Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.12
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                              VISIBLE GENETICS INC.

                        COMMON SHARES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

DECEMBER 14, 1999

TO EACH OF THE INVESTORS
WHO ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Visible Genetics Inc., an Ontario corporation (the "COMPANY"), hereby agrees
with each of you as follows:

         1. AUTHORIZATION OF SALE OF THE SECURITIES.

         The Company has, or before the Closing (as defined below) will have,
authorized the sale and issuance of shares of its common shares, no par value
(the "COMMON STOCK"). The Common Stock sold hereunder shall be referred to
herein as the "SHARES."

         2. AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE THE SHARES.

         2.1 SALE OF SHARES. Subject to the terms of this Common Shares Purchase
Agreement (this "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), at the Closing (as defined in Section 3.1
hereof), the Company agrees to sell to each of the Investors who has executed a
counterpart execution page to this Purchase Agreement (each, "INVESTOR"), and
each Investor agrees to purchase from the Company, the aggregate number of
Shares set forth above such Investor's signature on the counterpart execution
page hereof, at a purchase price of US$15 per Share, provided that the aggregate
purchase price for the Shares sold to the Investors pursuant to this Agreement
shall not be less than $15 million.

         2.2 SEPARATE AGREEMENT. Each Investor shall severally, and not jointly,
be liable for only the purchase of the Shares that appears above such Investor's
signature and that relates to such Investor. The Company's agreement with each
of the Investors is a separate agreement, and the sale of Shares to each of the
Investors is a separate sale. The obligations of each Investor hereunder are
expressly not conditioned on the purchase by any or all of the other Shares such
other Investors have agreed to purchase.

         2.3 ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSED PURCHASE OF SHARES. Each Investor
understands and agrees that the Company, in its sole discretion, reserves the
right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of Shares.
The Company shall have no obligation hereunder with respect to any Investors
until the Company shall execute and deliver to such Investors an executed copy
of this Purchase Agreement. If this Purchase Agreement is not executed and
delivered by the Company or the offering is terminated, this Purchase Agreement
shall be of no further force and effect.

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         3. CLOSING AND DELIVERY.

         3.1 CLOSING. The closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares
pursuant to this Purchase Agreement (the "CLOSING") shall be held
contemporaneously (the "CLOSING DATE") with the satisfaction or waiver of all
conditions to Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 hereof, at 10:00 a.m. (New
York Time) at the offices of Baer Marks Upham LLP, located at 805 Third Avenue,
New York, New York, or on such other date and place as may be agreed to by the
Company and the Investors. Prior to the Closing, each Investors shall execute
any related agreements or other documents required to be executed hereunder.

         3.2 DELIVERY OF THE SHARES AT THE CLOSING. At the Closing, the Company
shall deliver to each Investor stock certificates registered in the name of such
Investor, or in such nominee name(s) as designated by such Investor,
representing the Shares to be purchased by such Investor at the Closing as set
forth in the Schedule of Investors against payment of the purchase price for
such Shares by means of a wire transfer of same day funds to an account
designated by the Company in a written notice to PaineWebber Incorporated. The
name(s) in which the stock certificates are to be issued to each Investor are
set forth in the Investor's counterpart execution page hereto, as completed by
each Investor.

         4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

         The Company represents and warrants to the Investors that:

         4.1 CORPORATE ORGANIZATION

                  (a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the Province of Ontario. True
and complete copies of the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation and
By-law No. 3 (collectively, the "ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS") have been filed by
the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") and provided to the Investors.

                  (b) The Company has all requisite power and authority and has
all necessary approvals, licenses, permits and authorization to own, operate or
lease its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted, except where
the failure to have any such approval, license, permit or authorization would
not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business,
properties, or financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as
a whole (a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT"). The Company has all requisite power and
authority to execute and deliver this Purchase Agreement and the Registration
Rights Agreement dated the date hereof between the Company and the Investors
(the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" and with the Purchase Agreement, the
"TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS") and to perform its obligations hereunder and
thereunder.

                  (c) The Company has filed all necessary documents to qualify
to do business as a foreign corporation in, and the Company is in good standing
under the laws of, each jurisdiction in which the conduct of the Company's
business or the nature of the properties owned or leased by the Company requires
such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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         4.2 SUBSIDIARIES

                  (a) Schedule 4.2 sets forth; (i) the name of each subsidiary
of the Company, other than subsidiaries that are dormant or that do not carry on
business activities; (ii) the name of each corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other entity (other than such subsidiaries) in which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries has, or pursuant to any agreement has the right or
obligation to acquire at any time by any means, directly or indirectly, an
equity interest or investment; (iii) in the case of each of such corporations
described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, (A) the jurisdiction of incorporation
and (B) the capitalization thereof and the percentage of each class of voting
capital stock owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                  (b) Each subsidiary of the Company listed on Schedule 4.2 has
been duly organized, is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its organization, has the corporate power and authority to
own and lease its properties and to conduct its business and is duly registered,
qualified and authorized to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the nature of its
properties requires such registration, qualification or authorization, except
where the failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. All of the issued and outstanding equity or other
participating interests of each subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly
issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and, to the extent owned by the
Company as indicated on Schedule 4.2, are owned free and clear of any mortgage,
pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest, claim or equity, except as set
forth on Schedule 4.2.

                  (c) For purposes of this Purchase Agreement, "SUBSIDIARY"
shall mean any (i) Person (as hereinafter defined in Section 4.5) of which the
Company (or other specified Person) shall own directly or indirectly through a
subsidiary, a nominee arrangement or otherwise (A) at least a majority of the
outstanding voting capital stock (or other outstanding voting shares of
beneficial interest) or (B) at least a majority of the partnership, membership,
joint venture or similar interests, or (ii) in which the Company (or other
specified Person) is a general partner or joint venturer.

         4.3 CAPITALIZATION

                  (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of an
unlimited number of shares of Common Stock and an unlimited number of preferred
shares, without par value ("PREFERRED STOCK"). As of the close of business on
the date one business day prior to the date hereof, 9,682,631shares of Common
Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 33,948shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iii) 3,208,680 shares of Common
Stock were reserved for issuance under the Company's employee stock option plans
listed on SCHEDULE 4.3(a) in the amounts stated in such schedule, (iv) 5,207,739
shares of Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the Company's
outstanding warrants and convertible securities, and (v) there were no bonds,
debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued or outstanding
having the right to vote on any matters on which the Company's stockholders may
vote.

                  (b) All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and
Preferred Stock of the Company have been duly and validly issued and are fully
paid and non-assessable, and were

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issued in accordance with all applicable United States federal and state and
Canadian federal and provincial securities laws. Upon issuance, sale and
delivery as contemplated by this Purchase Agreement, the Shares will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares, free of all
preemptive or similar rights.

                  (c) Except for the rights which attach to the outstanding
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock as described in the Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Company and the options which are listed on Schedule 4.3(a)
and the warrants, options and convertible securities which are listed on
SCHEDULE 4.3(c) hereto, on the Closing Date, there will be no shares of Common
Stock, Preferred Stock or any other equity security of the Company issuable upon
exercise, conversion or exchange of any security of the Company nor will there
be any rights, options or warrants outstanding or other agreements to acquire
shares of Common Stock or any other equity security of the Company nor will the
Company be contractually obligated to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
outstanding shares of Common Stock. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.3(c), (i)
no stockholder of the Company is entitled to any preemptive or similar rights to
subscribe for shares of capital stock of the Company, (ii) the Company has not
agreed to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement) and (iii) there are no existing
voting trusts or similar agreements to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of the capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.

         4.4 CORPORATE PROCEEDINGS, ETC. The Company has full corporate power to
execute and deliver each Transaction Document, to perform its obligations
hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction
Documents by the Company and each of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of the Company. No other corporate action on the part of the Company is
necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the
Transaction Documents by the Company and each of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, and upon such execution and delivery (assuming the
Transaction Documents are executed and delivered by the other parties thereto),
each of the Transaction Documents shall constitute a valid and binding
obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except that (i) the enforceability hereof and thereof may be subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws, now or hereinafter in
effect, affecting creditors rights generally, and (ii) the availability of the
remedy of specific performance or injunctive or other forms of equitable relief
may be subject to equitable defenses and would be subject to the discretion of
the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

         4.5 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.5, the
execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents, the
performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
do not require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to obtain any consent,
approval or action of, or make any filing with or give any notice to, any
individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or
other entity (collectively, "PERSON") or public, governmental or judicial
authority or agency (collectively, "GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY"), including, but not
limited to, pursuant to the Competition Act (Canada) and the Investment Canada
Act, as amended.

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         4.6 ABSENCE OF CONFLICTS, ETC. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.6, the
execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents do not, and,
the fulfillment of the terms hereof and thereof by the Company, and the issuance
of the Shares, will not, result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, or permit the acceleration of
rights under or termination of, the Organizational Documents, any material
agreement to which the Company or its subsidiaries is a party, or any order,
judgment, rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over
the Company or any, of its subsidiaries or over their respective properties or
businesses, except for such defaults that would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         4.7 SEC REPORTS

                  (a) The Company has filed with the SEC, among other reports
(i) Annual Reports on Form 20-F for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997 and
1998 as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"), (ii) all other documents filed with the SEC (pursuant to Section 13,
14(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"EXCHANGE ACT")) and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities since
January 1, 1996 and (iii) all registration statements filed with the SEC since
January 1, 1996, which are all the documents (other than preliminary material)
that the Company filed or was required to file with the SEC or the Canadian
securities regulatory authorities from that date through the date hereof
(clauses (i) through (iii) being referred to herein collectively as the "SEC
REPORTS"). Except to the extent they may have been subsequently amended or
otherwise modified prior to the date hereof by subsequent reporting or filings,
as of their respective dates, the SEC Reports (as the same may have been amended
or otherwise modified) complied in all material respects with the requirements
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT") or the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such
reports and registration statements. Except to the extent they may have been
subsequently amended or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof by
subsequent reporting or filings, as of their respective dates, the SEC Reports
did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.

                  (b) The audited consolidated financial statements as at and
for the period ended December 31, 1998 of the Company included in the SEC
Reports (the "1998 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS") comply as to form in all material
respects with accounting requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
as applicable, and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto. The 1998 Financial Statements (i) have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of
America ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated
therein or in the notes thereto), (ii) present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates
thereof and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then
ended and (iii) are in all material respects in agreement with the books and
records of the Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (c) Except as otherwise disclosed in a Form 6-K filed by the
Company on July 7, 1999, the unaudited interim financial statements of the
Company as at and for all periods commencing on or after January 1, 1999
included in the SEC Reports comply as to form in all

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material respects with accounting requirements of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, as applicable, and with the published rules and regulations of the
SEC with respect thereto. Except as otherwise disclosed in a Form 6-K filed by
the Company on July 7, 1999, the condensed financial statements included in the
SEC Reports: (i) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a
consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto);
(ii) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the results of their
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended subject to normal year-end
audit adjustments and any other adjustments described therein and the fact that
certain information and notes have been condensed or omitted in accordance with
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (iii)
are in all material respects in agreement with the books and records of the
Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (d) The Company and its subsidiaries keep proper accounting
records in which all material assets and liabilities, and all material
transactions, of the Company and its subsidiaries are recorded in conformity
with applicable accounting principles. No part of the Company's or any of its
subsidiaries, accounting system or records, or access thereto, is under the
control of a Person who is not an employee of the Company or such subsidiary.

                  (e) The Company, along with its subsidiaries, had less than
$25,000,000 of aggregate sales in the United States in the most recently
completed fiscal year, and as of September 30, 1999 owned, either directly or
indirectly, assets in the United States with an aggregate book value of less
than $15,000,000.

         4.8 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS. Except as disclosed in the SEC
Reports filed with the SEC on or prior to the date hereof or in SCHEDULE 4.8,
and except for the transactions contemplated by this Purchase Agreement, since
December 31, 1998, (i) the Company and each of its subsidiaries has conducted
its business only in the ordinary and usual course in accordance with past
practice, and (ii) there have not occurred any events or changes (including the
incurrence of any liabilities of any nature, whether or not accrued, contingent
or otherwise) that have had, or is reasonably likely in the future to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

         4.9 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW

                  (a) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of any laws, ordinances, governmental rules or regulations to which it
is subject, except for violations which would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, including without limitation laws or regulations
relating to human therapeutic or diagnostic products or devices, the environment
or to occupational health and safety and, except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.9,
no material expenditures are or will be required in order to cause its current
operations or properties to comply with any such law, ordinances, governmental
rules or regulations. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
received written notice of violation of any law, ordinance, governmental rule or
regulation, which if violated, would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. No investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with
respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries is pending or, to the best of
the Company's knowledge, threatened nor has any Governmental Entity indicated an
intention to conduct the

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same, except for an investigation or review conducted as a result of an
application or other filing made by the Company.

                  (b) Neither the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the
Company's knowledge, any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or other
representatives of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (as that
term is defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act
("AFFILIATES")), has, directly or indirectly, made or authorized any payment,
contribution or gift of money, property, or services, whether or not in
contravention of applicable law, (i) as a kickback or bribe to any Person or
(ii) to any political organization, or the holder of or any aspirant to any
elective or appointive public office except as permitted by applicable law and
for personal political contributions not involving the direct or indirect use of
funds of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                  (c) The Company and its subsidiaries have all licenses,
permits, franchises or other governmental authorizations necessary to the
ownership of their property or to the conduct of their respective businesses,
except for those which if violated or not obtained would reasonably be expected
(and except for any of the foregoing relating to Intellectual Property which are
covered by the provisions of Section 4.18) to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Neither the Company nor any subsidiary has finally been denied any application
for any such licenses, permits, franchises or other governmental authorizations
necessary to its business.

         4.10 LITIGATION. There is no legal action, suit, arbitration or other
legal, administrative or other governmental investigation, inquiry or proceeding
(whether federal, state, local or foreign) pending or, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Company or any
subsidiary or any of their respective properties, assets or businesses which,
either alone or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect or prevent or delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company is not aware of any fact
which might result in or form the basis for any such action, suit, arbitration,
investigation, inquiry or other proceeding. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE
4.10, neither the Company nor any subsidiary is subject to any order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Entity
against it.

         4.11 MATERIAL CONTRACTS. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in default (or would be in default with notice or lapse of time,
or both) under, is in violation (or would be in violation with notice or lapse
of time, or both) of, or has otherwise breached, any material indenture, note,
credit agreement, loan document, lease, license or other agreement (unless such
default has been waived), which default, alone or in the aggregate with all
other such defaults, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. All material agreements to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is a party, reflecting all amendments thereto through the date of filing, have
been filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.11, each
material agreement to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party is
in full force and effect and is binding upon the Company and, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, is binding upon such other parties, in each case in
accordance with its terms. There are no material unresolved disputes involving
the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any material agreement.

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         4.12 ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as disclosed on
SCHEDULE 4.12 and except for indebtedness or liabilities that are reflected or
reserved against in the most recent financial statements included in the SEC
Reports, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any debt,
obligation or liability of a kind required by GAAP to be reflected on a balance
sheet (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, liquidated or otherwise, whether
due or to become due and whether or not known to the Company) arising out of any
transaction entered into at or prior to the Closing, or any act or omission at
or prior to the Closing, or any state of facts existing at or prior to the
Closing, except current liabilities incurred and obligations under agreements
entered into since December 31, 1998, each in the usual and ordinary course of
business none of which (individually or in the aggregate) would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         4.13 LABOR RELATIONS AND EMPLOYMENT

                  (a) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.13(a), (i) to the best
of the Company's knowledge, there are no union claims to represent the employees
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining or similar
agreement with any labor organization, or work rules or practices agreed to with
any labor organization or employee association applicable to employees of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) none of the employees of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is represented by any labor organization and the
Company does not have any knowledge of any current union organizing activities
among the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor to the
Company's knowledge does any question concerning representation exist concerning
such employees; (iv) the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all
applicable laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and
conditions of employment, wages, hours of work, occupational safety and health,
equal opportunity, collective bargaining and payment of social security or
social insurance premiums, as applicable, except where the failure to be in
compliance would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
and are not engaged in any discriminatory employment practices or unfair labor
practices under applicable law, ordinance or regulation; (v) there is no unfair
labor practice charge or complaint against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened
before any state or foreign agency; (vi) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has received written notice of the intent of any federal, state,
local or foreign agency responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment
laws to conduct an investigation with respect to or relating to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries and no such investigation is in progress; and (vii)
there are no complaints, lawsuits or other proceedings pending or, to the best
of the Company's knowledge, threatened in any forum by or on behalf of any
present or former employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries alleging
breach of any express or implied contract of employment, any law or regulation
governing employment or the termination thereof or other discriminatory,
wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship,
except for any complaints, lawsuits or other proceedings which would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.13(b), the employment of
all Persons and officers employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
terminable at will without any penalty or severance obligation of any kind on
the part of the Company or such subsidiary. All sums due for employee
compensation and benefits, including, without limitation, retiree benefits,

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and all vacation time owing to any employees of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries have been duly and adequately accrued in all material respects on
the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries in accordance with
GAAP.

                  (c) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.13(c), the Company and
its subsidiaries have in force written confidentiality and non-disclosure
agreements and patent/copyright/invention assignment agreements with, and
requires as a condition of employment the execution of such agreements by, all
of its technical research employees, all research consultants, all of its
officers and such other members of its staff as in the regular course of their
duties are reasonably likely to receive material confidential information
regarding the Company, its Intellectual Property (as hereinafter defined) and
its current and prospective business plans.

                  (d) The Company is not aware that any of its officers or key
employees or any officers or key employees of its subsidiaries is obligated
under any contract (including licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature)
or other agreement, or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any
Governmental Entity, that would interfere with the use of such employee's best
efforts to promote the interests of the Company or that would conflict with the
Company's business as currently conducted.

                  (e) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.13(e), the Company is
not aware that any officer or key employee, or that any group of key employees,
intends to terminate their employment with the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, nor does the Company have a present intention to terminate the
employment of any of the foregoing.

         4.14 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.

                  (a) With respect to Employee Benefit Plans (as hereinafter
defined) of the Company and its subsidiaries: (i) the fair market value of the
assets of each funded Employee Benefit Plan, if any, the liability of each
insurer for any Employee Benefit Plan funded through insurance or any book
reserve established for any other Employee Benefit Plan, together with any
accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued
benefit obligations, as of the date hereof, with respect to all current and
former participants in such Employee Benefit Plan according to the actuarial
assumptions and valuations, if any, most recently used to determine employer
contributions to and liabilities of such Employee Benefit Plan, and no
transaction contemplated by this Purchase Agreement shall cause such assets or
insurance obligations or any book reserve to be less than such benefit
obligations; (ii) each Employee Benefit Plan has been maintained and
administered, in all material respects, in accordance with its terms and with
all applicable provisions of law (including rules and regulations thereunder);
and (iii) each Employee Benefit Plan which is required to be registered with any
Governmental Entity has been registered and maintained in good standing with the
appropriate Governmental Entity, except where the failure to be so registered or
to maintain good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

                  (b) For purposes of this Purchase Agreement, "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLAN" shall mean all material employee benefit or executive compensation
arrangements, perquisite programs or payroll practices, including, without
limitation, any such arrangements or payroll

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practices providing severance pay, sick leave, vacation pay, salary continuation
for disability, retirement benefits, deferred compensation, bonus pay,
incentives pay, stock options (including those held by Directors, employees, and
consultants), hospitalization insurance, medical insurance, life insurance,
scholarships or tuition reimbursements, that are maintained by the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or to which the Company or any subsidiary is obligated
to contribute thereunder for current or former employees of the Company or any
subsidiary.

         4.15 REAL PROPERTY

                  (a) The Company and its subsidiaries do not own any real
property in whole or in part.

                  (b) SCHEDULE 4.15 lists all real property leased by the
Company or its subsidiaries as well as the commencement and expiration dates of
all leases relating thereto (the "LEASED REAL PROPERTY"). The Company or one of
its subsidiaries has a valid and existing lease or sublease for each property
subsumed within the Leased Real Property. All leases covering any of the Leased
Real Property are valid and enforceable by the Company or one of its
subsidiaries, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective terms, are
in full force and effect, except that the enforceability thereof may be subject
to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws, now or hereinafter
in effect, affecting creditors rights generally, and the availability of the
remedy of specific performance or injunctive or other forms of equitable relief
may be subject to equitable defenses and would be subject to the discretion of
the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and have not been
modified, supplemented or terminated in any material respect except as set forth
in Schedule 4.15, and there is not under any such lease any default by the
Company or one of its subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
by any landlord or lessor under any such lease except for any such default which
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The
facilities and real properties covered by the Leased Real Property constitute
all of the facilities and real properties presently used by the Company or its
subsidiaries.

                  4.16 CONDITION OF PROPERTIES. All facilities, machinery,
equipment, fixtures, vehicles and other properties owned, leased or used by the
Company and its subsidiaries are in good operating condition and repair (normal
wear and tear excepted), are reasonably fit and usable for the purposes for
which they are being used, are adequate and sufficient for the Company's or such
subsidiary's business and conform with all applicable ordinances, regulations
and laws except where the failure to conform with the applicable ordinances,
regulations or laws would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         4.17 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

                  (a) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance
with all Environmental Laws; (ii) have obtained all necessary Environmental
Permits, all of which are in full force and effect; and (iii) are in compliance
with all terms and conditions of such Environmental Permits, except for any
failure to comply or the absence of any such permit which would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                  (b) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
violated or done any act which would reasonably be expected to result in
liability under, or have otherwise failed to act in a manner which would
reasonably be expected to expose any of them to liability under, any
Environmental Law except for any liability that would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred which, upon the passage
of time, the giving of notice, or failure to act would reasonably be expected to
give rise to liability to the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any
Environmental Law except for any liability that would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (c) No Hazardous Material has been released, spilled,
discharged, dumped, or disposed of, by the Company, or otherwise come to be
located in, at, beneath or near any of the Leased Real Property as a result of
the Company's action including properties formerly owned, operated or otherwise
controlled by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) in violation of any
Environmental Law or (ii) in such manner as would reasonably be expected to
result in environmental liability to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                  (d) To the Company's knowledge, there have been and are no:
(i) aboveground or underground storage tanks; (ii) surface impoundments for
Hazardous Materials; (iii) wetlands as defined under any Environmental Law; or
(iv) asbestos or asbestos containing materials or polychlorinated biphenyl
("PCB") or PCB-containing equipment, located within any portion of the Leased
Real Property.

                  (e) No liens currently encumber any Leased Real Property in
connection with any actual or alleged liability of the Company under any
Environmental Law.

                  (f) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
received any written notice, claim, demand, suit or request for information from
any Governmental Entity or private entity with respect to any liability or
alleged liability under any Environmental Law, nor to the knowledge of the
Company has any other entity whose liability, in whole or in part, may be
attributed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, received any such notice,
claim, demand, suit or request for information; (ii) neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries has ongoing negotiations with or agreements with any
Governmental Entity or other Person or entity relating to any Remedial Action or
other claim arising under or related to any Environmental Law.

                  (g) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
disposed, or arranged for the disposal, of any Hazardous Materials at any
facility that is or has ever been the subject of investigation or response
action under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 ET SEQ. ("CERCLA"), Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, 42 U.S. C. Section 6901 ET SEQ. ("RCRA") , or any state or
Canadian law of similar effect.

                  (h) The Company does not have in its possession any
environmental studies and reports pertaining to any of the Leased Real Property.

         For purposes of this Purchase Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" shall mean any statute, regulation, ordinance,
order, decree, treaty, agreement, compact, common law duty or other requirement
of United States, Canadian or international law relating to protection of human
health, safety or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air,
surface water, groundwater, wetlands, soil, surface and subsurface strata).

         "ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS" shall mean all permits, licenses, approvals,
authorizations, consents or registrations required under any applicable
Environmental Law.

         "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" shall mean any chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, hazardous
materials, hazardous wastes, radioactive materials, petroleum or petroleum
products.

         "REMEDIAL ACTION" shall mean any action required to: (i) clean up,
remove or treat Hazardous Materials; (ii) prevent a release or threat of release
of any Hazardous Material; (iii) perform pre-remedial studies, investigations or
post-remedial monitoring and care; or (iv) cure a violation of Environmental Law

         4.18 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

                  (a) Except as described in SCHEDULE 4.18(a), the Company or
one of its subsidiaries owns or has the valid right to use, free and clear of
all liens and other encumbrances or claims of any nature, except for liens or
other encumbrances that are not material, all of the Intellectual Property
necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, except where the failure to own or have the right to use any item
of Intellectual Property would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as noted on Schedule 4.18(a), all Intellectual Property
that is material to the Company, is valid, subsisting, unexpired, in proper form
and enforceable and all renewal fees and other maintenance fees that have fallen
due on or prior to the effective date of this Agreement have been paid.

                  (b) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.18(b), there is no
claim, suit, action or proceeding pending or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, threatened against the Company or one of its subsidiaries: (i)
alleging any conflict or infringement with any third party's proprietary rights;
or (ii) challenging the Company or one of its subsidiaries, ownership or use, or
the validity or enforceability of any Intellectual Property; and to the
Company's knowledge no listed application or registration/patent of the Company
is the subject of any patent interference proceeding or similar proceeding.
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.18(b), there is no claim, suit, action or
proceeding pending or, to best of the Company's knowledge, threatened by the
Company or one of its subsidiaries, alleging any third party's intellectual
property rights conflict or infringe the Intellectual Property of the Company or
one of its subsidiaries.

                  (c) Any (i) material license, sublicense and other agreements
in which the Company or one of its subsidiaries grant rights to any Person to
use the Intellectual Property; (ii) material license, sublicense and other
agreement in which any Person grants rights to the Company or one of its
subsidiaries to use the Intellectual Property of such Person; or (iii) material
consent, indemnification, forbearance to sue, settlement agreement or
cross-licensing arrangement relating to the Intellectual Property or the
intellectual property of any third party to

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

which the Company or one of its subsidiaries is a party, which is described by
the Company in its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31,
1998 or in any subsequent filing made with the SEC, is correct in all material
respects except as the same may have been supplemented or modified by a later
filing with the SEC. Except as previously disclosed, neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries is under any obligation to pay royalties or similar payments
in connection with any license, nor will the Company or any of its subsidiaries
be, as a result of the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents or
the performance of its obligations hereunder or thereunder, in breach of any
license, sublicense or other agreement relating to the Intellectual Property
except for any such breach which would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. As to each material license agreement to which the
Company or one of its subsidiaries is a party, the Company or such subsidiary is
current in the payment of all royalties due thereunder.

                  (d) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.18(d), no former or
present employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
holds any right, title or interest, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part,
in or to any Intellectual Property.

                  (e) The Company or one of its subsidiaries owns or has the
right to use all computer software, software systems and databases and all other
information systems currently used in the business of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, including, without limitation, all computer software used in the
business of the Company on personal computers by employees of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries.

         For purposes of this Purchase Agreement, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" shall
mean all of the following, owned or used in the business of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries: (i) trademarks and service marks (registered or
unregistered), trade dress, trade names and other names and slogans embodying
business or product goodwill or indications of origin, all applications or
registrations in any jurisdiction pertaining to the foregoing and all goodwill
associated therewith; (ii) patents, patentable inventions, discoveries,
improvements, ideas, know-how, formula methodology, processes, technology and
computer programs, software and databases (including source code, object code,
development documentation, programming tools, drawings, specifications and data)
and all applications or registrations in any jurisdiction pertaining to the
foregoing, including all reissues, continuations, divisions,
continuations-in-part, renewals or extensions thereof; (iii) trade secrets,
including confidential and other non-public information, and the right in any
jurisdiction to limit the use or disclosure thereof; (iv) copyrights in
writings, designs, mask works or other works, and applications or registrations
in any jurisdiction for the foregoing; (v) database rights; (vi) Internet Web
sites, domain names and registrations or applications for registration thereof;
(vii) licenses, immunities, covenants not to sue and the like relating to any of
the foregoing; (viii) books and records describing or used in connection with
any of the foregoing; and (ix) claims or causes of action arising out of or
related to infringement or misappropriation of any of the foregoing.

         4.19 REGULATORY MATTERS

                  (a) As to each product subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act and the regulations thereunder ("FDCA") (each such product, a "REGULATED
PRODUCT") that is manufactured, tested,

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

distributed and/or marketed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, such
Regulated Product is being manufactured, tested, distributed and/or marketed in
substantial compliance with all applicable requirements under FDCA and similar
state and foreign laws and regulations, including but not limited to those
relating to investigational use, premarket clearance, good manufacturing
practices, labeling, advertising, record keeping, filing of reports and
security.

                  (b) To the Company's knowledge, there are no rule making or
similar proceedings before the FDA or comparable federal, Canadian, state,
provincial, local or foreign government bodies which involve or, to the
Company's actual knowledge, affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries which,
if the subject of an action unfavorable to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (c) The description of the results of tests or evaluations
contained in the Company's Investigational Device Exemption submission, dated
November 11, 1998 (the "IDE"), are accurate and complete in all material
respects, and the Company has no knowledge-of any other tests or evaluations,
the results of which reasonably call into question the results described or
referred to in the IDE. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.19, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written notices or
correspondence from the FDA or any other governmental agency requiring the
termination, suspension or modification of any tests or evaluations conducted on
behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

         4.20 YEAR 2000. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.20, in the SEC
Reports or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the
aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company's computer software,
hardware, firmware and other similar or related items of automated, computerized
and/or software system(s) that are relied on by, or sold or provided with
equipment or materials sold or provided by, the Company or its subsidiaries in
the conduct of their respective businesses, (A) will not malfunction prior to,
on, or after January 1, 2000 as a consequence of the change of century or
millennium associated with that date, and (B) are, as applicable, able to
process dates and calculate spans of dates within and between the twentieth and
twenty-first centuries prior to, including and following January 1, 2000,
including by: (i) correctly recognizing all valid dates, including September 9,
1999 and January 1, 2001, (ii) properly recognizing leap years, including
recognizing year 2000 as a leap year with 366 days and February 29, 2000 as a
leap year day, and (iii) properly interfacing with the same or other systems,
where designed to have the capacity to interface, so as to preserve proper
processing of date information, including by automatic conversion of date
information into and from a four digit and two digit date format as appropriate,
provided, however, that (a) the representations and warranties contained in this
Section 4.20 shall only apply if the software, firmware or hardware is used in
accordance with the documentation therefor, and all other products used in
combination with such software, firmware or hardware properly exchange date data
with the software, firmware or hardware and (b) to the extent that any of the
representations and warranties contained in this Section 4.20 are made by the
Company with respect to computer software, hardware, firmware and other similar
or related items of automated, computerized arid/or software systems that are
manufactured, assembled or provided by parties other than the Company or its
subsidiaries, the representations and warranties provided by the Company are
provided to the best of the Company's knowledge.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

                  4.21 TAX MATTERS. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.21, there
are no United States or Canadian federal, state, provincial, county, municipal
or local taxes or comparable foreign taxes due and payable by the Company or any
of its subsidiaries which have not been paid. The provisions for taxes on the
consolidated balance sheet of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1998
are sufficient for the payment of all accrued and unpaid United States and
Canadian federal, state, provincial, county, municipal and local taxes or
comparable foreign taxes of the Company and its subsidiaries whether or not
assessed or disputed as of the date of such balance sheet. The Company and each
of its subsidiaries has duly filed all United States and Canadian federal,
state, provincial, county, municipal and local or comparable foreign tax returns
required to have been filed by it and there are in effect no waivers of
applicable statutes of limitations with respect to taxes for any year. Except as
set forth on Schedule 4.21, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
been subject to a tax audit of any kind, whether in Canada, the United States or
other jurisdiction in which such entity conducts business.

                  4.22 INSURANCE. The Company and its subsidiaries and their
respective properties are insured in such amounts, against such losses and with
such insurers as are prudent when considered in light of the nature of the
properties and businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries. SCHEDULE 4.22
sets forth a complete and accurate list of the insurance policies of the Company
and its subsidiaries as in effect on the date hereof, including in each case the
applicable coverage limits, deductibles and the policy expiration dates. No
written notice of any termination or threatened termination of any of such
policies has been received by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and such
policies are in full force and effect.

                  4.23 TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES. Except as set forth in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for its fiscal year ended December 31,
1998 or in SCHEDULE 4.23, neither the Company nor any subsidiary is a party to
any agreement with any of the Company's directors, officers or shareholders or
any Affiliate or family member of any of the foregoing under which it: (i)
leases any real or personal property other than automobiles (either to or from
such Person), (ii) licenses real or personal property or Intellectual Property
(either to or from such Person), (iii) is obligated to purchase any tangible or
intangible asset from or sell such asset to such Person, (iv) purchases products
or services from such Person, or (v) has borrowed money from or lent money to
such Person. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.23, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, there exist no agreements among shareholders of the Company, except
as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, to act in concert with respect to
their voting or holding of Company securities.

                  4.24 INTEREST IN COMPETITORS. Neither the Company, nor any or
its subsidiaries, nor any of their respective officers nor, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, directors, has any interest, either by way of contract or
by way of investment (other than as holder of not more than 2% of the
outstanding capital stock of a publicly traded Person) or otherwise, directly or
indirectly, in any Person other than the Company and its subsidiaries that (i)
provides any services or designs, produces or sells any product or product lines
or engages in any activity similar to or competitive with any activity currently
conducted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) has any direct or
indirect interest in any asset or property, real or personal, tangible or
intangible, of the Company.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

                  4.25 PRIVATE OFFERING. Neither the Company nor anyone acting
on its behalf shall offer the Shares for issue or sale to, or solicit any offer
to acquire, any of the same from, anyone so as to bring the issuance and sale of
the Shares within the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act. Based upon
the representations of the Investors set forth in Section 4, the offer, issuance
and sale of the Shares, are and will be exempt from the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, and have been registered
or qualified (or are exempt from registration and qualification) under the
registration, permit or qualification requirements of all applicable state
securities laws, and are qualified for distribution or are exempt from such
requirements for qualification under applicable Canadian federal and provincial
securities laws.

                  4.26 MATERIAL FACTS. This Agreement and the other Transaction
Documents do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein or
herein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

5. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF THE INVESTORS.

         5.1 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. Each Investor, severally and not
jointly, represents and warrants to and covenants with the Company that:

                  (a) Investor is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced
in making, and is qualified to make, decisions with respect to investments in
shares presenting an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of
the Shares, including investments in securities issued by the Company, and has
requested, received, reviewed and considered all information Investors deems
relevant (including the SEC Reports) in making an informed decision to purchase
the Shares.

                  (b) Investor is purchasing the Shares in the ordinary course
of its business for its own account for investment only and with no present
intention of distributing the Shares or any arrangement or understanding with
any other persons regarding the distribution of the Shares (except for transfers
to "affiliates," meaning, for purposes of this Section 5.1(b), with respect to
an Investors, any other person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by
or under direct or indirect common control with such Investors).

                  (c) Investor shall not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell,
pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase
or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of) any of the securities purchased
hereunder except in compliance with the Securities Act, applicable Blue Sky
laws, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any applicable
Canadian laws, rules or regulations.

                  (d) Investor has completed or caused to be completed the
information requested on the Investors' counterpart execution page and the
Registration Questionnaire, attached as Appendix I to the Registration Rights
Agreement for use in preparation of the Registration Statement, and the answers
thereto are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and
will be true and correct, in all material respects, as of the effective date of
the Registration Statement (provided that Investors shall be entitled to update
such information by

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

providing notice thereof to the Company prior to the effective date of such
Registration Statement).

                  (e) Investor has, in connection with its decision to purchase
the Shares, relied with respect to the Company and its affairs solely upon the
SEC Reports and the representations and warranties of the Company contained
herein.

                  (f) Investor is an "accredited investor" within the meaning of
Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

                  (g) Investor has full right, power, authority and capacity to
enter into this Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and to
perform the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Purchase
Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Investor. Assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery by each of the other parties hereto and thereto, this Purchase
Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement are valid and binding
obligations of Investor, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms,
except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally or by general equitable principles

         5.2 ABILITY TO BEAR RISK. Investor is able to bear the economic risk of
holding the Shares for an indefinite period, including the loss of Investors'
entire investment. The Shares were not offered or sold to Investors by any form
of general solicitation or advertising.

         5.3 INDEPENDENT ADVICE. Investor understands that nothing in the SEC
Reports, this Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or any other
materials presented to Investors in connection with the purchase and sale of the
Shares constitutes legal, tax or investment advice and that no independent legal
counsel retained by the Company has reviewed these documents and materials on
Investor's behalf. Investor has consulted such legal, tax and investment
advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in
connection with its purchase of the Shares.

         5.4 NO TRANSFERABILITY. Investor understands that: (a) subject to
Section 5.1(b), the Shares shall not be transferable in the absence of
registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom or in the
absence of compliance with any term of this Purchase Agreement; (b) the Company
shall provide stop transfer instructions to its transfer agent with respect to
the Shares in order to enforce the restrictions contained in this Section 5.4;
and (c) each certificate representing Shares shall be in the name of Investor
and shall bear substantially the following legends (in addition to any legends
required under applicable securities laws):

                  "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
                  REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
                  "SECURITIES ACT"), OR REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE
                  SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION, AND MAY ONLY BE SOLD,
                  PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF BY AN INVESTOR
                  IF SUBSEQUENTLY REGISTERED

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

                  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED UNDER ANY
                  APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, UNLESS EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH
                  REGISTRATION AND QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ARE AVAILABLE."

The legend contained in this Section 5.4 may be removed from a stock certificate
immediately upon receipt by the Company's transfer agent of a certificate
substantially in the form of EXHIBIT A attached hereto, if being sold pursuant
to the Registration Statement if then effective, and such other documentation as
the Company's transfer agent may routinely require, including, but not limited
to, an opinion of counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such Shares must be
held in certificated form until all restrictive legends required by applicable
law may be removed in accordance with applicable law.

6. CONDITIONS TO COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS AT THE CLOSING.

         The Company's obligations to complete the sale and issuance of the
Shares and to deliver Shares to each Investor, individually, as set forth in the
Schedule of Investors shall be subject to the following conditions (to the
extent not waived by the Company):

         6.1 PAYMENT FOR SHARES. Each Investor shall have paid to the Company
the purchase price for the Shares purchased by it.

         6.2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CORRECT. The representations and
warranties made by such Investors in Section 5 hereof shall be true and correct
when made, and shall be true and correct on the Closing.

         6.3 MINIMUM SALE. The aggregate purchase price for the Shares sold to
Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall not be less than $15 million.

7. CONDITIONS TO INVESTORS' OBLIGATIONS AT THE CLOSING.

         Each Investor's obligation to accept delivery of the Shares and to pay
for the Shares shall be subject to the following conditions (to the extent not
waived by such Investors):

         7.1 REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT. The Company shall have executed and
delivered the Registration Rights Agreement.

         7.2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CORRECT. The representations and
warranties made by the Company in Section 4 shall be true and correct as of the
Closing.

         7.3 COVENANTS PERFORMED. The Company shall have performed and complied
in all material respects with all of its obligations under this Purchase
Agreement which are to be performed or complied with on or prior to the Closing.

         7.4 LEGAL OPINIONS.

                  (a) Investors shall have received from Baer Marks & Upham LLP,
counsel to the Company, an opinion letter addressed to the Investors, dated as
of the date of the Closing, in

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

a form acceptable to PaineWebber Incorporated (the "PLACEMENT AGENT"), the
Investors and their respective counsel, subject to customary assumptions and
qualifications.

                  (b) Investors shall have received from Goldman, Spring,
Schwartz & Kichler, counsel to the Company, an opinion letter addressed to the
Investors, dated as of the date of the Closing, in a form acceptable to the
Placement Agent and the Investors and their respective counsel, subject to
customary assumptions and qualifications.

                  (c) Investors shall have received from Hyman, Phelps &
McNamara, P.C., counsel to the Company, an opinion letter addressed to the
Investors, dated as of the date of the Closing, in a form acceptable to the
Placement Agent and the Investors and their respective counsel, subject to
customary assumptions and qualifications.

                  (d) Investors shall have received from Oppedahl & Larson,
counsel to the Company, an opinion letter relating to intellectual property
matters addressed to the Investors, dated as of the date of the Closing, in a
form acceptable to the Placement Agent and the Investors and their respective
counsel, subject to customary assumptions and qualifications.

         7.5 MINIMUM SALE. The aggregate purchase price for the Shares sold to
the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall not be less than $15 million.

8. MISCELLANEOUS.

         8.1 WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS. Neither this Purchase Agreement nor any
provision hereof may be changed, waived, discharged, terminated, modified or
amended except upon the written consent of the Company and holders of at least a
majority of the Shares, or, in the case of non-material or ministerial
amendments, upon the written consent of the Company and the Placement Agent.

         8.2 HEADINGS. The headings of the various sections of this Purchase
Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be
deemed to be part of this Purchase Agreement.

         8.3 BROKER'S FEE. The Company and each Investor (severally and not
jointly) hereby represent that, except for amounts to be paid by the Company to
the Placement Agent and certain other financial advisers as set forth in the
Company's engagement letter with the Placement Agent, there are no brokers or
finders entitled to compensation in connection with the sale of the Shares, and
shall indemnify each other for any such fees for which they are responsible.

         8.4 SEVERABILITY. In case any provision contained in this Purchase
Agreement should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained
herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

         8.5 NOTICES. All notices, requests, consents and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon
personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed
facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient; if not, then on
the next business day, (c) upon receipt when sent by first-class registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) upon receipt
after

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

deposit with a nationally recognized overnight express courier, postage prepaid,
specifying next day delivery with written verification of receipt. All
communications shall be sent to the party to be notified at the address as set
forth below or at such other address as such party may designate by ten (10)
days advance written notice to the Company. All communications shall be
addressed as follows:

                  (a) if to the Company, to:

                                    VISIBLE GENETICS INC.
                                    700 Bay Street, Suite 1000
                                    Toronto, Ontario
                                    M5G 1Z6
                                    Telephone: (416) 813-3242
                                    Facsimile: (416) 813-3250
                                    Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

                           with a copy so mailed to:

\                                   BAER MARKS & UPHAM LLP
                                    805 Third Avenue
                                    New York, New  York  10022
                                    Telephone: (212) 702-5700
                                    Facsimile: (212) 702-5941
                                    Attention: Steven S. Pretsfelder

                           and to:

                                    GOLDMAN, SPRING, SCHWARTZ & KICHLER
                                    Suite 700
                                    40 Sheppard Avenue West
                                    Toronto, Ontario
                                    M2N 6K9
                                    Attention:  Samuel Schwartz

                  (b) if to the Investors, at the address as set forth on the
Counterpart Execution Page of this Purchase Agreement.

         8.6 GOVERNING LAW; EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION. This Purchase Agreement
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York as applied to contracts entered into and performed entirely in New York
by New York residents, without regard to conflicts of law principles. The
parties hereto (a) agree that any suit, action or other proceeding arising out
of this Agreement shall be brought only in the courts of the State of New York
or the courts of the United States located within the State of New York, in each
case in the County of New York, (b) consent and submit to the exclusive
jurisdiction of each such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and (c)
waive any objection which they, or any of them, may have to personal
jurisdiction or the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in
any of such courts, and agree not to seek to change venue.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

         8.7 COUNTERPARTS. This Purchase Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which,
when taken together, shall constitute but one instrument, and shall become
effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto
and delivered to the other parties.

         8.8 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS.
Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Purchase Agreement,
all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Company
and each Investors herein and in the certificates for the securities delivered
pursuant hereto shall survive the execution of this Purchase Agreement, the
delivery to the Investors of the Shares and the payment therefor until the
expiration of the Registration Period as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement.

         8.9 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the
parties hereto. Neither the terms "successors" nor "assigns" as used herein
shall include any Person who purchases Shares from any Investor after the
Closing and is not an affiliate of an Investor.

         8.10 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Purchase Agreement and other documents
delivered pursuant hereto, including the exhibits, constitute the full and
entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the
subjects hereof and thereof.

         8.11 PAYMENT OF FEES AND EXPENSES. Each of the Company and the
Investors shall bear its own expenses and legal fees incurred on its behalf with
respect to this Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; provided, however, that the
Company shall (i) pay the costs of one legal counsel for all Investors up to a
maximum of $25,000; (ii) bear the costs in connection with the Registration
Statement (pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement) and (iii) reimburse
the Placement Agent for certain fees and expenses incurred by the Placement
Agent in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, as set forth in
the engagement letter with the Placement Agent. If any action at law or in
equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Purchase
Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees,
costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such
party may be entitled.

         8.12 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each Investor acknowledges and agrees that any
information or data it has acquired or hereafter shall acquire pursuant to this
Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement from the Company was received and
shall be received by such Investor in confidence except any such information or
data which at the time of disclosure was in the public domain or was readily
available through public sources other than as a result of any breach of the
terms hereof or the Registration Rights Agreement or was known to the Investor
prior to receipt from the Company or was obtained from a third party not in
violation of any confidentiality, non-disclosure or similar obligations of such
third party or the Investor (the "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION"). Except to the
extent authorized by the Company and required by any federal or state law, rule
or regulation or any decision or order of any court or regulatory authority,
each Investor agrees that it will refrain from disclosing any such Confidential
Information to any Person other than to any agent, attorneys, accountants,
employees, officers and directors of Investor (collectively, "AGENTS") who need
to know such information in connection with

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

Investor's purchase of the Shares, and who agree to be bound by the
confidentiality provisions of this Purchase Agreement. In the event that
Investor or its agents are required by federal or state or other law, rule or
regulation or any decision or order of any court or regulatory authority to
release such information or data, it shall give the Company sufficient prior
notice so that the Company may seek a stay or other release or waiver from
disclosing such information. Each Investor agrees not to use to the detriment of
the Company or for the benefit of any other Person or Persons, or misuse in any
way, any Confidential Information of the Company.

         8.13 KNOWLEDGE. The phrases "KNOWLEDGE," "TO THE COMPANY'S KNOWLEDGE,"
"TO THE COMPANY'S BEST KNOWLEDGE," "OF WHICH THE COMPANY IS AWARE" and similar
language as used herein shall mean the actual knowledge and current awareness,
or knowledge which a reasonable person would have acquired following a
reasonable investigation, of Richard T. Daley or Kingsley Thomas.

                [The rest of this page intentionally left blank]

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

         If this Purchase Agreement is satisfactory to you, please so indicate
by signing the acceptance on a counterpart execution page to this Purchase
Agreement and return such counterpart to the Company whereupon this Purchase
Agreement will become binding between us in accordance with its terms.

                                    VISIBLE GENETICS INC.
                                    an Ontario corporation

                             By:
                                 -------------------------------------
                             Name:  Richard T. Daly
                             Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer

<PAGE>

                        COMMON SHARES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                           COUNTERPART EXECUTION PAGE

By signing below, the undersigned agrees to the terms of the Visible Genetics
Inc. Common Shares Purchase Agreement and to purchase the number of Shares set
forth below.

                                      Number of Shares being purchased:

                                      -------------------------------------

                                      INVESTORS:

                                      -------------------------------------

                                      By:
                                         ----------------------------------

                                      Name:

                                      Title:

                                      Address:
                                              -------------------------------

                                      ---------------------------------------

                                      ---------------------------------------

                                      Facsimile:
                                                -----------------------------

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

1.       The exact name that your Shares are
         to be registered in (this is the
         name that will appear on your          ------------------------------
         Shares certificate(s)). You may use
         a nominee name if appropriate:

2.       The relationship between the
         Investors of the Shares and the
         Registered Holder listed in            ------------------------------
         response to item 1 above:

3.       The mailing address and facsimile
         number of the Registered Holder        -----------------------------
         listed in response to item 1 above
         (if different from above):             -----------------------------

                                      Facsimile:
                                                -----------------------------

4.       (FOR UNITED STATES INVESTORS:) The     -----------------------------
         Social Security Number or Tax
         Identification Number of the
         Registered Holder listed in the
         response to item 1 above:

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                              VISIBLE GENETICS INC.
                 INVESTORS'S CERTIFICATE OF RESALE OF THE SHARES

The undersigned, an officer of, or other person duly authorized
by ___________________________________________________ hereby certifies that
   [FILL IN OFFICIAL NAME OF INDIVIDUAL OR INSTITUTION]
he/she [said institution] is the Investors of the Shares evidenced by the
attached stock certificate(s) and as such, sold such Shares on________________
                                                                 [DATE]
in accordance with registration statement number _______________________________
      [FILL IN THE NUMBER OF OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFY REGISTRATION STATEMENT]
and the requirement of delivering a current prospectus of the Company has been
complied with in connection with such sale.

Print or Type:

Name of Investors (Individual or Institution):
                                                  ------------------------------
Name of Individual representing Investors
(if an Institution):
                                                  ------------------------------
Title of Individual representing Investors
(if an Institution):
                                                  ------------------------------
Signature by:

Individual Investors or Individual
representing Investors:
                                                  ------------------------------<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.13

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                              VISIBLE GENETICS INC.

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT") is entered into as of December 14, 1999, by and among VISIBLE
GENETICS INC., an Ontario corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the purchasers of
Common Shares of the Company (the "SHARES") who are identified as "Investors" in
that certain Common Shares Purchase Agreement of even date herewith (the
"PURCHASE AGREEMENT") and whose signatures appear on the execution pages hereof.
The purchasers of the Shares shall be referred to hereinafter as the "INVESTORS"
and each individually as an "INVESTOR."

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Company proposes to sell the Shares pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement;

         WHEREAS, as a condition of entering into the Purchase Agreement, the
Investors have requested that the Company extend to them certain registration
rights and other rights as set forth below; and

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises,
representations, warranties, covenants and conditions set forth in this
Registration Rights Agreement and in the Purchase Agreement, the parties
mutually agree as follows:

         1. DEFINITIONS

         As used in this Registration Rights Agreement the following terms shall
have the following respective meanings:

         "CLOSING" has the meaning ascribed thereto under the Purchase
Agreement.

         "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "FORM F-3" means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the
date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act
subsequently adopted by the SEC which permits inclusion or incorporation of
substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company
with the SEC.

         "HOLDER" means any Investor or assignee permitted in accordance with
5.3 hereof owning of record Registrable Securities that have not been sold to
the public.

         "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the
Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such
registration statement or document.

<PAGE>

         "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the Shares or any Common Shares which
may be issued with respect to or in substitution for such Shares by reason of
dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization, reclassification
or reorganization.

         "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means any registration statement of the
Company that covers the Shares and lists holders thereof as selling shareholders
pursuant to the provisions of this Registration Rights Agreement, including the
Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

         "SEC" or "COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         2. REGISTRATION OF SHARES

           2.1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT. Within 30 days after the date hereof, the
Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on
Form F-3 pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act covering the resale of
the Registrable Securities. In addition, the Company shall:

              (a) Use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to
become effective at the earliest possible time and to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective for a period of two years following the date on
which the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, or
such shorter period ending on the earlier of (i) when all Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement have been sold or (ii) sixty (60) days
after the first date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement may immediately be sold during any 90-day period without registration
under the Securities Act pursuant to the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under
the Securities Act (the "REGISTRATION PERIOD"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Company shall not be deemed to have kept a Registration Statement effective
during the applicable period if it voluntarily takes any action that results in
Holders not being able to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to
applicable securities laws during that period (and the time period during which
such Registration Statement is required to remain effective hereunder shall be
extended by the number of days during which such Holders are not able to sell
Registrable Securities) unless such action is required under applicable law or
regulation or court order.

              (b) Prepare and file with the SEC such pre-effective and
post-effective amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the
prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement as may be
necessary to cause the Registration Statement to become effective, to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective during the Registration Period and
not misleading, and as may otherwise be required or applicable under, and to
comply with the provisions of, the Securities Act with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the
Registration Period.

              (c) Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus,
including a preliminary prospectus, and each amendment or supplement thereto, in
conformity

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they
may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable
Securities owned by them.

              (d) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities
covered by such Registration Statement under such other securities or Blue Sky
laws of such jurisdictions as shall be necessary to permit the sale of the
Registrable Securities.

              (e) Notify promptly the Holders of Registrable Securities to be
sold (and in any event within two (2) business days after) and (if requested by
any such Person) confirm such notice in writing, (i)(A) when a prospectus or any
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment is proposed to be filed, and,
(B) with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment,
when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other
federal, Canadian, state or provincial governmental authority for amendments or
supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or for additional
information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings
for that purpose, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification
of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (v) of the
happening of any event that makes any statement made in such Registration
Statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, prospectus or
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
not misleading, and that in the case of the prospectus, it will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

              (f) Use its reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or,
if issued, obtain the withdrawal of, any order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification
(or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.

              (g) If requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold in connection with such offering, (i) promptly incorporate
in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the
holders reasonably request should be included therein regarding such holders or
the plan of distribution of the Registrable Securities, and (ii) make all
required filings of the prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of such
matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to take any
action pursuant to this Section 2.1(g) that would, in the opinion of outside
counsel for the Company, violate applicable law.

              (h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
2.1(e)(v), as promptly as practicable, prepare a supplement or amendment,
including a post-

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

effective amendment, to each Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.

              (i) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable
Securities relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on each
securities exchange or automated quotation system, if any, on which similar
securities issued by the Company are then listed.

           2.2 SELLER INFORMATION. The Company may require each selling Holder
of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to
furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder, such Holder's
Registrable Securities and such Holder's intended method of disposition as the
Company may from time to time reasonably request; provided that such information
shall be used only in connection with such registration.

         If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or otherwise
as the Holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall promptly
(i) notify the Company and its counsel of the existence of any fact of which
such Holder becomes aware and the happening of any event which relates to Holder
or the distribution of the securities owned by such Holder which results in the
Registration Statement containing an untrue statement of material fact or
omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make any statements therein not misleading, or the Prospectus included in such
Registration Statement containing an untrue statement of material fact or
omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make any statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, and (ii) provide to the Company such information which
relates to Holder or the distribution of the securities owned by such Holder as
shall be necessary to enable the Company to prepare a supplement or
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or
any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other documents
required so that such Registration Statement will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.

           2.3 NOTICE TO DISCONTINUE. Each holder of Registrable Securities
agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any
event of the kind described in Section 2.1(e)(ii) through (v), such Holder shall
forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by
Section 2.1(h) and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder shall deliver to
the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file
copies, then in such Holder's possession of the Prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities which is current at the time of receipt of such notice.
If the Company shall give any such notice, the Company shall extend the period
during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

pursuant to this Registration Rights Agreement by the number of days in excess
of ten (10) business days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice pursuant to Section 2.1(e) to and including the date when
the Holder shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus.

           2.4 EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. Except only as specifically provided
herein, all expenses incident to the performance of compliance with this
Registration Rights Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company,
regardless of whether the Registration Statement becomes effective, including,
without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including
filings made with the National Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD"), if
applicable); (ii) fees and expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel) of
compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky and other Canadian,
provincial or other securities laws; (iii) expenses of printing, messenger and
delivery services, duplication, word processing and telephone incurred by the
Company (but not by the holders of Registrable Securities); (iv) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company; (v) all application and filing fees in
connection with listing Common Shares on a national securities exchange or
automated quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all
fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the
Company (including the expenses of any special audit and "cold comfort" letters
required by or incident to such performance). The Company will, in any event,
bear its own internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties),
the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any person,
including special experts, retained by the Company. The Investors will bear
their own expenses not described above in connection with or arising out of the
registration of their Shares except that, as provided in the Purchase Agreement,
the Company will pay the costs of one legal counsel for all Investors in
connection with this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement of up to a maximum of
$25,000.

           2.5 INDEMNIFICATION.

              (a) INDEMNIFICATION BY COMPANY. To the extent permitted by law,
the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the partners, officers
and directors of each Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any
losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may
become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal,
Canadian, provincial or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a
"VIOLATION") by the Company: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any
amendments or supplements thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (including any
preliminary, final or summary prospectus, amendment or supplement thereto)
included in such Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any
statement therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation of the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act, any Canadian, provincial or state

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act or any Canadian, provincial or state securities law in
connection with the offering covered by the Registration Statement; provided,
however, that the Company will not be liable for indemnification in any such
case to the extent that any losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of
or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact so made in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
Holder. Subject to Section 2.5(c), the Company will pay to each such Holder,
partner, officer, director or controlling person for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if it is judicially determined
that there was such a violation.

              (b) INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDER OF REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. To the
extent permitted by law, each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by
such Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration,
qualification or compliance is being effected, indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its directors, its officers, agents and each person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which the Company
or any such director, officer, agent or controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal, Canadian,
provincial or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in
each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs as a
result of reliance by the Company upon and in conformity with written
information furnished by such Holder under an instrument duly executed by such
Holder and stated to be specifically for use in connection with such
registration; and each such Holder will pay any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, agent,
controlling person or other person in connection with investigating or defending
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if it is judicially determined
that there was such a Violation; provided, however, that in no event shall any
indemnity under this Section 2.5(b) exceed the dollar amount of proceeds from
the offering received by such Holder.

              (c) CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. Promptly after receipt
by an indemnified party under this Section 2.5 of notice of the commencement of
any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if
a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under
this Section 2.5, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the
commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to
participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with
the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the
reasonable judgment of any such indemnified party, based upon advice of counsel,
a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and the
indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the
indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to
employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim
on behalf of such indemnified party; provided, however, that the indemnified
party shall be entitled to elect only

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

one counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party and such counsel shall be
reasonably acceptable to the indemnifying party). The failure to deliver written
notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of
any such action, if it is finally determined in a court of competent
jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal) that such failure is
materially prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section
2.5, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party
will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under this Section 2.5. No indemnifying party shall be liable for
any settlement of any claim or action effected without its written consent,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

              (d) CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for in this
Section 2.5 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an
indemnified party with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to herein, the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall to the extent permitted by applicable law
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the
indemnified party on the other in connection with the Violation(s) that resulted
in such loss, claim, damage or liability, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of
the indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission; provided, that in no event shall any contribution by
a Holder hereunder exceed the dollar amount of proceeds from the offering
received by such Holder.

              (e) SURVIVAL; SETTLEMENT. The obligations of the Company and
Holders under this Section 2.5 shall survive completion of any offering of
Registrable Securities in a registration statement, the termination of this
Registration Rights Agreement and any sale by the Holders of Registrable
Securities. No indemnifying party, in the defense of any such claim or
litigation, shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent to
entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or
litigation.

           2.6 TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, a Holder shall not be entitled to any registration
rights, rights to liquidated damages or other rights hereunder (a) if all
Registrable Securities held by such Holder have been sold or (b) beginning sixty
(60) days after the first date on which all Registrable Securities held by such
Holder may immediately be sold during any 90-day period without registration
under the Securities Act pursuant to the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under
the Securities Act ("TERMINATION EVENT"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any right to
liquidated damages, indemnification or any other right that had accrued to the
benefit of such Holder prior to the Termination Event

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

but had not been satisfied as of the Termination Event, shall remain in effect
after the Termination Event until satisfied.

         3. RULE 144

         During the Registration Period, the Company covenants that it will file
the reports required to be filed by it (if so required) under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder
in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such
reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, make
publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The Company further covenants
that it will take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities
may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable
such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the
Securities Act pursuant to the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the
Securities Act. Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the
Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has
complied with such information requirements.

         4. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES

              (a) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Holders of
Registrable Securities will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to
ascertain the extent of such damages with precision, if the Company fails to
fulfill certain of its obligations hereunder. Accordingly, if (i) the
Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission within
120 days after the Closing, or (ii) the Registration Statement is declared
effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective without being succeeded
within 30 days by any additional Registration Statement filed and declared
effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) and (ii), a "REGISTRATION
DEFAULT"), the Company agrees to pay liquidated damages (for loss of benefit of
a bargain and not as a penalty) to each Holder of Registrable Securities an
amount equal to .75% of the dollar amount of such Holder's investment in the
Registrable Securities for each full month commencing on the 121st day in the
case of clause (i) and on the 31st day in the case of clause (ii) until the
Registration Statement is declared effective, or the successor Registration
Statement is filed and declared effective or until 180 days after the Closing,
whichever occurs first. Commencing on the 181st day of the Closing, if the
Registration Default persists, the foregoing required percentage payment by the
Company for each full month shall increase to 1.5% until the Registration
Statement is declared effective.

              (b) All accrued liquidated damages ("DEFAULT PAYMENT") shall be
paid to Holders by the Company on the sooner of the day the Registration
Statement or successor Registration Statement is declared effective or every 30
days by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check
by the Company. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of
liquidated damages will cease to accrue. In the event of a Registration Default,
if the Default Payment is not paid as set forth above, such Default Payment
shall be deemed indebtedness of the Company due upon demand and bearing interest
at an annual rate equal to 18% (or such lesser amount that is the maximum
permitted by applicable law) until paid in full (the "INDEBTEDNESS"). Any
Indebtedness shall be deemed senior to all "SUBORDINATED INDEBTEDNESS";
provided; however, that if the characterization or treatment of the

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

Default Payment as senior or prior to any Subordinated Indebtedness would result
in a default (or upon giving of notice or passage of time or both would result
in a default) under any Senior Indebtedness (a "SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS DEFAULT")
then the priority of the Indebtedness shall automatically be adjusted to the
most senior position possible which will not result in or cause a Senior
Indebtedness Default. "SUBORDINATED INDEBTEDNESS" means all indebtedness for
borrowed money of the Company other than Senior Indebtedness and any Default
Payment. "SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" means: (i) any obligations of the Company to the
Royal Bank of Canada arising under the Credit Facility extended by it to the
Company, as the same may be amended from time to time; (ii) any obligations of
the Company to any other commercial bank, financial institution or institutional
lender or other person which is or is intended to be senior indebtedness or
senior subordinated indebtedness, as the same may be amended from time to time;
and (iii) any extension, renewals, amendments or restatements of any of the
foregoing.

              (c) All of the obligations of the Company set forth in this
Section 4 that are outstanding with respect to any Registrable Security at the
time such security ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such
time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been
satisfied in full.

         5. MISCELLANEOUS

            5.1 GOVERNING LAW; EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION. This Registration Rights
Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of New
York as applied to agreements among New York residents entered into and to be
performed entirely within New York. The parties hereto (a) agree that any suit,
action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement shall be brought only
in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States
located within the State of New York, in each case in the County of New York,
(b) consent and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any
such suit, action or proceeding and (c) waive any objection which they, or any
of them, may have to personal jurisdiction or the laying of venue of any such
suit, action or proceeding in any of such courts, and agree not to seek to
change venue.

            5.2 SURVIVAL. The representations, warranties, covenants, and
agreements made herein shall survive any investigation made by any Holder and
the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby.

            5.3 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators of the
parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each
Permitted Assignee of Registrable Securities from time to time. A "PERMITTED
ASSIGNEE" shall mean (i) with respect to any Investor, any other person directly
or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect, common
control with such Investor, (ii) the spouse, sibling, child, step-child,
grandchild, niece, nephew or parent of the Investor, or the spouse thereof, and
(iii) any transferee or assignee of not less than 75,000 shares of Registrable
Securities (as presently constituted and subject to subsequent adjustment for
stock splits, stock dividends, reverse stock splits, and the like). The Company
may not assign the rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of each Holder of Registrable Securities.

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

            5.4 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Registration Rights Agreement, including
any exhibits hereto, the Purchase Agreement and the other documents delivered
pursuant thereto constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement
between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be
liable or bound to any other in any manner by any representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein and therein.

            5.5 SEVERABILITY. In case any provision of the Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability
of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.

            5.6 AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. The provisions of this Registration Rights
Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities; provided, however, that Sections 2.1 and 2.5 shall not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from this
proviso may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of
each Holder of the then outstanding Registrable Securities.

            5.7 DELAYS OR OMISSIONS. It is agreed that no delay or omission to
exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Holder, upon any breach,
default or noncompliance of the Company under this Registration Rights Agreement
shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a
waiver of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence
therein, or of any similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter
occurring. It is further agreed that any waiver, permit, consent or approval of
any kind or character on any Holder's part of any breach, default or
noncompliance under the Agreement or any waiver on such Holder's part of any
provisions or conditions of this Registration Rights Agreement must be in
writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such
writing. All remedies, either under this Registration Rights Agreement, by law,
or otherwise afforded to Holders, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

            5.8 NOTICES. All notices, requests, consents and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively
given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by
confirmed facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient; if
not, then on the next business day, (c) upon receipt when sent by first-class
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d)
upon receipt after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight express
courier, postage prepaid, specifying next day delivery with written verification
of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the party to be notified at the
address as set forth below or at such other address as such party may designate
by ten (10) days advance written notice to the Company. All communications shall
be addressed as follows:

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

              (a) if to the Company, to:

                   VISIBLE GENETICS INC.
                   700 Bay Street, Suite 1000
                   Toronto, Ontario
                   M5G 1Z6
                   Telephone: (416) 813-3242
                   Facsimile: (416) 813-3250
                   Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

                   with a copy so mailed to:

                   BAER MARKS & UPHAM LLP
                   805 Third Avenue
                   New York, New  York  10022
                   Telephone: (212) 702-5700
                   Facsimile: (212) 702-5941
                   Attention: Steven S. Pretsfelder

                   and to:

                   GOLDMAN, SPRING, SCHWARTZ & KICHLER
                   Suite 700
                   40 Sheppard Avenue West
                   North York, Ontario
                   M2N 6K9
                   Attention:  Samuel Schwartz

              (b) if to the Investors, at the address as set forth on the
Counterpart Execution Page of this Registration Rights Agreement.

            5.9 ATTORNEYS' FEES. In the event that any dispute among the parties
to this Registration Rights Agreement should result in litigation, the
prevailing party in such dispute shall be entitled to recover from the losing
party all fees, costs and expenses of enforcing any right of such prevailing
party under or with respect to this Registration Rights Agreement, including
without limitation, such reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and
accountants, which shall include, without limitation, all fees, costs and
expenses of appeals.

            5.10 SECURITIES HELD BY THE COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)
(other than the Holders or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such
Holders or subsequent Holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason
of their holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

            5.11 TITLES AND SUBTITLES. The titles of the sections and
subsections of this Registration Rights Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Registration
Rights Agreement.

            5.12 COUNTERPARTS. This Registration Rights Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but
all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

         If this Registration Rights Agreement is satisfactory to you, please so
indicate by signing a counterpart execution page to this Registration Rights
Agreement and a Registration Statement Questionnaire and return such counterpart
and questionnaire to the Company whereupon subject to the Company's acceptance
of your subscription, this Registration Rights Agreement will become binding
between us in accordance with its terms.

                                 Visible Genetics Inc.
                                 an Ontario corporation

                                 By:
                                    --------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Richard T. Daly
                                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                           COUNTERPART EXECUTION PAGE

            By signing below, the undersigned agrees to the terms of the Visible
Genetics Inc. Registration Rights Agreement.

                                  INVESTOR:

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

                                    Address:
                                                 -------------------------

                                                 -------------------------

                                                 -------------------------

                                    Facsimile:
                                                 -------------------------

<PAGE>

                                                                      APPENDIX I

                              VISIBLE GENETICS INC.
                      REGISTRATION STATEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

         In connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement,
please provide us with the following information:

         1. Please state your or your organization's name exactly as it should
appear in the Registration Statement:
                                      ----------------------------------------

         2. Please provide the following information, as of December 13, 1999:

            a) Number of Shares that you are purchasing:

            b) Number of Shares that you seek to include in the Registration
               Statement:

            c) Number of Common Shares that you already beneficially own:

            d) Number of Shares of Series A Preferred Shares that you already
               beneficially own:

            e) Number of Warrants that you already beneficially own:

            f) Total Number of Securities that you already beneficially own:

         3. Have you or your organization had any position, office or other
material relationship within the past three years with the Company or its
affiliates other than as disclosed in the Company's 1998 Annual Report on
Form 20-F?  Yes       No
                ---      ---

If yes, please indicate the nature of any such relationships:

         4. Please describe your Plan of Distribution for the shares you
wish to sell:
              -----------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    INVESTOR:

                                    By:
                                         ---------------------------------

                                    Print Name:
                                                  ------------------------

                                    Title:
                                            ------------------------------

         The foregoing constitutes the only information furnished to the Company
for inclusion in the Registration Statement for purposes of Section 2.5(b) of
the Registration Rights Agreement.

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