

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<PAGE>   8

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

        (ii) 30% or more of the (1) combined voting power of the then
    outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
    the election of directors ("Outstanding Company Voting Securities") or (2)
    the then outstanding shares of the Company's common stock ("Outstanding
    Company Common Stock") is directly or indirectly acquired or beneficially
    owned (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as
    amended (the "Exchange Act"), or any successor rule thereto) by any
    individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or
    14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), provided, however, that the following
    acquisitions and beneficial ownership shall not constitute Changes in
    Control pursuant to this paragraph 2(b)(ii):

            (A) any acquisition or beneficial ownership by the Company or a
        subsidiary of the Company (a "Subsidiary"), or

            (B) any acquisition or beneficial ownership by any employee benefit
        plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or one or
        more of its Subsidiaries,

            (C) any acquisition or beneficial ownership by the participant, who
        has received an award under the Plan (a "Participant"), or any group
        that includes the Participant, or

            (D) any acquisition or beneficial ownership by a parent corporation,
        as that term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor
        provision (a "Parent"), or its wholly-owned subsidiaries, as long as
        they shall remain wholly-owned subsidiaries, of 100% of the Outstanding
        Company Voting Securities as a result of a merger or

                                       8
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

        statutory share exchange which complies with paragraph 2(b)(iii)(A)(2)
        or the exception in paragraph 2(b)(iii)(B) hereof in all respects,

        (iii) the shareholders of the Company approve a definitive agreement or
    plan to

            (A) merge or consolidate the Company with or into another
        corporation (other than (1) a merger or consolidation with a Subsidiary
        or (2) a merger in which

                (a) the Company is the surviving corporation,

                (b) no Outstanding Company Voting Securities or Outstanding
            Company Common Stock (other than fractional shares) held by
            shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the merger is
            converted into cash, securities, or other property (except (i)
            voting stock of a Parent owning directly or indirectly through
            wholly-owned subsidiaries, both beneficially and of record 100% of
            the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately after the
            merger or (ii) cash upon the exercise by holders of Outstanding
            Company Voting Securities of statutory dissenters' rights),

                (c) the persons who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of
            the Outstanding Company Voting Securities and Outstanding Company
            Common Stock immediately prior to such merger beneficially own,
            directly or indirectly, immediately after the merger, more than 70%
            of, respectively, the then outstanding

                                       9
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

            common stock and the voting power of the then outstanding voting
            securities of the surviving corporation or its Parent entitled to
            vote generally in the election of directors, and

                (d) if voting securities of the Parent are exchanged for
            Outstanding Company Voting Securities in the merger, all holders of
            any class or series of Outstanding Company Voting Securities
            immediately prior to the merger have the right to receive
            substantially the same per share consideration in exchange for their
            Outstanding Company Voting Securities as all other holders of such
            class or series),

            (B) exchange, pursuant to a statutory share exchange, Outstanding
        Company Voting Securities of any one or more classes or series held by
        shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the exchange for cash,
        securities or other property, except for (a) voting stock of a Parent
        owning directly, or indirectly through wholly-owned subsidiaries, both
        beneficially and of record 100% of the Outstanding Company Voting
        Securities immediately after the statutory share exchange if (i) the
        persons who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
        Company Voting Securities and Outstanding Company Common Stock
        immediately prior to such statutory share exchange own, directly or
        indirectly, immediately after the statutory share exchange more than 70%
        of, respectively, the then outstanding common stock and the voting power
        of the then outstanding voting securities of such Parent

                                       10
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

        entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and (ii) all
        holders of any class or series of Outstanding Company Voting Securities
        immediately prior to the statutory share exchange have the right to
        receive substantially the same per share consideration in exchange for
        their Outstanding Company Voting Securities as all other holders of such
        class or series or (b) cash with respect to fractional shares of
        Outstanding Company Voting Securities or payable as a result of the
        exercise by holders of Outstanding Company Voting Securities of
        statutory dissenters' rights,

            (C) sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the
        assets of the Company (in one transaction or a series of transactions),
        or

            (D) liquidate or dissolve the Company, except that it shall not
        constitute a Change in Control with respect to any Participant if a
        majority of the voting stock (or the voting equity interest) of the
        surviving corporation or its parent corporation or of any corporation
        (or other entity) acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of
        the Company (in the case of a merger, consolidation or disposition of
        assets) or the Company or its Parent (in the case of a statutory share
        exchange) is, immediately following the merger, consolidation, statutory
        share exchange or disposition of assets, beneficially owned by the
        Participant or a group of persons, including the Participant, acting in
        concert.

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                (c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained
            herein except the last sentence of this Section 4(c), if the lump
            sum cash payment due and the other benefits to which the Employee
            shall become entitled under Section 4 hereof, either alone or
            together with other payments in the nature of compensation to the
            Employee which are contingent on a change in the ownership or
            effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a
            substantial portion of the assets of the Company or otherwise, would
            constitute a "parachute payment" as defined in Section 280G of the
            Code or any successor provision thereto, such lump sum payment
            and/or such other benefits and payments shall be reduced (but not
            below zero) to the largest aggregate amount as will result in no
            portion thereof being subject to the excise tax imposed under
            Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or
            being non-deductible to the Company for federal income tax purposes
            pursuant to Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision
            thereto). The Employee in good faith shall determine the amount of
            any reduction to be made pursuant to this Section 4(c) and shall
            select from among the foregoing benefits and payments those which
            shall be reduced. No modification of, or successor provision to,
            Section 280G or Section 4999 subsequent to the date of this
            Agreement shall, however, reduce the benefits to which the Employee
            would be

                                       12
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

            entitled under this Agreement in the absence of this Section 4(c) to
            a greater extent than they would have been reduced if Section 280G
            and Section 4999 had not been modified or superseded subsequent to
            the date of this Agreement, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
            provided in the first sentence of this Section 4(c).

The Employee shall determine which payments or benefits shall be so reduced.

         5. Confidential Information. Except as permitted or directed by the
Company's Board of Directors, during the term of this Agreement or at any time
thereafter, the Employee shall not divulge, furnish, or make accessible to
anyone or use in any way (other than in the ordinary course of business of the
Compete) any confidential or secret knowledge of the Company which the Employee
has acquired or become acquainted with or will acquire or become acquainted with
prior to the termination of the period of his employment by the Company, whether
developed by himself or by others, concerning any trade secrets, confidential or
secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices, or materials (whether or
not patented or patentable), directly or indirectly useful in any aspect of the
business of the Company, any customer or supplier list of the Company, any
confidential or secret development or research work of the Company. or any other
confidential information or secret aspects of the business of the Company. The
Employee acknowledges that the above-described knowledge or information
constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company and represents a
substantial investment of time and expense by the Company and its predecessors,
and that any disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than
for the sole benefit of the Company would be wrong and would cause irreparable
harm to the Company. Both during and after the term of this

                                       13
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

Agreement, the Employee will refrain from any acts or omissions that would
reduce the value of such knowledge or information to the Company. The foregoing
obligations of confidentiality, however, shall not apply to any knowledge or
information which is now published or which subsequently becomes generally
publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from the Company, other than
as a direct or indirect result of a breach of this Agreement by the Employee.

         6. Return of Proprietary Property. The Employee agrees that all
property in the Employee's possession belonging to the Company, including
without limitation, all documents, reports, manuals, memoranda, computer
print-outs, customer lists, credit cards, keys, identification, products, access
cards, and all other property relating in any way to the business of the Company
are the exclusive property of the Company, even if the Employee authored,
created, or assisted in authoring or creating such property. The Employee shall
return to the Company all such documents and property immediately upon
termination of employment or at such earlier time as the Company may reasonably
request.

         7. Restrictive Covenant. The Employee acknowledges that the Company
needs to be protected against the potential for unfair competition and
impairment of the Company's good will by the Employee's use of the Company's
training, assistance, confidential information, and trade secrets in direct
competition with the Company. The Employee therefore agrees that for a period of
one (1) year from the date of termination of his employment hereunder, the
Employee shall not operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in
ownership, management, operation, or control of, or be connected in any manner
as an independent contractor, consultant, or otherwise, with any person or
organization engaged in any business activity which is the same as, or directly
competitive with any business of the Company or any successor of the Company as
of the date of the termination of his employment hereunder within the states of
the United

                                       14
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

States of America. The Employee expressly agrees that the provisions of this
paragraph 6 shall survive the termination of the Employee's employment hereunder
or the termination of this Agreement for a period of one (1) year, whether such
termination be voluntary or involuntary or with or without cause.

         8. Covenant Not to Recruit. The Employee recognizes that the Company's
work force constitutes an important and vital aspect of its business. The
Employee agrees that for a period of one (1) year following the termination of
his employment hereunder or the termination of this Agreement for any reason
whatsoever, he shall not recruit, or assist anyone else in the solicitation of,
any of the Company's then current employees to terminate their employment with
the Company and to become employed by any business enterprise with which the
Employee may then be associated or connected, whether as an owner, employee,
partner, agent, investor, consultant, contractor or otherwise.

         9. Assignment. The rights and obligations of the Company under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors
and assigns of the Company. The Employee may not assign this Agreement or any
rights hereunder. Any purported or attempted assignment or transfer by the
Employee of this Agreement or any of the Employee's duties, responsibilities, or
obligations hereunder shall be void.

         10. Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices provided in this
Agreement shall be in writing; and shall be deemed to have been given when
personally served, sent by courier or mailed by United States registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the last known
residence address of the Employee or, in the case of the Company, to its
principal office to the attention of the Board of Directors, or to such other
address as either

                                       15
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except
that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

         11. Construction and Severability. The validity, interpretation,
performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Minnesota. In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be
held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity will not
in any way affect the legality or validity of any other provision hereof. It is
the intention of the parties hereto that the Company be given the broadest
possible protection respecting its confidential information and trade secrets;
and respecting competition by the Employee following his separation by the
Company.

         12. Arbitration. Except as provided in this paragraph, any claims or
disputes of any nature between the parties arising from or related to the
performance, breach, termination, expiration, application, or meaning of this
Agreement or any matter relating to the Employee's employment and the
termination of that employment by the Company, shall be resolved exclusively by
arbitration before the American Arbitration Association in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, in accordance with the applicable rules then obtaining of the
American Arbitration Association.

         The decision of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding upon both
parties Judgment of the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in
any court having jurisdiction thereof. In the event of submission of any dispute
to arbitration, each party shall, not later than thirty (30) days prior to the
date set for hearing, provide to the other party and to the arbitrator(s) a copy
of all exhibits upon which the party intends to rely at the hearing and a list
of all persons each party intends to all at the hearing.

                                       16
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

         This paragraph shall have no obligation to claims by the Company
asserting a violation of or seeking to enforce, by injunction or otherwise, the
terms of paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7 above. Such claims may be maintained by the
Company in a lawsuit subject to the terms of paragraph 12 below. The Employee
agrees that, in addition to, but not to the exclusion of any other available
remedy, the Company shall have the right to enforce the provisions of paragraphs
4, 5, 6 and 7 by applying for and obtaining temporary and permanent restraining
orders or injunctions from a court of competent jurisdiction without the
necessity of filing a bond therefore, and the Company shall be entitled to
recover from the Employee its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs in enforcing
the provisions of paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7.

         13. Venue. Any action at law, suit in equity, or judicial proceeding
arising directly, indirectly, or otherwise in connection with, out of, related
to or from this Agreement or any provision hereof, shall be litigated only in
the courts of the State of Minnesota, County of Hennepin. The Employee waives
any right the Employee may have to transfer or change the venue of any
litigation brought against the Employee by the Company.

         14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire Agreement
between the Company and the Employee with respect to his employment by the
Company and there are no undertakings, covenants, or commitments other than as
set forth herein. This Agreement may not be altered or amended, except by a
writing executed by the party against whom such alteration or amendment is to be
enforced. This Agreement supersedes any and all prior understandings or
agreements between the parties.

         15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be simultaneously executed in any
number of counterparts, and such counterparts executed and delivered, each as an
original, shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

                                       17
<PAGE>   18
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

         16. Captions and Headings. The captions and paragraph headings used in
this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not affect the
construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any of the provisions
hereof.

         17. Survival. The parties expressly acknowledge and agree that the
provisions of this Agreement which by their express or implied terms extend
beyond the expiration of this Agreement or the termination of the Employee's
employment hereunder, shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding
the Employee's termination of employment hereunder or the expiration of this
Agreement.

         18. Waivers. No failure on the part of either party to exercise, and no
delay in exercising, any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy
hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any
other right or remedy granted hereby or by any related document or by law. No
single or partial waiver of rights or remedies hereunder, nor any course of
conduct of the parties, shall be construed as a waiver of rights or remedies by
either party (other than as expressly and specifically waived).

         19. Reliance By Third Parties. This Agreement is intended for the
exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, personal representatives, successors, and permitted assigns, and
no other person or entity shall have any right to rely on this Agreement or to
claim or derive any benefit therefrom, absent the express written consent of the
party to be charged with such reliance or benefit.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed this Agreement. This
Agreement terminates the prior Agreement.

                                       18
<PAGE>   19
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                                                  CIMA LABS INC.
Dated:
               26 January 2001                    By:  John M. Siebert, Ph.D.
               -------------------------------         ------------------------
                                                       Type Name

                                                       /s/ John M. Siebert
                                                       -------------------------
                                                       Signature

                                                 Its:  President and CEO
                                                       -------------------------

Dated:.
               26 January 2001                    By:  David Feste
               -------------------------------         -------------------------
                                                       Type Name

                                                       /s/ David Feste
                                                       -------------------------
                                                       Signature

                                       19

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