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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.22

                                   EXHIBIT A

                                AMENDMENT 2001-1
                                     TO THE
                              NEOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

          NeoTherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), by
resolution of its Board of Directors (the "Board"), previously adopted the
NeoTherapeutics, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") for the benefit
of the eligible employees of the Company and certain designated subsidiaries.

          In order to increase the limit on the amount of compensation that an
eligible employee may defer under the Plan, and to increase the number of shares
of the Company's Common Stock that may be purchased by an eligible employee
during any one offering period under the Plan, this Amendment 2001-1 to the Plan
has been adopted by the Board, pursuant to the Board's authority under Section
12 of the Plan, effective as of June 21, 2001. This Amendment 2001-1 shall apply
only to offering periods under the Plan commencing on or after June 21, 2001.
This Amendment 2001-1, together with the Plan, constitute the Plan in its
entirety.

          1. The fourth sentence in Section 3(a) shall be amended to read as
follows:

          The number of shares of Stock subject to a Participant's Option shall
          equal the cumulative payroll deductions authorized by such Participant
          in accordance with subsection (b) for the Option Period (if any),
          divided by the Option Price; provided, however, that the number of
          shares of Stock subject to such Option shall not exceed Twelve
          Thousand Five Hundred (12,500) shares; and, provided, further, that
          the number of shares of Stock subject to such Option shall not exceed
          the number determined in accordance with subsection (c).

          2. The fourth sentence in Section 3(b) shall be amended to read as
follows:

          A Participant may designate any whole percentage of Compensation which
          is not less than one percent (1%) and not more than twenty-five
          percent (25%).

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be executed
this ____________________ day of ____________________, 2001.


                                          NEOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.


                                          By:
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                                          Its:
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