Filed by CIMA LABS INC.
                           Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
                                        and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
                                       under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                                 Subject Company: aaiPharma Inc.
                                                     Commission File No. 0-21185


This filing relates to the merger transaction between CIMA LABS INC., a Delaware
corporation ("Cima"), aaiPharma Inc., a Delaware corporation ("aaiPharma"),
Scarlet Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Holding Company"), Scarlet
MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
Holding Company ("S MergerCo"), and Crimson MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Holding Company ("C
MergerCo"), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 5,
2003 (the "Merger Agreement").

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

         In connection with a proposed business combination transaction, Scarlet
Holding Corporation, the holding company in the proposed transaction, intends to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration
statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement/prospectus and
other relevant documents in connection with the proposed transaction. Investors
of aaiPharma and Cima are urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus and
other relevant materials when they become available because they will contain
important information about Cima, aaiPharma and the proposed transaction.
Investors may obtain a free copy of these materials (when they are available)
and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the
SEC's website at www.sec.gov. A free copy of the joint proxy
statement/prospectus when it becomes available may also be obtained from
aaiPharma Inc., 2320 Scientific Park Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 or
CIMA LABS INC., 10000 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344. In
addition, investors may access copies of the documents filed with the SEC by
aaiPharma on aaiPharma's website at www.aaiPharma.com and may access copies of
the documents filed with the SEC by Cima on Cima's website at www.cimalabs.com.

         aaiPharma, Cima and their respective directors, executive officers and
certain other members of management and employees may be soliciting proxies from
their respective stockholders in favor of the proposed merger. Information
regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be
participants in the solicitation of aaiPharma's stockholders in connection with
the proposed merger is set forth in aaiPharma's proxy statement for its 2003
annual meeting, dated April 8, 2003 and filed with the SEC on April 11, 2003,
and







information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be
considered to be participants in the solicitation of Cima's stockholders in
connection with the proposed transaction is set forth in Cima's proxy statement
for its 2003 annual meeting, dated April 14, 2003 and filed with the SEC on
April 11, 2003.

         Additional information regarding these individuals and any interest
they have in the proposed transaction will be set forth in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This fact sheet contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of
the management of aaiPharma and Cima and are subject to a number of factors and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements
contained in this press release include statements about future financial and
operating results and the proposed merger of aaiPharma and Cima. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon
assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual
outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed herein.

         Risks and uncertainties pertaining to the following factors, among
others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in
the forward-looking statements: the ability of aaiPharma and Cima to obtain the
stockholder and regulatory approvals required for the merger; the new company's
ability to successfully integrate the businesses of the two companies;
unexpected costs involved in the merger or to the new company's ability to
achieve cost-cutting synergies; the impact of uncertainty surrounding the merger
on the businesses of the two companies; the impact of competition, new data,
supply issues or marketplace trends on the market for the companies' products;
deterioration in the business of aaiPharma or Cima prior to closing; technical,
regulatory or manufacturing issues; new data or intellectual property disputes
that may affect the companies' programs; the ability of the new company to
develop and market products in a timely manner; and difficulties in gaining
approval of new products. Additional economic, business, competitive and/or
regulatory factors affecting aaiPharma's and Cima's businesses generally that
may cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in their respective
filings with the SEC, including their Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2002, especially in the Management's Discussion and
Analysis section, their most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and their
Current Reports on Form 8-K. aaiPharma and Cima do not undertake any obligation
to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter their
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.

         On August 5, 2003, Cima entered into the following agreements: (1) the
 Merger Agreement, (2) Stockholder Voting Agreements dated as of August 5, 2003,
 by and among Cima and each of Frederick D. Sancilio and Philip S. Tabbiner, (3)
 Stockholder Voting Agreements dated as of August 5, 2003, by and among
 aaiPharma and each of John M. Siebert








and Steven B. Ratoff and (4) an Amendment to the Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement dated as of August 5, 2003, by and between Cima and Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, N.A. Each of these documents is set forth below.

         On August 5, 2003, Cima issued a press release announcing the execution
of the Merger Agreement. The press release is set forth below.

         A fact sheet describing the transaction is set forth below.

         On August 5, 2003, a slide show presentation was made to members of the
financial analyst community by conference call by Steven B. Ratoff, Chairman and
Interim Chief Executive Officer of Cima, James C. Hawley, Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary of Cima, Frederick D. Sancilio, Ph.D., Executive
Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of aaiPharma, Philip S. Tabbiner,
President and Chief Executive Officer of aaiPharma, and William L. Ginna, Jr.,
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of aaiPharma. The slide
show presentation and the prepared script for the presentation are set forth
below.

                              [***NOTE TO BOWNE***]
                     [INSERT ATTACHMENTS IN FOLLOWING ORDER]
                                MERGER AGREEMENT
                            SANCILIO VOTING AGREEMENT
                            TABBINER VOTING AGREEMENT
                            SIEBERT VOTING AGREEMENT
                             RATOFF VOTING AGREEMENT
                          AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                                  PRESS RELEASE
                                   FACT SHEET
                                   SLIDE SHOW
                                 MEETING SCRIPT


                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


================================================================================



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                           dated as of August 5, 2003

                                 by and between

                                 aaiPharma Inc.,

                                 CIMA LABS INC.,

                          SCARLET HOLDING CORPORATION,

                             SCARLET MERGERCO, INC.

                                       and

                             CRIMSON MERGERCO, INC.



================================================================================




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                                                                                Page
                                                                                                                ----
                                    ARTICLE I

                           DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION
                                                                                                          
1.01     Definitions..............................................................................................2
1.02     Interpretation..........................................................................................11

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE MERGERS

2.01     The Mergers.............................................................................................12
2.02     Closing.................................................................................................12
2.03     Effective Time..........................................................................................12
2.04     Effects of the Mergers..................................................................................13
2.05     Certificates of Incorporation and By-laws...............................................................13
2.06     Board of Directors and Officers.........................................................................14

                                   ARTICLE III

                       CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

3.01     Consideration; Effect on Capital Stock of aaiPharma and S MergerCo......................................14
3.02     Consideration; Effect on Capital Stock of CIMA and C MergerCo...........................................15
3.03     Holding Company Common Stock............................................................................16
3.04     Certain Adjustments.....................................................................................16
3.05     Exchange Procedures.....................................................................................16
3.06     Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares........................................................17
3.07     Further Ownership Rights................................................................................18
3.08     No Fractional Shares of HoldCo Common Stock.............................................................18
3.09     Termination of Exchange Fund............................................................................19
3.10     No Liability............................................................................................19
3.11     Investment of the Exchange Fund.........................................................................19
3.12     Lost Certificates.......................................................................................19
3.13     Withholding Rights......................................................................................20
3.14     Further Assurances......................................................................................20
3.15     Stock Transfer Books....................................................................................20
3.16     aaiPharma Stock Options.................................................................................21
3.17     CIMA Stock Options......................................................................................22
3.18     Reservation of Shares for Stock Options.................................................................23
</Table>



                                        i



<Table>
                                   ARTICLE IV

                       CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING MERGERS
                                                                                                          
4.01     Forbearances............................................................................................23

                                    ARTICLE V

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

5.01     Disclosure Letters......................................................................................26
5.02     Standard................................................................................................27
5.03     Representations and Warranties of CIMA and aaiPharma....................................................27
5.04     Representations and Warranties With Respect to Holding Company and Subsidiaries.........................43

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS

6.01     Reasonable Best Efforts.................................................................................43
6.02     Registration Statement; Joint Proxy Statement; Stockholder Approvals....................................44
6.03     Acquisition Proposals...................................................................................48
6.04     Holding Company Board and Officers......................................................................50
6.05     Press Releases; Public Announcements....................................................................51
6.06     Access; Information.....................................................................................52
6.07     Takeover Laws and Rights Plans..........................................................................52
6.08     Nasdaq Listing..........................................................................................53
6.09     Regulatory and Third Party Approvals....................................................................53
6.10     Indemnification.........................................................................................55
6.11     Benefit Plans...........................................................................................56
6.12     Notification of Certain Matters.........................................................................57
6.13     Exemption from Liability Under Section 16(b)............................................................58
6.14     Affiliate Notices.......................................................................................58
6.15     Rights Plans............................................................................................59
6.16     Control of Other Party's Business.......................................................................59
6.17     Treasury Regulation Statement...........................................................................59

                                   ARTICLE VII

                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGERS

7.01     Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Mergers.............................................59
7.02     Conditions to CIMA's Obligation.........................................................................60
7.03     Conditions to aaiPharma's Obligation....................................................................61
</Table>



                                       ii



<Table>
                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   TERMINATION
                                                                                                          
8.01     Termination.............................................................................................62
8.02     Effect of Termination and Abandonment...................................................................64

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

9.01     Survival................................................................................................66
9.02     Waiver; Amendment.......................................................................................66
9.03     Counterparts............................................................................................66
9.04     Governing Law...........................................................................................66
9.05     Expenses................................................................................................67
9.06     Notices.................................................................................................67
9.07     Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries......................................................68
9.08     Severability............................................................................................68
9.09     Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers.....................................................................68
9.10     Enforcement.............................................................................................69
9.11     Acknowledgment..........................................................................................69
9.12     Assignment..............................................................................................69
</Table>

Exhibits

Annex 1                    Form of Holding Company Certificate of Incorporation
Annex 2                    Form of aaiPharma Inc. Certificate of Incorporation
Annex 3                    Form of CIMA LABS INC. Certificate of Incorporation
Annex 4                    Form of Holding Company By-Laws
Exhibit 2.06(d)(i)         Board of Directors of aaiPharma Surviving Corporation
Exhibit 2.06(d)(ii)        Board of Directors of CIMA Surviving Corporation
Exhibit 6.04(c)            Officers of Holding Company at Effective Time
Exhibit 7.01(g)            Forms of Tax Representation Letters



                                      iii



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

         THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of August 5, 2003, is
entered into by and between aaiPharma Inc., a Delaware corporation
("aaiPharma"), CIMA LABS INC., a Delaware corporation ("CIMA"), SCARLET HOLDING
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
aaiPharma ("Holding Company"), SCARLET MERGERCO, INC., a Delaware corporation
and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Holding Company ("S MergerCo"), and
CRIMSON MERGERCO, INC., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned
subsidiary of Holding Company ("C MergerCo").

                              BACKGROUND STATEMENT

         A. The Proposed Transaction. The parties intend to effect a strategic
business combination in a merger of equals transaction. Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Holding Company will acquire all of
the capital stock of each of aaiPharma and CIMA through the merger of S MergerCo
with and into aaiPharma (the "aaiPharma Merger"), with aaiPharma as the
surviving corporation, and the merger of C MergerCo with and into CIMA (the
"CIMA Merger" and, together with the aaiPharma Merger, the "Mergers"), with CIMA
as the surviving corporation. As a result of the Mergers, the respective holders
of capital stock of CIMA and aaiPharma will collectively own all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of Holding Company. In connection with the
Mergers, Holding Company will change its name to "aaiPharma/Cima Inc.", or such
name as the parties may otherwise agree, and Holding Company will locate its
principal executive office in Wilmington, North Carolina.

         B. Board Determinations. The Boards of Directors of aaiPharma, S
MergerCo and Holding Company have each approved the aaiPharma Merger in
accordance with applicable law, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein. The Boards of Directors of CIMA, C MergerCo and Holding Company
have each approved the CIMA Merger in accordance with applicable law, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. The respective Boards of
Directors of aaiPharma, CIMA, Holding Company, S MergerCo and C MergerCo have
each determined that the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby
are consistent with, and will further, their respective business strategies and
goals, and are advisable and in the best interests of their respective
stockholders and, therefore, have approved the Mergers to which they are a
party, this Agreement and the plans of merger contained in this Agreement.

         C. Stockholder Voting Agreements. As a condition to and inducement to
CIMA's willingness to enter into this Agreement, simultaneously with the
execution of this Agreement, certain stockholders of aaiPharma are entering into
Stockholder Voting Agreements with CIMA (the "aaiPharma Voting Agreements").
Similarly, as a condition to and inducement to aaiPharma's willingness to enter
into this Agreement, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement,
certain stockholders of CIMA are entering into Stockholder Voting Agreements
with aaiPharma (the "CIMA Voting Agreements").

         D. Intended Tax Treatment. The parties intend that each of the Mergers
be treated as a reorganization, and to adopt this Agreement as a plan of
reorganization with respect to both Mergers, within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the
Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Treasury



                                       1




Regulations") and that the Mergers, taken together, shall qualify as an exchange
described in Section 351 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations.

                             STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT

         The parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                           DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION

         1.01 Definitions. This Agreement uses the following definitions:

         "aaiPharma" has the meaning assigned in the preamble.

         "aaiPharma Board" means the Board of Directors of aaiPharma.

         "aaiPharma Certificate of Merger" has the meaning assigned in Section
2.03.

         "aaiPharma Certificates" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(c).

         "aaiPharma Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, of aaiPharma.

         "aaiPharma Exchange Ratio" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(a).

         "aaiPharma Insiders" means those officers and directors of aaiPharma
who are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act and who are listed in the Section 16 Information.

         "aaiPharma Meeting" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.02(e).

         "aaiPharma Merger" has the meaning assigned in the Background
Statement.

         "aaiPharma Merger Consideration" has the meaning assigned in Section
3.01(a).

         "aaiPharma Preferred Stock" means the preferred stock, $0.001 per
share, of aaiPharma.

         "aaiPharma Recommendation" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.02(e).

         "aaiPharma Stock" means the aaiPharma Common Stock and the aaiPharma
Preferred Stock.

         "aaiPharma Stockholder Approval" has the meaning assigned in Section
5.03(f).

         "aaiPharma Stock Option" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.16(a).



                                       2


         "aaiPharma Stock Plans" means the aaiPharma Inc. 1997 Stock Option
Plan, the aaiPharma Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan, the aaiPharma Inc. 1995 Stock
Option Plan and the aaiPharma Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors.

         "aaiPharma Surviving Corporation" has the meaning assigned in Section
2.01(a).

         "Acquisition Proposal," means any offer or proposal with respect to an
Acquisition Transaction.

         "Acquisition Transaction," with respect to either CIMA or aaiPharma,
means any (i) merger, consolidation, business combination or similar transaction
involving such party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, (ii) sale, lease or
other disposition directly or indirectly by merger, consolidation, business
combination, share exchange, joint venture or otherwise of assets of such party
or its Subsidiaries representing 15% or more of the consolidated assets of such
party and its Subsidiaries, (iii) issuance, sale or other disposition of
(including by way of merger, consolidation, business combination, share
exchange, joint venture or any similar transaction) securities (or Rights with
respect to such securities) representing 15% or more of the voting power of such
party (other than a public offering of common stock not in connection with a
merger, consolidation, business combination, share exchange, joint venture or
similar transaction), (iv) transaction (including a tender or exchange offer) in
which any Person shall acquire beneficial ownership, or the right to acquire
beneficial ownership, or any "group" (as defined in Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the
Exchange Act) shall have been formed which beneficially owns or has the right to
acquire beneficial ownership of, 15% or more of the outstanding voting capital
stock of such party (other than one or more bona fide underwriters in connection
with a public offering of common stock not in connection with a merger,
consolidation, business combination, share exchange, joint venture or similar
transaction) or (v) any combination of the foregoing (other than the Mergers).

         "Additional Directors" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.04(b).

         "Affiliate" means an "affiliate" within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act.

         "Agreement" means this Agreement, as amended or modified from time to
time in accordance with its terms.

         "Benefit Arrangement" means with respect to each of aaiPharma,
aaiPharma's Subsidiaries and CIMA, each:

         (i)      "employee benefit plan" (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of
                  ERISA);

         (ii)     stock purchase, stock option or other form of incentive
                  compensation plan;

         (iii)    severance, parachute, change-in-control, fringe benefit,
                  bonus, incentive, worker's compensation, disability benefit,
                  supplemental unemployment benefit, vacation benefit,
                  retirement benefit, life, health, or accident benefit, or
                  deferred compensation plan;

         (iv)     paid time off benefits arrangement; and



                                       3


         (v)      other employee benefit plan, agreement, program, policy,
                  commitment or other arrangement (whether written or oral),
                  whether or not subject to ERISA,

both:

         (A)      under which any of its current or former employees, the
                  current or former employees of its Subsidiaries, or any of
                  their respective ERISA Affiliates, or any of its current or
                  former officers or directors or those of its Subsidiaries, or
                  their respective ERISA Affiliates has any present or future
                  right to benefits; and

         (B)      which is sponsored, maintained by or contributed to by it, any
                  of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective ERISA
                  Affiliates, or under which it, any of its Subsidiaries, or any
                  of their respective ERISA Affiliates has had or has any
                  present or future liability or obligation to contribute.

         "Benefit Plan" and "Benefit Plans" have the meanings assigned in
Section 5.03(u)(1).

         "Board Designees" have the meaning assigned in Section 6.04(a).

         "Business Day" means any day on which banks are not required or
authorized to close in the City of Charlotte, North Carolina or the City of
Minneapolis, Minnesota.

         "C MergerCo" has the meaning assigned in the preamble.

         "C MergerCo Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of C MergerCo.

         "Certificates" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.05(b).

         "Certificates of Merger" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.03.

         "Change" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.02(e).

         "Change in the CIMA Recommendation" has the meaning assigned in Section
6.02(f).

         "Change in the aaiPharma Recommendation" has the meaning assigned in
Section 6.02(e).

         "CIMA" has the meaning assigned in the preamble.

         "CIMA Board" means the Board of Directors of CIMA.

         "CIMA Certificate of Merger" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.03.

         "CIMA Certificates" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.02(c).

         "CIMA Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
of CIMA.

         "CIMA Exchange Ratio" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.02(a).



                                       4


         "CIMA Insiders" means those officers and directors of CIMA who are
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and
who are listed in the Section 16 Information.

         "CIMA Meeting" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.02(f).

         "CIMA Merger" has the meaning assigned in the Background Statement.

         "CIMA Merger Consideration" has the meaning assigned in Section
3.02(a).

         "CIMA Preferred Stock" means the preferred stock, $0.01 par value per
share, of CIMA.

         "CIMA Recommendation" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.02(f).

         "CIMA Rights" means rights to purchase shares of CIMA Stock issued
under the CIMA Rights Agreement.

         "CIMA Rights Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2001, between CIMA and Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, N.A., as Rights Agent.

         "CIMA Stock" means the CIMA Common Stock and the CIMA Preferred Stock.

         "CIMA Stockholder Approval" has the meaning assigned in Section
5.03(f).

         "CIMA Stock Option" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.17(a).

         "CIMA Stock Plans" means the CIMA LABS INC. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan,
as amended, the CIMA LABS INC. Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated,
the CIMA LABS INC. 1994 Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended, the CIMA LABS
INC. Non-Employee Directors' Fee Option Grant Program as amended, and the CIMA
Stock Purchase Plan.

         "CIMA Stock Purchase Plan" means the CIMA LABS INC. Employee Stock
Purchase Plan.

         "CIMA Surviving Corporation" has the meaning assigned in Section
2.01(b).

         "Closing" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.02.

         "Closing Date" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.02.

         "Code" has the meaning assigned in the Background Statement.

         "Competing Transaction," with respect to either CIMA or aaiPharma,
means any (i) merger, consolidation, business combination or similar transaction
involving such party or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to which
the stockholders of such party immediately prior to such transaction would own
less than 70% of the voting power of the entity surviving or resulting from such
transaction (or the ultimate parent entity thereof), (ii) sale, lease or other
disposition directly or indirectly by merger, consolidation, business
combination, share



                                       5


exchange, joint venture or otherwise of assets of such party or its Subsidiaries
representing 30% or more of the consolidated assets of such party and its
Subsidiaries, (iii) issuance, sale or other disposition of (including by way of
merger, consolidation, business combination, share exchange, joint venture or
any similar transaction) securities (or Rights with respect to such securities)
representing 30% or more of the voting power of such party (other than a public
offering of common stock not in connection with a merger, consolidation,
business combination, share exchange, joint venture or similar transaction),
(iv) transaction (including a tender or exchange offer) in which any Person
shall acquire beneficial ownership, or the right to acquire beneficial
ownership, or any "group" (as defined in Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange
Act) shall have been formed which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of, 30% or more of the outstanding voting capital stock of
such party (other than one or more bona fide underwriters in connection with a
public offering of common stock not in connection with a merger, consolidation,
business combination, share exchange, joint venture or similar transaction) or
(v) any combination of the foregoing (other than the Mergers).

         "Confidentiality Agreement" has the meaning assigned in Section
6.06(b).

         "Constituent Documents" means the articles or certificate of
incorporation and by-laws of a corporation, the certificate of partnership and
partnership agreement of a general or limited partnership, the certificate of
formation and limited liability company agreement of a limited liability
company, the trust agreement of a trust and the comparable documents of other
entities.

         "Continued Employee" means each individual employed by CIMA, aaiPharma
or any of their respective Subsidiaries immediately before the Effective Time
who continues to be employed by Holding Company, CIMA Surviving Corporation,
aaiPharma Surviving Corporation or any of their Subsidiaries immediately after
the Effective Time.

         "Costs" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.10(a).

         "DGCL" means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

         "Disclosure Letter" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.01.

         "DOJ" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(o).

         "Effective Time" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.03.

         "Employee" and "Employees" have the meanings assigned in Section
5.03(u)(1).

         "Environmental Law" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(p)(3).

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

         "ERISA Affiliate" means any entity which is or at any relevant time was
a member of a "controlled group of corporations" with, under "common control"
with, or a member of an "affiliates service group" with, any Person, as defined
in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code, or under "common control" with
it, within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA.



                                       6


         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations thereunder.

         "Exchange Agent" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.05(a).

         "Exchange Fund" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.05(a).

         "Expenses" means all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket fees and
expenses (including fees and expenses payable to all investment banking firms
and other Persons, and their respective agents and counsel, for financial
advice, fairness opinions or other advice with respect to the structuring of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and all fees of counsel, accountants, experts
and consultants to CIMA or aaiPharma, as the case may be, all printing and
advertising expenses, and all fees payable to Governmental Authorities or to
third parties in connection with obtaining Requisite Regulatory Approvals or
consents necessary or advisable in connection with the Mergers) actually
incurred by aaiPharma or CIMA, as the case may be, or on their behalf, in
connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and performance of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

         "Former Superior Proposal" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.03(d).

         "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

         "Governmental Authority" means any national, federal, regional, state,
provincial, local, foreign or other governmental authority or instrumentality,
legislative body, court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or
instrumentality, including any multinational authority having governmental or
quasi-governmental powers, or any industry self-regulatory authority.

         "Hazardous Substances" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(p)(4).

         "Holding Company" has the meaning assigned in the preamble.

         "HoldCo By-Laws" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.05(d).

         "HoldCo Charter" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.05(a).

         "HoldCo Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of Holding Company.

         "Holding Company Board" means the Board of Directors of Holding
Company.

         "HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

         "Indemnified Party" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.10(a).

         "Independent Director" shall mean a member of the CIMA Board or the
aaiPharma Board who would be considered an "independent director" eligible to
serve on the audit committee of the Holding Company Board after the Effective
Time, as such eligibility is



                                       7


determined under Nasdaq Proposed Rule 4350(d)(2)(A) as set forth in SEC Release
No. 34-47516 (March 17, 2003).

         "Intellectual Property Rights" shall mean intellectual property rights
arising from or in respect to the following: (i) fictional business names, trade
names, trademarks and service marks, logos, Internet domain names, and general
intangibles of a like nature (collectively, "Marks"); (ii) patents and
applications therefor, including continuation, divisional, continuation-in-part,
or reissue patent applications and patents issuing thereon (collectively,
"Patents"); (iii) copyrights and registrations and applications therefor
(collectively, "Copyrights") and mask work rights; (iv) know-how, inventions,
discoveries, concepts, methods, processes, designs, formulae, technical data,
drawings, specifications, data bases and other proprietary and confidential
information, including customer lists (collectively, "Trade Secrets"); and (v)
computer programs, including any and all software implementations of algorithms,
models and methodologies, whether in source code or object code, databases and
compilations, flow-charts and other work product used to design, plan, organize
and develop any of the foregoing (collectively, "Software").

         "Joint Proxy Statement" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.02(a).

         "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus" has the meaning assigned in Section
6.02(a).

         "Law" means any foreign or domestic law, statute, code, ordinance,
rule, regulation, order, judgment, writ, stipulation, award, injunction, decree
or arbitration award or finding.

         "Lease" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(l)(1).

         "Leased Real Property" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(l)(1).

         "Liability" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(p)(2).

         "Lien" means any charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest,
restriction, claim, lien, or encumbrance.

         "Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to aaiPharma or CIMA, any
change, event or effect that:

         (a) is, or would reasonably be expected to be, material and adverse to
the financial condition, results of operations or business of such party and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except, in each case, for any such change, event
or effect resulting from or arising out of (i) changes or developments in (x)
the specialty pharmaceutical industry generally, (y) the financial, banking,
currency or capital markets or the economy in general, or (z) Laws of general
applicability (or interpretations thereof by Governmental Authorities), which
changes or developments in each case do not disproportionately affect such party
in any material respect; (ii) the execution or public announcement of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; (iii) any reduction in such
party's stock price or trading volume, in and of itself, (iv) a stockholder
class action litigation arising from allegations of a breach of fiduciary duty
relating to this Agreement; (v) changes in GAAP or regulatory accounting
requirements applicable to specialty pharmaceutical companies generally; (vi)
actions or omissions of a party to this



                                       8


Agreement, taken with the prior written consent of the other party to this
Agreement, in contemplation of the transactions contemplated hereby; or (vii) to
the extent consistent with GAAP, any modifications or changes to valuation
policies or practices, or restructuring charges, in each case taken with the
prior written consent of the other party to this Agreement; or

         (b) would be reasonably likely to prevent either Merger.

         "Material Contracts" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(r)(1).

         "Mergers" has the meaning assigned in the Background Statement.

         "Nasdaq" shall mean the Nasdaq National Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock
Market.

         "OIG" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(o).

         "other party" means, with respect to aaiPharma, CIMA; and with respect
to CIMA, aaiPharma.

         "Owned Intellectual Property" has the meaning assigned in Section
5.03(m).

         "Owned Real Property" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(k).

         "Pension Plan" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(u)(2).

         "Permits" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(q)(1).

         "Person" is to be interpreted broadly to include any individual,
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint-stock
company, business trust or unincorporated organization.

         "Previously Disclosed" means information or exceptions set forth by a
party in its Disclosure Letter, provided that (i) such information or exceptions
are set forth by specific subsection references, and (ii) any matter disclosed
in any section of a party's Disclosure Letter shall be considered disclosed for
other sections of such Disclosure Letter, but only to the extent such matter on
its face would reasonably be expected to be pertinent to a particular section of
a party's Disclosure Letter in light of the disclosure made in such section.

         "Qualifying Amendment" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.02(d).

         "Registration Statement" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.02(a).

         "Regulatory Filings" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(h)(1).

         "Representatives" means, with respect to any Person, such Person's
directors, officers, employees, legal, accounting or financial advisors, agents
or any representatives of such legal, accounting or financial advisors.

         "Requisite Regulatory Approvals" has the meaning assigned in Section
6.09(a)(2).



                                       9


         "Rights" means, with respect to any Person, securities or obligations
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any other Person
any right to subscribe for or acquire, or any options, warrants, calls or
commitments relating to, or any stock appreciation right or other instrument the
value of which is determined in whole or in part by reference to the market
price or value of, shares of capital stock of such first Person.

         "S MergerCo" has the meaning assigned in the preamble.

         "S MergerCo Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of S Merger Co.

         "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Secretary of State" means the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware.

         "Section 16 Information" means information regarding the aaiPharma
Insiders and CIMA Insiders, the number of shares of aaiPharma Common Stock held
or to be held by each such aaiPharma Insider expected to be exchanged for HoldCo
Common Stock pursuant to the aaiPharma Merger, the number of shares of CIMA
Common Stock held or to be held by each such CIMA Insider expected to be
exchanged for HoldCo Common Stock pursuant to the CIMA Merger, the number and
description of the options to purchase shares of aaiPharma Common Stock held by
each such aaiPharma Insider and expected to be converted into options to
purchase shares of HoldCo Common Stock in connection with the aaiPharma Merger
and the number and description of the options to purchase shares of CIMA Common
Stock held by each such CIMA Insider and expected to be converted into options
to purchase shares of HoldCo Common Stock in connection with the CIMA Merger.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder.

         "Selection Committee" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.04.

         "Stockholders Meeting" shall mean, with respect to CIMA, the CIMA
Meeting and, with respect to aaiPharma, the aaiPharma Meeting.

         "Subsidiary" and "Significant Subsidiary" have the meanings assigned to
those terms in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

         "Superior Proposal," with respect to CIMA or aaiPharma, means an
unsolicited, bona fide written offer or proposal (on its most recently amended
or modified terms, if amended or modified) made by a Person (other than CIMA or
aaiPharma, as applicable, and their Affiliates): (i) to acquire, directly or
indirectly, pursuant to a tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation,
business combination, asset acquisition, stock issuance or other similar
transaction, all or substantially all of the assets of such party or a majority
of the total outstanding voting securities of such party, (ii) on terms that the
Board of Directors of such party concludes in good faith to be more favorable to
its stockholders than the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (including any revisions hereto), in each case (A) after
receiving the advice of its financial advisors (who shall be a nationally
recognized



                                       10


investment banking firm), (B) after taking into account the likelihood of
consummation of such transaction on the terms set forth therein (as compared to,
and with due regard for, the terms herein) and (C) after taking into account all
legal (after receiving the advice of outside counsel), financial (including the
financing terms of any such proposal), regulatory and other aspects of such
proposal and any other relevant factors permitted under applicable law, and
(iii) that is, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of such
party, reasonably likely to be completed and financed.

         "Superior Proposal Notice" has the meaning assigned in Section
6.03(c)(5).

         "Takeover Laws" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(z).

         "Takeover Provisions" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(z).

         "Tax" and "Taxes" means all federal, state, local or foreign taxes,
charges, fees, levies or other assessments, however denominated, including all
net income, gross income, gains, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, goods
and services, capital, production, transfer, franchise, windfall profits,
license, withholding, payroll, employment, disability, employer health, excise,
estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property, environmental, unemployment
or other taxes, custom duties, fees, assessments or charges of any kind
whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or
additional amounts imposed by any taxing authority whether disputed or not or
arising before, on or after the Effective Time.

         "Tax Returns" means any return, amended return or other report
(including elections, declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and
information returns) required to be filed with respect to any Tax.

         "Termination Date" has the meaning assigned in Section 8.01(f).

         "Treasury Regulations" has the meaning assigned in the Background
Statement.

         1.02 Interpretation.

         (a) In this Agreement, except as the context may otherwise require,
references:

                  (1) to the Preamble, Background Statement, Sections, Exhibits,
         Annexes or Schedules are to the Preamble to, the Background Statement
         or Section of, or Exhibit, Annex or Schedule to, this Agreement;

                  (2) to this Agreement are to this Agreement, and the Exhibits,
         Annexes and Schedules to it, taken as a whole;

                  (3) to any agreement (including this Agreement), contract,
         statute or regulation are to the agreement, contract, statute or
         regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to
         time (in the case of an agreement or contract, to the extent permitted
         by the terms hereof); and to any section of any statute or regulation
         are to any successor to the section;



                                       11


                  (4) to the "transactions contemplated hereby" includes the
         transactions provided for in this Agreement (including the Annexes to
         it); and

                  (5) to any Governmental Authority includes any successor to
         that Governmental Authority.

         (b) The table of contents and article and section headings are for
reference purposes only and do not limit or otherwise affect any of the
substance of this Agreement.

         (c) The words "include," "includes" or "including" are to be deemed
followed by the words "without limitation."

         (d) The words "herein," "hereof" or "hereunder," and similar terms are
to be deemed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any specific
Section.

         (e) This Agreement is the product of negotiation by the parties, having
the assistance of counsel and other advisers. The parties intend that this
Agreement not be construed more strictly against either aaiPharma or CIMA.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE MERGERS

         2.01 The Mergers. Upon the terms and subject to satisfaction or waiver
of the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL,
at the Effective Time:

         (a) S MergerCo shall be merged with and into aaiPharma; and following
the aaiPharma Merger, the separate corporate existence of S MergerCo shall cease
and aaiPharma shall continue as the surviving corporation of the aaiPharma
Merger ("aaiPharma Surviving Corporation") and as a wholly owned Subsidiary of
Holding Company; and

         (b) C MergerCo shall be merged with and into CIMA; and following the
CIMA Merger, the separate corporate existence of C MergerCo shall cease and CIMA
shall continue as the surviving corporation of the CIMA Merger ("CIMA Surviving
Corporation") and as a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holding Company.

         2.02 Closing. The closing of the Mergers (the "Closing") shall take
place in the offices of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., 101 North Tryon
Street, Suite 1900, Charlotte, North Carolina, at 10:00 a.m. on the third
Business Day after satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable Law) of the
conditions set forth in Article VII, other than those conditions that by their
nature cannot be satisfied until the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment or
waiver of those conditions, unless this Agreement has been theretofore
terminated pursuant to its terms or unless another time or date is agreed to in
writing by the parties hereto (the actual date of the Closing, the "Closing
Date").

         2.03 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as
soon as practicable on the Closing Date, the parties shall cause the Mergers to
be consummated by filing



                                       12



with the Secretary of State a certificate of merger with respect to the
aaiPharma Merger (the "aaiPharma Certificate of Merger") and a certificate of
merger with respect to the CIMA Merger (the "CIMA Certificate of Merger" and,
together with the aaiPharma Certificate of Merger, the "Certificates of
Merger"), each executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL.
The parties shall make all other filings required under the DGCL, and the
Mergers shall become effective at such date and time as aaiPharma and CIMA shall
agree and shall specify in the Certificates of Merger (the time the Mergers
become effective being referred to herein as the "Effective Time"); provided
that (i) such date and time shall be later than the time of filing of the
Certificates of Merger and (ii) both Mergers shall become effective at the same
date and time.

         2.04 Effects of the Mergers. The Mergers shall have the effects
prescribed in the applicable provisions of the DGCL and this Agreement. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective
Time, (a) (i) all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of
aaiPharma and S MergerCo shall be vested in aaiPharma Surviving Corporation, and
(ii) all debts, liabilities and duties of aaiPharma and S MergerCo shall become
the debts, liabilities and duties of aaiPharma Surviving Corporation and (b) (i)
all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of CIMA and C
MergerCo shall be vested in CIMA Surviving Corporation, and (ii) all debts,
liabilities and duties of CIMA and C MergerCo shall become the debts,
liabilities and duties of CIMA Surviving Corporation.

         2.05 Certificates of Incorporation and By-laws.

         (a) aaiPharma shall take, and shall cause Holding Company to take, all
requisite action to cause the certificate of incorporation of Holding Company to
be in the form of Annex 1, with such changes as CIMA and aaiPharma may agree
prior to the Effective Time (the "HoldCo Charter") immediately prior to the
Effective Time, until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable Law.

         (b) The certificate of incorporation of aaiPharma, as in effect
immediately before the Effective Time, shall be amended in the aaiPharma Merger
to read in its entirety as specified in Annex 2 and, as so amended, shall be the
certificate of incorporation of aaiPharma Surviving Corporation as of the
Effective Time until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable Law.

         (c) The certificate of incorporation of CIMA, as in effect immediately
before the Effective Time, shall be amended in the CIMA Merger to read in its
entirety as specified in Annex 3 and, as so amended, shall be the certificate of
incorporation of CIMA Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Time until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

         (d) aaiPharma shall take, and shall cause Holding Company to take, all
requisite action to cause the by-laws of Holding Company to be in the form of
Annex 4, with such changes as CIMA and aaiPharma may agree prior to the
Effective Time (the "HoldCo By-Laws") immediately prior to the Effective Time,
until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.



                                       13


         (e) The by-laws of S MergerCo, as in effect immediately before the
Effective Time, shall be the by-laws of aaiPharma Surviving Corporation as of
the Effective Time until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable Law. Such bylaws shall not be inconsistent with Section 6.10(b).

         (f) The by-laws of C MergerCo, as in effect immediately before the
Effective Time, shall be the by-laws of CIMA Surviving Corporation as of the
Effective Time until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable Law. Such bylaws shall not be inconsistent with Section 6.10(b).

         2.06 Board of Directors and Officers.

         (a) aaiPharma shall take, and shall cause Holding Company to take, all
requisite action to cause the directors and officers of Holding Company at the
Effective Time to be as aaiPharma and CIMA shall agree pursuant to the covenants
and agreements set forth in Section 6.04.

         (b) The Board of Directors of S MergerCo immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the Board of Directors of aaiPharma Surviving
Corporation, and the officers of aaiPharma immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be the officers of aaiPharma Surviving Corporation, in each case,
until the earlier of their respective resignation or removal or until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

         (c) The Board of Directors of C MergerCo immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the Board of Directors of CIMA Surviving Corporation,
and the officers of CIMA immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
officers of CIMA Surviving Corporation, in each case, until the earlier of their
respective resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly
elected and qualified, as the case may be.

         (d) Holding Company shall cause the Persons set forth on Exhibit
2.06(d)(i) to be appointed directors of aaiPharma Surviving Corporation and the
Persons set forth on Exhibit 2.06(d)(ii) to be appointed directors of CIMA
Surviving Corporation, respectively, in each case effective as of immediately
following the Effective Time.

                                  ARTICLE III

                       CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

         3.01 Consideration; Effect on Capital Stock of aaiPharma and S
MergerCo. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the aaiPharma Merger and without
any action on the part of aaiPharma, Holding Company, S MergerCo or any holder
of aaiPharma Common Stock, HoldCo Common Stock or S MergerCo Common Stock:

         (a) Each share of aaiPharma Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares of aaiPharma Common
Stock held by aaiPharma or owned by CIMA, Holding Company, S MergerCo or C
MergerCo, all of which shall be canceled as provided in Section 3.01(b)) shall
be converted into the right to receive one (1) (the



                                       14


"aaiPharma Exchange Ratio") validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share
of HoldCo Common Stock (together with any cash in lieu of fractional shares of
HoldCo Common Stock to be paid pursuant to Section 3.08, the "aaiPharma Merger
Consideration").

         (b) Each share of aaiPharma Common Stock held by aaiPharma or owned by
Holding Company, CIMA, S MergerCo or C MergerCo immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall, by virtue of the aaiPharma Merger, cease to be outstanding
and shall be canceled, and no HoldCo Common Stock or other consideration shall
be delivered in exchange therefor.

         (c) All shares of aaiPharma Common Stock outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall cease to be outstanding and shall be canceled and
shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate or certificates which
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such shares of aaiPharma
Common Stock ("aaiPharma Certificates") shall thereafter cease to have any
rights with respect to such shares of aaiPharma Common Stock, except as provided
herein or by Law, and each aaiPharma Certificate previously representing such
shares shall thereafter represent the right to receive the aaiPharma Merger
Consideration payable in respect of such shares of aaiPharma Common Stock and
any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled to
pursuant to Section 3.06.

         (d) Each share of S MergerCo Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock, par value $0.001
per share, of aaiPharma Surviving Corporation.

         3.02 Consideration; Effect on Capital Stock of CIMA and C MergerCo. At
the Effective Time, by virtue of the CIMA Merger and without any action on the
part of CIMA, Holding Company, C MergerCo or any holder of CIMA Common Stock,
HoldCo Common Stock or C MergerCo Common Stock:

         (a) Each share of CIMA Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time (other than shares of CIMA Common Stock held by CIMA
or owned by aaiPharma, Holding Company, S MergerCo or C MergerCo, all of which
shall be canceled as provided in Section 3.02(b)) shall be converted into the
right to receive 1.3657 (the "CIMA Exchange Ratio") validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable shares of HoldCo Common Stock (together with any cash in lieu
of fractional shares of HoldCo Common Stock to be paid pursuant to Section 3.08,
the "CIMA Merger Consideration").

         (b) Each share of CIMA Common Stock held by CIMA or owned by Holding
Company, aaiPharma, S MergerCo or C MergerCo immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall, by virtue of the CIMA Merger, cease to be outstanding and shall be
canceled, and no HoldCo Common Stock or other consideration shall be delivered
in exchange therefor.

         (c) All shares of CIMA Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall cease to be outstanding and shall be canceled and shall
cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate or certificates which
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such shares of CIMA
Common Stock ("CIMA Certificates") shall thereafter cease to have any rights
with respect to such shares of CIMA Common Stock, except as provided



                                       15


herein or by Law, and each CIMA Certificate previously representing such shares
shall thereafter represent the right to receive the CIMA Merger Consideration
payable in respect of such shares of CIMA Common Stock and any dividends or
other distributions to which such holder is entitled to pursuant to Section
3.06.

         (d) Each share of C MergerCo Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of CIMA Surviving Corporation.

         3.03 Holding Company Common Stock. At the Effective Time, each share of
capital stock of Holding Company issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time and owned by aaiPharma shall be contributed to Holding Company,
without payment of any consideration therefor, and thereupon retired.

         3.04 Certain Adjustments. If, between the date of this Agreement and
the Effective Time, the outstanding shares of HoldCo Common Stock, CIMA Common
Stock or aaiPharma Common Stock shall have been changed into, or exchanged for,
a different number of shares or a different class, by reason of any
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, split-up, combination or
exchange of shares or a stock dividend or dividend payable in any other
securities shall be declared with a record date within such period, or any
similar event shall have occurred, the aaiPharma Exchange Ratio and the CIMA
Exchange Ratio, each to the extent affected thereby, shall be correspondingly
adjusted to provide to the holders of aaiPharma Common Stock, aaiPharma Stock
Options, CIMA Common Stock and CIMA Stock Options the same economic effect as
contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.

         3.05 Exchange Procedures.

         (a) As of the Effective Time, Holding Company shall deposit, or cause
to be deposited, with Wachovia Bank, National Association or, in the event
Wachovia Bank, National Association is unwilling or unable to serve as the
exchange agent, such other commercial bank or trust company of recognized
standing reasonably acceptable to CIMA and aaiPharma (in such capacity, the
"Exchange Agent"), for the respective benefit of the holders of the aaiPharma
Certificates and the CIMA Certificates, for exchange, in accordance with this
Article III, through the Exchange Agent, certificates representing the HoldCo
Common Stock issuable to the respective holders of aaiPharma Certificates and
CIMA Certificates and cash payable pursuant to Section 3.08. Holding Company
agrees to make available, or cause to be made available, to the Exchange Agent,
from time to time as needed, cash sufficient to pay any dividends and other
distributions pursuant to Section 3.06. Any cash and certificates representing
HoldCo Common Stock deposited with the Exchange Agent shall hereinafter be
referred to as the "Exchange Fund." The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to
irrevocable instructions, deliver out of the Exchange Fund the aaiPharma Merger
Consideration contemplated to be paid for shares of aaiPharma Common Stock
pursuant to this Agreement and the CIMA Merger Consideration contemplated to be
paid for shares of CIMA Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement. Except as
contemplated by Sections 3.06 and 3.08, the Exchange Fund shall not be used for
any other purpose.



                                       16


         (b) Promptly after the Effective Time, Holding Company shall cause the
Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a aaiPharma Certificate or a
CIMA Certificate (collectively, the "Certificates") (i) a letter of transmittal
which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title
to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to
the Exchange Agent, and which letter shall be in customary form and have such
other provisions as Holding Company may reasonably specify (such letter to be
reasonably acceptable to CIMA and aaiPharma prior to the Effective Time) and
(ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of such Certificates in exchange
for the applicable aaiPharma Merger Consideration or CIMA Merger Consideration.
Upon surrender of a Certificate to the Exchange Agent together with such letter
of transmittal, duly executed and completed in accordance with the instructions
thereto, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Exchange
Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange
therefor (A) one or more shares of HoldCo Common Stock representing, in the
aggregate, the number of whole shares that such holder has the right to receive
pursuant to this Article III (after taking into account all shares of aaiPharma
Common Stock and CIMA Common Stock held by such holder as of the Effective Time)
and (B) a check in the amount equal to the cash that such holder has the right
to receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article III, consisting of cash in
lieu of any fractional shares of HoldCo Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.08
and any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 3.06. No interest will be paid or will accrue on any cash or
other consideration deliverable pursuant to this Article III. In the event of a
transfer of ownership of aaiPharma Common Stock or CIMA Common Stock which is
not registered in the transfer records of aaiPharma or CIMA, as applicable, one
or more certificates of HoldCo Common Stock evidencing, in the aggregate, the
proper number of shares of HoldCo Common Stock and a check in the proper amount
of cash in lieu of any fractional shares of HoldCo Common Stock pursuant to
Section 3.08 and any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is
entitled pursuant to Section 3.06, may be issued with respect to such aaiPharma
Common Stock or CIMA Common Stock, as applicable, to such a transferee if the
Certificates formerly representing such shares of aaiPharma Common Stock or CIMA
Common Stock, as applicable, are presented to the Exchange Agent, accompanied by
all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that
any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as
contemplated by this Section 3.05(b), (1) each aaiPharma Certificate shall be
deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to
receive upon such surrender the aaiPharma Merger Consideration payable in
respect of the shares of aaiPharma Common Stock formerly represented by such
aaiPharma Certificate, and any dividends or other distributions to which such
holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.06 and (2) each CIMA Certificate shall
be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to
receive upon such surrender the CIMA Merger Consideration payable in respect of
the shares of CIMA Common Stock formerly represented by such CIMA Certificate,
and any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 3.06.

         3.06 Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. Whenever a
dividend or other distribution is declared by Holding Company in respect of
HoldCo Common Stock the record date for which is at or after the Effective Time,
that declaration shall include dividends or other distributions in respect of
all shares issuable pursuant to this Agreement. No dividends or other
distributions declared or made in respect of HoldCo Common Stock, with a record
date after the Effective Time, shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered
Certificate, and no cash



                                       17


payment in lieu of fractional shares of HoldCo Common Stock shall be paid to any
holder pursuant to Section 3.08, unless and until the holder of such Certificate
shall surrender such Certificate in accordance with this Article III. Subject to
the effect of escheat, Tax or other applicable Laws, following surrender of any
such Certificate, there shall be paid to such holder of shares of HoldCo Common
Stock issuable in exchange therefor, in addition to the appropriate aaiPharma
Merger Consideration or CIMA Merger Consideration, as the case may be, and
without interest, (i) promptly after the time of such surrender, the amount of
dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time
theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of HoldCo Common Stock, and
(ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other
distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such
surrender and a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect
to such whole shares of HoldCo Common Stock.

         3.07 Further Ownership Rights. All shares of HoldCo Common Stock issued
and cash paid upon conversion of shares of aaiPharma Common Stock or CIMA Common
Stock, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms of Article II and this
Article III (including any cash paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or Section 3.08)
shall be deemed to have been issued or paid in full satisfaction of all rights
pertaining to such shares of aaiPharma Common Stock or CIMA Common Stock, as the
case may be.

         3.08 No Fractional Shares of HoldCo Common Stock.

         (a) No certificates or scrip or shares of HoldCo Common Stock
representing fractional shares of HoldCo Common Stock or book-entry credit of
the same shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates and
such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to
have any rights of a stockholder of Holding Company or a holder of shares of
HoldCo Common Stock.

         (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each holder
of shares of aaiPharma Common Stock exchanged pursuant to the aaiPharma Merger
who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of
HoldCo Common Stock (after taking into account all aaiPharma Certificates
delivered by such holder) shall receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without
interest) in an amount equal to the product of (i) such fractional part of a
share of HoldCo Common Stock multiplied by (ii) the closing price for a share of
HoldCo Common Stock on Nasdaq (as reported in The Wall Street Journal (Eastern
Edition) or, if not reported therein, in another authoritative source), on the
first trading day on Nasdaq following the Effective Time. No holder of shares of
aaiPharma Common Stock will be entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 3.08
cash in an amount equal to or greater than the value of one full share of HoldCo
Common Stock.

         (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each holder
of shares of CIMA Common Stock exchanged pursuant to the CIMA Merger who would
otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of HoldCo Common
Stock (after taking into account all CIMA Certificates delivered by such holder)
shall receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without interest) in an amount equal to
the product of (i) such fractional part of a share of HoldCo Common Stock
multiplied by (ii) the closing price for a share of HoldCo Common Stock on
Nasdaq (as reported in The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition) or, if not
reported therein, in



                                       18


another authoritative source), on the first trading day on Nasdaq following the
Effective Time. No holder of shares of CIMA Common Stock will be entitled to
receive pursuant to this Section 3.08 cash in an amount equal to or greater than
the value of one full share of HoldCo Common Stock.

         (d) As promptly as practicable after the determination of the amount of
cash, if any, to be paid to holders of fractional interests, the Exchange Agent
shall so notify Holding Company, and Holding Company shall deposit, or shall
cause the deposit of, such amount with the Exchange Agent and shall cause the
Exchange Agent to forward payments to such holders of fractional interests
subject to and in accordance with the terms hereof.

         3.09 Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund
which remains undistributed to the holders of Certificates for six months after
the Effective Time shall be delivered to Holding Company or otherwise on the
instruction of Holding Company, and any holders of the Certificates who have not
theretofore complied with this Article III shall thereafter look only to Holding
Company for the aaiPharma Merger Consideration or the CIMA Merger Consideration,
as the case may be, payable with respect to the shares of aaiPharma Common Stock
or CIMA Common Stock, as the case may be, formerly represented thereby to which
such holders are entitled pursuant to this Article III and any dividends or
distributions with respect to shares of HoldCo Common Stock to which such
holders are entitled pursuant to Section 3.06, in each case, without any
interest thereon. Any such portion of the Exchange Fund remaining unclaimed by
holders of Certificates five years after the Effective Time (or such earlier
date immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to
or become property of any Governmental Authority) shall, to the extent permitted
by Law, become the property of Holding Company free and clear of any claims or
interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

         3.10 No Liability. None of Holding Company, CIMA, C MergerCo, S
MergerCo, aaiPharma, aaiPharma Surviving Corporation, CIMA Surviving Corporation
or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any aaiPharma
Merger Consideration or CIMA Merger Consideration (or dividends or distributions
with respect thereto) from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public official
pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.

         3.11 Investment of the Exchange Fund. The Exchange Agent shall invest
any cash included in the Exchange Fund, as directed by Holding Company, on a
daily basis; provided that no such gain or loss thereon shall affect the amounts
payable to the aaiPharma stockholders or the CIMA stockholders pursuant to
Article II and the other provisions of this Article III. Any interest and other
income resulting from such investments shall promptly be paid to Holding Company
upon the termination of the Exchange Fund pursuant to Section 3.09.

         3.12 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen
or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
Holding Company, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount
as Holding Company may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will pay in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the applicable aaiPharma
Merger Consideration or



                                       19


CIMA Merger Consideration, as the case may be, payable with respect to the
shares of aaiPharma Common Stock or CIMA Common Stock, as the case may be,
formerly represented thereby and any unpaid dividends and distributions on
shares of HoldCo Common Stock to which such holders are entitled pursuant to
Section 3.06, deliverable in respect thereof, in each case, without any interest
thereon.

         3.13 Withholding Rights. Each of Holding Company, aaiPharma Surviving
Corporation, CIMA Surviving Corporation and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled
to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this
Agreement to any holder of shares of aaiPharma Common Stock or CIMA Common Stock
or any holder of aaiPharma Stock Options, CIMA Stock Options or any other equity
rights in aaiPharma or CIMA, such amounts as it is required to deduct and
withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code and the
Treasury Regulations or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the
extent that amounts are so withheld by Holding Company, aaiPharma Surviving
Corporation, CIMA Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent, as the case may
be, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as
having been paid to the holder of the shares of aaiPharma Common Stock or CIMA
Common Stock, or the holder of aaiPharma Stock Options, CIMA Stock Options or
any other equity rights in aaiPharma or CIMA, as applicable, in each case, in
respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by Holding Company,
aaiPharma Surviving Corporation, CIMA Surviving Corporation or the Exchange
Agent, as the case may be.

         3.14 Further Assurances.

         (a) After the Effective Time, the officers and directors of aaiPharma
Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name
and on behalf of aaiPharma or S MergerCo, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments
or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of aaiPharma or S
MergerCo, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or
otherwise in aaiPharma Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and
interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets acquired or to
be acquired by aaiPharma Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection
with, the aaiPharma Merger.

         (b) After the Effective Time, the officers and directors of CIMA
Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name
and on behalf of CIMA or C MergerCo, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or
assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of CIMA or C MergerCo,
any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise
in CIMA Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and interest in, to and
under any of the rights, properties or assets acquired or to be acquired by CIMA
Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the CIMA Merger.

         3.15 Stock Transfer Books. The stock transfer books of aaiPharma and
CIMA shall be closed immediately upon the Effective Time; and thereafter, there
shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of aaiPharma Common
Stock or CIMA Common Stock outstanding as of the Effective Time on the records
of aaiPharma or CIMA, as the case may be. On or after the Effective Time, (i)
any aaiPharma Certificates presented to the Exchange Agent or Holding Company
for any reason shall be converted into the right to receive the aaiPharma Merger
Consideration with respect to the shares of aaiPharma Common Stock formerly
represented



                                       20


thereby, including any cash in lieu of fractional shares of HoldCo Common Stock
to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 3.08 and any
dividends or other distributions to which the holders thereof are entitled
pursuant to Section 3.06, and (ii) any CIMA Certificates presented to the
Exchange Agent or Holding Company for any reason shall be converted into the
right to receive the CIMA Merger Consideration with respect to the shares of
CIMA Common Stock formerly represented thereby, including any cash in lieu of
fractional shares of HoldCo Common Stock to which the holders thereof are
entitled pursuant to Section 3.08 and any dividends or other distributions to
which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 3.06.

         3.16 aaiPharma Stock Options.

         (a) Each option to purchase aaiPharma Common Stock (a "aaiPharma Stock
Option") that was granted pursuant to the aaiPharma Stock Plans prior to the
Effective Time, whether or not exercisable at the Effective Time, and which
remains outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall cease to
represent a right to acquire shares of aaiPharma Common Stock and shall be
appropriately adjusted and converted, at the Effective Time, into an option to
acquire HoldCo Common Stock in accordance with this Section 3.16(a). Each
aaiPharma Stock Option so converted shall continue to have, and be subject to,
the same terms and conditions as were applicable under the aaiPharma Stock
Option (but taking into account any changes thereto provided for in the
aaiPharma Stock Plans or in such option by reason of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby), and each aaiPharma Stock Option shall be
appropriately adjusted and converted into an option to acquire that number of
shares of HoldCo Common Stock determined by multiplying the number of shares of
aaiPharma Common Stock subject to such aaiPharma Stock Option by the aaiPharma
Exchange Ratio, rounded down, if necessary, to the nearest whole share of HoldCo
Common Stock, at a price per share (rounded up to the nearest cent) equal to the
per share exercise price specified in such aaiPharma Stock Option divided by the
aaiPharma Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that in the case of any aaiPharma
Stock Option to which Section 421 of the Code applies by reason of its
qualification under Section 422 of the Code, the option price, the number of
shares subject to such option and the terms and conditions of exercise of such
option shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of
Section 424(a) of the Code so as not to constitute a "modification" of such
option. Each such converted aaiPharma Stock Option shall remain subject to the
terms and conditions of the aaiPharma Stock Plan pursuant to which such
aaiPharma Stock Option was granted and the agreement evidencing the grant of
such aaiPharma Stock Option. On or prior to the Effective Time, aaiPharma and
Holding Company shall take all actions necessary such that all aaiPharma Stock
Options outstanding prior to the Effective Time under the aaiPharma Stock Plans
are treated in accordance with the immediately preceding sentences.

         (b) At the Effective Time, Holding Company shall assume each aaiPharma
Stock Option in accordance with the terms of the aaiPharma Stock Plan under
which it was issued and the stock option agreement by which it is evidenced. As
soon as practicable after the Effective Time, but no later than five (5)
Business Days after the Effective Time, Holding Company shall deliver to the
holders of aaiPharma Stock Options appropriate notices setting forth such
holders' rights pursuant to the aaiPharma Stock Plans (including that, in
connection with the aaiPharma Merger and pursuant to the terms of the aaiPharma
Stock Plans, the aaiPharma Stock Options of such holders have become fully
vested and exercisable) and the agreements evidencing the grants of such
aaiPharma Stock Options shall continue in effect on the same terms and



                                       21


conditions. To the extent permitted by Law, Holding Company shall comply with
the terms of the aaiPharma Stock Plans and shall take such reasonable steps as
are necessary or required by, and subject to the provisions of, such aaiPharma
Stock Plans, to have the aaiPharma Stock Options which qualified as incentive
stock options under Section 421 of the Code prior to the Effective Time continue
to qualify as incentive stock options of Holding Company under Section 421 of
the Code after the Effective Time. With respect to aaiPharma Insiders, where
applicable, Holding Company shall administer the aaiPharma Stock Plans with
respect to assumed aaiPharma Stock Options in a manner consistent with the
exemptions provided by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

         3.17 CIMA Stock Options.

         (a) Each option to purchase CIMA Common Stock (a "CIMA Stock Option")
that was granted pursuant to the CIMA Stock Plans prior to the Effective Time,
whether or not exercisable at the Effective Time, and which remains outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall cease to represent a right to
acquire shares of CIMA Common Stock and shall be appropriately adjusted and
converted, at the Effective Time, into an option to acquire HoldCo Common Stock
in accordance with this Section 3.17(a). Each CIMA Stock Option so converted
shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions as were
applicable under the CIMA Stock Option (but taking into account any changes
thereto provided for in the CIMA Stock Plans or in such option by reason of this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), and each CIMA Stock Option
shall be appropriately adjusted and converted into an option to acquire that
number of shares of HoldCo Common Stock determined by multiplying the number of
shares of CIMA Common Stock subject to such CIMA Stock Option by the CIMA
Exchange Ratio, rounded down, if necessary, to the nearest whole share of HoldCo
Common Stock, at a price per share (rounded up to the nearest cent) equal to the
per share exercise price specified in such CIMA Stock Option divided by the CIMA
Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that in the case of any CIMA Stock Option to
which Section 421 of the Code applies by reason of its qualification under
Section 422 of the Code, the option price, the number of shares subject to such
option and the terms and conditions of exercise of such option shall be
determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the
Code so as not to constitute a "modification" of such option. Each such
converted CIMA Stock Option shall remain subject to the terms and conditions of
the CIMA Stock Plan pursuant to which such CIMA Stock Option was granted and the
agreement evidencing the grant of such CIMA Stock Option. On or prior to the
Effective Time, CIMA and Holding Company shall take all actions necessary such
that all CIMA Stock Options outstanding prior to the Effective Time under the
CIMA Stock Plans are treated in accordance with the immediately preceding
sentences.

         (b) At the Effective Time, Holding Company shall assume each CIMA Stock
Option in accordance with the terms of the CIMA Stock Plan under which it was
issued and the stock option agreement by which it is evidenced. As soon as
practicable after the Effective Time, but no later than five (5) Business Days
after the Effective Time, Holding Company shall deliver to the holders of CIMA
Stock Options appropriate notices setting forth such holders' rights pursuant to
the CIMA Stock Plans and the agreements evidencing the grants of such CIMA Stock
Options shall continue in effect on the same terms and conditions. To the extent
permitted by Law, Holding Company shall comply with the terms of the CIMA Stock
Plans and shall take such reasonable steps as are necessary or required by, and
subject to the provisions of, such



                                       22


CIMA Stock Plans, to have the CIMA Stock Options which qualified as incentive
stock options under Section 421 of the Code prior to the Effective Time continue
to qualify as incentive stock options of Holding Company under Section 421 of
the Code after the Effective Time. With respect to CIMA Insiders, where
applicable, Holding Company shall administer the CIMA Stock Plans with respect
to assumed CIMA Stock Options in a manner consistent with the exemptions
provided by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

         3.18 Reservation of Shares for Stock Options. Prior to the Closing,
Holding Company shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for
issuance a sufficient number of shares of HoldCo Common Stock for delivery upon
exercise of aaiPharma Stock Options and CIMA Stock Options after the Effective
Time. Promptly after the Effective Time, but no later than five (5) Business
Days after the Effective Time, Holding Company shall file a registration
statement with the SEC on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate
forms), with respect to the shares of HoldCo Common Stock subject to such
options and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the
effectiveness of such registration statement or registration statements (and
maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained
therein), as well as comply with any applicable state securities Laws, for so
long as such options remain outstanding.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                       CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING MERGERS

         4.01 Forbearances. aaiPharma and CIMA each agrees that from the date
hereof until the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated by this
Agreement, as required by applicable Law or as Previously Disclosed, without the
prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of the other party (which
consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), it will not, and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries not to:

         (a) Ordinary Course. (1) Conduct its business and the business of its
Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary and usual course in substantially the
same manner as heretofore conducted, (2) fail to use commercially reasonable
efforts to preserve intact their business organizations, assets (including
Intellectual Property Rights) and goodwill, maintain their rights, licenses,
franchises and authorizations and their existing relations with customers,
suppliers, licensees, licensors and business associates having material business
relationships with them and keep available the services of their current
employees, officers and other managers; provided, that the foregoing shall not
preclude the termination of employees in the ordinary course of business, or (3)
take any action reasonably likely to materially impair its ability to perform
its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.

         (b) Operations. Enter into any new material line of business.

         (c) Capital Stock. Issue, authorize for issuance, sell, or otherwise
permit to become outstanding, or dispose of or encumber or pledge, or authorize
or propose the creation of, any additional shares of its capital stock or any
Rights related thereto or any other securities in respect of or in substitution
for shares of its capital stock, other than pursuant to Rights outstanding on
the date of this Agreement pursuant to written agreements or plans.



                                       23


         (d) Dividends, Distributions, Repurchases. (1) Make, declare, pay or
set aside for payment any dividend payable in cash, stock or property on, or in
respect of, or declare or make any distribution on, any shares of its capital
stock (other than dividends and distributions from its wholly owned Subsidiaries
to it or another of its wholly owned Subsidiaries) or (2) directly or
indirectly, adjust, split, combine, redeem, reclassify, purchase or otherwise
acquire any shares of its capital stock or any Rights related thereto.

         (e) Dispositions; Licenses. Sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber, lease,
license or otherwise dispose of or discontinue any of its assets (including
Intellectual Property Rights), business or properties, except for sales,
transfers, mortgages, encumbrances, licenses or other dispositions or
discontinuances (1) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice or its current strategic plans as disclosed to the other party prior to
the date hereof, including sales of inventory and other current assets and
licenses of Intellectual Property Rights, (2) in a transaction that, together
with other such transactions, is not material to it and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, (3) transactions between it and any of its respective direct or
indirect wholly owned Subsidiaries or between such wholly owned Subsidiaries, or
(4) pursuant to Section 6.09(b).

         (f) Acquisitions. Acquire (1) by merging or consolidating with, or by
purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any
business or Person or division thereof, or (2) any assets, except in the case of
each of clause (1) and (2) above, (x) acquisitions of inventory, Intellectual
Property Rights and other items in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, or (y) acquisitions the total consideration for which does
not exceed $10,000,000 individually and $20,000,000 in the aggregate (excluding
contingent milestone and royalty payments not required to be reflected on a
balance sheet as of the date of such acquisition prepared in accordance with
GAAP), provided that any such acquisitions do not present a material risk that
the Closing Date will be materially delayed or that the Requisite Regulatory
Approvals will be more difficult to obtain in any material respect.

         (g) Constituent Documents. Amend, alter or modify its Constituent
Documents (or similar governing documents).

         (h) Accounting Methods. Implement or adopt any change in its accounting
principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by GAAP (as
advised by its regular independent accountants) or applicable regulatory
accounting requirements.

         (i) Adverse Actions. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
(1) take, or omit to take, any action that would, or is reasonably likely to,
prevent or impede the aaiPharma Merger or the CIMA Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or the Mergers,
taken together, from qualifying as an exchange described in Section 351 of the
Code or (2) knowingly take, or knowingly omit to take, any action that is
reasonably likely to result in any of the conditions to the Mergers set forth in
Article VII not being satisfied, except as may be required by applicable law or
regulation.

         (j) Indebtedness and Investments. (1) Incur any indebtedness for
borrowed money or guarantee or otherwise become contingently liable for any such
indebtedness of another Person, issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or
other rights to acquire any debt securities,



                                       24


guarantee or otherwise become contingently liable for any debt securities of
another Person, enter into any "keep well" or other agreement to maintain any
financial statement condition of another Person or enter into any arrangement
having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, except for borrowings
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and
except for intercompany indebtedness between it and any of its respective direct
or indirect wholly owned Subsidiaries or between such wholly owned Subsidiaries,
or (2) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in,
any other Person, other than between it and any of its direct or indirect wholly
owned Subsidiaries or between such Subsidiaries, and other than investments made
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

         (k) Noncompetes; Exclusivity Arrangements. Other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice or its current strategic plans
as disclosed to the other party prior to the date hereof, enter into any
agreement or arrangement that (1) limits or otherwise restricts it or its
respective Affiliates or any successor thereto, from engaging or competing in
any line of business, field or geographic area or with respect to the
development, license or supply of any pharmaceutical product or delivery device
or (2) provides exclusive rights or licenses to a third Person with respect to
Intellectual Property Rights.

         (l) Capital Expenditures. Make or agree to make any new capital
expenditure or expenditures in the aggregate in excess of the amount Previously
Disclosed.

         (m) Contracts. (1) Other than in the ordinary course of business, enter
into any agreement or agreements involving aggregate payments by it and its
Subsidiaries that are material to it and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or
(2) terminate or materially and adversely amend, modify or change any Material
Contract or waive, release, transfer or assign any material rights or claims
thereunder, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, or (3) enter into any agreement with respect to the voting of its
capital stock or any securities held by it or any of its Subsidiaries.

         (n) Taxes. Make any tax election or amend any Tax Return that,
individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to have a material
adverse effect on the tax liability of the Person making the election, or settle
or compromise any material income tax liability.

         (o) Litigation. Waive, release, assign, settle, discharge, pay, satisfy
or compromise any material rights or claims, or any material litigation or
arbitration in a manner that is materially adverse to it.

         (p) Standstill. Modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release or
assign, any material rights or claims with respect to any confidentiality or
standstill agreement to which it is a party and which relates to a business
combination; provided that if it receives an Acquisition Proposal and its Board
of Directors concludes in good faith, after consultation with a nationally
recognized financial advisor and its outside legal counsel, that such
Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal (and continues to
constitute a Superior Proposal after taking into account any amendment or
modification to this Agreement proposed by the other party hereto during any
three Business Day period referenced in Section 6.03(d)), or its Board of
Directors concludes in good faith, after consultation with a nationally
recognized financial advisor and its outside legal counsel, that there is a
reasonable likelihood that such Acquisition Proposal would



                                       25


reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal, then it may waive
material rights under any standstill provision with the Person making such
Acquisition Proposal to the extent necessary to permit such Person to engage in
discussions or negotiations with it with respect to such Acquisition Proposal.

         (q) Affiliate Transactions. Other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, engage in any transactions, or enter
into any contract, agreement or arrangement, except as disclosed in filings with
the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement, with any Affiliate (other than any
Subsidiary) or amend, waive or relinquish any rights relating to any such
transaction, contract, agreement or arrangement.

         (r) Benefit Arrangements. Except as required by law or contemplated
hereby, enter into, adopt or amend in any material respect or terminate any
Benefit Arrangement, or materially change any actuarial or other assumption used
to calculate funding obligations with respect to any Pension Plan, or change the
manner in which contributions to any Pension Plan are made or the basis on which
such contributions are determined.

         (s) Employee Benefits. (1) Except for normal increases in the ordinary
course of business that, in the aggregate, do not materially increase benefits
or compensation expenses, or except as expressly contemplated hereby, increase
the compensation of any director, officer or other key employee or pay or vest
any benefit or amount not expressly required to be paid or vested by a Benefit
Arrangement as in effect on the date of this Agreement to any such Person or (2)
enter into any agreement with respect to, or pay (except as required pursuant to
Benefits Arrangements (including employment contracts) in effect as of the date
of this Agreement), any severance, termination, parachute, change-in-control,
stay bonus or similar compensation or benefit.

         (t) Takeover Statutes. Take any action to render inapplicable, or to
exempt any third party from, (1) the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, or
(2) any other state Takeover Law or state Law that purports to limit or restrict
business combinations or the ability to acquire or vote shares.

         (u) Commitments. Enter into any contract with respect to, or otherwise
agree or commit to do, any of the foregoing.

                                   ARTICLE V

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         5.01 Disclosure Letters. Before entry into this Agreement, CIMA
delivered to aaiPharma a disclosure letter, and aaiPharma delivered to CIMA a
disclosure letter (respectively, each disclosure letter a "Disclosure Letter"),
setting forth, among other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or
appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained in
a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more representations or
warranties contained in Section 5.03 or to one or more of its covenants
contained in Articles IV and VI; provided that the mere inclusion of an item in
a Disclosure Letter as an exception to a



                                       26


representation or warranty will not be deemed an admission by a party that such
item is material or was required to be disclosed therein.

         5.02 Standard. For all purposes of this Article V, no representation or
warranty of CIMA or aaiPharma contained in Section 5.03 or Section 5.04 (other
than the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.03(b), 5.03(c),
5.04(a) and 5.04(b), which shall be true in all material respects) will be
deemed untrue, and no party will be deemed to have breached a representation or
warranty as a consequence of the existence of any fact, event or circumstance
unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken together with all
other facts, events or circumstances inconsistent with any representation or
warranty contained in Section 5.03 (read for this purpose without regard to any
individual reference to "materiality" or "material adverse effect"), has had or
is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to CIMA or
aaiPharma, as the case may be.

         5.03 Representations and Warranties of CIMA and aaiPharma. Except as
Previously Disclosed, CIMA hereby represents and warrants to aaiPharma, and
aaiPharma hereby represents and warrants to CIMA, to the extent applicable, as
follows:

         (a) Organization, Standing and Authority. It is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation. It is duly qualified or licensed to do
business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where its ownership or
leasing of property or assets or its conduct of business requires it to be so
qualified.

         (b) CIMA Stock. CIMA represents and warrants to aaiPharma as follows:

                  (1) The authorized capital stock of CIMA consists of
         60,000,000 shares of CIMA Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of CIMA
         Preferred Stock. As of August 1, 2003, (i) 14,484,556 shares of CIMA
         Common Stock and no shares of CIMA Preferred Stock were outstanding,
         (ii) 1,770,015 shares of CIMA Common Stock were subject to CIMA Stock
         Options under the CIMA Stock Plans, (iii) 4,725,617 shares of CIMA
         Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the CIMA Stock Plans,
         (iv) 619,425 shares of CIMA Common Stock were held in the treasury of
         CIMA and (v) ) 5,000,000 shares of CIMA Preferred Stock were designated
         as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, none of which were
         outstanding. The outstanding shares of CIMA Common Stock have been duly
         authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
         nonassessable, and subject to no preemptive rights (and were not issued
         in violation of any preemptive rights). CIMA has heretofore furnished
         aaiPharma complete and correct copies of the Constituent Documents of
         CIMA and such Constituent Documents are in full force and effect. CIMA
         is not in violation of any of the provisions of its Constituent
         Documents.

                  (2) Except as set forth above, and except for CIMA Stock
         Options issued and outstanding, CIMA Rights under the CIMA Rights
         Agreement and outstanding purchase rights under the CIMA Stock Purchase
         Plan, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding
         subscriptions, options, calls, contracts, commitments, understandings,
         restrictions, arrangements, rights or warrants, including any right of
         conversion or exchange under any outstanding security, instrument or
         other agreement and also



                                       27


         including any rights plan or other anti-takeover agreement, obligating
         CIMA to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or
         sold, additional shares of CIMA Common Stock or obligating CIMA or to
         grant, extend or enter into any such agreement or commitment. As of the
         date hereof, there are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of CIMA
         to (i) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of CIMA
         Common Stock except in connection with the exercise of CIMA Stock
         Options issued and outstanding or (ii) provide material funds (in the
         form of a loan, capital contribution or other investment) to, or make
         any material investment in (in the form of a loan, capital contribution
         or other investment), or provide any material guarantee with respect to
         the obligations of, any Person. There are no outstanding stock
         appreciation rights or similar derivative securities or Rights of CIMA.
         There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of CIMA
         having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for,
         securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which
         stockholders of CIMA may vote. There are no voting trusts, irrevocable
         proxies or other agreements or understandings to which CIMA is a party
         or is bound with respect to the voting of any shares of CIMA Common
         Stock. CIMA has not agreed to register any securities under the
         Securities Act or under any state securities law or granted
         registration rights to any Person or entity (except rights which have
         terminated or expired). CIMA has no outstanding obligations in respect
         of prior acquisitions of businesses to pay, in the form of securities,
         cash or other property, any portion of the consideration payable to the
         seller or sellers in such transaction. As of the date hereof, CIMA has
         no Subsidiaries.

                  (3) CIMA has previously made available to aaiPharma complete
         and correct copies of the CIMA Stock Plans, the CIMA Stock Purchase
         Plan, and the CIMA Rights Agreement, including, in each case, all
         amendments thereto. CIMA has previously made available to aaiPharma a
         complete and correct list setting forth as of August 4, 2003, (i) the
         number of CIMA Stock Options outstanding (listing grantee and exercise
         price), and (ii) the weighted average exercise price for all
         outstanding CIMA Stock Options, and complete and correct copies of the
         relevant written agreements, including amendments thereto, evidencing
         the grant of outstanding CIMA Stock Options.

         (c) aaiPharma Stock. aaiPharma represents and warrants to CIMA as
follows:

                  (1) The authorized capital stock of aaiPharma consists of
         100,000,000 shares of aaiPharma Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of
         aaiPharma Preferred Stock. As of August 1, 2003, (i) 27,823,145 shares
         of aaiPharma Common Stock and no shares of aaiPharma Preferred Stock
         were outstanding, (ii) 6,299,543 shares of aaiPharma Common Stock were
         subject to aaiPharma Stock Options granted under the aaiPharma Stock
         Plans, (iii) 9,850,691 shares of aaiPharma Common Stock reserved for
         issuance under the aaiPharma Stock Plans, and (iv) no shares of
         aaiPharma Common Stock were held in the treasury of aaiPharma. The
         outstanding shares of aaiPharma Common Stock have been duly authorized
         and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable,
         and subject to no preemptive rights (and were not issued in violation
         of any preemptive rights). aaiPharma has heretofore furnished CIMA
         complete and correct copies of the Constituent Documents of aaiPharma,
         its Significant Subsidiaries, Holding Company, S MergerCo and C
         MergerCo. Such Constituent Documents are in full force and effect. Each
         of aaiPharma, its Significant Subsidiaries, Holding Company, S



                                       28


         MergerCo and C MergerCo is not in violation of any of the provisions of
         its respective Constituent Documents.

                  (2) Except as set forth above and except for aaiPharma Stock
         Options issued and outstanding, as of the date of this Agreement, there
         are no outstanding subscriptions, options, calls, contracts,
         commitments, understandings, restrictions, arrangements, rights or
         warrants, including any right of conversion or exchange under any
         outstanding security, instrument or other agreement and also including
         any rights plan or other anti-takeover agreement, obligating aaiPharma
         or any Subsidiary of aaiPharma to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to
         be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of aaiPharma Common
         Stock or obligating aaiPharma or any Subsidiary of aaiPharma to grant,
         extend or enter into any such agreement or commitment. As of the date
         hereof, there are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of aaiPharma
         to (i) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of aaiPharma
         Common Stock or the capital stock or other equity interests of any
         Subsidiary of aaiPharma except in connection with the exercise of
         aaiPharma Stock Options issued and outstanding or (ii) provide material
         funds (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or other investment)
         to, or make any material investment in (in the form of a loan, capital
         contribution or other investment), or provide any material guarantee
         with respect to the obligations of, any Person other than a Subsidiary.
         There are no outstanding stock appreciation rights or similar
         derivative securities or Rights of aaiPharma or any of its
         Subsidiaries. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other
         indebtedness of aaiPharma having the right to vote (or convertible
         into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any
         matters on which stockholders of aaiPharma may vote. There are no
         voting trusts, irrevocable proxies or other agreements or
         understandings to which aaiPharma or any Subsidiary of aaiPharma is a
         party or is bound with respect to the voting of any shares of aaiPharma
         Common Stock. aaiPharma has not agreed to register any securities under
         the Securities Act or under any state securities law or granted
         registration rights to any Person or entity (except rights which have
         terminated or expired). Neither aaiPharma nor any of its Subsidiaries
         has any outstanding obligations in respect of prior acquisitions of
         businesses to pay, in the form of securities, cash or other property,
         any portion of the consideration payable to the seller or sellers in
         such transaction.

                  (3) aaiPharma has previously made available to CIMA complete
         and correct copies of the aaiPharma Stock Plans, including all
         amendments thereto. aaiPharma has previously made available to CIMA a
         complete and correct list setting forth as of August 1, 2003, (i) the
         number of aaiPharma Stock Options outstanding (listing grantee and
         exercise price) and (ii) the weighted average exercise price for all
         outstanding aaiPharma Stock Options, and complete and correct copies of
         the relevant written agreements, including amendments thereto,
         evidencing the grant of outstanding aaiPharma Stock Options. As of the
         date hereof, aaiPharma has not adopted a stockholder rights plan.

         (d) Subsidiaries.

                  (1) (A) It owns, directly or indirectly, all the outstanding
         equity securities of each of its Subsidiaries free and clear of any
         Liens, (B) no equity securities of any of its



                                       29


         Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued (other than to it
         or its wholly owned Subsidiaries) by reason of any Right or otherwise,
         (C) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements
         by which any of such Subsidiaries is or may be bound to sell or
         otherwise transfer any equity securities of any such Subsidiaries
         (other than to it or its wholly owned Subsidiaries), (D) there are no
         contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements relating to its
         rights to vote or to dispose of such securities and (E) all the equity
         securities of each Subsidiary held by it or its Subsidiaries have been
         duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
         nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. It has no investment in
         any other entity other than its Subsidiaries.

                  (2) Each of its Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is
         validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
         its organization, and is duly qualified to do business and in good
         standing in all jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of
         property or its conduct of business requires it to be so qualified.

                  (3) Each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries in existence
         on the date hereof is listed on Section 5.03(d)(3) of its Disclosure
         Letter.

         (e) Power. It and each of its Subsidiaries has the corporate (or
comparable) power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted and to own, lease and operate all its properties and assets; and it
and, in the case of aaiPharma, each of Holding Company, C MergerCo and S
MergerCo, has the corporate (or comparable) power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         (f) Authority. It and, in the case of aaiPharma, each of Holding
Company, C MergerCo and S MergerCo, has duly authorized and validly executed and
delivered this Agreement. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby have been approved by its Board of Directors and, in the case of
aaiPharma, by the Holding Company Board and the Board of Directors of each of C
MergerCo and S MergerCo, and duly and validly authorized by all necessary
respective corporate action applicable to it and, in the case of aaiPharma,
applicable to Holding Company, C MergerCo and S MergerCo, subject only (i) in
the case of CIMA, to receipt of the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of CIMA Common Stock to adopt this Agreement
(the "CIMA Stockholder Approval") and (ii) in the case of aaiPharma, to receipt
of the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
of aaiPharma Common Stock to adopt this Agreement (the "aaiPharma Stockholder
Approval"). This Agreement is its valid and legally binding obligation and, in
the case of aaiPharma, the valid and binding obligation of each of Holding
Company, C MergerCo and S MergerCo, enforceable in accordance with the terms
hereof (except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by general
equity principles). CIMA represents to aaiPharma that the CIMA Stockholder
Approval is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock
of CIMA required to adopt this Agreement. aaiPharma represents to CIMA that the
aaiPharma Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of any class or
series of capital stock of aaiPharma required to adopt this Agreement.



                                       30


         (g) Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults.

                  (1) No consents or approvals of, or filings or registrations
         with, or notice to, or authorizations, permits or declarations of, any
         Governmental Authority or with any other Person are required to be made
         or obtained by it or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the
         execution, delivery or performance by it of this Agreement or to
         consummate the Merger except for (A) filing of notices, and expiration
         of the related waiting period, under the HSR Act, (B) filings of
         applications and notices with, and receipt of approvals or
         nonobjections from, the SEC and state securities authorities, the
         National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and Nasdaq, (D)
         filings under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (E) receipt of
         the applicable stockholder approvals described in Sections 5.03(f) and
         6.01(e), and (F) the filing of the Certificates of Merger.

                  (2) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
         and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and
         will not (A) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under
         (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a
         default), result in any loss of any benefit under, give rise to any
         Lien, any acceleration of remedies or any penalty, increase any benefit
         or right of termination under, any law, rule or regulation or any
         judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or license, or agreement,
         indenture, note, mortgage, lease or other contract, commitment,
         agreement or instrument to which it or of any of its Subsidiaries or to
         which it or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their properties is
         subject or bound, (B) conflict with, constitute a breach or violation
         of, or a default under, its Constituent Documents or those of any of
         its Subsidiaries or (C) assuming that the regulatory consents,
         approvals, authorizations, permits and declarations described in
         Section 5.03(g)(1) have been obtained and all filings and notifications
         described in Section 5.03(g)(1) have been made and the expiration or
         termination of related waiting periods, conflict with, violate or
         require any consent or approval under any such Law applicable to it or
         its Subsidiaries or by which any of its or its Subsidiaries' property
         or assets is bound.

                  (3) As of the date hereof, it is not aware of any reason why
         the necessary regulatory approvals and consents will not be received in
         order to permit consummation of the Mergers.

         (h) Financial Reports and Regulatory Documents.

                  (1) It has timely filed its Annual Reports on Form 10-K for
         the fiscal years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002, and all other
         reports, registration statements, prospectuses, forms, definitive proxy
         statements, schedules and documents (including all exhibits,
         post-effective amendments and supplements thereto) required to be filed
         by it or any of its Subsidiaries subsequent to December 31, 2000 under
         the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively, its "Regulatory
         Filings"). Each of its Regulatory Filings, as of the date filed, (A)
         complied in all material respects as to form with the applicable
         requirements under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case
         may be, and (B) 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 the light of



                                       31


         the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the
         date of this Agreement, none of its Subsidiaries is subject to the
         periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

                  (2) Each of the consolidated financial statements (including
         the notes and schedules thereto) contained in the Regulatory Filings
         were prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date of such
         report applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved
         (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto) and each
         fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated financial
         position, results of operations and cash flows of it and its
         consolidated Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof for the
         periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of unaudited
         statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments which did not
         and would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
         to have a Material Adverse Effect on it or its Subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole). Its books and records and those of its Subsidiaries have been,
         and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with
         GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.

                  (3) As of the date hereof, except as and to the extent set
         forth on its and its consolidated Subsidiaries' consolidated balance
         sheet as of December 31, 2002 included in its Annual Report on Form
         10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (including the notes
         thereto), or as set forth on a consolidated balance sheet (including
         the notes thereto) included in Regulatory Filings filed with the SEC
         after December 31, 2002 and prior to the date of this Agreement,
         neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liabilities of any
         nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that would
         be required to be reflected on a balance sheet or in notes thereto
         prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for (i) Liabilities incurred
         in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2002, (ii)
         Liabilities which are accrued or reserved against and reflected in the
         Company's consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2002,
         and (iii) Liabilities incurred in connection with this Agreement.

         (i) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. From December 31, 2002 to the
date hereof (except as disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2002 or in its other Regulatory Filings (including the notes
thereto) filed after December 31, 2002 and prior to the date of this Agreement),
it and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice and, since December 31, 2002, there
has not been (1) any change, event, or development that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect with respect to it and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (2) any
change, event or development that would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to prevent it from performing its obligations under this
Agreement or consummating the transactions contemplated hereby, (3) any
declaration, payment or setting aside for payment of any dividend or other
distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in
respect of its capital stock, other than dividends or distributions by any of
its wholly owned Subsidiaries to it or another of its wholly owned Subsidiaries,
(4) any sale, transfer, mortgage, pledge or other disposition of (or grant of
permission for any of the foregoing), or encumbrance on, any assets or
properties, real, personal or mixed, material to it and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole, (5) any increase in any manner of the compensation of any of its or
any of its Subsidiaries' officers, directors or



                                       32


Employees, or entrance into, establishment, amendment or termination of any
Benefits Arrangement with, for or in respect of, any officer, director, or
Employee of it or any of its Subsidiaries other than pursuant to the terms of
agreements in effect prior to December 31, 2002 or in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, or (6) the entering into of any
agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing.

         (j) Litigation. Except as Previously Disclosed or set forth in its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 or
Regulatory Filings filed with the SEC since December 31, 2002 and prior to the
date hereof, there is no suit, action, audit, claim, investigation or proceeding
pending or, to its knowledge, threatened in writing against or affecting it or
any of its Subsidiaries (and it is not aware of any basis for any such suit,
action, audit, claim, investigation, or proceeding) that, individually or in the
aggregate, is reasonably likely to (1) be material to it and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or (2) prevent or delay it in any material respect from
performing its obligations under, or consummating the transactions contemplated
by, this Agreement. To its knowledge, as of the date hereof, none of its
officers or directors or the officers and directors of any of its Subsidiaries
is a defendant in any claim, action, suit or proceeding commenced by any of its
stockholders or any stockholder (or comparable equity owner) of its Subsidiaries
with respect to the performance of his or her duties in such capacity, nor is it
aware of any demand by any of its stockholders that it commence any claim,
action, suit or proceeding against any of its officers or directors.

         (k) Owned Real Property. Section 5.03(k) of its Disclosure Letter sets
forth a complete and accurate list of the real property owned by it or any of
its Subsidiaries (the "Owned Real Property"). It or one of its Subsidiaries has
good fee simple title (or other similar title in jurisdictions outside the
United States) to the Owned Real Property free and clear of any Liens or
defects.

         (l) Leases.

                  (1) Section 5.03(l) of its Disclosure Letter sets forth a list
         of all material leases, subleases and occupancy agreements, together
         with all amendments and supplements thereto, with respect to all real
         properties in which it or any of its Subsidiaries has a leasehold
         interest, whether as lessor or lessee (each, a "Lease" and
         collectively, the "Leases"; the property covered by Leases under which
         it or such Subsidiary is a lessee is referred to herein as the "Leased
         Real Property").

                  (2) Each Lease is in full force and effect. Neither it nor any
         of its Subsidiaries is in default under any Lease and, to its
         knowledge, no other Person party to a Lease is in default.

         (m) Intellectual Property. Section 5.03(m) of the Disclosure Letter
sets forth an accurate and complete list of: (i) all registered Marks, and all
pending applications for registration of any Marks anywhere in the world, owned
by it or its Subsidiaries; (ii) all Patents and application for Patents,
anywhere in the world, owned by it or its Subsidiaries; (iii) all registered
Copyrights and pending applications for registration of any Copyrights anywhere
in the world owned by it or its Subsidiaries; and (iv) all Software owned by it
or its Subsidiaries that is material to the operation of its business as
presently conducted, but excluding off-the-shelf



                                       33


and in-licensed Software (collectively, "Owned Intellectual Property"). Except
as set forth in Section 5.03(m) of the Disclosure Letter, it and its
Subsidiaries own all right, title, and interest in the Owned Intellectual
Property. It or its Subsidiaries own, or are licensed or otherwise possess legal
enforceable rights to use the Intellectual Property Rights that are used in its
businesses, and the businesses of its Subsidiaries, as currently conducted. To
its knowledge, all material patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and
copyrights held by it or its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting. To its
knowledge, it and its Subsidiaries are not infringing any intellectual property
rights of any other Person. To its knowledge, no claim is pending or, to its
knowledge, threatened with respect to the ownership, validity, license or use
of, or any infringement resulting from, the Intellectual Property Rights. To its
knowledge, the Intellectual Property Rights are not being infringed or
misappropriated by any other Person. There are no restrictions on the direct or
indirect transfer of the Intellectual Property Rights that would be triggered by
the transactions contemplated hereby. To its knowledge, it and its Subsidiaries
have taken reasonable precautions in accordance with standard industry practice
to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all material Trade Secrets
of it or its Subsidiaries, including requiring their employees and officers to
execute and deliver confidentiality, assignment of rights and non-disclosure
agreements. To its knowledge, no employee of it or its Subsidiaries is in
violation of any material term of any confidentiality or nondisclosure
agreement.

         (n) Insurance. All material insurance policies carried by or covering
it and its Subsidiaries with respect to their businesses, assets and properties
are in full force and effect, and, to its knowledge, no notice of cancellation
has been given with respect to any such policy. Neither it nor any of its
Subsidiaries has assigned, pledged or transferred any rights under any such
insurance policies. There are no claims by it or any Subsidiary under any such
policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or
defending under a reservation of rights clause (other than a customary
reservation of rights clause). All necessary notifications of claims have been
made by it or its Subsidiaries to insurance carriers.

         (o) Regulatory Matters.

                  (1) To its knowledge, all manufacturing, processing,
         distribution, labeling, storage, testing, specifications, sale or
         marketing of products performed by or on behalf of it and its
         Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules,
         regulations, guidances or orders administered or issued by the Food and
         Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Agency and any other
         Governmental Authority.

                  (2) To its knowledge, all pre-clinical and clinical
         investigations conducted or sponsored by it or any of its Subsidiaries
         are being conducted in compliance with all recommendations of the Food
         and Drug Administration and all applicable laws, rules, regulations and
         guidances, including Good Laboratory Practices, investigational new
         drug requirements, Good Clinical Practice requirements (including
         informed consent and institutional review boards designed to ensure the
         protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects), and federal
         and state laws, rules, regulations and guidances restricting the use
         and disclosure of individually identifiable health information. To its
         knowledge, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
         information which could reasonably be expected to lead to the denial of
         any application for approval currently pending before the Food and Drug
         Administration.



                                       34


                  (3) Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
         oral or written communication (including any warning letter, untitled
         letter, Form 483s or similar notices), or is otherwise aware of any
         action or proceeding pending or, to its knowledge, threatened
         (including any prosecution, injunction, seizure, civil fine, suspension
         or recall), in each case alleging that it or any of its Subsidiaries is
         not currently in compliance with any and all applicable laws,
         regulations or orders implemented by the Food and Drug Administration,
         the Drug Enforcement Agency, or any other Governmental Authority
         responsible for regulating the pharmaceutical industry. To its
         knowledge, none of its Employees is or has been the subject of any
         similar pending or threatened action or proceeding.

                  (4) Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
         correspondence from the Food and Drug Administration regarding, or is
         aware of, any pending or threatened action or proceeding against it,
         any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Employees regarding any debarment
         action or investigation undertaken pursuant to the Generic Drug
         Enforcement Act of 1992, 21 U.S.C. Section 335(a), (b) and (c), or any
         other similar regulation of the Food and Drug Administration.

                  (5) To its knowledge, no data generated by it or any of its
         Subsidiaries that has been provided to its clients is the subject of
         any regulatory or other action, either pending or threatened, by the
         Food and Drug Administration or other Governmental Authority relating
         to the truthfulness or scientific adequacy of such data.

                  (6) To its knowledge, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries
         is the subject, officially or otherwise, of any pending or threatened
         investigation by the Food and Drug Administration pursuant to its
         Fraud, Untrue, Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities Final
         Policy or by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of
         Inspector General ("OIG") or United States Department of Justice
         ("DOJ") pursuant to the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C.
         Section 1320a-7(b)) and the Civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Section
         3729 et seq.) and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such
         statutes. To its knowledge, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries nor
         any of its Employees has knowingly committed any act, made any
         statement, or failed to make any statement, that would reasonably be
         expected to provide a basis for the Food and Drug Administration to
         invoke its Fraud, Untrue, Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal
         Gratuities Final Policy or that would reasonably be expected to provide
         a basis for liability under the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute or the
         Civil False Claims Act and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

         (p) Environmental.

                  (1) It and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all, and
         have no Liability under any, applicable Environmental Laws. There is no
         claim with respect to Environmental Laws pending or, to its knowledge,
         threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries and, to its knowledge,
         there are no facts or circumstances that could give rise to such a
         claim that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
         aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Neither it nor any of its
         Subsidiaries has either assumed or undertaken, or agreed to assume or
         undertake, responsibility for any Liability



                                       35


         or obligation of any other Person, arising under or relating to
         Environmental Laws, including any obligation for investigation or
         corrective or remedial action, other than an assumption by operation of
         law as the result of the merger of a Person with and into it or any of
         its Subsidiaries.

                  (2) "Liability" means all indebtedness, obligations and other
         liabilities and contingencies of a Person, whether absolute, accrued,
         contingent, fixed or otherwise, or whether due or to become due.

                  (3) "Environmental Law" means any federal, state, local,
         provincial, foreign, civil and criminal Law, statute, ordinances,
         common law, rules, regulations, policies and guidance documents with
         the effect of law, now in effect and as amended, and any judicial or
         administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or
         administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to
         pollution, health, worker health and safety or protection of the
         environment, including those relating to the use, handling,
         transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release, exposure or
         discharge of Hazardous Substances.

                  (4) "Hazardous Substances" means (i) petroleum and petroleum
         products, by-products or breakdown products, radioactive materials,
         asbestos-containing materials and polychlorinated biphenyls, and (ii)
         any other chemicals, materials or substances regulated as toxic or
         hazardous or as a pollutant, contaminant or waste under any applicable
         Environmental Law.

         (q) Compliance with Laws. Each of it and its Subsidiaries:

                  (1) has all permits, licenses, authorizations, orders and
         approvals of, and has made all filings, applications and registrations
         with (the "Permits"), all Governmental Authorities (including all
         authorizations under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938,
         as amended and the regulations of the United States Food and Drug
         Administration promulgated thereunder) that are required for it to own
         or lease and operate its properties or other assets and to conduct its
         business in the manner described in the Regulatory Filings prior to the
         date hereof and as it is presently conducted, and all such Permits are
         valid and in full force and effect and, to its knowledge, no event has
         occurred which permits, or upon the giving of notice or passage of time
         or both, would permit revocation, non-renewal, modification,
         suspension, limitation or termination of any Permit;

                  (2) conducts its business in compliance with all applicable
         Laws, and is not in conflict with, or in default or violation of, any
         Law applicable to it or by which any of its property or assets is
         bound, or any Permits; and

                  (3) has received, since December 31, 2000, no written
         notification from any Governmental Authority (A) asserting that it or
         any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with any Law which such
         Governmental Authority enforces or (B) threatening to revoke any
         Permit.



                                       36


         (r) Material Contracts; Defaults.

                  (1) As of the date hereof, except as filed as exhibits to its
         Regulatory Filings prior to the date of this Agreement, neither it nor
         any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, and none of their respective
         assets, businesses or operations is bound by, any contract, agreement,
         commitment, arrangement, lease or other instrument (whether written or
         oral) that (a) is a "material contract" (as such term is defined in
         Item 601(a)(10) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities
         Act), (b) relates to any indebtedness in excess of $10,000,000, (c)
         provides for aggregate payments from it or any of its Subsidiaries in
         excess of $10,000,000, has an unexpired term exceeding six months and
         cannot be terminated without penalty upon not more than 30 days' prior
         written notice, or (d) materially limits its freedom or the freedom of
         any of its Subsidiaries to compete in any line of business or with any
         Person or in any geographical area or which would so materially limit
         its freedom or the freedom of any of its Subsidiaries so to compete
         after the Effective Time (collectively, its "Material Contracts"). Each
         of its Material Contracts is valid and binding on it or its Subsidiary
         party thereto and, to its knowledge, each other Person thereto, and is
         in full force and effect and enforceable against it or such Subsidiary,
         as the case may be, in accordance with its terms, (except as
         enforcement may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of
         general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by
         general equity principles and (ii) to the extent applicable, securities
         laws limitations on the enforceability of provisions regarding
         indemnification in connection with the sale or issuance of securities).
         No customer party to a Material Contract has given notice of
         termination or notice of election to self manufacture products
         currently manufactured by CIMA or aaiPharma, as applicable.

                  (2) Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation,
         breach or default under any of its Material Contracts, and there has
         not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of
         notice or both, would constitute such a violation, breach or default.

         (s) Customers. Since December 31, 2002, neither it nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received written notice that any material customer intends to
cancel, terminate or otherwise modify any relationship with it or any of its
Subsidiaries.

         (t) Employees; Labor Relations. Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries
is a party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining agreement or other
contract or understanding with a labor union or labor organization. There is no
(i) unfair labor practice, labor dispute (other than routine individual
grievances) or labor arbitration proceeding pending or, to its knowledge,
threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) to its knowledge,
activity or proceeding by a labor union or representative thereof to organize
any of its employees or any employees of any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii)
lockouts, strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or to its knowledge threats thereof
by or with respect to such employees.



                                       37


         (u) Employee Benefit Plans.

                  (1) All Benefits Arrangements covering its current employees
         or former employees and those of its Subsidiaries (collectively,
         "Employees", and each individually, an "Employee") and its current or
         former directors and those of its Subsidiaries, including: (i)
         "employee benefit plans" within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA;
         and (ii) deferred compensation, stock option, stock purchase, stock
         appreciation rights, stock based, incentive and bonus plans
         (collectively, "Benefit Plans" and each individually, a "Benefit
         Plan"), are Previously Disclosed. True and complete copies of all
         Benefit Plan Documents, including any trust instruments and insurance
         contracts forming a part of any Benefit Plan Documents, and all
         amendments thereto, have been made available to the other party.

                  (2) All of its Benefit Plans, other than "multiemployer plans"
         within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA, to the extent subject to
         ERISA, are in substantial compliance with ERISA. Each Benefit Plan
         which is an "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of
         Section 3(2) of ERISA ("Pension Plan"), and which is intended to be
         qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, is so qualified, and has
         received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
         Service, or the remedial amendment period under applicable Internal
         Revenue Service guidance in which to apply for such letter and make any
         amendments that are necessary to obtain a favorable determination as to
         the current qualified status of such Pension Plan has not yet expired,
         and it is not aware of any circumstances reasonably likely to result in
         revocation of any such favorable determination letter. Each Benefit
         Plan which is intended to be part of or funded through a voluntary
         employees' beneficiary association within the meaning of Section
         501(c)(9) of the Code has (i) received an opinion letter from the
         Internal Revenue Service recognizing its exempt status under Section
         501(c)(9) of the Code and (ii) filed a timely notice with the Internal
         Revenue Service pursuant to Section 505(c) of the Code, and it is not
         aware of circumstances likely to result in the loss of the exempt
         status of such Benefit Plan under Section 501(c)(9) of the Code. There
         is no material pending or, to the knowledge of CIMA or aaiPharma, as
         the case may be, threatened litigation relating to its Benefit
         Arrangements (other than a claim for benefits in the ordinary course).
         Neither it, nor to the knowledge of CIMA or aaiPharma, as the case may
         be, any plan fiduciary of any Benefit Arrangement, has engaged in any
         transaction in violation of Sections 404 or 406 of ERISA or any
         "prohibited transaction," as defined in Section 4975(c)(1) of the Code,
         for which no exemption exists under Section 408 of ERISA or Section
         4975(c)(2) or (d) of the Code, or has otherwise violated the provisions
         of Part 4 of Title I, Subtitle B of ERISA. It has not knowingly
         participated in a violation of Part 4 of Title I, Subtitle B of ERISA
         by any plan fiduciary of any Benefit Arrangement and has not been
         assessed any civil penalty under Section 502(l) of ERISA.

                  (3) No liability under Subtitle C or D of Title IV of ERISA
         has been or is reasonably expected to be incurred by it, any of its
         Subsidiaries, or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates with respect
         to any ongoing, frozen or terminated "single-employer plan," within the
         meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or formerly
         maintained by any of them. None of it, any of its Subsidiaries, or any
         of their respective ERISA Affiliates has contributed to a
         "multiemployer plan," within the meaning of



                                       38


         Section 3(37) of ERISA, at any time on or after September 26, 1980. No
         notice of a "reportable event," within the meaning of Section 4043 of
         ERISA, for which the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived,
         has been required to be filed for any Benefit Arrangement which is an
         "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of
         ERISA within the 12-month period ending on the date hereof.

                  (4) All contributions required to be made under the terms of
         any of its Benefit Arrangements have been timely made or have been
         reflected on its consolidated financial statements included in its
         Regulatory Filings. No Benefit Arrangement has an "accumulated funding
         deficiency" (whether or not waived) within the meaning of Section 412
         of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and neither it, nor any of its
         Subsidiaries or their respective ERISA Affiliates has an outstanding
         funding waiver. Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries or their
         respective ERISA Affiliates has provided, or is required to provide,
         security to any of its Benefit Arrangements pursuant to Section
         401(a)(29) of the Code.

                  (5) There has been no amendment to, announcement by it or any
         of its Subsidiaries relating to, or change in Employee participation or
         coverage under, any Benefit Plan that would increase materially the
         expense of maintaining such Benefit Plan above the level of the expense
         incurred therefor for the most recently completed fiscal year. Neither
         its execution of this Agreement, the performance of its obligations
         hereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement, the termination of the employment of any of its employees
         within a specified time of the Effective Time nor stockholder approval
         of the transactions covered by this Agreement, will (x) limit its
         right, in its sole discretion, to administer or amend in any respect or
         terminate any of its Benefit Plans or any related trust, (y) entitle
         any of its Employees to severance pay or any increase in severance pay,
         or (z), except as expressly contemplated hereby, accelerate the time of
         payment or vesting or trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor
         trust or otherwise) of compensation or benefits under, increase the
         amount payable or trigger any other material obligation pursuant to,
         any of its Benefit Plans. Without limiting the foregoing, as a result
         of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
         (including, as a result of the termination of the employment of any of
         its employees within a specified time of the Effective Time) neither it
         nor any of its Subsidiaries will be obligated to make a payment to an
         individual that would be a "parachute payment" to a "disqualified
         individual" as those terms are defined in Section 280G of the Code,
         without regard to whether such payment is reasonable compensation for
         personal services performed or to be performed in the future.

         (v) Related Party Transactions. Except as disclosed in Regulatory
Filings filed prior to the date of this Agreement, since December 31, 2002,
neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any relationship or
transaction of the sort that would be required to be disclosed by it pursuant to
Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.

         (w) Taxes. (1) All Tax Returns that are required to be filed (taking
into account any extensions of time within which to file) by or with respect to
it and its Subsidiaries have been duly and timely filed, and all such Tax
Returns are complete and accurate in all material respects,



                                       39


(2) all Taxes shown to be due on the Tax Returns referred to in clause (1) or
that are otherwise due and payable have been paid in full, except for Taxes
which are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have
been established on the balance sheets contained in the financial statements
contained in the Regulatory Filings filed prior to the date hereof, (3) all
Taxes that it or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to withhold from amounts
owing to any Employee, creditor or third party have been paid over to the proper
Governmental Authority in a timely manner, to the extent due and payable, and
(4) no extensions or waivers of statutes of limitation have been given by or
requested with respect to any of its U.S. federal income taxes or those of its
Subsidiaries. Its unpaid Taxes and those of its Subsidiaries did not, as of the
dates of the most recent financial statements contained in the Regulatory
Filings filed before the date hereof, exceed the reserve for Liabilities for
Taxes (excluding any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing
differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the balance
sheets (rather than in any notes thereto) contained in such financial
statements. Since December 31, 2002, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has
(x) incurred any Liability for Taxes outside the ordinary course of business or
otherwise inconsistent with past custom and practice, (y) changed its Tax
elections or the Tax elections of any of its Subsidiaries or any accounting
method used by it or any of its Subsidiaries for Tax purposes, where such Tax
election or change in accounting method has had, or is reasonably likely to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (z)
settled or compromised any material liability for income Taxes of it and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. It has delivered or made available to the other
party complete and accurate copies of its federal, state and local Tax Returns
and those of its Subsidiaries and each of their predecessors for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001, and complete and accurate copies of all
examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to
by any of it and its Subsidiaries or any predecessors since December 31, 1999.
There are no pending or, to its knowledge, threatened audits, assessments or
other actions for or relating to any Liability in respect of Taxes (including
any deficiencies for Taxes) of any of it or its Subsidiaries, and there are no
matters under discussion with Governmental Authorities, or known to it, with
respect to Taxes that are likely to result in an additional Liability for Taxes
with respect to any of it and its Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, neither
it nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or has any reason to believe
that any conditions exist that could reasonably be expected to prevent or impede
either the aaiPharma Merger or the CIMA Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or the Mergers,
taken together, from qualifying as an exchange described in Section 351 of the
Code. No Liens for Taxes exist with respect to any of its assets or properties
or those of its Subsidiaries, except for statutory Liens for Taxes not yet
delinquent or that are being contested in good faith and reserved for in
accordance with GAAP. Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to
any distribution as either a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled
corporation" in which the parties to such distribution treated the distribution
as one to which Section 355 of the Code applied (i) in the two (2) years prior
to the date of this Agreement, or (ii) which could otherwise constitute part of
a "plan" or "series of related transactions" (within the meaning of Section
355(e) of the Code) that includes the CIMA Merger or aaiPharma Merger, as
applicable. Except for the affiliated group of which it is the common parent,
each of it and its Subsidiaries is not and has never been a member of an
affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code
or any group that has filed a combined, consolidated or unitary Tax Return.
Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has liability for the Taxes of any Person
(including an individual, corporation, general or limited partnership,



                                       40


limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association,
organization, labor union or other entity or Governmental Authority) other than
it and its Subsidiaries (i) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any
similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), (ii) as a transferee or
successor, (iii) by contract, or (iv) otherwise. Neither it nor any of its
Subsidiaries has entered into any transaction identified as a "listed
transaction" for purposes of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) or
301.6111-2(b)(2). If either it or any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any
transaction such that, if the treatment claimed by it or its Subsidiaries were
to be disallowed, the transaction would constitute a substantial understatement
of federal income tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code, then it
believes that it has either (x) substantial authority for the tax treatment of
such transaction or (y) disclosed on its Tax Return the relevant facts affecting
the tax treatment of such transaction.

         (x) Books and Records; Internal Controls. It maintains a system of
internal controls for financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable
assurance (i) that records are maintained in reasonable detail that accurately
and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of its assets; (ii) that
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with GAAP, and that its receipts and expenditures are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of its management and
directors; and (iii) regarding prevention or timely detection of any
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of its assets that could have a
material effect on its financial statements.

         (y) Marketable Investments. Section 5.03(y) of its Disclosure Letter
lists by amount and type each available-for-sale security owned by it or any of
its Subsidiaries as of a recent date. There are no restrictions of any kind
which prevent or restrict the sale of such available-for-sale securities.

         (z) Takeover Laws and Provisions. It has taken all action required to
be taken by it in order to exempt this Agreement, the aaiPharma Voting
Agreements (in the case of aaiPharma), the CIMA Voting Agreements (in the case
of CIMA) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby from, and this
Agreement, the aaiPharma Voting Agreements (in the case of aaiPharma), the CIMA
Voting Agreements (in the case of CIMA) and the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby are exempt from, the requirements of any "moratorium", "control
share", "fair price", "affiliate transaction", "business combination" or other
antitakeover laws and regulations of any state (collectively, "Takeover Laws"),
other than Section 203 of the DGCL. The action of its Board of Directors in
approving this Agreement (and the transactions provided for herein) is
sufficient to render inapplicable to this Agreement (and the transactions
provided for herein) the restrictions on "business combinations" (as defined in
Section 203 of the DGCL) as set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL. It has taken
all action required to be taken by it in order to make this Agreement, the
aaiPharma Voting Agreements (in the case of aaiPharma), the CIMA Voting
Agreements (in the case of CIMA) and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby comply with, and this Agreement, the aaiPharma Voting Agreements (in the
case of aaiPharma), the CIMA Voting Agreements (in the case of CIMA) and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do comply with, the requirements of
any Articles, Sections or provisions of its Constituent Documents concerning
"business combination", "fair price", "voting requirement", "constituency
requirement" or other related provisions (collectively, "Takeover Provisions").



                                       41


         (aa) Financial Advisors, Etc. None of it, its Subsidiaries or any of
their officers, directors or Employees has employed any broker or finder or
incurred any liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finder's fees in
connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except that, in connection
with this Agreement, aaiPharma represents to CIMA that aaiPharma has retained
Banc of America Securities, LLC as its financial advisor with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has also retained Thomas Weisel
Partners LLC solely for the purpose of providing certain advisory services in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and CIMA
represents to aaiPharma that CIMA has retained Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as
its financial advisor with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the arrangements with which have been disclosed to the other party
prior to the date hereof. As of the date hereof:

                  (1) CIMA represents to aaiPharma that the CIMA Board has
         received a written opinion of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. to the
         effect that, as of the date of such opinion, the CIMA Exchange Ratio is
         fair from a financial point of view to the holders of CIMA Common
         Stock.

                  (2) aaiPharma represents to CIMA that the aaiPharma Board has
         received a written opinion of Banc of America Securities LLC to the
         effect that, as of the date of such opinion, the aaiPharma Exchange
         Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of
         aaiPharma Common Stock.

         (bb) Recommendations of Boards of Directors.

                  (1) CIMA represents to aaiPharma that the CIMA Board, by
         resolution adopted by vote of at least a majority of the CIMA Board
         (which resolutions have not been rescinded or amended) at a meeting
         duly called and held, at which a quorum was present and acting
         throughout, has (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions
         contemplated hereby are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests
         of, CIMA and the stockholders of CIMA, (ii) approved this Agreement and
         transactions contemplated hereby, and any other matters required to be
         approved or adopted in order to effect the Mergers and other
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which approval has not
         been rescinded or modified, (iii) resolved to recommend approval and
         adoption of this Agreement by its stockholders, and (iv) directed that
         this Agreement be submitted to its stockholders for consideration in
         accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

                  (2) aaiPharma represents to CIMA that the aaiPharma Board, by
         resolution adopted by vote of at least a majority of the aaiPharma
         Board (which resolutions have not been rescinded or amended) at a
         meeting duly called and held, at which a quorum was present and acting
         throughout, has (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions
         contemplated hereby are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests
         of, aaiPharma and the stockholders of aaiPharma, (ii) approved this
         Agreement and transactions contemplated hereby, and any other matters
         required to be approved or adopted in order to effect the Mergers and
         other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which approval has
         not been rescinded or modified, (iii) resolved to recommend approval
         and adoption of this Agreement by its stockholders, and (iv)



                                       42


         directed that this Agreement be submitted to its stockholders for
         consideration in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

         (cc) CIMA has amended the CIMA Rights Agreement to ensure that (i) none
of a "Distribution Date" or a "Shares Acquisition Date" (in each case as defined
in the CIMA Rights Agreement) will occur, and none of aaiPharma or any of its
stockholders or any of their "Affiliates" or "Associates" as of the date hereof
(including Holding Company) will be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" (in each
case as defined in the CIMA Rights Agreement) by reason of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby; and (ii) the Rights will expire immediately prior to the Effective Time.
No "Distribution Date" or "Shares Acquisition Date" has occurred.

         5.04 Representations and Warranties With Respect to Holding Company and
Subsidiaries. Except as Previously Disclosed, aaiPharma and Holding Company
hereby represent and warrant to CIMA, as follows:

         (a) Capital Stock of Holding Company. The authorized capital stock of
Holding Company consists of 1,000 shares of HoldCo Common Stock, of which 100
shares are outstanding, all of which outstanding shares are held of record and
beneficially by aaiPharma.

         (b) Capital Stock of Merger Subsidiaries. The authorized capital stock
of S MergerCo consists of 1,000 shares of S MergerCo Common Stock, of which 100
shares are outstanding, all of which outstanding shares are held of record and
beneficially by Holding Company. The authorized capital stock of C MergerCo
consists of 1,000 shares of C MergerCo Common Stock, of which 100 shares are
outstanding, all of which outstanding shares are held of record and beneficially
by Holding Company.

         (c) No Business Activities. None of Holding Company, C MergerCo or S
MergerCo has conducted any activities or incurred any Liabilities other than in
connection with its organization and maintenance of good standing, the
negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. Holding Company has no Subsidiaries other than
C MergerCo and S MergerCo, and neither C MergerCo nor S MergerCo has any
Subsidiaries.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS

         6.01 Reasonable Best Efforts.

         (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, aaiPharma
and CIMA will use all reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, in
good faith, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary,
proper or desirable, or advisable under applicable laws, so as to permit
consummation of the Mergers as promptly as practicable and otherwise to enable
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and each will cooperate
fully with, and furnish information to, the other party to that end.



                                       43


         (b) Neither CIMA nor aaiPharma shall, nor shall they permit any of
their respective Subsidiaries (including Holding Company, C MergerCo and S
MergerCo) to, take or cause to be taken any action that would disqualify either
Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
CIMA and aaiPharma shall use their reasonable best efforts, and shall cause
their respective Subsidiaries to use their reasonable best efforts, to take or
cause to be taken each action that is required to cause each Merger to qualify
as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the
Mergers, taken together, to qualify as an exchange described in Section 351 of
the Code.

         (c) CIMA and Holding Company shall report the CIMA Merger, and
aaiPharma and Holding Company shall report the aaiPharma Merger, as
reorganizations within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code, unless otherwise
required pursuant to a "determination" within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of
the Code.

         (d) If requested by aaiPharma, at any time Holding Company shall
execute a guarantee, supplemental indenture and such other documents as shall be
required to guarantee the payment of aaiPharma's 11% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2010.

         (e) As soon as reasonably practicable following the execution of this
Agreement, aaiPharma, as the holder of all of the outstanding shares of HoldCo
Common Stock, will approve and adopt this Agreement and will cause Holding
Company, as the sole stockholder of each of C MergerCo and S MergerCo, to
approve the Mergers and adopt this Agreement.

         (f) At the Effective Time, Holding Company shall assume the obligations
of aaiPharma under the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 17,
1995, among aaiPharma and the stockholders of aaiPharma party thereto.

         6.02 Registration Statement; Joint Proxy Statement; Stockholder
Approvals.

         (a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date hereof,
CIMA and aaiPharma shall prepare and file with the SEC mutually acceptable joint
proxy materials relating to the CIMA Meeting and the aaiPharma Meeting (such
proxy statement, and any amendments or supplements thereto, the "Joint Proxy
Statement"), and aaiPharma shall cause Holding Company to prepare and file a
registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the issuance of HoldCo Common
Stock pursuant to the Mergers (the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus
contained in the Registration Statement together with the Proxy Statement, the
"Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). Each of CIMA and aaiPharma agrees to
cooperate, and to cause its Subsidiaries to cooperate, with the other party, its
counsel and its accountants, in the preparation of the Registration Statement
and the Joint Proxy Statement. The Joint Proxy Statement shall be included in
and shall constitute a part of the Registration Statement as Holding Company's
prospectus. The Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement shall
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Each of CIMA and aaiPharma shall use reasonable best efforts to have the
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable
after the date hereof and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long
as is necessary to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions
contemplated thereby. CIMA and aaiPharma shall, as promptly as practicable after
receipt thereof, provide the other party



                                       44


copies of any written comments and advise the other party of any oral comments
with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement received from the SEC. CIMA and
aaiPharma shall provide the other party with a reasonable opportunity to review
and comment on any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the
Joint Proxy Statement prior to filing such with the SEC, and will promptly
provide the other party with a copy of all such filings made with the SEC. CIMA
and aaiPharma shall mail the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to their
respective stockholders, in each case, as soon as reasonably practicable after
the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act and
the Joint Proxy Statement shall have been cleared by the SEC; provided, however,
that CIMA and aaiPharma shall consult and cooperate with each other in
determining the appropriate time for mailing the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus in light of the date set for the CIMA Meeting and the
aaiPharma Meeting. aaiPharma shall cause Holding Company to take any action
(other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now
so qualified or to file a general consent to service of process) required to be
taken under any applicable federal or state securities laws in connection with
the issuance of HoldCo Common Stock pursuant to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. Each of CIMA, aaiPharma and Holding Company shall furnish all
information concerning it and the holders of its capital stock as any party
hereto may reasonably request in connection with such actions and the
preparation of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement.

         (b) Each of aaiPharma and CIMA will advise the other party, promptly
after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement
has become effective, the issuance of any stop order, the suspension of the
qualification of the HoldCo Common Stock issuable in connection with the Mergers
for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or any request by the SEC for
amendment of the Joint Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement.

         (c) aaiPharma, CIMA and Holding Company each agrees, as to itself and
its Subsidiaries, that none of the information supplied or to be supplied by it
for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Registration Statement
will, at the time the Registration Statement and each amendment or supplement
thereto, if any, becomes effective under the Securities Act, 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
(ii) the Joint Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto will, at
the date of mailing to stockholders and at the time of the aaiPharma Meeting or
the CIMA Meeting, as the case may be, 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 the light of the circumstances
under which such statement was made, not misleading. If, at any time prior to
the Effective Time, any information relating to CIMA, aaiPharma, Holding Company
or any of their Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Affiliates, officers or
directors, should be discovered by CIMA, aaiPharma or Holding Company that
should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to any of the Registration
Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement so that any of such documents would not
include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information
shall promptly notify the other party hereto and, to the extent required by Law,
an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be
promptly filed with the SEC and disseminated to the stockholders of CIMA and
aaiPharma.



                                       45


         (d) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the
contrary, no amendment or supplement (including by incorporation by reference)
to the Joint Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement shall be made without
the approval of both aaiPharma and CIMA, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that with respect to documents filed
by a party which are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or
Joint Proxy Statement, this right of approval shall apply only with respect to
information relating to the other party or its business, financial condition or
results of operations; provided, further, that CIMA, in connection with a Change
in the CIMA Recommendation (as defined in Section 6.02(f)), and aaiPharma, in
connection with a Change in the aaiPharma Recommendation (as defined in Section
6.02(e)), may amend or supplement the Joint Proxy Statement or Registration
Statement (including by incorporation by reference) pursuant to a Qualifying
Amendment (as defined below) to effect such a Change, and in such event, the
right of approval shall apply only with respect to information relating to the
other party or its business, financial condition or results of operations, and
shall be subject to the right of each party to have its Board of Directors'
deliberations and conclusions accurately described. A "Qualifying Amendment"
means an amendment or supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement or Registration
Statement (including by incorporation by reference) to the extent it contains
(i) a Change in the CIMA Recommendation or a Change in the aaiPharma
Recommendation (as the case may be), (ii) a statement of the reasons of the CIMA
Board or the aaiPharma Board (as the case may be) for making such Change in the
CIMA Recommendation or Change in the aaiPharma Recommendation (as the case may
be) and (iii) additional information reasonably related to the foregoing.

         (e) Prior to the termination of this Agreement, aaiPharma shall duly
take all lawful action to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of
its stockholders (the "aaiPharma Meeting") as soon as reasonably practicable
following the date the Registration Statement becomes effective and the Joint
Proxy Statement is cleared by the SEC and after coordination with CIMA for the
purpose of obtaining the aaiPharma Stockholder Approval; provided that subject
to applicable Law, so long as the Registration Statement becomes effective and
the Joint Proxy Statement is cleared by the SEC, in each case not later than
thirty Business Days prior to the Termination Date, the aaiPharma Meeting shall
be held not later than five Business Days prior to the Termination Date;
provided, further, that aaiPharma shall not be required to hold the aaiPharma
Meeting prior to the date of the CIMA Meeting. In connection with the aaiPharma
Meeting and the transactions contemplated hereby, aaiPharma will (i) subject to
applicable Law and this Section 6.02(e), use its reasonable best efforts
(including postponing or adjourning the aaiPharma Meeting to obtain a quorum or
to solicit additional proxies) to obtain the necessary approvals by its
stockholders of this Agreement and (ii) otherwise comply with all legal
requirements applicable to the aaiPharma Meeting. The Board of Directors of
aaiPharma shall recommend adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of
aaiPharma as set forth in Section 5.03(bb)(2) (the "aaiPharma Recommendation"),
and shall not withdraw, modify or qualify (or propose to withdraw, modify or
qualify) (a "Change") in any manner adverse to CIMA such recommendation or take
any action or make any statement in connection with the aaiPharma Meeting
inconsistent with such recommendation (collectively, a "Change in the aaiPharma
Recommendation"); provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit accurate
disclosure (and such disclosure shall not be deemed to be a Change in the
aaiPharma Recommendation) of factual information regarding the business,
financial condition or results of operations of CIMA or aaiPharma or the fact
that an Acquisition Proposal has been made, the identity of the party



                                       46


making such proposal or the material terms of such proposal (provided that the
aaiPharma Board does not withdraw, modify or qualify (or propose to withdraw,
modify or qualify) in any manner adverse to CIMA the aaiPharma Recommendation)
in the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement or otherwise, to the
extent such information, facts, identity or terms is required to be disclosed
under applicable Law; and, provided, further, that the aaiPharma Board may make
a Change in the aaiPharma Recommendation pursuant to Section 6.03(e) hereof.
Notwithstanding any Change in the aaiPharma Recommendation, this Agreement shall
be submitted to the stockholders of aaiPharma at the aaiPharma Meeting for the
purpose of adopting this Agreement and approving the aaiPharma Merger; provided
that this Agreement shall not be required to be submitted to the stockholders of
aaiPharma at the aaiPharma Meeting if this Agreement has been terminated
pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in the
aaiPharma Recommendation shall be deemed to include a recommendation by the
aaiPharma Board of a third party Acquisition Proposal with respect to aaiPharma.

         (f) Prior to the termination of this Agreement, CIMA shall duly take
all lawful action to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its
stockholders (the "CIMA Meeting") as soon as reasonably practicable following
the date the Registration Statement becomes effective and the Joint Proxy
Statement is cleared by the SEC and after coordination with aaiPharma for the
purpose of obtaining the CIMA Stockholder Approval; provided that, subject to
applicable Law, so long as the Registration Statement becomes effective and the
Joint Proxy Statement is cleared by the SEC not later than thirty Business Days
prior to the Termination Date, the CIMA Meeting shall be held not later than
five Business Days prior to the Termination Date; provided, further, that CIMA
shall not be required to hold the CIMA Meeting prior to the date of the
aaiPharma Meeting. In connection with the CIMA Meeting and the transactions
contemplated hereby, CIMA will (i) subject to applicable Law and this Section
6.02(f), use its reasonable best efforts (including postponing or adjourning the
CIMA Meeting to obtain a quorum or to solicit additional proxies) to obtain the
necessary approvals by its stockholders of this Agreement and (ii) otherwise
comply with all legal requirements applicable to the CIMA Meeting. The CIMA
Board shall recommend adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of CIMA as
set forth in Section 5.03(bb)(1) (the "CIMA Recommendation"), and shall not
Change in any manner adverse to aaiPharma such recommendation or take any action
or make any statement in connection with the CIMA Meeting inconsistent with such
recommendation (collectively, a "Change in the CIMA Recommendation"); provided
that the foregoing shall not prohibit accurate disclosure (and such disclosure
shall not be deemed to be a Change in the CIMA Recommendation) of factual
information regarding the business, financial condition or results of operations
of CIMA or aaiPharma or the fact that an Acquisition Proposal has been made, the
identity of the party making such proposal or the material terms of such
proposal (provided that the CIMA Board does not withdraw, modify or qualify (or
propose to withdraw, modify or qualify) in any manner adverse to aaiPharma the
CIMA Recommendation) in the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement
or otherwise, to the extent such information, facts, identity or terms is
required to be disclosed under applicable Law; and, provided further, that the
CIMA Board may make a Change in the CIMA Recommendation pursuant to Section
6.03(e) hereof. Notwithstanding any Change in the CIMA Recommendation, this
Agreement shall be submitted to the stockholders of CIMA at the CIMA Meeting for
the purpose of adopting this Agreement and approving the CIMA Merger; provided
that this Agreement shall not be required to be submitted to the stockholders of
CIMA at the CIMA Meeting if this Agreement has been



                                       47


terminated pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a
Change in the CIMA Recommendation shall be deemed to include a recommendation by
the CIMA Board of a third party Acquisition Proposal with respect to CIMA.

         (g) Nothing in this Section 6.02 shall permit either party to terminate
this Agreement (except as specifically provided in Article VIII).

         6.03 Acquisition Proposals.

         (a) After the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time or earlier
termination of this Agreement, each of CIMA and aaiPharma agrees that neither it
nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of the officers, directors or employees of
it or its Subsidiaries shall, and that it shall use its reasonable best efforts
to cause its and its Subsidiaries' other Representatives not to, directly or
indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, encourage, knowingly facilitate or induce any
inquiry with respect to, or the making, submission or announcement of, any
Acquisition Proposal, (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations
regarding, or furnish to any Person any nonpublic information with respect to,
or take any other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any
proposal that constitutes or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any
Acquisition Proposal (except to notify such Person as to the existence of these
provisions or to the extent specifically permitted pursuant to this Section
6.03), (iii) accept, approve, endorse or recommend any Acquisition Proposal
(except to the extent specifically permitted pursuant to this Section 6.03), or
(iv) enter into any letter of intent or similar document or any agreement,
commitment or understanding contemplating or otherwise relating to any
Acquisition Proposal or a transaction contemplated thereby (except for
confidentiality agreements specifically permitted pursuant to Section
6.03(c)(3)). Each of aaiPharma, CIMA and their officers, directors and employees
will immediately cease and cause to be terminated, and shall use its reasonable
best efforts to cause its and its Subsidiaries' other Representatives to
immediately cease and terminate, any activities, discussions or negotiations
conducted before the date of this Agreement with any Persons other than CIMA or
aaiPharma, as the case may be, with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, and
will use its reasonable best efforts to enforce any confidentiality or similar
agreement relating to any such Acquisition Proposal.

         (b) aaiPharma and CIMA will as promptly as practicable (and in no event
later than within one Business Day after receipt thereof) notify the other party
in writing following receipt of any Acquisition Proposal or any request for
nonpublic information or inquiry which it reasonably believes could lead to an
Acquisition Proposal. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the
substance and material terms of such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry
(including the identity of the Person making such Acquisition Proposal, request
or inquiry). aaiPharma and CIMA will keep the other party apprised of any
related developments, discussions and negotiations (including any material
changes or modifications to the terms and conditions of the Acquisition
Proposal, request or inquiry) on a current basis, and provide to the other
party, as soon as reasonably practicable, copies of all written materials
provided or made available in connection with such Acquisition Proposal, request
or inquiry (including the form of any merger agreement or acquisition agreement,
as the case may be, in connection with any such Acquisition Proposal). aaiPharma
and CIMA shall provide the other party with forty-eight (48) hours' prior notice
(or such lesser prior notice as is provided to the members of its Board of



                                       48


Directors) of any meeting of its Board of Directors at which such Board of
Directors is reasonably expected to consider any Acquisition Proposal.

         (c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each of
CIMA and aaiPharma shall be permitted to engage in discussions or negotiations
with, and provide nonpublic information to, any Person that has made unsolicited
bona fide written Acquisition Proposal with respect to it, if and only to the
extent that:

                  (1) the CIMA Stockholder Approval, in the case of CIMA, or the
         aaiPharma Stockholder Approval, in the case of aaiPharma, respectively,
         shall not have been obtained;

                  (2) (x) its Board of Directors has concluded in good faith,
         after consultation with a nationally recognized financial advisor and
         its outside legal counsel, such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a
         Superior Proposal (and continues to constitute a Superior Proposal
         after taking into account any amendment or modification to this
         Agreement proposed by the other party hereto during any three Business
         Day period referenced below in Section 6.03(d)), or (y) its Board of
         Directors concludes in good faith, after consultation with a nationally
         recognized financial advisor and its outside legal counsel, that there
         is a reasonable likelihood that such Acquisition Proposal would
         reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal;

                  (3) prior to providing any nonpublic information to any
         Person, it shall have entered into a confidentiality agreement with
         such third party on terms no less favorable to it than the
         Confidentiality Agreement; and

                  (4) prior to providing any nonpublic information to any Person
         or entering into discussions or negotiations with any Person, it has
         notified the other party to this Agreement promptly of such Acquisition
         Proposal (a "Superior Proposal Notice") and has otherwise complied with
         its obligations under Section 6.03(b).

         (d) For a period of not less than three Business Days after CIMA's or
aaiPharma's delivery of any Superior Proposal Notice to the other party, it
shall, if requested by the other party, negotiate in good faith with the other
party to revise this Agreement so that the Acquisition Proposal that constituted
a Superior Proposal no longer constitutes a Superior Proposal (a "Former
Superior Proposal"). The terms and conditions of this Section 6.03 shall again
apply to any inquiry or proposal made by any Person who withdraws a Superior
Proposal or who made a Former Superior Proposal (after withdrawal or after such
time as such proposal is a Former Superior Proposal).

         (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each of
CIMA and aaiPharma shall be permitted to effect a Change in CIMA Recommendation
or a Change in aaiPharma Recommendation, as the case may be, if and only to the
extent that:

                  (1) the CIMA Stockholder Approval, in the case of CIMA, or the
         aaiPharma Stockholder Approval, in the case of aaiPharma, respectively,
         shall not have been obtained;



                                       49


                  (2) it shall have (x) provided written notice to the other
         party stating that it intends to change its recommendation and the
         manner in which it intends to do so, and (y) complied with its
         obligations under Sections 6.03(b) and (d); and

                  (3) its Board of Directors has concluded in good faith, after
         receipt of advice of its outside legal counsel, that the failure of the
         Board of Directors to effect a Change in CIMA Recommendation or a
         Change in aaiPharma Recommendation, as applicable, would result in a
         breach of its fiduciary obligations to its stockholders under
         applicable Law.

         (f) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit CIMA or
aaiPharma or their Board of Directors from taking and disclosing to their
stockholders a position contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated
under the Exchange Act, provided that the content of any such disclosure
thereunder shall be governed by the terms of this Agreement. Without limiting
the foregoing proviso, neither CIMA nor aaiPharma shall effect a Change in CIMA
Recommendation or a Change in aaiPharma Recommendation, respectively, unless
specifically permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 6.03(e).

         (g) Neither CIMA nor aaiPharma shall submit to the vote of its
stockholders any Acquisition Proposal, or propose to do so, prior to termination
of this Agreement.

         (h) Each of CIMA and aaiPharma agrees that it will use reasonable best
efforts to promptly inform its Representatives of the obligations undertaken in
this Section 6.03.

         6.04 Holding Company Board and Officers.

         (a) At the Effective Time, the Holding Company Board shall consist of
eight directors, four of whom shall be current members of the aaiPharma Board
designated prior to the Effective Time by aaiPharma and four of whom shall be
current members of the CIMA Board designated prior to the Effective Time by CIMA
(collectively, such designees and any replacements therefor are referred to as
the "Board Designees"). Prior to the Effective Time, CIMA shall designate two of
its Board Designees who are Independent Directors and aaiPharma shall designate
three of its Board Designees who are Independent Directors to serve on a
selection committee (the "Selection Committee") of the Holding Company Board to
select and elect certain additional members of the Holding Company Board as set
forth in Section 6.04(b). Each of CIMA and aaiPharma shall notify the other
party of its Board Designees and those Board Designees designated to serve on
the Selection Committee no later than two Business Days prior to the Effective
Time. aaiPharma and Holding Company agree to take all action necessary to elect
the Board Designees to serve as the Holding Company Board immediately prior to
the Effective Time. aaiPharma and Holding Company agree to take all action
necessary to cause the Holding Company Board to establish the Selection
Committee as a committee of the Holding Company Board, immediately prior to the
Effective Time, empowered to take all actions described in Section 6.04(b)
below. In the event that, prior to the Effective Time, any of the Board
Designees or of the designated members of the Selection Committee becomes unable
or unwilling to serve as a member of the Holding Company Board or Selection
Committee, respectively, the party designating such Board Designee or member of
the Selection Committee, as the case may be, may designate a replacement Board
Designee or member of the Selection



                                       50


Committee as applicable; provided that any replacement member of the Selection
Committee must be an Independent Director.

         (b) Within 20 Business Days after the Effective Time, the Selection
Committee shall select up to three individuals (the "Additional Directors") to
serve as members of the Holding Company Board, each of whom shall have agreed so
to serve. Each of the Additional Directors shall be Independent Directors unless
the Selection Committee unanimously agrees otherwise. The Selection Committee
may meet in person or by teleconference and at such time or times as it shall
determine for such purpose. In selecting Additional Directors, the Selection
Committee shall consider all current members of the CIMA Board and the aaiPharma
Board who are not then members of the Holding Company Board, as well as any
other individuals suggested to the Selection Committee by any member of the
Holding Company Board. Concurrently with selecting the Additional Directors, the
Selection Committee shall take all action necessary to set the number of members
of the Holding Company Board at the appropriate number (nine (9), ten (10) or
eleven (11)) and then appoint the Additional Directors to the resulting
vacancies. Action by the Selection Committee pursuant to this Section 6.04(b)
shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Selection
Committee.

         (c) Immediately prior to the Effective Time, aaiPharma and Holding
Company shall take all action necessary (i) to remove or cause the resignation
of all members of the Holding Company Board who are not Board Designees, (ii) to
remove all of the officers of Holding Company and (iii) to appoint as officers
of Holding Company the individuals identified in Exhibit 6.04(c) to the offices
set forth opposite their names in Exhibit 6.04(c), as such Exhibit may be
amended prior to the Effective Time in accordance with Section 9.02.

         6.05 Press Releases; Public Announcements. aaiPharma and CIMA shall
consult with each other before issuing, and provide each other the opportunity
to review and make reasonable comment upon, any press release, written employee
communication or other written stockholder communication with respect to the
Mergers or this Agreement and shall not issue, or allow any of their respective
Subsidiaries to issue, any such communication or make any such public statement
without the prior consent of the other party, which will not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed; provided that a party may, without the prior consent of the
other party (but after prior consultation, to the extent practicable in the
circumstances), issue such communication or make a Regulatory Filing or other
public statement that may be required by applicable Law or securities exchange
rules on which the HoldCo Common Stock, the CIMA Common Stock or aaiPharma
Common Stock is listed, as applicable; provided, further, that a party may make
any public statement in response to specific questions by the press, analysts,
investors or those attending industry conferences or financial analyst
conference calls, so long as any such statements are not inconsistent with
previous press releases, public disclosures or public statements made jointly by
CIMA and aaiPharma and do not reveal any non-public information regarding the
other party. aaiPharma and CIMA shall cooperate to develop all public
communications and make appropriate members of management available at
presentations related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as
reasonably requested by the other party.



                                       51


         6.06 Access; Information.

         (a) Each of aaiPharma and CIMA agrees that upon reasonable notice and
subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, it shall
(and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) afford the other party, and the other
party's Representatives, such access during normal business hours, upon
reasonable notice, throughout the period before the Effective Time to the books,
records (including Tax Returns and work papers of independent accountants),
properties, personnel and to such other information as any party may reasonably
request and, during such period, it will furnish promptly to such other party
all information concerning the business, properties and personnel of it as the
other may reasonably request; provided that such investigation shall not
unreasonably disrupt the furnishing party's operations. Neither party nor any of
its Subsidiaries shall be required to afford access or disclose information that
would jeopardize attorney-client privilege or contravene any binding agreement
with any third party. The parties shall make appropriate substitute arrangements
in circumstances where the previous sentence applies.

         (b) Each party agrees that it shall hold as confidential any
information that is nonpublic and confidential to the extent required by, and in
accordance with, the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2003,
between aaiPharma and CIMA (the "Confidentiality Agreement"). Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or in any other written or
oral understanding or agreement to which the parties hereto are parties or by
which they are bound, including the Confidentiality Agreement, the parties
hereto acknowledge and agree that any obligations of confidentiality contained
herein and therein shall not apply to the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the
Mergers upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date of the public announcement of
discussions relating to the Mergers, (ii) the date of the public announcement of
the Mergers, or (iii) the date of the execution of the Agreement, all within the
meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4; provided, however, that each
party recognizes that the privilege each has to maintain, in its sole
discretion, the confidentiality of a communication relating to the Mergers,
including a confidential communication with its attorney or a confidential
communication with a federally authorized tax practitioner under Section 7525 of
the Code, is not intended to be affected by the foregoing.

         (c) No investigation by either party of the business and affairs of the
other party, pursuant to this Section 6.06 or otherwise, shall affect or be
deemed to modify or waive any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in
this Agreement, or the conditions to either party's obligation to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         6.07 Takeover Laws and Rights Plans.

         (a) No party shall take any action that would cause the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement to be subject to requirements imposed by any
Takeover Law, and each of them shall take all necessary steps within its control
to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) those transactions from, or if
necessary challenge the validity or applicability of, any applicable Takeover
Law, as now or hereafter in effect. No party shall take any action that would
cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement not to comply with any
Takeover Provisions, and each of them shall take all necessary steps within its
control to make those transactions comply with (or continue to comply with) the
Takeover Provisions.



                                       52


         (b) The CIMA Board shall not, without the prior written consent of
aaiPharma, (i) amend the CIMA Rights Agreement or (ii) take any action to, or
make any determination under, the CIMA Rights Agreement, including a redemption
of the CIMA Rights, except upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.01(i).

         (c) aaiPharma shall not adopt any stockholder rights plan or similar
agreement prior to the Effective Time.

         6.08 Nasdaq Listing. CIMA, aaiPharma and Holding Company shall use all
reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of HoldCo Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Mergers and to be issued upon the exercise of CIMA Stock Options
or aaiPharma Stock Options following the Effective Time to be approved for
listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance, as promptly as
practicable, and in any event before the Effective Time.

         6.09 Regulatory and Third Party Approvals.

         (a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, CIMA and
aaiPharma shall:

                  (1) as promptly as reasonably practicable make their
         respective filings under the HSR Act with respect to the Mergers, and
         thereafter promptly make any other required submissions under the HSR
         Act;

                  (2) use their reasonable best efforts to cooperate with one
         another in (A) determining which filings are required to be made prior
         to the Effective Time with, and which consents, approvals, permits or
         authorizations are required to be obtained prior to the Effective Time
         from Governmental Authorities in connection with the execution and
         delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Mergers and the
         transactions contemplated hereby (the "Requisite Regulatory Approvals")
         and (B) timely making all such filings in respect of those Requisite
         Regulatory Approvals and timely seeking all such Requisite Regulatory
         Approvals;

                  (3) use their reasonable best efforts to prepare and file, as
         applicable, as soon as is reasonably practical, all documentation to
         effect and obtain all Requisite Regulatory Approvals;

                  (4) promptly notify each other as soon as is reasonably
         practicable of any material communication concerning this Agreement or
         the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Mergers) to that
         party or its Subsidiaries from any Governmental Authority and permit
         the other party to review in advance any proposed communications
         concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
         (including the Mergers) to any Governmental Authority;

                  (5) to the extent reasonably practicable, not agree to
         participate in any meeting or discussion with any Governmental
         Authority in respect of any filings, investigation or other inquiry
         concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
         (including the Mergers) unless it consults with the other party in
         advance and, to the extent reasonably practicable and permitted by such
         Governmental Authority, gives the other party the opportunity to attend
         and participate in the meeting or discussion;



                                       53


                  (6) furnish the other party with copies of all material
         correspondence, filings and communications (and memoranda setting forth
         the substance thereof) between them and their Affiliates and their
         respective Representatives on the one hand, and any Governmental
         Authority or members or their respective staffs on the other hand, with
         respect to this Agreement and the Mergers;

                  (7) furnish the other party with such necessary information
         and reasonable assistance as such other party and its Affiliates may
         reasonably request in connection with their preparation of necessary
         filings, registrations or submissions of information to any
         Governmental Authority, including any filings necessary or appropriate
         under the provisions of the HSR Act; and

                  (8) not voluntarily extend any waiting period under the HSR
         Act and/or enter into any agreement with a Governmental Authority to
         delay or not to consummate the Mergers except with the prior written
         consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably
         withheld or delayed (which reasonableness shall be determined in light
         of CIMA's and aaiPharma's obligation to consummate the Mergers as
         promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this
         Agreement).

         CIMA, aaiPharma and their respective Subsidiaries may designate any
         competitively sensitive information provided to the other under this
         Section 6.09(a) as "outside counsel only." Such information shall be
         given only to outside counsel of the recipient. In addition, CIMA,
         aaiPharma and their respective Subsidiaries may redact any
         competitively sensitive information from such documents shared with the
         other party or its counsel that is not pertinent to the subject matter
         of a Requisite Regulatory Approval.

         (b) Without limiting Section 6.09(a), CIMA and aaiPharma shall:

                  (1) each use its reasonable best efforts to avoid the entry
         of, or to have vacated or terminated, any decree, order or judgment
         that would restrain, prevent or delay the Closing, including defending
         through litigation on the merits any claim asserted in any court by any
         party; and

                  (2) each use its reasonable best efforts to avoid or eliminate
         impediments under any antitrust, competition or trade regulation law
         that may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the
         Mergers so as to enable the Closing to occur as soon as reasonably
         possible (and in any event prior to the Termination Date), provided
         that nothing in this Section 6.09 shall require either CIMA or
         aaiPharma to (i) license, sell, divest or dispose of any material
         assets or businesses of CIMA or aaiPharma or any of their respective
         Subsidiaries or (ii) otherwise take or commit to take any action that
         limits in any material respect its freedom of action with respect to,
         or its ability to retain, any of the assets or businesses of CIMA or
         aaiPharma or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

         (c) Each of CIMA and aaiPharma shall give (or shall cause their
respective Subsidiaries to give) any notices to non-governmental third parties,
and use, and cause their respective Subsidiaries to use, reasonable best efforts
to obtain any non-governmental third party



                                       54


consents with respect to it, (i) necessary, proper or advisable to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) required to be disclosed
in Section 5.03(g) of the CIMA Disclosure Letter or the aaiPharma Disclosure
Letter, as applicable, or (iii) required to prevent a CIMA Material Adverse
Effect or a aaiPharma Material Adverse Effect from occurring prior to or after
the Effective Time. In the event that either party shall fail to obtain any
third party consent described in the first sentence of this Section 6.09(c),
such party shall use reasonable best efforts, and shall take any such actions
reasonably requested by the other party hereto, to minimize any adverse effect
upon CIMA and aaiPharma, their respective Subsidiaries, and their respective
businesses resulting, or which could reasonably be expected to result after the
Effective Time, from the failure to obtain such consent; provided that no
obligation to make a material payment or to grant a material right shall be
imposed by this Section 6.09(c).

         6.10 Indemnification.

         (a) Following the Effective Time, Holding Company will indemnify,
defend and hold harmless, and provide advancement of expenses to, the present
and former directors and officers of CIMA or any of its Subsidiaries and the
present and former directors and officers of aaiPharma or any of its
Subsidiaries (each, an "Indemnified Party"), to the fullest extent permitted by
Law, against all costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities (collectively, "Costs")
as incurred, in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising
out of actions or omissions occurring at or before the Effective Time (including
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).

         (b) For a period of six years following the Effective Time, Holding
Company shall, and shall cause CIMA Surviving Corporation and aaiPharma
Surviving Corporation to, cause to be maintained in effect in the Constituent
Documents of each of CIMA Surviving Corporation and aaiPharma Surviving
Corporation, as the case may be, or any successor of either, provisions with
respect to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses that are at
least as favorable to the intended beneficiaries as those presently contained in
the Constituent Documents of CIMA and aaiPharma, as the case may be, to the
extent permitted by Law.

         (c) For a period of six years following the Effective Time, Holding
Company shall, or shall cause aaiPharma Surviving Corporation and CIMA Surviving
Corporation, as applicable, to, provide director's and officer's liability
insurance for the benefit of the present and former officers and directors of
CIMA or any of its Subsidiaries or aaiPharma or its Subsidiaries with respect to
claims against such directors and officers arising from facts or events
occurring before the Effective Time (including the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement), which insurance will contain at least the same coverage (and
not less than $15,000,000 of coverage with respect to CIMA) and amounts, and
contain terms and conditions no less advantageous to the Indemnified Party as
that coverage currently provided to such Indemnified Party by CIMA or aaiPharma,
as the case may be; provided, however, that Holding Company, CIMA Surviving
Corporation and aaiPharma Surviving Corporation collectively shall not be
required to pay annual premiums in excess of $4,000,000, in which case Holding
Company shall, or shall cause aaiPharma Surviving Corporation and CIMA Surviving
Corporation, as applicable, to obtain in the aggregate as much comparable
insurance as is reasonably available for such amount to provide, to the extent
practicable, the same amount of coverage with respect to the present and



                                       55


former officers and directors of CIMA and any of its Subsidiaries as coverage
with respect to the present and former officers and directors of aaiPharma and
any of its Subsidiaries; and provided, further, that an Indemnified Party may be
required to make application and provide customary representations and
warranties to Holding Company's insurance carrier for the purpose of obtaining
such insurance.

         (d) The rights of each Indemnified Party hereunder shall be in addition
to, and not in limitation of, any other rights such Indemnified Party may have
under the Constituent Documents of CIMA or aaiPharma, any other indemnification
arrangement, the DGCL or otherwise. The provisions of this Section 6.10 shall
survive the consummation of the Mergers.

         (e) If Holding Company, CIMA Surviving Corporation, aaiPharma Surviving
Corporation or any of their respective successors or assigns consolidates with
or merges into any other entity and is not the continuing or surviving entity of
such consolidation or merger or transfers all or substantially all of its assets
to any other entity, then and in each case, Holding Company will cause proper
provision to be made so that the successors and assigns of Holding Company, CIMA
Surviving Corporation or aaiPharma Surviving Corporation, as the case may be,
shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.10.

         (f) The provisions of this Section 6.10 are expressly intended to be
for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his
or her heirs and Representatives.

         6.11 Benefit Plans.

         (a) From and after the Effective Time, Holding Company shall, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries (including CIMA Surviving Corporation and aaiPharma
Surviving Corporation), to cause the Benefit Arrangements maintained by each of
them after the Effective Time to recognize, at the least, each Continued
Employee's years of service and employment and level of seniority with any one
of them prior to the Effective Time for purposes of eligibility, vesting,
benefit accrual and benefit determination under such Benefit Arrangements (other
than benefit accruals under any defined benefit pension plan) maintained by any
one of them after the Effective Time to the same extent that such years of
service and employment and level of seniority were recognized by the Continued
Employee's employer's substantially similar Benefit Arrangement immediately
prior to the Effective Time. Moreover, from and after the Effective Time,
Holding Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries (including CIMA
Surviving Corporation and aaiPharma Surviving Corporation) to, cause each
Benefit Plan maintained by any one of them after the Effective Time that a
Continued Employee may be eligible to participate in on or after the Effective
Time to waive any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to participation
and coverage requirements applicable to Continued Employees to the extent that
such exclusion did not apply to the Continued Employee prior to the Effective
Time under any similar Benefit Plan in which the Continued Employee participated
immediately prior to the Effective Time. If after the Effective Time, Holding
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including CIMA Surviving Corporation and
aaiPharma Surviving Corporation) provides coverage under a group health plan for
Continued Employees (including their eligible dependents) that is different from
the group health plan in which the Continued Employees participated immediately
prior to the Effective Time, then Holding Company shall cause, or shall cause
the plan sponsor to cause, such group health plan to credit such Continued
Employees, for



                                       56


the current year, with any deductibles and co-payments already incurred during
such year under the group health plan in which the Continued Employees
participated immediately prior to the Effective Time.

         (b) From and after the Effective Time, Holding Company shall honor,
fulfill and discharge and shall cause CIMA Surviving Corporation and aaiPharma
Surviving Corporation to honor, fulfill and discharge, in accordance with its
terms, each Benefit Arrangement and each employment and termination agreement
(i) between aaiPharma or any of its Subsidiaries and any officer, director or
employee of any of them or (ii) between CIMA and any officer, director or
employee of CIMA, in each case in place immediately prior to the Effective Time,
including (A) all legal and contractual obligations pursuant to outstanding
retirement plans, salary and bonus deferral plans, vested and accrued benefits
and similar employment and benefit arrangements and agreements (specifically
including all of the "change in control" provisions under Benefit Arrangements
of aaiPharma or CIMA) and (B) all vacation, personal and sick days accrued by
Employees as of the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, Holding Company shall
assume the employment agreement between aaiPharma and Frederick D. Sancilio and
shall honor, fulfill and discharge all responsibilities, and accede to all
rights, of aaiPharma thereunder. From and after the Effective Time, until the
second anniversary of the Effective Time, Holding Company and its Subsidiaries
shall not adopt or modify any Benefit Arrangement that would create or enhance
any disparity in the aggregate compensation and benefits between similarly
situated regular, full time employees of CIMA Surviving Corporation and its
Subsidiaries on the one hand and of aaiPharma Surviving Corporation and its
Subsidiaries on the other hand, other than to reflect local and competitive
employment market conditions. However, nothing contained in any of the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6.11(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall (x)
require Holding Company or its Subsidiaries (including CIMA Surviving
Corporation and aaiPharma Surviving Corporation) to continue (A) any particular
compensation or benefits or compensation, benefits or employment agreement for
any particular period of time beyond that to which it is contractually bound or
(B) any Benefit Arrangement for any particular period of time beyond that to
which it is contractually or otherwise legally bound or (y) prevent the
amendment, modification or termination of any such compensation or benefits,
compensation, benefits or employment agreement or Benefit Arrangement except as
may be prohibited by the terms thereof or otherwise by law.

         (c) Prior to the Effective Time, CIMA shall take all action necessary
to terminate the CIMA Stock Purchase Plan.

         (d) Prior to the Effective Time, CIMA shall take all action necessary
to cause all CIMA Stock Options outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time to become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to the Effective
Time.

         6.12 Notification of Certain Matters. aaiPharma and CIMA shall each
give prompt notice to the other party of any fact, event or circumstance known
to it that (i) is reasonably likely, individually or taken together with all
other facts, events and circumstances known to it, to result in any Material
Adverse Effect with respect to it or (ii) would cause or constitute a material
breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
contained herein that reasonably could be expected to give rise, individually or
in the aggregate, to the failure of a condition in Article VII; provided,
however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant



                                       57


to this Section 6.12 shall not cure any breach of any representation or
warranty, the failure to comply with any covenant, the failure to meet any
condition or otherwise limit or affect the remedies available hereunder to the
party receiving such notice.

         6.13 Exemption from Liability Under Section 16(b).

         (a) Prior to the Effective Time, (i) assuming that aaiPharma delivers
to Holding Company the Section 16 Information in a timely and accurate manner
before the Effective Time, the Holding Company Board, or a committee of
"non-employee directors" thereof (as such term is defined for purposes of Rule
16b-3(d) under the Exchange Act), as the case may be, shall adopt a resolution
consistent with the interpretive guidance of the SEC providing that the receipt
by the aaiPharma Insiders who may be a covered Person of Holding Company for
purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act (together with the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, "Section 16") of HoldCo Common Stock in
exchange for shares of aaiPharma Common Stock, and of options to purchase shares
of HoldCo Common Stock upon conversion of options to purchase shares of
aaiPharma Common Stock, in each case pursuant to the transactions contemplated
hereby and to the extent such securities are listed in the Section 16
Information, are approved by the Holding Company Board, or by such committee
thereof, as the case may be, and are intended to be exempt from liability
pursuant to Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, such that any such receipt
will be so exempt and (ii) the aaiPharma Board, or an appropriate committee of
non-employee directors thereof, shall adopt a resolution consistent with the
interpretive guidance of the SEC so that the disposition by any officer or
director of aaiPharma who is a aaiPharma Insider of shares of aaiPharma Common
Stock or aaiPharma Stock Options pursuant to this Agreement and the Mergers
shall be an exempt transaction for purposes of Section 16.

         (b) Prior to the Effective Time, (i) assuming that CIMA delivers to
Holding Company the Section 16 Information in a timely and accurate manner
before the Effective Time, the Holding Company Board, or a committee of
"non-employee directors" thereof (as such term is defined for purposes of Rule
16b-3(d) under the Exchange Act), as the case may be, shall adopt a resolution
consistent with the interpretive guidance of the SEC providing that the receipt
by the CIMA Insiders who may be a covered Person of Holding Company for purposes
of Section 16 of HoldCo Common Stock in exchange for shares of CIMA Common
Stock, and of options to purchase shares of HoldCo Common Stock upon conversion
of options to purchase shares of CIMA Common Stock, in each case pursuant to the
transactions contemplated hereby and to the extent such securities are listed in
the Section 16 Information, are approved by the Holding Company Board, or by
such committee thereof, as the case may be, and are intended to be exempt from
liability pursuant to Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, such that any such
receipt will be so exempt and (ii) the CIMA Board, or an appropriate committee
of non-employee directors thereof, shall adopt a resolution consistent with the
interpretive guidance of the SEC so that the disposition by any officer or
director of CIMA who is a CIMA Insider of shares of CIMA Common Stock or CIMA
Stock Options pursuant to this Agreement and the Mergers shall be an exempt
transaction for purposes of Section 16.

         6.14 Affiliate Notices. Each of CIMA and aaiPharma shall, promptly
after the date hereof and prior to the mailing of the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, deliver to the other party a list setting forth the names
of all Persons such party expects to be, at the time of the CIMA



                                       58


Meeting and the aaiPharma Meeting, as the case may be, "affiliates" of such
party for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act. Each of CIMA and
aaiPharma shall furnish such other information and documents as the other party
may reasonably request for the purpose of reviewing the list. Prior to the
Effective Time, each of aaiPharma and CIMA shall deliver a notice, reasonably
acceptable to the other party, to each such Person identified as an Affiliate in
such list, describing the requirements of Rule 145 applicable to such Affiliates
by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         6.15 Rights Plans. Prior to the Effective Time, Holding Company shall
adopt and have in full force and legal effect a stockholder rights agreement
substantially identical in all material respects to the CIMA Rights Plan or in a
form reasonably acceptable to CIMA and aaiPharma, and which exempts aaiPharma as
an "Acquiring Person" prior to the Effective Time, and shall take all such
action as is necessary to declare, immediately prior to the Effective Time, a
dividend of one (1) preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of
HoldCo Common Stock.

         6.16 Control of Other Party's Business. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall give any party, directly or indirectly, the right to control or
direct the operations of the other party prior to the consummation of the
Mergers. Prior to the consummation of the Mergers, each of aaiPharma and CIMA
shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
complete control and supervision over its operations.

         6.17 Treasury Regulation Statement. On the Closing Date, each of
aaiPharma and CIMA shall deliver to Holding Company a properly executed
statement in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section
1.897-2(h) and in a form reasonably acceptable to Holding Company for purposes
of satisfying Holding Company's obligations under Treasury Regulation Section
1.1445-2(c)(3).

                                  ARTICLE VII

                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGERS

         7.01 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Mergers. The
respective obligations of each of aaiPharma and CIMA to consummate their
respective Mergers are subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by aaiPharma
and CIMA before the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

         (a) Stockholder Approvals. The aaiPharma Stockholder Approval and the
CIMA Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.

         (b) HSR Act. Any waiting period applicable to consummation of the
Mergers under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.

         (c) Regulatory Approvals. Other than filings pursuant to the HSR Act,
all consents, approvals and authorizations of any Governmental Authority
required of CIMA, aaiPharma or any of their Subsidiaries to consummate the
Mergers, the failure of which to be obtained or taken, individually or in the
aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Holding



                                       59


Company (determined, for purposes of this clause, after giving effect to the
Mergers), shall have been obtained.

         (d) No Injunction. No Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction
shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, decree, injunction or other order (whether temporary,
preliminary or permanent) which is in effect and prohibits consummation of the
Mergers or makes illegal the consummation of the Mergers (each party agreeing to
use its reasonable best efforts, subject to the provisions of Section 6.09,
including appealing to higher courts, to have any judgment, decree, injunction
or order lifted).

         (e) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have
become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and be in
effect and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending before the SEC.

         (f) Listing. The shares of HoldCo Common Stock to be issued pursuant to
the Mergers and to be issued upon the exercise of CIMA Stock Options and
aaiPharma Stock Options following the Effective Time shall have been approved
for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.

         (g) Opinions of Tax Counsel. aaiPharma shall have received a written
opinion of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., and CIMA shall have received a
written opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, each dated the Closing Date and based
on facts, representations and assumptions described in each such opinion, to the
effect that each Merger will be treated as a reorganization within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Code and/or that the Mergers, taken together, will be
treated as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code. In rendering such
opinions, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. and Latham & Watkins LLP each will
be entitled to receive and rely upon customary certificates and representations
of officers of aaiPharma and CIMA reasonably satisfactory to such counsel and in
substantially the forms attached hereto as Exhibit 7.01(g).

         7.02 Conditions to CIMA's Obligation. CIMA's obligation to consummate
the CIMA Merger is also subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by CIMA
before the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

         (a) aaiPharma's Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of aaiPharma in this Agreement, after giving effect to the standard
set forth in Section 5.02, shall be true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement and (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as
of an earlier date) as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the
Closing Date; and CIMA shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing
Date, signed on behalf of aaiPharma by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief
Financial Officer of aaiPharma to that effect.

         (b) Performance of aaiPharma's Obligations. aaiPharma shall have
performed or complied with in all material respects all obligations required to
be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at or before the
Effective Time; and CIMA shall have received a



                                       60


certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of aaiPharma by the Chief
Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of aaiPharma to that effect.

         (c) aaiPharma Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this
Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect on
aaiPharma or any event or development that would, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
aaiPharma.

         (d) Election of Holding Company Board. Holding Company shall have taken
all action necessary to, at the Effective Time, appoint to the Holding Company
Board the eight Persons designated pursuant to Section 6.04 (to the extent such
Persons have been designated in accordance with Section 6.04 prior to the
Effective Time).

         (e) Appointment of Officers. Holding Company shall have taken all
action necessary to remove all of its officers and appoint as officers of
Holding Company, to the extent such Persons are willing to serve, the Persons
identified in Exhibit 6.04(c) to the offices set forth opposite their names in
Exhibit 6.04(c), as such Exhibit may be amended prior to the Effective Time in
accordance with Section 9.02.

         7.03 Conditions to aaiPharma's Obligation. aaiPharma's obligation to
consummate the aaiPharma Merger is also subject to the fulfillment or written
waiver by aaiPharma before the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions:

         (a) CIMA's Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of CIMA in this Agreement, after giving effect to the standard set
forth in Section 5.02, shall be true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement and (except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as
of an earlier date) as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the
Closing Date; and aaiPharma shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing
Date, signed on behalf of CIMA by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial
Officer of CIMA to that effect.

         (b) Performance of CIMA's Obligations. CIMA shall have performed or
complied with in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
or complied with by it under this Agreement at or before the Effective Time; and
aaiPharma shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed on
behalf of CIMA by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of CIMA
to that effect.

         (c) CIMA Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement,
there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect on CIMA or any event
or development that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on CIMA.



                                       61


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   TERMINATION

         8.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated, and the Mergers may
be abandoned, at any time before the Effective Time, whether before or (except
as restricted below) after approval of the matters presented in connection with
the Mergers by the stockholders of CIMA or aaiPharma:

         (a) Mutual Agreement. By aaiPharma or CIMA, with the mutual agreement
of the other party, which agreement shall have been approved by action of their
respective Boards of Directors;

         (b) Breach by aaiPharma. By CIMA, if there has occurred and is
continuing a breach by aaiPharma of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement, after giving effect to the standard set
forth in Section 5.02, that (x) would result in a failure of a condition set
forth in Section 7.02 (a) or (b) and (y) cannot be cured prior to the
Termination Date, provided that CIMA shall have given aaiPharma written notice,
delivered at least 30 days prior to such termination, stating CIMA's intention
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(b), absent a cure, and
the basis for such termination;

         (c) Breach by CIMA. By aaiPharma, if there has occurred and is
continuing a breach by CIMA of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement, after giving effect to the standard set
forth in Section 5.02, that (x) would result in a failure of a condition set
forth in Section 7.03 (a) or (b) and (y) cannot be cured prior to the
Termination Date, provided that aaiPharma shall have given CIMA written notice,
delivered at least 30 days prior to such termination, stating aaiPharma's
intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(c), absent a
cure, and the basis for such termination;

         (d) Adverse CIMA Action. By aaiPharma, if (i) prior to obtaining the
CIMA Stockholder Approval, the CIMA Board shall have withdrawn or changed or
modified the CIMA Recommendation in a manner adverse to aaiPharma, (ii) prior to
obtaining the CIMA Stockholder Approval, the CIMA Board shall have approved or
recommended to CIMA's stockholders an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) prior to
obtaining the CIMA Stockholder Approval, a tender offer or exchange offer for
shares of CIMA Common Stock is commenced (other than by aaiPharma or any of its
Affiliates) and the CIMA Board fails to recommend that CIMA's stockholders
reject such tender or exchange offer within ten Business Days after receipt of
aaiPharma's request to do so, or (iv) for any reason CIMA fails to call, hold or
convene the CIMA Meeting by the fifth Business Day prior to the Termination Date
(if the CIMA Meeting is required to be held on or prior to such date pursuant to
Section 6.02(f)); provided, however, that aaiPharma's right to terminate this
Agreement under clause (iv) shall not be available if at such time CIMA would be
entitled to terminate this Agreement under Section 8.01(b); provided, further,
that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.01(d) shall not
be available to aaiPharma after the CIMA Stockholder Approval has been obtained;

         (e) Adverse aaiPharma Action. By CIMA, if (i) prior to obtaining the
aaiPharma Stockholder Approval, the aaiPharma Board shall have withdrawn or
changed or modified the



                                       62


aaiPharma Recommendation in a manner adverse to CIMA, (ii) prior to obtaining
the aaiPharma Stockholder Approval, the aaiPharma Board shall have approved or
recommended to aaiPharma's stockholders an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) prior to
obtaining the aaiPharma Stockholder Approval, a tender offer or exchange offer
for shares of aaiPharma Common Stock is commenced (other than by CIMA or any of
its Affiliates) and the aaiPharma Board fails to recommend that aaiPharma's
stockholders reject such tender or exchange offer within ten Business Days after
receipt of CIMA's request to do so, or (iv) for any reason aaiPharma fails to
call, hold or convene the aaiPharma Meeting by the fifth Business Day prior to
the Termination Date (if the aaiPharma Meeting is required to be held on or
prior to such date pursuant to Section 6.02(e)); provided, however, that CIMA's
right to terminate this Agreement under clause (iv) shall not be available if at
such time aaiPharma would be entitled to terminate this Agreement under Section
8.01(c); provided, further, that the right to terminate this Agreement under
this Section 8.01(e) shall not be available to CIMA after the aaiPharma
Stockholder Approval has been obtained;

         (f) Delay. By aaiPharma or CIMA, if the Effective Time has not occurred
by the close of business on December 31, 2003; provided that (i) in the event
that the Registration Statement has not become effective or the Joint Proxy
Statement has not been cleared by the SEC on or prior to the date (the "SEC
Deadline Date") that is thirty Business Days prior to December 31, 2003, such
December 31, 2003 date shall be extended by the number of days after the SEC
Deadline Date (not to exceed sixty calendar days) required for both the
Registration Statement to be declared effective and the Joint Proxy Statement to
be cleared by the SEC and (ii) in the event the Closing has not occurred by
December 31, 2003 solely due to the failure to obtain a Requisite Regulatory
Approval (excluding the declaration by the SEC of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement and the clearance by the SEC of the Joint Proxy
Statement), such December 31, 2003 date shall be extended by sixty days whether
or not extended pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 8.01(f) (the December 31,
2003 date, as extended pursuant to the preceding proviso, the "Termination
Date"); provided, further, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this
Section 8.01(f) shall not be available to any party whose failure to comply with
any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or materially contributed
to, the failure of the Effective Time to occur on or before such date;

         (g) Stockholders Do Not Approve. By aaiPharma or CIMA, (i) if the CIMA
Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at a duly held meeting of the
stockholders of CIMA called for such purpose (including any adjournment or
postponement thereof) or (ii) if the aaiPharma Stockholder Approval shall not
have been obtained at a duly held meeting of the stockholders of aaiPharma
called for such purpose (including any adjournment or postponement thereof);
provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.01(g)
shall not be available to any party whose failure to comply with any provision
of this Agreement has been the cause of, or materially contributed to, the
failure to obtain the CIMA Stockholder Approval or the aaiPharma Stockholder
Approval, as the case may be;

         (h) Denial of Regulatory Approval. By aaiPharma or CIMA, if any
Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an order,
judgment, decision, opinion, decree or ruling or taken any other action (which
the party seeking to terminate shall have used its reasonable best efforts to
resist, resolve, annul, quash, or lift, as applicable) permanently enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this



                                       63


Agreement, and such order, decree, ruling or action shall have become final and
non-appealable; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this
Section 8.01(h) shall not be available to any party whose failure to comply with
any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or materially contributed
to, such action;

         (i) CIMA Superior Proposal. By CIMA, if, prior to receipt of the CIMA
Stockholder Approval, the CIMA Board (i) concludes in good faith, following
receipt of advice of its outside legal counsel, that the failure to accept a
Superior Proposal would result in a breach of its fiduciary duties under
applicable law, and (ii) determines to accept such Superior Proposal, but only
if CIMA fulfills its obligation to pay a termination fee to aaiPharma under
Section 8.02 hereof concurrent with such termination; provided, however, that
CIMA's right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.01(i) shall not be
available if CIMA is then in breach of Section 6.03; or

         (j) aaiPharma Superior Proposal. By aaiPharma, if, prior to receipt of
the aaiPharma Stockholder Approval, the aaiPharma Board (i) concludes in good
faith, following receipt of advice of its outside legal counsel, that the
failure to accept a Superior Proposal would result in a breach of its fiduciary
duties under applicable law, and (ii) determines to accept such Superior
Proposal, but only if aaiPharma fulfills its obligation to pay a termination fee
to CIMA under Section 8.02 hereof concurrent with such termination; provided,
however, that aaiPharma's right to terminate this Agreement under this Section
8.01(j) shall not be available if aaiPharma is then in breach of Section 6.03.

         The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01
(other than pursuant to Section 8.01(a)) shall give written notice of such
termination to the other parties.

         8.02 Effect of Termination and Abandonment.

         (a) Limitation of Liability. In the event of any termination of this
Agreement as provided in Section 8.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become
wholly void and of no further force and effect (except with respect to Section
5.03(aa), Section 6.06(b), this Section 8.02 and Article IX, which shall remain
in full force and effect) and there shall be no liability on the part of
aaiPharma, CIMA, Holding Company, C MergerCo or S MergerCo, except with respect
to Section 5.03(aa), Section 6.06(b), this Section 8.02 and Article IX and with
respect to any Liabilities or damages incurred or suffered by a party as a
result of the willful breach by the other party of any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in this Agreement (after
giving effect to the standard in Section 5.02).

         (b) CIMA Expenses. CIMA and aaiPharma agree that if this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to Section 8.01(b), then aaiPharma shall pay CIMA an amount
equal to the sum of CIMA's Expenses up to an amount equal to $5,500,000.

         (c) aaiPharma Expenses. CIMA and aaiPharma agree that if this Agreement
is terminated pursuant to Section 8.01(c), then CIMA shall pay to aaiPharma an
amount equal to the sum of aaiPharma's Expenses up to an amount equal to
$5,500,000.

         (d) Payment of Expenses. Payment of Expenses pursuant to Section
8.02(b) or 8.02(c) shall be made not later than two Business Days after delivery
to the other party of notice



                                       64


of demand for payment and a documented itemization setting forth in reasonable
detail all Expenses of the party entitled to receive payment (which itemization
may be supplemented and updated from time to time by such party until the
ninetieth (90th) day after such party delivers such notice of demand for
payment).

         (e) aaiPharma Termination Fee. aaiPharma agrees to pay to CIMA (without
duplication) the fees set forth below under the following circumstances:

                  (1) If (A) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
         8.01(g)(ii) or 8.01(e)(iii), and (B) after the date hereof, but prior
         to the time of the aaiPharma Meeting, an Acquisition Proposal relating
         to aaiPharma had been publicly proposed or publicly announced, and (C)
         on or prior to the twelve-month anniversary of the termination of this
         Agreement, aaiPharma consummates, or enters into an agreement providing
         for, a Competing Transaction, aaiPharma shall pay CIMA a fee of
         $11,500,000 at the earlier of the time aaiPharma consummates, or enters
         into the agreement providing for a Competing Transaction.

                  (2) If CIMA terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section
         8.01(e)(i), 8.01(e)(ii) or 8.01(e)(iv), aaiPharma shall pay CIMA a fee
         of $11,500,000 within two Business Days following termination.

                  (3) aaiPharma shall pay to CIMA a fee of $11,500,000 prior to
         or concurrently with any termination of this Agreement by aaiPharma
         pursuant to Section 8.01(j).

         In no event shall fees payable by aaiPharma pursuant to Section 8.02(b)
and this Section 8.02(e) exceed $11,500,000.

         (f) CIMA Termination Fee. CIMA agrees to pay to aaiPharma (without
duplication) the fees set forth below under the following circumstances:

                  (1) If (A) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
         8.01(g)(i) or 8.01(d)(iii) and (B) after the date hereof, but prior to
         the time of the CIMA Meeting, an Acquisition Proposal relating to CIMA
         had been publicly proposed or publicly announced, and (C) on or prior
         to the twelve-month anniversary of the termination of this Agreement,
         CIMA consummates, or enters into an agreement providing for, a
         Competing Transaction, CIMA shall pay aaiPharma a fee of $11,500,000 at
         the earlier of the time CIMA consummates, or enters into the agreement
         providing for a Competing Transaction.

                  (2) If aaiPharma terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section
         8.01(d)(i), 8.01(d)(ii) or 8.01(d)(iv), CIMA shall pay aaiPharma a fee
         of $11,500,000 within two Business Days following termination.

                  (3) CIMA shall pay to aaiPharma a fee of $11,500,000 prior to
         or concurrently with any termination of this Agreement by CIMA pursuant
         to Section 8.01(i).



                                       65


         In no event shall fees payable by CIMA pursuant to Section 8.02(c) and
this Section 8.02(f) exceed $11,500,000.

         (g) All payments to be made by a party under this Section 8.02 shall be
made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by
the other party.

         (h) The parties each agree that the agreements contained in Section
8.02 are integral parts of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and
that, without these agreements, neither CIMA nor aaiPharma would enter into this
Agreement. Accordingly, if a party fails to promptly pay the other party an
amount due under this Section 8.02, such failing party shall pay the costs and
expenses of such other party (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) in
connection with any action, including the filing of any lawsuit or legal action,
taken to collect payment, together with interest on the amount of the payment at
the prime rate of Citibank, N.A. in effect on the date such payment was required
to be made.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         9.01 Survival. The representations, warranties, agreements and
covenants contained in this Agreement will not survive the Effective Time (other
than Section 2.04, Article III, Sections 6.04, 6.06(b), 6.10, 6.11 and this
Article IX).

         9.02 Waiver; Amendment. At any time before the Effective Time, whether
before or after the CIMA Stockholder Approval or the aaiPharma Stockholder
Approval is obtained, any provision of this Agreement may be (a) waived by the
party benefited by the provision, but only in writing, or (b) amended or
modified at any time, but only by a written agreement executed in the same
manner as this Agreement; provided, however, that after either the CIMA
Stockholder Approval or the aaiPharma Stockholder Approval is obtained, there
shall not be made any amendment or waiver that by law or the listing
requirements of Nasdaq requires further approval by such stockholders of
aaiPharma or CIMA without such further approval first being obtained. At any
time prior to the Effective Time, the parties, by action taken or authorized by
their respective boards of directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (i)
extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of
the other parties, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and
(iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained
herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or
waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf
of such party. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its
rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of those
rights.

         9.03 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to constitute an original.

         9.04 Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by, and will be
interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
contracts made and to be



                                       66


performed entirely within that State, without regard to the conflicts of laws
principles of any State.

         9.05 Expenses. Subject to Section 8.02, in the event that the Mergers
are not consummated pursuant to this Agreement, each party will bear all
expenses incurred by it in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, except that aaiPharma and CIMA will each bear and pay
one-half of the following expenses: (i) the costs (excluding the fees and
disbursements of Representatives) incurred in connection with the preparation
(including copying and printing and distributing) of the Registration Statement,
the Joint Proxy Statement and applications to Governmental Authorities for the
approval of the Mergers and (ii) all listing, filing or registration fees,
including fees paid for filing the Registration Statement with the SEC, filing
fees for the HSR Act notices and any other fees paid for filings with
Governmental Authorities. In the event that the Mergers are consummated pursuant
to this Agreement, CIMA will bear all expenses of each party in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.

         9.06 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications given or
made under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed given when
personally delivered, facsimile transmitted (with confirmation), five Business
Days after mailing by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested),
or one Business Day after overnight mailing by reputable overnight courier, to
the Persons and addresses set forth below or such other place as such party may
specify by notice.

              If to aaiPharma, Holding Company, C MergerCo or S MergerCo, to:

                           aaiPharma Inc.
                           2320 Scientific Park Drive
                           Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
                           Attention:  Gregory S. Bentley, General Counsel
                           Facsimile:  (910) 815-2387

                           with a copy to:

                           Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
                           101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1900
                           Charlotte, North Carolina  28246
                           Attention:       Stephen M. Lynch
                                            Matthew S. Churchill
                                            Laura C. Smith
                           Facsimile:       (704) 378-4000



                                       67


                           If to CIMA, to:

                           CIMA LABS INC.
                           10000 Valley View Road
                           Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344-9361
                           Attention: Steven B. Ratoff, Chief Executive Officer
                           Facsimile: (952) 947-8711

                           with a copy to:

                           Latham & Watkins LLP
                           650 Town Center Drive, Suite 2000
                           Cost Mesa, California  92626-1918
                           Attention:       Patrick T. Seaver
                                            Charles K. Ruck
                                            R. Scott Shean
                           Facsimile:       (714) 755-8290

         9.07 Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement
represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto regarding the
transactions contemplated hereby and supersede any and all other oral or written
agreements previously made or purported to be made, other than the
Confidentiality Agreement, which will survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement. No representation, warranty, inducement, promise, understanding or
condition not set forth in this Agreement has been made or relied on by any
party in entering into this Agreement. Except for Section 6.10, which is
intended to benefit the Indemnified Parties to the extent stated, nothing
expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended to confer any rights,
remedies, obligations or liabilities upon any Person other a party to this
Agreement.

         9.08 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof to any Person (including the officers and directors of
aaiPharma or CIMA) or circumstance is determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions, or
the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those
as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force
and effect and will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so
long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby
is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such
determination, the parties will negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree
upon a suitable and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent
of the parties. Prior to the termination of this Agreement in accordance with
its terms, the absence of a vote, approval or adoption by the stockholders of
aaiPharma or CIMA will not render invalid or inoperative any provision hereof
not specifically required to be contained in the plan of merger to be adopted by
such stockholders pursuant to the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

         9.09 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each party hereto irrevocably
agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement or for
recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect hereof brought by any
party hereto or its successors or assigns may be brought and determined in the
Chancery or other Courts of the State of Delaware, and each party hereby
irrevocably submits with regard to any such action or proceeding for itself and
in respect



                                       68


to its property, generally and unconditionally, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction
of the aforesaid courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees
not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any
action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, (a) any claim that it is
not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts for any
reason other than the failure to lawfully serve process, (b) that it or its
property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any
legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice,
attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment,
execution of judgment or otherwise), or (c) to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, that (i) the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is
brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action or
proceeding is improper or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof,
may not be enforced in or by such courts.

         9.10 Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur
in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms. It is accordingly agreed that the parties
shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

         9.11 Acknowledgment. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY
CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE
COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF
ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES AND
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY PARTY HERETO
HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT
OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (B) IT UNDERSTANDS AND
HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (C) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS
VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.11.

         9.12 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto, in whole or in part (whether by operation of Law or otherwise), without
the prior written consent of each other party hereto, and any attempt to make
any such assignment without such consent shall be null and void.


                      [THE NEXT PAGE IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE]



                                       69


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties have caused this Agreement to
be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the day and year first above
written.

                                                AAIPHARMA INC.

                                                By: /s/ Philip S. Tabbiner
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Name: Philip S. Tabbiner
                                                    Title: President and Chief
                                                           Executive Officer



                                       S-1



                                                CIMA LABS INC.


                                                By: /s/ Steven B. Ratoff
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Name: Steven B. Ratoff
                                                    Title: Interim Chief
                                                           Executive Officer



                                       S-2



                                                SCARLET HOLDING CORPORATION


                                                By: /s/ Albert N. Cavagnaro
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Name: Albert N. Cavagnaro
                                                    Title: President


                                                CRIMSON MERGERCO, INC.


                                                By: /s/ Albert N. Cavagnaro
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Name: Albert N. Cavagnaro
                                                    Title: President


                                                SCARLET MERGERCO, INC.


                                                By: /s/ Albert N. Cavagnaro
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Name: Albert N. Cavagnaro
                                                    Title: President



                                      S-3


                                                                         Annex 1

                                    RESTATED

                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                           SCARLET HOLDING CORPORATION



         The present name of the Corporation is Scarlet Holding Corporation. The
Corporation was incorporated under the name Scarlet Holding Corporation by the
filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware on July 18, 2003. This Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation, which restates, integrates and further amends
the provisions of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, was duly
adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and by written consent of its sole
stockholder in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby
amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

         FIRST. The name of the Corporation is [aaiPharma/Cima Inc.]

         SECOND. The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware
is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington,
County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such address is The
Corporation Trust Company.

         THIRD. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or
promoted by the Corporation is as follows:

                  To engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations
         may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of
         Delaware (the "General Corporation Law").

         FOURTH. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is 210,000,000 shares, consisting of
(i) 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share ("Common
Stock"), and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share
("Preferred Stock"). The number of authorized shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of
shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the voting power of the Corporation issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the
General Corporation Law.



         The following is a statement of the designations and the powers,
privileges and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof in respect of each class of capital stock of the Corporation.

A.       COMMON STOCK

         1. General. The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders
         of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the
         holders of the Preferred Stock of any series as may be designated by
         the Board of Directors upon any issuance of the Preferred Stock of any
         series.

         2. Voting. The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to one vote for
         each share held at all meetings of stockholders. There shall be no
         cumulative voting.

         3. Dividends. Dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock
         from funds lawfully available therefor as and when determined by the
         Board of Directors and subject to any preferential dividend rights of
         any then outstanding Preferred Stock.

         4. Liquidation. Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation,
         whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock will be
         entitled to receive all assets of the Corporation available for
         distribution to its stockholders, subject to any preferential rights of
         any then outstanding Preferred Stock.

B.       PREFERRED STOCK.

         Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series,
each of such series to have such terms as stated or expressed herein and in the
resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation as hereinafter provided. Any shares of
Preferred Stock that may be redeemed, purchased or acquired by the Corporation
may be reissued except as otherwise provided by law or this Restated Certificate
of Incorporation. Different series of Preferred Stock shall not be construed to
constitute different classes of shares for the purposes of voting by classes
unless expressly provided.

         Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from
time to time to issue the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and in
connection with the creation of any such series, by resolution or resolutions
providing for the issue of the shares thereof, to determine and fix the number
of shares thereof, such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and
such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other
special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof,
including without limitation, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption
privileges and liquidation preferences, as shall be stated and expressed in such
resolutions, all to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the General
Corporation Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
resolutions providing for issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide
that such series shall be superior or rank equally or

                                       2



be junior to the Preferred Stock of any other series to the extent permitted by
law and this Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

         FIFTH. In furtherance of and not in limitation of powers conferred by
statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or
repeal the by-laws of the Corporation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
law, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the
Corporation, each as amended, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser
percentage may be specified by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision
inconsistent with this Article FIFTH.

         SIXTH. Except to the extent that the General Corporation Law prohibits
the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of
fiduciary duty, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary
duty as a director, notwithstanding any other provision of law imposing such
liability. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have
any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the
Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director
occurring prior to such amendment. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law,
this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Corporation,
each as amended and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be
specified by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five
percent (75%) of the voting power issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provisions inconsistent
with, this Article SIXTH.

         SEVENTH. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or
repeal any provision contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in
the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and this Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted
subject to this reservation.

         EIGHTH. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by
or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and
authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Corporation, the directors
are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things
as may be exercised or done by the Corporation. This Article is inserted for the
management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the
Corporation.

         A. Number of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation
shall not be less than one (1). The exact number of directors shall be fixed
from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors or by a nominating
committee appointed by the Board of Directors.

         B. Classes of Directors. Until the first annual meeting of stockholders
of the Corporation following effectiveness of this Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the "First Annual Meeting"), the Board of Directors shall consist
of one class of directors.


                                       3


From and after the First Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall be divided
into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist,
as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors
constituting the entire Board of Directors.

         C. Election of Directors. Elections of directors need not be by written
ballot.

         D. Terms of Office. Each director in office as of the date hereof (and
any director nominated by the board of directors or the nominating committee to
fill a vacancy prior to the First Annual Meeting) shall hold office until the
First Annual Meeting or until his or her successor is duly elected and
qualified. At the First Annual Meeting, all directorships shall be up for
election, with each person nominated as a director being nominated as either a
Class I, Class II, or Class III director. From and after the First Annual
Meeting, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third
annual meeting following the annual meeting at which such director was elected;
provided, that each initial director in Class I shall serve for a term ending on
the date of the annual meeting immediately following the First Annual Meeting;
each initial director in Class II shall serve for a term ending on the date of
the second annual meeting following the First Annual Meeting; and each initial
director in Class III shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third
annual meeting following the First Annual Meeting. A director, including a
director elected or appointed to fill a newly created directorship, shall hold
office until the annual meeting at which his term expires and until his
successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to prior death,
resignation or removal from office.

         E. Quorum; Action at Meeting. A majority of the directors at any time
in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided,
that in no case shall less than one-third of the number of directors fixed
pursuant to Section A above constitute a quorum. Every act or decision done or
made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a
quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the Board of Directors unless
a greater number is required by law or by this Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.

         F. Resignation; Removal. Any director may resign at any time upon
written notice or notice by electronic transmission to the attention of the
secretary of the Corporation. Prior to the First Annual Meeting, directors of
the Corporation may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of the Corporation issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote. From and after the First Annual Meeting,
directors of the Corporation may be removed only for cause and only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of
the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.

         G. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors, however occurring,
or any newly created directorship resulting from an enlargement of the board,
shall be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office,
although less than a quorum, or by a nominating committee appointed by the Board
of Directors, or by a sole remaining director and not by stockholders, unless
the Board of Directors so directs or as required


                                       4


by law. From and after the First Annual Meeting, a director elected to fill a
vacancy shall be elected to hold office until the next election of the class for
which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and
qualification of his successor and to his earlier death, resignation or removal.

         H. Amendments to Article. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law,
this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Corporation,
each as amended, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be
specified by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five
percent (75%) of the voting power issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent
with, this Article EIGHTH.

         I. Notwithstanding the provisions of A through D, and F and G of this
Article EIGHTH, whenever the holders of outstanding shares of one or more series
of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting
separately as a series or as a separate class with one or more such other
series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders,
the election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies, and other features
of such directorship shall be governed by the terms of this Restated Certificate
of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any
series of Preferred Stock) applicable thereto, and such directors so elected
shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article EIGHTH, unless
expressly provided by such terms.

         NINTH. Stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by
written consent in lieu of a meeting. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
law, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the
Corporation, each as amended, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser
percentage may be specified by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision
inconsistent with, this Article NINTH.

         TENTH. Special meetings of stockholders may be called at any time by
(and only by) the Board of Directors. Business transacted at any special meeting
of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes
stated in the notice of meeting. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Corporation,
each as amended, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be
specified by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five
percent (75%) of the voting power issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provisions inconsistent
with, this Article TENTH.



                                       5




         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused its corporate seal to be
affixed hereto and this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by
its President this ___ day of ________, 2003.


                                            SCARLET HOLDING CORPORATION


                                            By: ________________________________
                                                _________________, President







                                       6


                                                                         Annex 2

                      RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                                 AAIPHARMA INC.


                                    ARTICLE I

         The name of the Corporation is aaiPharma Inc.

                                   ARTICLE II

         The address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of
Delaware is The Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, County
of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address
is The Corporation Trust Company.

                                   ARTICLE III

         The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.

                                   ARTICLE IV

         The total number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation shall
have the authority to issue is 1,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per
share.


                                    ARTICLE V

         In furtherance of and not in limitation of powers conferred by statute,
the board of directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to adopt,
amend or repeal the by-laws of the Corporation.

                                   ARTICLE VI

         Except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for
breaches of fiduciary duty, no director of the Corporation shall be personally
liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any
breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any other provision of
law imposing such liability. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall
apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any
director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such
director occurring prior to such amendment.




                                                                         Annex 3

                      RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                                 CIMA LABS INC.



                                    ARTICLE I


         The name of the Corporation is CIMA LABS INC.


                                   ARTICLE II

         The address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of
Delaware is The Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, County
of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address
is The Corporation Trust Company.

                                   ARTICLE III

         The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.

                                   ARTICLE IV

         The total number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation shall
have the authority to issue is 1,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per
share.

                                    ARTICLE V

         In furtherance of and not in limitation of powers conferred by statute,
the board of directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to adopt,
amend or repeal the by-laws of the Corporation.

                                   ARTICLE VI

         Except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for
breaches of fiduciary duty, no director of the Corporation shall be personally
liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any
breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any other provision of
law imposing such liability. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall
apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any
director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such
director occurring prior to such amendment.



                                                                         Annex 4

                                    RESTATED

                                     BY-LAWS

                                       OF

                          [SCARLET HOLDING CORPORATION]





                                    RESTATED
                                     BY-LAWS
                                       OF
                          [SCARLET HOLDING CORPORATION]


                                   ARTICLE I

                                CORPORATE OFFICES

         Section 1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE

         The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of
Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The name of the registered
agent of the Corporation at such location is The Corporation Trust Company.

         Section 1.2 OTHER OFFICES

         The Corporation may have other offices at such places both within and
without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time
determine.

                                   ARTICLE II

                            MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

         Section 2.1 PLACE AND TIME OF MEETINGS

         Meetings of stockholders shall be held at such time and place, or no
place, within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board of
Directors.

         Section 2.2 ANNUAL MEETING

         The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date
and at a time designated by the Board of Directors. At the meeting, directors
shall be elected and any other proper business may be transacted.

         Section 2.3 SPECIAL MEETINGS

         Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Board of
Directors as permitted in the certificate of incorporation (All references to
"certificate of incorporation" herein shall be references to the certificate of
incorporation of the Corporation as amended, supplemented or restated from time
to time). The Corporation shall promptly give notice to the stockholders
entitled to vote upon the calling of a special meeting in accordance with the
provisions of SECTIONS 2.4 and 2.5 hereof.




         Section 2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS

         Unless otherwise provided by law, all notices of meetings with
stockholders shall be in writing or by electronic transmission and shall be sent
or otherwise given in accordance with SECTION 2.5 of these by-laws not less than
ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the
place, if any, date, and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special
meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

         Section 2.5 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE

         Written notice of any meeting of stockholders, if mailed, is given when
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the
stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. An
affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or
other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the
absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

         Section 2.6 QUORUM

         The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of
business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of
incorporation. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is
required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes or series present in
person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action
with respect to that vote on that matter. A quorum, once established, shall not
be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If,
however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the
stockholders, then either (i) the Chairman of the meeting or (ii) the
stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice
other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or
represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or
represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at
the meeting as originally noticed.

         Section 2.7 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE

         When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these
by-laws otherwise require, notice need not be given of that adjourned meeting if
the time and place, if any, thereof are announced at the meeting at which the
adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any
business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the
adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new
record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned
meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the
meeting.

         Section 2.8 CONDUCT OF MEETINGS

         The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each
matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at
the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors may
adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for


                                       2


the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except
to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the
Board of Directors, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall
have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe
such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the
judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the
meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of
Directors or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include,
without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order
of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at
the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at
or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation,
their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the
presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to
the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v)
limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The
presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other
determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if
the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or
business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding
person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the
meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting
shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by
the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of
stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of
parliamentary procedure.

         Section 2.9 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS

         (A) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of persons for
election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of
business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting
of stockholders only (a) pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting (or any
supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c)
by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record of the
Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this SECTION 2.9 is delivered
to the secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and
who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this SECTION 2.9.

                  (2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought
before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph
(A)(1) of this SECTION 2.9, the stockholder must have given timely notice
thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed
business other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of
Directors must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely,
a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the
ninetieth day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred
twentieth day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual
meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual
meeting is more than thirty days before or more than seventy days after such
anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered not earlier
than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such annual
meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth
day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which
public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the
Corporation). In no event shall the public


                                       3


announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a
new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder's
notice as described above. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth: (a) as to
each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director
(i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is
otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation
14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
and (ii) such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as
a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business
that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description
of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the
proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for
consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend
the By-laws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), the
reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in
such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and
the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made
(i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the
Corporation's books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number of
shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of
record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation
that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the
meeting to propose such business or nomination, and (iv) a representation
whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a
group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to
holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation's outstanding capital
stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (b)
otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or
nomination. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a
stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her
intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule
14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such
stockholder's proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been
prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The
Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information
as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed
nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.

                  (3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of
paragraph (A)(2) of this SECTION 2.9 to the contrary, in the event that the
number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation
at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the
Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one
hundred days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual
meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this SECTION 2.9 shall also be
considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional
directorships, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the
tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by
the Corporation.

         (B) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be
conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before
the meeting pursuant to the


                                       4


Corporation's notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the
Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which
directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting (1)
by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (2) provided that the Board
of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by
any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time
the notice provided for in this SECTION 2.9 is delivered to the secretary of the
Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and
who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this SECTION 2.9. In the
event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of
electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder
entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons
(as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the
Corporation's notice of meeting, if the stockholder's notice required by
paragraph (A)(2) of this SECTION 2.9 shall be delivered to the secretary at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of
business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such special meeting and not
later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such
special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement
is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by
the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the
public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting
commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a
stockholder's notice as described above.

         (C) General. (1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this SECTION 2.9 shall be eligible to be elected at
an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as
directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders
as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this SECTION 2.9. Except as otherwise required by law, the chairman
of the meeting shall have the power and duty (a) to determine whether a
nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or
proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this SECTION 2.9 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any,
on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a
group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in
support of such stockholder's nominee or proposal in compliance with such
stockholder's representation as required by clause (A)(2)(c)(iv) of this SECTION
2.9) and (b) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in
compliance with this SECTION 2.9, to declare that such nomination shall be
disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this SECTION 2.9, if the stockholder
(or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual
or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or
business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall
not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have
been received by the Corporation.

                  (2) For purposes of this SECTION 2.9, "public announcement"
shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News
Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document
publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.


                                       5


                  (3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this SECTION
2.9, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the
matters set forth in this SECTION 2.9. Nothing in this SECTION 2.9 shall be
deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of
proposals in the Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act or (b) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect
directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the certificate of
incorporation.

         Section 2.10 VOTING

         The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall
be determined in accordance with the provisions of SECTION 2.12 of these
by-laws, subject to the provisions of Sections 217 and 218 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "General Corporation Law")
(relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgers and joint owners of stock
and to voting trusts and other voting agreements).

         Except as may be otherwise provided in the certificate of
incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of
capital stock held by such stockholder.

         Unless otherwise required by law, the certificate of incorporation or
these by-laws or any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or regulatory body
applicable to the Corporation, any question brought before any meeting of
stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes of shares of capital
stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to
vote on the question, voting as a single class. Directors of the Corporation
shall be elected by plurality vote. Every reference in these by-laws to a
majority or other proportion of shares, or a majority or other proportion of the
votes of shares, of capital stock shall refer to such majority or other
proportion of the votes to which such shares of capital stock are entitled as
provided in the certificate of incorporation.

         Section 2.11 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING

         In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled
to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or
allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any
change, conversion or exchange or stock or for the purpose of any other lawful
action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall
not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such
meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. If the Board
of Directors does not so fix a record date:

                  (i) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to
         notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close
         of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given,
         or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next
         preceding the day on which the meeting is held.


                                       6


                  (ii) The record date for determining stockholders for any
         other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the
         Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

         A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to
vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting;
provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the
adjourned meeting.

         Section 2.12 PROXIES

         Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may
authorize another person or persons to act for him by a proxy, but no such proxy
shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the
proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on
its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section
212(e) of the General Corporation Law.

         Section 2.13 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE

         The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of a Corporation shall
prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to
the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, as
required by applicable law. Subject to applicable law, the list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. Such list shall
presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the
meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.

                                  ARTICLE III

                                    DIRECTORS

         Section 3.1 POWERS

         The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or
under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and
authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or the by-laws of the Corporation, the directors
are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things
as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

         Section 3.2 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

         Directors shall be elected as provided by the certificate of
incorporation. Only persons who are selected and recommended in accordance with
SECTION 2.9 hereof prior to a meeting at which directors are to be elected will
be eligible for election as directors, such determination to be made by the
presiding officer of such meeting.


                                       7


         Section 3.3 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE

         The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both
regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware. Unless
otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws,
members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of
Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any
committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by
means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and
such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the
meeting.

         Section 3.4 REGULAR MEETINGS

         Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice
at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the
board.

         Section 3.5 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE

         Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes
may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, any vice
president, the secretary or a majority of the directors then in office.

         Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered
personally or by telephone to each director or sent by first-class mail, or
telegram, charges prepaid, or electronic transmission addressed to each director
at that director's address as it is shown on the records of the Corporation. If
the notice is mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least
four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is
delivered personally or by telephone, overnight courier service or electronic
transmission, it shall be delivered personally or by telephone or to the courier
service or by electronic transmission at least forty-eight (48) hours before the
time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice given personally or by
telephone may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the
office of the director who the person giving the notice has reason to believe
will promptly communicate it to the director. The notice need not specify the
purpose of the meeting.

         Section 3.6 BOARD ACTION BY CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

         Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
these by-laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of
the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a
meeting if all members of the board or committee, as the case may be, consent
thereto in accordance with the requirements of applicable law.

         Section 3.7 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

         Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
these by-laws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the
compensation of directors.


                                       8


                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   COMMITTEES

         Section 4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

         The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, with each
committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The
board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee,
who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the
committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint
another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of
any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent
provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or in the by-laws of the
Corporation, but subject to applicable law, shall have and may exercise all the
powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to
be affixed to all papers that may require it.

         Section 4.2 COMMITTEE MINUTES

         Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report
the same to the Board of Directors when required.

         Section 4.3 MEETINGS AND ACTIONS OF COMMITTEES

         Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and
taken in accordance with, the provisions of these by-laws and the certificate of
incorporation with such changes in the context thereof as are necessary to
substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its
members; provided, however, that the time of regular meetings of committees may
be determined either by resolution of the Board of Directors or by resolution of
the committee, that special meetings of committees may also be called by
resolution of the Board of Directors and that notice of special meetings of
committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who shall have the
right to attend all meetings of the committee. The Board of Directors may adopt
rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions
of these by-laws.

                                   ARTICLE V

                                    OFFICERS

         Section 5.1 OFFICERS

         The officers of the Corporation shall be a chief executive officer, a
president, a secretary, and a chief financial officer. The Corporation may also
have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a chairman of the board, one
or more vice presidents, one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more
treasurers, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant


                                       9


treasurers, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with
the provisions of SECTION 5.3 of these by-laws. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person.

         Section 5.2 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

         The officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be
appointed (including those being appointed to fill any vacancy) in accordance
with the provisions of SECTIONS 5.3 of these by-laws, shall be appointed by the
Board of Directors.

         Section 5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS

         The Board of Directors may appoint, or empower the chief executive
officer to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the
Corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have
such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these by-laws or as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

         Section 5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS

         Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an
affirmative vote of the majority of the Board of Directors at any regular or
special meeting of the Board of Directors or, except in the case of an officer
chosen by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom such power or removal
may be conferred by the Board of Directors.

         Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice or notice
by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect
at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that
notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is
without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract
to which the officer is a party.

         Section 5.5 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

         The chairman of the board, if such an officer be elected, shall, if
present, preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and exercise and perform
such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the
Board of Directors or as may be prescribed by these by-laws. He shall preside at
any meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation, in the absence or
nonexistence of a Chief Executive Officer. If there is no president, then the
chairman of the board shall also be the chief executive officer of the
Corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in SECTION 5.6 of
these by-laws.

         Section 5.6 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; PRESIDENT

         Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the
Board of Directors to the chairman of the board, if there be such an officer,
the president shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall,
subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision,
direction, and control of the business and the officers of the Corporation. He
shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence or
nonexistence of a chairman of the board, at all meetings of the Board of
Directors. He shall have the general powers and duties


                                       10


of management usually vested in the office of president of a Corporation and
shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors or these by-laws.

         Section 5.7 VICE PRESIDENTS

         In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents, if
any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not
ranked, a vice president designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all
the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and
be subject to all restrictions upon, the president. The vice presidents shall
have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be
prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors, these by-laws, the
president or the chairman of the board.

         Section 5.8 SECRETARY

         The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal
executive office of the Corporation or such other place as the Chairman of the
Board or the Board of Directors may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings
and actions of directors, committees of directors, and stockholders. The minutes
shall show the time and place of each meeting, whether regular or special (and,
if special, how authorized and the notice given), the names of those present at
directors' meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or
represented at stockholders' meetings, and the proceedings thereof.

         The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal
executive office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation's
transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of
all stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by
each, the number and date of certificates evidencing such shares, and the number
and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

         The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings
of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors required to be given by law or
by these by-laws. He shall keep the seal of the Corporation, if one be adopted,
in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties
as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by these by-laws.

         Section 5.9 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

         The chief financial officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be
kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the
properties and business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of
it assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital retained
earnings, and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open
to inspection by any director and he shall report on the financial condition of
the Corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties
as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these by-laws.


                                       11


         Section 5.10 TREASURER

         The treasurer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name
and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated
by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may
be ordered by the Board of Directors, whenever they request it, and account for
all his transactions as treasurer, and shall have such other powers and perform
such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these
by-laws.

         Section 5.11 ASSISTANT SECRETARY

         The assistant secretary, or, if there is more than one, the assistant
secretaries in the order determined by the stockholders or Board of Directors
(or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election)
shall, in the absence of the secretary or in the event of his inability or
refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and
shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed
by the Board of Directors or these by-laws.

         Section 5.12 ASSISTANT TREASURER

         The assistant treasurer, or, if there is more than one, the assistant
treasurers, in the order determined by the stockholders or Board of Directors
(or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election),
shall, in the absence of the treasurer or in the event of his inability or
refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the treasurer and
shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be prescribed
by the Board of Directors or these by-laws.

         Section 5.13 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS

         The chairman of the board, the president, any vice president, the chief
financial officer, or the secretary of this Corporation, or any other person
authorized by the Board of Directors or the president is authorized to vote,
represent, and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any
and all shares of any other Corporation or Corporations standing in the name of
this Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such
person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of
attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.

         Section 5.14 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

         In addition to the foregoing authority and duties, all officers of the
Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in
the management of the business of the Corporation as may be designated from time
to time by the Board of Directors or the stockholders.

                                       12



                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    INDEMNITY

         Section 6.1 THIRD PARTY ACTIONS

         The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was
serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director or officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture trust or other enterprise, against
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Corporation, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred by
him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The
termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest
of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

         Section 6.2 ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION

         The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or
suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Corporation,
or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer
of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he
acted in good faith and in manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall
be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent
that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit
was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware
Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this ARTICLE VI, no person shall be indemnified hereunder for
any expenses or amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action to recover
short-swing profits under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

                                       13



         Section 6.3 SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE

         To the extent that a current or former director or officer of the
Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action, suit or proceeding referred to in SECTIONS 6.1 AND 6.2, or in defense of
any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.

         Section 6.4 DETERMINATION OF CONDUCT

         Subject to the provisions of SECTION 6.3, any indemnification under
SECTIONS 6.1 AND 6.2 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the
Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
the indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in SECTIONS 6.1
AND 6.2. Such determination shall be made with respect to a person who is a
director or officer at the time of such determination by (a) a majority vote of
the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even
though less than a quorum, or (b) by a committee of such directors designated by
a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or if there
are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion or (d) by the stockholders. Such determination
shall be made, with respect to former officers and directors, by any person or
persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation shall be entitled to contest any determination that the director,
officer, employee or agent has not met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in SECTIONS 6.1 AND 6.2 by petitioning a court of competent jurisdiction.

         Section 6.5 DETERMINATION BY COURT

         If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such
action, suit or proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Article VI is
not paid in full within thirty days after a written claim therefor by a person
entitled to indemnification pursuant to Sections 6.1 and 6.2 has been received
by the Corporation, such person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of
such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid
the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall
have the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to the requested
indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

         Section 6.6 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES IN ADVANCE

         To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including attorneys'
fees) incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding, by
an individual who may be entitled to indemnification pursuant to SECTION 6.1 OR
6.2, shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of
such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as
authorized in this ARTICLE VI.

                                       14



         Section 6.7 INDEMNITY NOT EXCLUSIVE

         The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted
pursuant to the other sections of this ARTICLE VI shall not be deemed exclusive
of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of
expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such persons'
official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such
office.

         Section 6.8 INSURANCE INDEMNIFICATION

         The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance
on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him
and incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under the provisions of this ARTICLE VI.

         Section 6.9 THE CORPORATION

         For purposes of this ARTICLE VI, references to "the Corporation" shall
include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation
(including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or
merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and
authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that
any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such
constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same
position under and subject to the provisions of this ARTICLE VI (including,
without limitation the provisions of SECTION 6.4) with respect to the resulting
or surviving corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent
corporation if its separate existence had continued.

         Section 6.10 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

         For purposes of this ARTICLE VI, references to "other enterprises"
shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any
excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and
references to "serving at the request of the Corporation" shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or
agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or
beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries
of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation" as referred to in this ARTICLE
VI.

                                       15



         Section 6.11 CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF
EXPENSES

         The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted
pursuant to, this ARTICLE VI shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be
a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

         Section 6.12 LIMITATION ON INDEMNIFICATION

         Notwithstanding anything contained in this ARTICLE VI to the contrary,
except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation
shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer in connection with a
proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or
part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                                 GENERAL MATTERS

         Section 7.1 CHECKS

         From time to time, the Board of Directors shall determine by resolution
which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders for
payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued in
the name of or payable to the Corporation, and other the persons so authorized
shall sign or endorse those instruments.

         Section 7.2 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS

         The Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these by-laws,
may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any
contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency
power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or
authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its
credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

         Section 7.3 STOCK CERTIFICATES

         The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates,
provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by
resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of
its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to
shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the
Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of
Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request
every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate
signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the

                                       16


chairman or vice-chairman of the Board of Directors, or the president or vice
president, and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or
an assistant secretary of such Corporation representing the number of shares
registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate
may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has
signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has
ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate
is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he
were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

         Section 7.4 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES

         If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock
or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the
preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights
of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or
summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall
issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that,
except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the
face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent
such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish
without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations,
the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special
rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

         Section 7.5 LOST CERTIFICATES

         Except as provided in this SECTION 7.5, no new certificate for shares
shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is
surrendered to the Corporation and cancelled at the same time. The Corporation
may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of
any certificate previously issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or
destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a
bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on
account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the
issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

         Section 7.6 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS

         Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of
construction, and definitions in the General Corporation Law of Delaware shall
govern the construction of these by-laws. Without limiting the generality of
this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number
includes the singular, the term "person" includes any individual, corporation,
limited liability company, association, partnership, joint venture, trust,
estate, or other entity or organization and the terms "includes" or "including"
means includes or including without limitation.

                                       17


         Section 7.7 DIVIDENDS

         The directors of the Corporation, subject to any restrictions contained
in (i) the General Corporation Law of Delaware or (ii) the certificate of
incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital
stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the
Corporation's capital stock.

         The directors of the Corporation may set apart out of any of the funds
of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper
purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be
limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the
Corporation, and meeting contingencies.

         Section 7.8 FISCAL YEAR

         The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the
Board of Directors and may be changed by the Board of Directors.

         Section 7.9 SEAL

         The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and
which may be altered by the Board of Directors, and may use the same by causing
it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner
reproduced.

         Section 7.10 TRANSFER OF STOCK

         Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed
by law and in these by-laws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of
the Corporation only by the person named as the holder thereof on the stock
records of the Corporation by such person's attorney lawfully constituted in
writing, and in the case of shares represented by a certificate upon the
surrender of the certificate therefor, which shall be canceled before a new
certificate shall be issued. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the
Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock
records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.

         Section 7.11 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS

         The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any
agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of
the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation
of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not
prohibited by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

         Section 7.12 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS

         The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a
person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and
to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or
other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another
person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as
otherwise required by the laws of Delaware.

                                       18



         Section 7.13 WAIVER OF NOTICE

         Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the
General Corporation Law or of the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws,
a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or waiver
thereof by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether
before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.
Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such
meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to
be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the
stockholders or directors need be specified in any waiver of notice unless so
required by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   AMENDMENTS

         In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law,
the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal these
by-laws subject to the power of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation
to adopt, amend or repeal the by-laws; provided, however, that, with respect to
the powers of the holders of capital stock to adopt, amend, or repeal by-laws of
the Corporation, notwithstanding any other provision of these by-laws or any
provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in
addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or
series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by law, these by-laws,
or any preferred stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding
shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together
as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend, or repeal any provision of
these by-laws.


                                       19



                               Exhibit 2.06(d)(i)

                   Directors of Scarlet Surviving Corporation


Frederick D. Sancilio
Philip S. Tabbiner
William L. Ginna, Jr.




                               Exhibit 2.06(d)(ii)

                   Directors of Crimson Surviving Corporation

Frederick D. Sancilio
Philip S. Tabbiner
William L. Ginna, Jr.
John Hontz




                                 Exhibit 6.04(c)


         NAME                            CORPORATE OFFICE/TITLE


Dr. Frederick D. Sancilio  Executive Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer

Philip S. Tabbiner         President and Chief Executive Officer

William L. Ginna, Jr.      Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

John Hontz                 Executive Vice President; President, Crimson Division

Gregory S. Bentley         Executive Vice President; General Counsel, and
                           Assistant Secretary

David Hurley               Executive Vice President; President, Pharmaceuticals
                           Division

Dr. Vijay Aggarwal         Executive Vice President; President, AAI Development
                           Services Division

Dr. George Van Lear        Executive Vice President; President, R&D Division

William H. Underwood       Executive Vice President, Corporate Development

Thomas Aluise              Vice President and Treasurer

John Hogan                 Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and
                           Controller

Albert N. Cavagnaro        Secretary





                                Exhibit 7.01(g)-A

                 PARENT TAX MATTERS CERTIFICATE FOR CIMA MERGER

                          [HOLDING COMPANY LETTERHEAD]

                               _____________, 2003

Latham & Watkins LLP
633 West Fifth Street, Suite 4000
Los Angeles, California 90071

Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1900
Charlotte, North Carolina  28246

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August __,
2003 (the "Agreement"), by and among aaiPharma Inc., a Delaware corporation
("aaiPharma"), CIMA Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CIMA"), Scarlet Holding
Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
aaiPharma ("Parent"), Scarlet MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("S MergerCo") and Crimson MergerCo,
Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("C
MergerCo"), which provides for the merger of S MergerCo with and into aaiPharma,
with aaiPharma as the surviving corporation (the "aaiPharma Merger") and the
merger of C MergerCo with and into CIMA with CIMA as the surviving corporation
(the "CIMA Merger" and, together with the aaiPharma Merger, the "Mergers"). As a
result of the Mergers, the respective holders of capital stock of CIMA and
aaiPharma will collectively own all of the outstanding shares of capital stock
of Parent, and each of CIMA and aaiPharma will be wholly owned subsidiaries of
Parent. The time at which each Merger becomes effective is hereinafter referred
to as the "Effective Time." Each of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to CIMA, and
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., counsel to aaiPharma, has been requested
pursuant to Section 7.01(g) of the Agreement to render its opinion regarding
certain United States federal income tax consequences of the Mergers.
Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings specified in the
Agreement.

A.       Statements and Representations.

         In connection with such opinion to be rendered by each of you, and
acknowledging that each of you will rely, with the consent of Parent and C
MergerCo, upon the statements and representations made in this letter in
rendering such opinion, Parent and C MergerCo hereby certify and represent to
each of you that the statements and representations stated herein as they relate
to Parent and C MergerCo are true, correct and complete in all respects as of
the date hereof and will be true, correct and complete in all respects as of the
Effective Time (as if made as of the Effective Time):



         1. The fair market value of Parent common stock ("Parent Common Stock")
and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock received by holders
of CIMA Common Stock ("Shareholders") will be approximately equal to the fair
market value of CIMA Common Stock surrendered in the CIMA Merger. In connection
with the CIMA Merger, no Shareholders will receive in exchange for CIMA Common
Stock, directly or indirectly, any consideration from Parent or C MergerCo other
than Parent Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares thereof.

         2. Neither Parent nor C MergerCo has any plan or intention: (i) to
liquidate CIMA; (ii) to merge CIMA into another corporation; (iii) to sell or
otherwise dispose of any CIMA Common Stock acquired by Parent or C MergerCo
pursuant to the Agreement, except for transfers and successive transfers of
stock and assets described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(k) or
transfers or successive transfers to one or more corporations controlled (within
the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code")) in each transfer by the transferor corporation at the time of
transfer; or (iv) to sell or otherwise dispose of, or to cause CIMA to sell or
otherwise dispose of, any of its assets or of any of the assets of C MergerCo
acquired in the CIMA Merger, except for (w) dispositions made in the ordinary
course of business, (x) transfers and successive transfers to one or more
corporations controlled in each transfer by the transferor corporation (within
the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code) at the time of transfer, (y)
dispositions after which CIMA would continue to hold the amount of assets set
forth in paragraphs 3 and 13 below following the Effective Time (assuming the
correctness of the representation set forth in paragraphs 3 and 13 below), or
(z) transfers to partnerships that satisfy the provisions of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.368-1(d)(4)(iii)(B).

         3. Assuming the correctness of the representation in paragraph 2 of the
representation letter executed by CIMA, following the CIMA Merger, CIMA will
hold at least 90 percent (90%) of the fair market value of CIMA's net assets and
at least 70 percent (70%) of the fair market value of CIMA's gross assets and at
least 90 percent (90%) of the fair market value of C MergerCo's net assets and
at least 70 percent (70%) of C MergerCo's gross assets held immediately prior to
the Effective Time. For purposes of this representation, amounts paid by CIMA or
C MergerCo to dissenters, amounts paid by CIMA or C MergerCo to Shareholders who
receive cash or other property, amounts paid by CIMA to redeem stock,
securities, warrants or options of CIMA as part of any overall plan of which the
CIMA Merger is part, amounts distributed by CIMA to Shareholders (except for
regular, normal dividends) as part of an overall plan of which the CIMA Merger
is a part, and amounts used by CIMA or C MergerCo to pay reorganization expenses
will in each case be included as assets of CIMA or C MergerCo, as the case may
be, immediately prior to the Effective Time.

         4. At all times prior to the CIMA Merger, Parent will own all of the
stock of C MergerCo, and, immediately following the CIMA Merger, Parent will own
all of the stock of CIMA. Prior to the CIMA Merger, C MergerCo will not have
outstanding any warrants, options, convertible securities, or any other type of
right pursuant to which any person could acquire stock in C MergerCo, or
following the CIMA Merger, stock in CIMA. C MergerCo is a corporation newly
formed for the purpose of participating in the CIMA Merger and at no time prior
to the Effective Time has had assets (other than nominal assets contributed upon
the formation of C MergerCo, all of which assets will be held by CIMA following
the CIMA Merger) or business operations.


                                       2


         5. C MergerCo will have no liabilities assumed by CIMA and will not
transfer to CIMA any assets subject to liabilities in the CIMA Merger.

         6. Prior to the CIMA Merger and through the Effective Time, Parent will
be in control of C MergerCo within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.
Following the CIMA Merger, Parent will be in control of CIMA within the meaning
of Section 368(c) of the Code.

         7. Parent has no plan or intention to cause CIMA, after the Effective
Time, to issue additional shares of stock that would result in Parent losing
control of CIMA within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.

         8. Following the CIMA Merger, neither Parent nor any person related to
Parent within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-1(e)(3), (e)(4)
and (e)(5) has any plan or intention to purchase, redeem or otherwise reacquire
any Parent Common Stock issued pursuant to the Agreement, or to make any
distributions to the former Shareholders other than regular, normal
distributions made to all holders of Parent Common Stock.

         9. There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between Parent and
any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and CIMA and any of its subsidiaries,
on the other hand, that was issued, acquired, or will be settled at a discount.
No liabilities relating to the CIMA Common Stock being transferred to Parent
will be assumed by Parent, and the CIMA Common Stock that is being transferred
to Parent will not be transferred subject to any liabilities. Immediately prior
to the Effective Time, there will be no indebtedness between the Shareholders
and Parent, and there will be no indebtedness created in favor of the
Shareholders as a result of the CIMA Merger.

         10. In the CIMA Merger, CIMA Common Stock representing control of CIMA
(within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code) will be exchanged solely for
"voting stock" of Parent (within the meaning of Sections 368(a)(1)(B) and (2)(E)
of the Code). For purposes of this paragraph 10, CIMA Common Stock to be
exchanged for cash or other property originating with Parent are treated as
constituting outstanding CIMA Common Stock at the Effective Time.

         11. Except as provided in Section 9.05 of the Agreement, each of Parent
and C MergerCo has paid and will pay only their respective expenses, if any,
incurred in connection with the CIMA Merger, and neither Parent nor C MergerCo
has agreed to assume, nor will either directly or indirectly assume, any expense
or other liability, whether fixed or contingent, of any Shareholder. CIMA Common
Stock acquired by either Parent or C MergerCo in the CIMA Merger will not be
subject to any liabilities.

         12. As of the Effective Time, neither Parent nor any person related to
Parent within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-1(e)(3), (e)(4)
and (e)(5) will own beneficially or of record, or will have owned beneficially
or of record, during the five years immediately prior to such time, any stock of
CIMA, or other securities, options, warrants or instruments giving the holder
thereof the right to acquire CIMA Common Stock or other securities issued by
CIMA.

         13. Following the CIMA Merger, Parent will remain in existence, and
CIMA, or a member of Parent's qualified group of corporations (as defined in
Treasury Regulation Section


                                       3


1.368-1(d)(4)(ii)), will continue the "historic business" of CIMA (or,
alternatively, if CIMA has more than one line of business, will continue at
least one significant line of CIMA's historic business) or use a "significant
portion" (at least 33 1/3 percent (33 1/3%) by value) of CIMA's "historic
business assets" in a business (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.368-1(d)). For purposes of this test, Parent and such members (i)
shall be deemed to own that portion of the assets of a partnership reflecting
their interest therein and (ii) shall be treated as conducting the business of a
partnership of which they are members, provided that (A) they own in the
aggregate at least a 33 1/3 percent (33 1/3%) capital and profits interest in
such partnership or (B) they own in the aggregate at least a 20 percent (20%)
capital and profits interest in such partnership and perform active and
substantial managerial functions with respect thereto.

         14. Neither Parent nor C MergerCo is an "investment company" as defined
in Sections 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code, and Parent will not be an
investment company within the meaning of Section 351(e)(1) of the Code and
Treasury Regulation Section 1.351-1(c)(1)(ii).

         15. Neither Parent nor C MergerCo will directly or indirectly provide
funds to make payments in respect of dissenting shares.

         16. Except for cash paid in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common
Stock and except for payments made to dissenting Shareholders, one hundred
percent (100%) of CIMA Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time will be exchanged for Parent Common Stock. The issuance in the
CIMA Merger of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock
represents a mere mechanical rounding off solely for the purpose of avoiding the
expense and inconvenience to Parent of issuing fractional shares and does not
represent separately bargained-for consideration. The total cash consideration
that will be paid pursuant to the Agreement to the Shareholders instead of
issuing fractional Parent Common Stock will not exceed one percent (1%) of the
total consideration that will be issued pursuant to the Agreement to the
Shareholders in exchange for their CIMA Common Stock. The fractional share
interests of each Shareholder will be aggregated, and no Shareholder, with the
possible exception of Shareholders whose holdings are in multiple accounts or
with multiple brokers, will receive cash in an amount equal to or greater than
the value of one full share of Parent Common Stock on the Closing Date.

         17. None of the compensation received by any stockholder-employees of
CIMA will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any of their CIMA
Common Stock. None of the Parent Common Stock received by any
stockholder-employees, as part of any overall plan of which the CIMA Merger is a
part, will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any employment
agreement. The compensation paid to any stockholder-employees will be for
services actually rendered and will be commensurate with amounts paid to third
parties bargaining at arm's length for similar services.

         18. The Parent Common Stock issued in the Mergers will constitute all
of Parent's outstanding stock immediately following the Mergers. Parent will not
issue any Parent Common Stock in connection with the Mergers in consideration
for services rendered to or for the benefit of Parent or any of its affiliates,
or in consideration for the transfer of any property other than CIMA Common
Stock and aaiPharma Stock. Parent will not issue any Parent Common Stock


                                       4


for indebtedness of Parent or for interest on indebtedness of Parent, in each
case in connection with the Mergers.

         19. Parent has no plan or intention to issue additional stock following
the CIMA Merger, except pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options in
the ordinary course of business.

         20. Taking into account any issuance of additional shares of Parent
Common Stock, any issuance of Parent Common Stock for services, the exercise of
any Parent Common Stock rights, warrants, options or subscriptions, any public
offering of Parent Common Stock and the sale, exchange, transfer by gift or
other disposition of any of the Parent Common Stock to be received in the
Mergers, the Shareholders and holders of aaiPharma Stock will, immediately after
the Effective Time, collectively be in "control" of Parent within the meaning of
Section 368(c) of the Code.

         21. At the Effective Time and immediately thereafter, Parent will not
be a "personal services corporation" within the meaning of Section 269A.

         22. Parent and C MergerCo will comply with the reporting and
record-keeping requirements set forth in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.351-3
and/or 1.368-3.

         23. The CIMA Merger will be consummated in compliance with the material
terms of the Agreement. The Mergers will occur under a plan agreed upon before
the transaction in which the rights of the parties are defined and will be
completed on the same date.

         24. Parent and C MergerCo have a bona fide business reason for engaging
in the CIMA Merger.

         25. None of Parent, C MergerCo and CIMA, will take any position on any
federal, state or local income or franchise tax return, or take any other
reporting position, that is inconsistent with the treatment of the CIMA Merger
as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the
Mergers, when viewed together, as an exchange described in Section 351 of the
Code, unless otherwise required by a final "determination" (as defined in
Section 1313(a)(1) of the Code) or by applicable state or local income or
franchise tax law.

         26. The terms of the Agreement and all other agreements entered into in
connection therewith are the product of arm's length negotiations and such
agreements represent the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
Mergers.

         27. The undersigned are authorized to make all of the representations
set forth herein.

B.       Reliance by You in Rendering Opinion:  Limitations on Your Opinion.

         The undersigned recognizes and agrees that, with respect to each of
you, your tax opinion will be based (i) on the statements and representations
set forth herein, (ii) on the statements contained in the Agreement and
documents related thereto, and (iii) on the consummation of the Mergers in
accordance with the terms set forth in the Agreement. The undersigned also
recognizes and agrees that, with respect to each of you, your tax opinion will
be


                                       5


subject to certain limitations and qualifications including that it may not be
relied upon if any such statements or representations are not accurate in all
respects.

         Each of Parent and C MergerCo undertake to inform each of you
immediately should any of the foregoing statements or representations become
untrue, incorrect or incomplete in any respect on or prior to the Effective
Time.


                                             Dated:____________________


                                             Very truly yours,

                                             SCARLET HOLDING CORPORATION, a
                                             Delaware corporation

                                             By:      __________________________
                                             Its:     __________________________


                                             CRIMSON MERGERCO, INC., a
                                             Delaware corporation

                                             By:      __________________________
                                             Its:     __________________________




                                       6


                                Exhibit 7.01(g)-B

                 TARGET TAX MATTERS CERTIFICATE FOR CIMA MERGER

                                [CIMA LETTERHEAD]

                                _______ __, 2003

Latham & Watkins LLP
633 West Fifth Street, Suite 4000
Los Angeles, California 90071

Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1900
Charlotte, North Carolina  28246

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August __,
2003 (the "Agreement"), by and among aaiPharma, a Delaware corporation
("aaiPharma"), CIMA Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CIMA"), Scarlet Holding
Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
aaiPharma ("Parent"), Scarlet MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("S MergerCo") and Crimson MergerCo,
Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("C
MergerCo"), which provides for the merger of S MergerCo with and into aaiPharma,
with aaiPharma as the surviving corporation (the "aaiPharma Merger") and the
merger of C MergerCo with and into CIMA with CIMA as the surviving corporation
(the "CIMA Merger" and, together with the aaiPharma Merger, the "Mergers"). As a
result of the Mergers, the respective holders of capital stock of CIMA and
aaiPharma will collectively own all of the outstanding shares of capital stock
of Parent, and each of CIMA and aaiPharma will be wholly owned subsidiaries of
Parent. The time at which each Merger becomes effective is hereinafter referred
to as the "Effective Time." Each of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to CIMA, and
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., counsel to aaiPharma, has been requested
pursuant to Section 7.01(g) of the Agreement to render its opinion regarding
certain United States federal income tax consequences of the Mergers.
Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings specified in the
Agreement.

A.       Statements and Representations.

         In connection with such opinion to be rendered by each of you, and
acknowledging that each of you will rely, with CIMA's consent, upon the
statements and representations made in this letter in rendering such opinion,
CIMA hereby certifies and represents to each of you that the statements and
representations stated herein as they relate to CIMA are true, correct and
complete in all respects at the date hereof and will be true, correct and
complete in all respects as of the Effective Time (as if made as of the
Effective Time):

         1. The fair market value of Parent common stock ("Parent Common Stock")
and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock received by holders
of CIMA Common




Stock ("Shareholders") will be approximately equal to the fair market value of
CIMA Common Stock surrendered in the CIMA Merger. In connection with the CIMA
Merger, no Shareholders will receive in exchange for CIMA Common Stock, directly
or indirectly, any consideration from Parent or C MergerCo other than Parent
Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares thereof.

         2. At the Effective Time, CIMA will hold at least 90 percent (90%) of
the fair market value of its net assets and at least 70 percent (70%) of the
fair market value of its gross assets held immediately prior to the Effective
Time. For purposes of this representation, amounts paid by CIMA to dissenting
Shareholders, amounts used by CIMA to pay Merger expenses, amounts paid by CIMA
to redeem stock, securities, warrants or options of CIMA as part of any overall
plan of which the CIMA Merger is part, amounts distributed by CIMA to
Shareholders (except for any regular, normal dividends) as part of an overall
plan of which the CIMA Merger is a part, and amounts used by CIMA to pay
reorganization expenses, in each case will be treated as constituting assets of
CIMA immediately prior to the Effective Time.

         3. Except as provided in Section 9.05 of the Agreement, each of CIMA
and the Shareholders has paid and will pay only their respective expenses, if
any, incurred in connection with the CIMA Merger. CIMA has not agreed to assume,
nor will it directly or indirectly assume, any expense or other liability,
whether fixed or contingent, of any Shareholders.

         4. There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between Parent or
any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and CIMA or any of its subsidiaries,
on the other hand, that was issued, acquired or will be settled at a discount.
No liabilities relating to the CIMA Common Stock being transferred to Parent
will be assumed by Parent, and the CIMA Common Stock that is being transferred
to Parent will not be transferred subject to any liabilities. Immediately prior
to the Effective Time, there will be no indebtedness between the Shareholders
and Parent, and there will be no indebtedness created in favor of the
Shareholders as a result of the CIMA Merger.

         5. CIMA has no plan or intention to issue additional shares of its
stock after the Effective Time that would result in Parent losing control of
CIMA within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"). At the Effective Time, CIMA will not have outstanding
any warrants, options, convertible securities, or any other type of right
pursuant to which any person could acquire stock in CIMA that, if exercised or
converted, would affect Parent's acquisition or retention of control of CIMA, as
defined in Section 368(c) of the Code.

         6. Neither CIMA nor any person related to CIMA within the meaning of
Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-1(e)(3), (e)(4), and (e)(5), has purchased,
redeemed or otherwise acquired, or made any distributions with respect to, any
CIMA Common Stock prior to or in contemplation of the CIMA Merger, or otherwise
as part of a plan of which the CIMA Merger is a part.

         7. CIMA is not an "investment company" as defined in Sections
368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code.


                                       2


         8. CIMA is not under the jurisdiction of a court in a title 11 or
similar case within the meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

         9. Except for cash paid in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common
Stock and except for payments made to dissenting Shareholders, 100 percent
(100%) of CIMA Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
will be exchanged for Parent Common Stock. The issuance in the CIMA Merger of
cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock represents a mere
mechanical rounding off solely for the purpose of avoiding the expense and
inconvenience to Parent of issuing fractional shares and does not represent
separately bargained-for consideration. The total cash consideration that will
be paid pursuant to the Agreement to the Shareholders instead of issuing
fractional Parent Common Stock will not exceed one percent (1%) of the total
consideration that will be issued pursuant to the Agreement to the Shareholders
in exchange for their CIMA Common Stock. The fractional share interests of each
Shareholder will be aggregated, and no Shareholder, with the possible exception
of Shareholders whose holdings are in multiple accounts or with multiple
brokers, will receive cash in an amount equal to or greater than the value of
one full share of Parent Common Stock on the Closing Date.

         10. None of the compensation received by any stockholder-employees of
CIMA will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any of their CIMA
Common Stock. None of the Parent Common Stock received by any
stockholder-employees, as part of any overall plan of which the CIMA Merger is a
part, will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any employment
agreement. The compensation paid to any stockholder-employees will be for
services actually rendered and will be commensurate with amounts paid to third
parties bargaining at arm's length for similar services.

         11. In the CIMA Merger, CIMA Common Stock representing control of CIMA
(within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code) will be exchanged solely for
"voting stock" of Parent (within the meaning of Sections 368(a)(1)(B) and (2)(E)
of the Code). For purposes of this paragraph 11, CIMA Common Stock to be
exchanged for cash or other property originating with Parent are treated as
constituting outstanding CIMA Common Stock at the Effective Time.

         12. The business currently carried on by CIMA is its "historic
business" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-1(d), and no
assets of CIMA have been sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of which would
prevent CIMA from continuing the "historic business" of CIMA or from using a
"significant portion" of CIMA's "historic business" assets in a business
following the CIMA Merger, as such terms are used in Treasury Regulation Section
1.368-1(d).

         13. Payments made in respect of dissenting shares, if any, shall be
made solely from the funds of CIMA. No funds will be supplied for that purpose,
directly or indirectly, by Parent or C MergerCo, nor will Parent or C MergerCo
directly or indirectly reimburse CIMA for any payments made in respect of
dissenting shares.

         14. At the Effective Time, there will be no accrued but unpaid
dividends on CIMA Common Stock.


                                       3


         15. At the Effective Time, the total adjusted tax basis of CIMA's
assets will exceed the sum of its liabilities, plus the amount of liabilities,
if any, to which the assets are subject.

         16. At the Effective Time, the fair market value of CIMA's assets will
exceed the sum of its liabilities, plus the amount of liabilities, if any, to
which the assets are subject.

         17. To the best knowledge of the management of CIMA, there is no plan
or intention on the part of the Shareholders to sell, exchange or otherwise
transfer ownership of any share of Parent Common Stock received in the CIMA
Merger (other than fractional shares of Parent Common Stock for which holders of
Parent Common Stock receive cash in the CIMA Merger) to Parent, or any
corporation related to Parent (as defined in paragraph 6 above), directly or
indirectly (including through partnerships or through third parties in
connection with a plan to so transfer ownership).

         18. CIMA has no (and, at the time of the CIMA Merger, will not have
any) issued and outstanding capital stock (or any other interest treated as
stock for federal income tax purposes) other than CIMA Common Stock.

         19. None of the Shareholders will retain any rights in the CIMA Common
Stock transferred to Parent pursuant to the CIMA Merger.

         20. Taking into account any issuance of additional shares of Parent
Common Stock, any issuance of Parent Common Stock for services, the exercise of
any Parent Common Stock rights, warrants, options or subscriptions, any public
offering of Parent Common Stock and the sale, exchange, transfer by gift or
other disposition of any of the Parent Common Stock to be received in the
Mergers, the Shareholders and holders of aaiPharma Stock will, immediately after
the Effective Time, collectively be in "control" of Parent within the meaning of
Section 368(c) of the Code.

         21. No Parent Common Stock or other securities will be issued for
indebtedness (or interest thereon) of Parent. The CIMA Common Stock was not
acquired by the Shareholders as part of a plan of liquidation of another
corporation.

         22. The CIMA Merger will be consummated in compliance with the material
terms of the Agreement. The Mergers will occur under a plan agreed upon before
the transaction in which the rights of the parties are defined and will be
completed on the same date.

         23. CIMA will comply with the reporting and record-keeping requirements
set forth in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.351-3 and/or 1.368-3.

         24. CIMA will not take any position on any federal, state or local
income or franchise tax return, or take any other reporting position, that is
inconsistent with the treatment of the CIMA Merger as a reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Mergers, when viewed together,
as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code, unless otherwise required
by a final "determination" (as defined in Section 1313(a)(1) of the Code) or by
applicable state or local income or franchise tax law.

         25. CIMA has a bona fide business reason for engaging in the CIMA
Merger.


                                       4


         26. The terms of the Agreement and all other agreements entered into in
connection therewith are the product of arm's length negotiations and such
agreements are the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
Mergers.

         27. The undersigned is authorized to make all of the representations
set forth herein.

B.       Reliance by You in Rendering Opinion:  Limitations on Your Opinion.

         The undersigned recognizes and agrees that, with respect to each of
you, your tax opinion will be based (i) on the statements and representations
set forth herein, (ii) on the statements contained in the Agreement and
documents related thereto, and (iii) on the consummation of the Mergers in
accordance with the terms set forth in the Agreement. The undersigned also
recognizes and agrees that, with respect to each of you, your tax opinion will
be subject to certain limitations and qualifications including that it may not
be relied upon if any such statements or representations are not accurate in all
respects.

         CIMA undertakes to inform each of you immediately should any of the
foregoing statements or representations become untrue, incorrect or incomplete
in any respect on or prior to the Effective Time.


                                         Dated:____________________


                                         Very truly yours,


                                         CIMA Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation

                                         By:      __________________________
                                         Its:     __________________________


                                       5



                                Exhibit 7.01(g)-C

               PARENT TAX MATTERS CERTIFICATE FOR AAIPHARMA MERGER

                          [HOLDING COMPANY LETTERHEAD]

                               _____________, 2003

Latham & Watkins LLP
633 West Fifth Street, Suite 4000
Los Angeles, California 90071

Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1900
Charlotte, North Carolina  28246

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August __,
2003 (the "Agreement"), by and among aaiPharma Inc., a Delaware corporation
("aaiPharma"), CIMA Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CIMA"), Scarlet Holding
Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
aaiPharma ("Parent"), Scarlet MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("S MergerCo") and Crimson MergerCo,
Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("C
MergerCo"), which provides for the merger of S MergerCo with and into aaiPharma,
with aaiPharma as the surviving corporation (the "aaiPharma Merger") and the
merger of C MergerCo with and into CIMA with CIMA as the surviving corporation
(the "CIMA Merger" and, together with the aaiPharma Merger, the "Mergers"). As a
result of the Mergers, the respective holders of capital stock of CIMA and
aaiPharma will collectively own all of the outstanding shares of capital stock
of Parent, and each of CIMA and aaiPharma will be wholly owned subsidiaries of
Parent. The time at which each Merger becomes effective is hereinafter referred
to as the "Effective Time." Each of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to CIMA, and
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., counsel to aaiPharma, has been requested
pursuant to Section 7.01(g) of the Agreement to render its opinion regarding
certain United States federal income tax consequences of the Mergers.
Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings specified in the
Agreement.

A.       Statements and Representations.

         In connection with such opinion to be rendered by each of you, and
acknowledging that each of you will rely, with the consent of Parent and S
MergerCo, upon the statements and representations made in this letter in
rendering such opinion, Parent and S MergerCo hereby certify and represent to
each of you that the statements and representations stated herein as they relate
to Parent and S MergerCo are true, correct and complete in all respects as of
the date hereof and will be true, correct and complete in all respects as of the
Effective Time (as if made as of the Effective Time):



         1. The fair market value of Parent common stock ("Parent Common Stock")
and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock received by holders
of aaiPharma Stock ("Shareholders") will be approximately equal to the fair
market value of aaiPharma Stock surrendered in the aaiPharma Merger. In
connection with the aaiPharma Merger, no Shareholders will receive in exchange
for aaiPharma Stock, directly or indirectly, any consideration from Parent or S
MergerCo other than Parent Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares
thereof.

         2. Neither Parent nor S MergerCo has any plan or intention: (i) to
liquidate aaiPharma; (ii) to merge aaiPharma into another corporation; (iii) to
sell or otherwise dispose of any aaiPharma Stock acquired by Parent or S
MergerCo pursuant to the Agreement, except for transfers and successive
transfers of stock and assets described in Treasury Regulation Section
1.368-2(k) or transfers or successive transfers to one or more corporations
controlled (within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code")) in each transfer by the transferor corporation at
the time of transfer; or (iv) to sell or otherwise dispose of, or to cause
aaiPharma to sell or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets or of any of the
assets of S MergerCo acquired in the aaiPharma Merger, except for (w)
dispositions made in the ordinary course of business, (x) transfers and
successive transfers to one or more corporations controlled in each transfer by
the transferor corporation (within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code) at
the time of transfer, (y) dispositions after which aaiPharma would continue to
hold the amount of assets set forth in paragraphs 3 and 13 below following the
Effective Time (assuming the correctness of the representation set forth in
paragraphs 3 and 13 below), or (z) transfers to partnerships that satisfy the
provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-1(d)(4)(iii)(B).

         3. Assuming the correctness of the representation in paragraph 2 of the
representation letter executed by aaiPharma, following the aaiPharma Merger,
aaiPharma will hold at least 90 percent (90%) of the fair market value of
aaiPharma's net assets and at least 70 percent (70%) of the fair market value of
aaiPharma's gross assets and at least 90 percent (90%) of the fair market value
of S MergerCo's net assets and at least 70 percent (70%) of S MergerCo's gross
assets held immediately prior to the Effective Time. For purposes of this
representation, amounts paid by aaiPharma or S MergerCo to dissenters, amounts
paid by aaiPharma or S MergerCo to Shareholders who receive cash or other
property, amounts paid by aaiPharma to redeem stock, securities, warrants or
options of aaiPharma as part of any overall plan of which the aaiPharma Merger
is part, amounts distributed by aaiPharma to Shareholders (except for regular,
normal dividends) as part of an overall plan of which the aaiPharma Merger is a
part, and amounts used by aaiPharma or S MergerCo to pay reorganization expenses
will in each case be included as assets of aaiPharma or S MergerCo, as the case
may be, immediately prior to the Effective Time.

         4. At all times prior to the aaiPharma Merger, Parent will own all of
the stock of S MergerCo, and, immediately following the aaiPharma Merger, Parent
will own all of the stock of aaiPharma. Prior to the aaiPharma Merger, S
MergerCo will not have outstanding any warrants, options, convertible
securities, or any other type of right pursuant to which any person could
acquire stock in S MergerCo, or following the aaiPharma Merger, stock in
aaiPharma. S MergerCo is a corporation newly formed for the purpose of
participating in the aaiPharma Merger and at no time prior to the Effective Time
has had assets (other than nominal assets


                                       2


contributed upon the formation of S MergerCo, all of which assets will be held
by aaiPharma following the aaiPharma Merger) or business operations.

         5. S MergerCo will have no liabilities assumed by aaiPharma and will
not transfer to aaiPharma any assets subject to liabilities in the aaiPharma
Merger.

         6. Prior to the aaiPharma Merger and through the Effective Time, Parent
will be in control of S MergerCo within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the
Code. Following the aaiPharma Merger, Parent will be in control of aaiPharma
within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.

         7. Parent has no plan or intention to cause aaiPharma, after the
Effective Time, to issue additional shares of stock that would result in Parent
losing control of aaiPharma within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.

         8. Following the aaiPharma Merger, neither Parent nor any person
related to Parent within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections
1.368-1(e)(3), (e)(4) and (e)(5) has any plan or intention to purchase, redeem
or otherwise reacquire any Parent Common Stock issued pursuant to the Agreement,
or to make any distributions to the former Shareholders other than regular,
normal distributions made to all holders of Parent Common Stock.

         9. There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between Parent and
any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and aaiPharma and any of its
subsidiaries, on the other hand, that was issued, acquired, or will be settled
at a discount. No liabilities relating to the aaiPharma Stock being transferred
to Parent will be assumed by Parent, and the aaiPharma Stock that is being
transferred to Parent will not be transferred subject to any liabilities.
Immediately prior to the Effective Time, there will be no indebtedness between
the Shareholders and Parent, and there will be no indebtedness created in favor
of the Shareholders as a result of the aaiPharma Merger.

         10. In the aaiPharma Merger, aaiPharma Stock representing control of
aaiPharma (within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code) will be exchanged
solely for "voting stock" of Parent (within the meaning of Sections 368(a)(1)(B)
and (2)(E) of the Code). For purposes of this paragraph 10, aaiPharma Stock to
be exchanged for cash or other property originating with Parent are treated as
constituting outstanding aaiPharma Stock at the Effective Time.

         11. Except as provided in Section 9.05 of the Agreement, each of Parent
and S MergerCo has paid and will pay only their respective expenses, if any,
incurred in connection with the aaiPharma Merger, and neither Parent nor S
MergerCo has agreed to assume, nor will either directly or indirectly assume,
any expense or other liability, whether fixed or contingent, of any Shareholder.
aaiPharma Stock acquired by either Parent or S MergerCo in the aaiPharma Merger
will not be subject to any liabilities.

         12. As of the Effective Time, neither Parent nor any person related to
Parent within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-1(e)(3), (e)(4)
and (e)(5) will own beneficially or of record, or will have owned beneficially
or of record, during the five years immediately prior to such time, any stock of
aaiPharma, or other securities, options, warrants or instruments giving the
holder thereof the right to acquire aaiPharma Stock or other securities issued
by aaiPharma.


                                       3


         13. Following the aaiPharma Merger, Parent will remain in existence,
and aaiPharma, or a member of Parent's qualified group of corporations (as
defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-1(d)(4)(ii)), will continue the
"historic business" of aaiPharma (or, alternatively, if aaiPharma has more than
one line of business, will continue at least one significant line of aaiPharma's
historic business) or use a "significant portion" (at least 33 1/3 percent (33
1/3%) by value) of aaiPharma's "historic business assets" in a business (within
the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-1(d)). For purposes of this
test, Parent and such members (i) shall be deemed to own that portion of the
assets of a partnership reflecting their interest therein and (ii) shall be
treated as conducting the business of a partnership of which they are members,
provided that (A) they own in the aggregate at least a 33 1/3 percent (33 1/3%)
capital and profits interest in such partnership or (B) they own in the
aggregate at least a 20 percent (20%) capital and profits interest in such
partnership and perform active and substantial managerial functions with respect
thereto.

         14. Neither Parent nor S MergerCo is an "investment company" as defined
in Sections 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code, and Parent will not be an
investment company within the meaning of Section 351(e)(1) of the Code and
Treasury Regulation Section 1.351-1(c)(1)(ii).

         15. Neither Parent nor S MergerCo will directly or indirectly provide
funds to make payments in respect of dissenting shares.

         16. Except for cash paid in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common
Stock and except for payments made to dissenting Shareholders, one hundred
percent (100%) of aaiPharma Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time will be exchanged for Parent Common Stock. The issuance in the aaiPharma
Merger of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock represents a
mere mechanical rounding off solely for the purpose of avoiding the expense and
inconvenience to Parent of issuing fractional shares and does not represent
separately bargained-for consideration. The total cash consideration that will
be paid pursuant to the Agreement to the Shareholders instead of issuing
fractional Parent Common Stock will not exceed one percent (1%) of the total
consideration that will be issued pursuant to the Agreement to the Shareholders
in exchange for their aaiPharma Stock. The fractional share interests of each
Shareholder will be aggregated, and no Shareholder, with the possible exception
of Shareholders whose holdings are in multiple accounts or with multiple
brokers, will receive cash in an amount equal to or greater than the value of
one full share of Parent Common Stock on the Closing Date.

         17. None of the compensation received by any stockholder-employees of
aaiPharma will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any of their
aaiPharma Stock. None of the Parent Common Stock received by any
stockholder-employees, as part of any overall plan of which the aaiPharma Merger
is a part, will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any employment
agreement. The compensation paid to any stockholder-employees will be for
services actually rendered and will be commensurate with amounts paid to third
parties bargaining at arm's length for similar services.

         18. The Parent Common Stock issued in the Mergers will constitute all
of Parent's outstanding stock immediately following the Mergers. Parent will not
issue any Parent Common


                                       4


Stock in connection with the Mergers in consideration for services rendered to
or for the benefit of Parent or any of its affiliates, or in consideration for
the transfer of any property other than aaiPharma Stock and CIMA Common Stock.
Parent will not issue any Parent Common Stock for indebtedness of Parent or for
interest on indebtedness of Parent, in each case in connection with the Mergers.

         19. Parent has no plan or intention to issue additional stock following
the aaiPharma Merger, except pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options
in the ordinary course of business.

         20. Taking into account any issuance of additional shares of Parent
Common Stock, any issuance of Parent Common Stock for services, the exercise of
any Parent Common Stock rights, warrants, options or subscriptions, any public
offering of Parent Common Stock and the sale, exchange, transfer by gift or
other disposition of any of the Parent Common Stock to be received in the
Mergers, the Shareholders and holders of CIMA Common Stock will, immediately
after the Effective Time, collectively be in "control" of Parent within the
meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.

         21. At the Effective Time and immediately thereafter, Parent will not
be a "personal services corporation" within the meaning of Section 269A.

         22. Parent and S MergerCo will comply with the reporting and
record-keeping requirements set forth in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.351-3
and/or 1.368-3.

         23. The aaiPharma Merger will be consummated in compliance with the
material terms of the Agreement. The Mergers will occur under a plan agreed upon
before the transaction in which the rights of the parties are defined and will
be completed on the same date.

         24. Parent and S MergerCo have a bona fide business reason for engaging
in the aaiPharma Merger.

         25. None of Parent, S MergerCo and aaiPharma, will take any position on
any federal, state or local income or franchise tax return, or take any other
reporting position, that is inconsistent with the treatment of the aaiPharma
Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and
the Mergers, when viewed together, as an exchange described in Section 351 of
the Code, unless otherwise required by a final "determination" (as defined in
Section 1313(a)(1) of the Code) or by applicable state or local income or
franchise tax law.

         26. The terms of the Agreement and all other agreements entered into in
connection therewith are the product of arm's length negotiations and such
agreements represent the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
Mergers.

         27. The undersigned are authorized to make all of the representations
set forth herein.

B.       Reliance by You in Rendering Opinion:  Limitations on Your Opinion.

         The undersigned recognizes and agrees that, with respect to each of
you, your tax opinion will be based (i) on the statements and representations
set forth herein, (ii) on the


                                       5


statements contained in the Agreement and documents related thereto, and (iii)
on the consummation of the Mergers in accordance with the terms set forth in the
Agreement. The undersigned also recognizes and agrees that, with respect to each
of you, your tax opinion will be subject to certain limitations and
qualifications including that it may not be relied upon if any such statements
or representations are not accurate in all respects.

         Each of Parent and S MergerCo undertake to inform each of you
immediately should any of the foregoing statements or representations become
untrue, incorrect or incomplete in any respect on or prior to the Effective
Time.


                                             Dated:____________________


                                             Very truly yours,

                                             SCARLET HOLDING CORPORATION, a
                                             Delaware corporation

                                             By:      __________________________
                                             Its:     __________________________


                                             SCARLET MERGERCO, INC., a
                                             Delaware corporation

                                             By:      __________________________
                                             Its:     __________________________



                                       6



                                Exhibit 7.01(g)-D

               TARGET TAX MATTERS CERTIFICATE FOR AAIPHARMA MERGER

                             [AAIPHARMA LETTERHEAD]

                                _______ __, 2003

Latham & Watkins LLP
633 West Fifth Street, Suite 4000
Los Angeles, California 90071

Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1900
Charlotte, North Carolina  28246

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August __,
2003 (the "Agreement"), by and among aaiPharma, a Delaware corporation
("aaiPharma"), CIMA Labs, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CIMA"), Scarlet Holding
Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
aaiPharma ("Parent"), Scarlet MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("S MergerCo") and Crimson MergerCo,
Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("C
MergerCo"), which provides for the merger of S MergerCo with and into aaiPharma,
with aaiPharma as the surviving corporation (the "aaiPharma Merger") and the
merger of C MergerCo with and into CIMA with CIMA as the surviving corporation
(the "CIMA Merger" and, together with the aaiPharma Merger, the "Mergers"). As a
result of the Mergers, the respective holders of capital stock of CIMA and
aaiPharma will collectively own all of the outstanding shares of capital stock
of Parent, and each of CIMA and aaiPharma will be wholly owned subsidiaries of
Parent. The time at which each Merger becomes effective is hereinafter referred
to as the "Effective Time." Each of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to CIMA, and
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., counsel to aaiPharma, has been requested
pursuant to Section 7.01(g) of the Agreement to render its opinion regarding
certain United States federal income tax consequences of the Mergers.
Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings specified in the
Agreement.

A.       Statements and Representations.

         In connection with such opinion to be rendered by each of you, and
acknowledging that each of you will rely, with aaiPharma's consent, upon the
statements and representations made in this letter in rendering such opinion,
aaiPharma hereby certifies and represents to each of you that the statements and
representations stated herein as they relate to aaiPharma are true, correct and
complete in all respects at the date hereof and will be true, correct and
complete in all respects as of the Effective Time (as if made as of the
Effective Time):




         1. The fair market value of Parent common stock ("Parent Common Stock")
and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock received by holders
of aaiPharma Stock ("Shareholders") will be approximately equal to the fair
market value of aaiPharma Stock surrendered in the aaiPharma Merger. In
connection with the aaiPharma Merger, no Shareholders will receive in exchange
for aaiPharma Stock, directly or indirectly, any consideration from Parent or S
MergerCo other than Parent Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares
thereof.

         2. At the Effective Time, aaiPharma will hold at least 90 percent (90%)
of the fair market value of its net assets and at least 70 percent (70%) of the
fair market value of its gross assets held immediately prior to the Effective
Time. For purposes of this representation, amounts paid by aaiPharma to
dissenting Shareholders, amounts used by aaiPharma to pay Merger expenses,
amounts paid by aaiPharma to redeem stock, securities, warrants or options of
aaiPharma as part of any overall plan of which the aaiPharma Merger is part,
amounts distributed by aaiPharma to Shareholders (except for any regular, normal
dividends) as part of an overall plan of which the aaiPharma Merger is a part,
and amounts used by aaiPharma to pay reorganization expenses, in each case will
be treated as constituting assets of aaiPharma immediately prior to the
Effective Time.

         3. Except as provided in Section 9.05 of the Agreement, each of
aaiPharma and the Shareholders has paid and will pay only their respective
expenses, if any, incurred in connection with the aaiPharma Merger. aaiPharma
has not agreed to assume, nor will it directly or indirectly assume, any expense
or other liability, whether fixed or contingent, of any Shareholders.

         4. There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between Parent or
any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and aaiPharma or any of its
subsidiaries, on the other hand, that was issued, acquired or will be settled at
a discount. No liabilities relating to the aaiPharma Stock being transferred to
Parent will be assumed by Parent, and the aaiPharma Stock that is being
transferred to Parent will not be transferred subject to any liabilities.
Immediately prior to the Effective Time, there will be no indebtedness between
the Shareholders and Parent, and there will be no indebtedness created in favor
of the Shareholders as a result of the aaiPharma Merger.

         5. aaiPharma has no plan or intention to issue additional shares of its
stock after the Effective Time that would result in Parent losing control of
aaiPharma within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"). At the Effective Time, aaiPharma will not have
outstanding any warrants, options, convertible securities, or any other type of
right pursuant to which any person could acquire stock in aaiPharma that, if
exercised or converted, would affect Parent's acquisition or retention of
control of aaiPharma, as defined in Section 368(c) of the Code.

         6. Neither aaiPharma nor any person related to aaiPharma within the
meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-1(e)(3), (e)(4), and (e)(5), has
purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, or made any distributions with
respect to, any aaiPharma Stock prior to or in contemplation of the aaiPharma
Merger, or otherwise as part of a plan of which the aaiPharma Merger is a part.


                                       2


         7. aaiPharma is not an "investment company" as defined in Sections
368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code.

         8. aaiPharma is not under the jurisdiction of a court in a title 11 or
similar case within the meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

         9. Except for cash paid in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common
Stock and except for payments made to dissenting Shareholders, 100 percent
(100%) of aaiPharma Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
will be exchanged for Parent Common Stock. The issuance in the aaiPharma Merger
of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock represents a mere
mechanical rounding off solely for the purpose of avoiding the expense and
inconvenience to Parent of issuing fractional shares and does not represent
separately bargained-for consideration. The total cash consideration that will
be paid pursuant to the Agreement to the Shareholders instead of issuing
fractional Parent Common Stock will not exceed one percent (1%) of the total
consideration that will be issued pursuant to the Agreement to the Shareholders
in exchange for their aaiPharma Stock. The fractional share interests of each
Shareholder will be aggregated, and no Shareholder, with the possible exception
of Shareholders whose holdings are in multiple accounts or with multiple
brokers, will receive cash in an amount equal to or greater than the value of
one full share of Parent Common Stock on the Closing Date.

         10. None of the compensation received by any stockholder-employees of
aaiPharma will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any of their
aaiPharma Stock. None of the Parent aaiPharma Common Stock received by any
stockholder-employees, as part of any overall plan of which the aaiPharma Merger
is a part, will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any employment
agreement. The compensation paid to any stockholder-employees will be for
services actually rendered and will be commensurate with amounts paid to third
parties bargaining at arm's length for similar services.

         11. In the aaiPharma Merger, aaiPharma Stock representing control of
aaiPharma (within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code) will be exchanged
solely for "voting stock" of Parent (within the meaning of Sections 368(a)(1)(B)
and (2)(E) of the Code). For purposes of this paragraph 11, aaiPharma Stock to
be exchanged for cash or other property originating with Parent are treated as
constituting outstanding aaiPharma Stock at the Effective Time.

         12. The business currently carried on by aaiPharma is its "historic
business" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-1(d), and no
assets of aaiPharma have been sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of which
would prevent aaiPharma from continuing the "historic business" of aaiPharma or
from using a "significant portion" of aaiPharma's "historic business" assets in
a business following the aaiPharma Merger, as such terms are used in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.368-1(d).

         13. Payments made in respect of dissenting shares, if any, shall be
made solely from the funds of aaiPharma. No funds will be supplied for that
purpose, directly or indirectly, by Parent or S MergerCo, nor will Parent or S
MergerCo directly or indirectly reimburse aaiPharma for any payments made in
respect of dissenting shares.

                                       3


         14. At the Effective Time, there will be no accrued but unpaid
dividends on aaiPharma Stock.

         15. At the Effective Time, the total adjusted tax basis of aaiPharma's
assets will exceed the sum of its liabilities, plus the amount of liabilities,
if any, to which the assets are subject.

         16. At the Effective Time, the fair market value of aaiPharma's assets
will exceed the sum of its liabilities, plus the amount of liabilities, if any,
to which the assets are subject.

         17. To the best knowledge of the management of aaiPharma, there is no
plan or intention on the part of the Shareholders to sell, exchange or otherwise
transfer ownership of any share of Parent Common Stock received in the aaiPharma
Merger (other than fractional shares of Parent Common Stock for which holders of
Parent Common Stock receive cash in the aaiPharma Merger) to Parent, or any
corporation related to Parent (as defined in paragraph 6 above), directly or
indirectly (including through partnerships or through third parties in
connection with a plan to so transfer ownership).

         18. aaiPharma has no (and, at the time of the aaiPharma Merger, will
not have any) issued and outstanding capital stock (or any other interest
treated as stock for federal income tax purposes) other than aaiPharma Stock.

         19. None of the Shareholders will retain any rights in the aaiPharma
Stock transferred to Parent pursuant to the aaiPharma Merger.

         20. Taking into account any issuance of additional shares of Parent
Common Stock, any issuance of Parent Common Stock for services, the exercise of
any Parent Common Stock rights, warrants, options or subscriptions, any public
offering of Parent Common Stock and the sale, exchange, transfer by gift or
other disposition of any of the Parent Common Stock to be received in the
Mergers, the Shareholders and holders of CIMA Common Stock will, immediately
after the Effective Time, collectively be in "control" of Parent within the
meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.

         21. No Parent Common Stock or other securities will be issued for
indebtedness (or interest thereon) of Parent. The aaiPharma Stock was not
acquired by the Shareholders as part of a plan of liquidation of another
corporation.

         22. The aaiPharma Merger will be consummated in compliance with the
material terms of the Agreement. The Mergers will occur under a plan agreed upon
before the transaction in which the rights of the parties are defined and will
be completed on the same date.

         23. aaiPharma will comply with the reporting and record-keeping
requirements set forth in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.351-3 and/or 1.368-3.

         24. aaiPharma will not take any position on any federal, state or local
income or franchise tax return, or take any other reporting position, that is
inconsistent with the treatment of the aaiPharma Merger as a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Mergers, when viewed
together, as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code, unless

                                       4


otherwise required by a final "determination" (as defined in Section 1313(a)(1)
of the Code) or by applicable state or local income or franchise tax law.

         25. aaiPharma has a bona fide business reason for engaging in the
aaiPharma Merger.

         26. The terms of the Agreement and all other agreements entered into in
connection therewith are the product of arm's length negotiations and such
agreements are the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
Mergers.

         27. The undersigned is authorized to make all of the representations
set forth herein.

B.       Reliance by You in Rendering Opinion:  Limitations on Your Opinion.

         The undersigned recognizes and agrees that, with respect to each of
you, your tax opinion will be based (i) on the statements and representations
set forth herein, (ii) on the statements contained in the Agreement and
documents related thereto, and (iii) on the consummation of the Mergers in
accordance with the terms set forth in the Agreement. The undersigned also
recognizes and agrees that, with respect to each of you, your tax opinion will
be subject to certain limitations and qualifications including that it may not
be relied upon if any such statements or representations are not accurate in all
respects.

         aaiPharma undertakes to inform each of you immediately should any of
the foregoing statements or representations become untrue, incorrect or
incomplete in any respect on or prior to the Effective Time.


                                          Dated:____________________


                                          Very truly yours,


                                          aaiPharma Inc., a Delaware corporation

                                          By:      __________________________
                                          Its:     __________________________




                                       5


                          STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT



                                  BY AND AMONG

                                 CIMA LABS INC.

                                       AND

                              FREDERICK D. SANCILIO



                           DATED AS OF AUGUST 5, 2003







                          STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT

         This STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as
of August 5, 2003, by and among Cima Labs Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Cima"),
and Frederick D. Sancilio ("Stockholder"), a stockholder of aaiPharma Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("AAI").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Stockholder "beneficially owns" (as
such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended) and is entitled to dispose of (or to direct the disposition
of) and to vote (or to direct the voting of) 6,253,167 shares of common stock,
par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of AAI, as such shares may be
adjusted by stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination, merger,
consolidation, reorganization or other change in the capital structure of AAI
affecting the Common Stock (such shares of Common Stock, together with any other
shares of Common Stock the voting power over which is acquired by Stockholder
during the period from and including the date hereof through and including the
date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, are
collectively referred to herein as the "Subject Shares");

         WHEREAS, Cima, AAI, Scarlet Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Holding Company"), Scarlet MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Holding Company ("S MergerCo"), and Crimson
MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
Holding Company ("C MergerCo"), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended, the "Merger
Agreement"), pursuant to which Holding Company will acquire all of the capital
stock of each of Cima and AAI through the merger of S MergerCo with and into AAI
(the "AAI Merger") and the merger of C MergerCo with and into Cima (the "Cima
Merger"), with AAI and Cima surviving as wholly owned subsidiaries of Holding
Company; and

         WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of Cima to enter into the
Merger Agreement, and as an inducement and in consideration therefor, Cima has
required that Stockholder agree, and Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this
Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized
terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
them in the Merger Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II
                     VOTING AGREEMENT AND IRREVOCABLE PROXY

         SECTION 2.1 AGREEMENT TO VOTE THE SUBJECT SHARES. Stockholder, in his
capacity as such, hereby agrees that, during the period commencing on the date
hereof and continuing until





the termination of this Agreement (such period, the "Voting Period"), at any
meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) of the holders of any class
or classes of the capital stock of AAI, however called, or in connection with
any written consent of the holders of any class or classes of the capital stock
of AAI, Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares (x) in
favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the AAI Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (and any actions
required in furtherance thereof), (y) against any action, proposal, transaction
or agreement that would result in a breach in any respect of any covenant,
representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of AAI or any of
its subsidiaries under the Merger Agreement or of Stockholder under this
Agreement, and (z) except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by Cima,
against (i) any Acquisition Proposal; (ii) any change in the Persons who
constitute the board of directors of AAI that is not approved in advance by at
least a majority of the Persons who were directors of AAI as of the date of this
Agreement (or their successors who were so approved); and (iii) any other action
or proposal involving AAI or any of its subsidiaries that is intended, or could
reasonably be expected, to prevent, materially impede, or materially impair or
delay consummation of the AAI Merger or the other transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement. Any such vote shall be cast or consent shall be given in
accordance with such procedures relating thereto as shall ensure that it is duly
counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and for purposes of
recording the results of such vote or consent. Stockholder agrees not to enter
into any agreement, letter of intent, agreement in principle or understanding
with any Person that violates or conflicts with or could reasonably be expected
to violate or conflict with the provisions and agreements contained in this
Agreement or the Merger Agreement.

         SECTION 2.2 GRANT OF IRREVOCABLE PROXY. Stockholder hereby appoints
Cima and any designee of Cima, and each of them individually, as Stockholder's
proxy and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
to vote or act by written consent during the Voting Period with respect the
Subject Shares in accordance with Section 2.1. This proxy is given to secure the
performance of the duties of Stockholder under this Agreement. The Stockholder
shall promptly cause a copy of this Agreement to be deposited with AAI at its
principal place of business. Stockholder shall take such further action or
execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of
this proxy.

         SECTION 2.3 NATURE OF IRREVOCABLE PROXY. The proxy and power of
attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.2 by Stockholder shall be irrevocable
during the term of this Agreement, shall be deemed to be coupled with an
interest sufficient in Law to support an irrevocable proxy and shall revoke any
and all prior proxies granted by Stockholder. The power of attorney granted by
Stockholder herein is a durable power of attorney and shall survive the
dissolution, bankruptcy, death or incapacity of Stockholder. The proxy and power
of attorney granted hereunder shall terminate upon the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1.

         SECTION 2.4 LEGEND. Stockholder shall promptly cause the following
legend to be conspicuously noted on each certificate representing its Subject
Shares:

         "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A
         STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 5, 2003. THE
         STOCKHOLDER




                                       2


         VOTING AGREEMENT RESTRICTS THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE SHARES
         REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND INCLUDES A VOTING AGREEMENT AND AN
         IRREVOCABLE PROXY TO VOTE THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE."

         SECTION 2.5 CAPACITY. No person executing this Agreement who is or
becomes during the term hereof a director or officer of AAI makes any agreement
or understanding herein in his or her capacity as such a director or officer of
AAI. Stockholder signs solely in his, her or its capacity as the record holder
and beneficial owner of, or the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the
beneficial owners of, the Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or
affect any actions taken by Stockholder or any Affiliate of Stockholder in his
capacity as an officer or director of AAI to the extent permitted by the Merger
Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE III
                                    COVENANTS

         SECTION 3.1 GENERALLY. Stockholder agrees that, except as contemplated
by the terms of this Agreement and the Merger Agreement or as set forth on
Schedule I hereto, during the Voting Period, he shall not (a) sell, transfer,
tender, pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any
contract, option or other agreement with respect to, or consent to, the sale,
transfer, tender, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition of, any
or all of the Subject Shares, except for transfers by operation of law, by will
or pursuant to the laws of descent or distribution; or (b) take any action that
would have the effect of preventing, impeding, interfering with or adversely
affecting his ability to perform his obligations under this Agreement.

         SECTION 3.2 STANDSTILL OBLIGATIONS OF STOCKHOLDER. Stockholder, jointly
and severally, covenants and agrees with Cima that, during the period commencing
on the date hereof and ending on the date this Agreement is terminated under
Section 6.1 hereof:

         (a) Stockholder shall not, nor shall Stockholder permit any of his
Affiliates to, nor shall Stockholder act in concert with or permit any Affiliate
to act in concert with any Person to, solicit or participate, directly or
indirectly, in any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as defined by the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or powers of attorney or
similar rights to vote from any holder of shares of Common Stock, nor shall they
seek to advise or influence any Person with respect to the voting of any shares
of Common Stock in connection with any vote or other action on any matter, other
than to recommend that stockholders of AAI vote in favor of the AAI Merger and
the Merger Agreement and otherwise as expressly provided by Article II of this
Agreement.

         (b) Stockholder shall not, nor shall Stockholder permit any of his
Affiliates to, nor shall Stockholder act in concert with or permit any Affiliate
to act in concert with any Person to, deposit any shares of Common Stock in a
voting trust or subject any shares of Common Stock to any arrangement or
agreement with any Person with respect to the voting of such shares of Common
Stock, except as provided by Article II and Schedule I of this Agreement.




                                       3


                                   ARTICLE IV
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDER

         Stockholder hereby represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to
Cima as follows:

         SECTION 4.1 CAPACITY. Stockholder has all legal capacity and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Stockholder
enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights or by general equity principles).

         SECTION 4.2 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. As of the date hereof, Stockholder is
the lawful owner of 6,113,167 shares of Common Stock (the "Owned Shares") and
has the sole power to vote (or cause to be voted) such shares of Common Stock.
Except as set forth on Schedule II hereto, neither Stockholder nor any Affiliate
of Stockholder owns or holds any right to acquire any additional shares of any
class of capital stock of AAI or other securities of AAI or any interest therein
or any voting rights with respect to any securities of AAI. Except as set forth
on Schedule III hereto, Stockholder has good and valid title to the Owned
Shares, free and clear of any and all pledges, mortgages, liens, charges,
proxies, voting agreements, encumbrances, adverse claims, options, security
interests and demands of any nature or kind whatsoever, other than those created
by this Agreement.

         SECTION 4.3 NO CONFLICTS. (a) No filing with any Governmental Entity,
and no authorization, consent or approval of any other Person is necessary for
the execution of this Agreement by Stockholder and the consummation by
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) none of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, the consummation by
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by Stockholder
with any of the provisions hereof shall (i) result in, or give rise to, a
violation or breach of or a default under any of the terms of any material
contract, understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which
Stockholder is a party or by which Stockholder or any of the Subject Shares or
assets may be bound or (ii) violate any applicable order, writ, injunction,
decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation which could reasonably be expected
to adversely affect Stockholder's ability to perform his obligations under this
Agreement.

         SECTION 4.4 RELIANCE BY CIMA. Stockholder understands and acknowledges
that Cima is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder.

                                   ARTICLE V
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CIMA

         Cima hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholder as follows:

         SECTION 5.1 DUE ORGANIZATION, ETC. Cima is a company duly organized and
validly existing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Cima
has all necessary corporate



                                       4


power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Cima and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Cima
enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights or by general equity principles).

         SECTION 5.2 CONFLICTS. (a) No filing with any Governmental Entity, and
no authorization, consent or approval of any other Person is necessary for the
execution of this Agreement by Cima and the consummation by Cima of the
transactions contemplated hereby and (b) none of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Cima or the consummation by Cima of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall (i) conflict with or result in any breach of the
organizational documents of Cima, (ii) result in a violation or breach of or a
default under any of the terms of any material contract, understanding,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Cima is a party or by which
Cima or any of its assets may be bound or (iii) violate any applicable order,
writ, injunction, decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation which could
reasonably be expected to adversely affect Cima's ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                   TERMINATION

         SECTION 6.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate, and neither
Cima nor Stockholder shall have any rights or obligations hereunder and this
Agreement shall become null and void and have no effect upon the earliest to
occur of (a) the mutual consent of Cima and Stockholder to terminate this
Agreement, (b) the Effective Time, (c) the date of termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with its terms, (d) the Termination Date or (e) the date
of any amendment to the Merger Agreement in a manner that reduces the AAI
Exchange Ratio, increases the Cima Exchange Ratio or amends or alters Section
6.04 therein in a manner adverse to Stockholder, unless consented to by
Stockholder; provided, however, that (1) the termination of this Agreement shall
not prevent any party hereunder from seeking any remedies (at Law or in equity)
against any other party hereto for such party's breach of any of the terms of
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 7.2 through 7.13,
inclusive, of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 7.1 PUBLICATION. Stockholder hereby permits Cima to publish and
disclose in the Proxy Statement (and all related documents and schedules filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission) his identity and ownership of
shares of Common Stock and the nature of its commitments, arrangements and
understandings pursuant to this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.2 FURTHER ACTIONS. Each of the parties hereto agrees that it
will use its reasonable best efforts to do all things necessary to effectuate
this Agreement.


                                       5



         SECTION 7.3 AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC. This Agreement may not be
amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated,
except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by each
of the parties hereto. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any right,
power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect
hereof at Law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party
hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the parties
at variance with the terms hereof shall not constitute a waiver by such party of
its right to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand such
compliance.

         SECTION 7.4 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not to be performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that
the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof in
addition to any other remedies at Law or in equity.

         SECTION 7.5 NOTICES. Any notices or other communications required or
permitted under, or otherwise in connection with this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in Person or
upon confirmation of receipt when transmitted by facsimile transmission (but
only if followed by transmittal by national overnight courier or hand for
delivery on the next Business Day) or on receipt after dispatch by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, or on the next Business Day if
transmitted by national overnight courier, in each case as follows:

                           If to Cima, addressed to it at:

                           Cima Labs, Inc.
                           10000 Valley View Road
                           Eden Prairie, MN  55344-9361
                           Fax: (952) 947-8770
                           Attn:  Chief Executive Officer

                           with a copy to:

                           Latham & Watkins LLP
                           650 Town Center Drive, Suite 2000
                           Cost Mesa, California  92626-1918
                           Attention:  Patrick T. Seaver
                                       Charles K. Ruck
                                       R. Scott Shean
                           Facsimile:  (714) 755-8290



                                       6



                           If to the Stockholder, addressed to it at:

                           Frederick D. Sancilio
                           1900 Eastwood Road, Suite 5
                           Wilmington, North Carolina 28403
                           Fax:   (910) 815-2340
                           Attn:  Frederick D. Sancilio

                           with a copy to:

                           Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
                           101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1900
                           Charlotte, North Carolina  28246
                           Attention:  Stephen M. Lynch
                                       Matthew S. Churchill
                                       Laura C. Smith
                           Facsimile:  (704) 373-3955

         SECTION 7.6 HEADINGS. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.7 SEVERABILITY. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to
the end that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent
possible.

         SECTION 7.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (together with the Merger
Agreement, to the extent referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, between the parties, or any
of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         SECTION 7.9 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assigned by
operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of each of the
parties.

         SECTION 7.10 PARTIES IN INTEREST. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy
of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.11 MUTUAL DRAFTING. Each party hereto has participated in the
drafting of this Agreement, which each party acknowledges is the result of
extensive negotiations between the parties.


                                       7


         SECTION 7.12 GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY
JURY.

         (a) This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and all
disputes between the parties under or related to the Agreement or the facts and
circumstances leading to its execution, whether in contract, tort or otherwise,
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard to the application of Delaware principles of conflicts
of laws.

         (b) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any
Delaware State court, or Federal court of the United States of America, sitting
in Delaware, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the agreements
delivered in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and
each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees not to
commence any such action or proceeding except in such courts, (ii) agrees that
any claim in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in such Delaware State court or, to the extent permitted by Law, in
such Federal court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in any such Delaware State or
Federal court, and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such Delaware State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by Law. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to
service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.5. Nothing in
this Agreement shall affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve
process in any other manner permitted by Law.

         (c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY
ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK
TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE
IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV)
IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.12(c).

         SECTION 7.13 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.



                                       8









         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Cima and Stockholder have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.



                                 CIMA LABS INC.

                                 By: /s/ Steven B. Ratoff
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     Steven B. Ratoff
                                     Interim Chief Executive Officer

                                 STOCKHOLDER


                                 By: /s/ Frederick D. Sancilio
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     Frederick D. Sancilio, Ph.D.





                   SIGNATURE PAGE TO SANCILIO VOTING AGREEMENT

                          STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT


                                  BY AND AMONG

                                 CIMA LABS INC.

                                       AND

                               PHILIP S. TABBINER


                           DATED AS OF AUGUST 5, 2003



                          STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT

         This STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as
of August 5, 2003, by and among Cima Labs Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Cima"),
and Philip S. Tabbiner ("Stockholder"), a stockholder of aaiPharma Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("AAI").

                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Stockholder "beneficially owns" (as
such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended) and is entitled to dispose of (or to direct the disposition
of) and to vote (or to direct the voting of) 157,451 shares of common stock, par
value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of AAI, as such shares may be
adjusted by stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination, merger,
consolidation, reorganization or other change in the capital structure of AAI
affecting the Common Stock (such shares of Common Stock, together with any other
shares of Common Stock the voting power over which is acquired by Stockholder
during the period from and including the date hereof through and including the
date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, are
collectively referred to herein as the "Subject Shares");

         WHEREAS, Cima, AAI, Scarlet Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Holding Company"), Scarlet MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Holding Company ("S MergerCo"), and Crimson
MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
Holding Company ("C MergerCo"), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended, the "Merger
Agreement"), pursuant to which Holding Company will acquire all of the capital
stock of each of Cima and AAI through the merger of S MergerCo with and into AAI
(the "AAI Merger") and the merger of C MergerCo with and into Cima (the "Cima
Merger"), with AAI and Cima surviving as wholly owned subsidiaries of Holding
Company; and

         WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of Cima to enter into the
Merger Agreement, and as an inducement and in consideration therefor, Cima has
required that Stockholder agree, and Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this
Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized
terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
them in the Merger Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II
                     VOTING AGREEMENT AND IRREVOCABLE PROXY

         SECTION 2.1 AGREEMENT TO VOTE THE SUBJECT SHARES. Stockholder, in his
capacity as such, hereby agrees that, during the period commencing on the date
hereof and continuing until





the termination of this Agreement (such period, the "Voting Period"), at any
meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) of the holders of any class
or classes of the capital stock of AAI, however called, or in connection with
any written consent of the holders of any class or classes of the capital stock
of AAI, Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares (x) in
favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the AAI Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (and any actions
required in furtherance thereof), (y) against any action, proposal, transaction
or agreement that would result in a breach in any respect of any covenant,
representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of AAI or any of
its subsidiaries under the Merger Agreement or of Stockholder under this
Agreement, and (z) except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by Cima,
against (i) any Acquisition Proposal; (ii) any change in the Persons who
constitute the board of directors of AAI that is not approved in advance by at
least a majority of the Persons who were directors of AAI as of the date of this
Agreement (or their successors who were so approved); and (iii) any other action
or proposal involving AAI or any of its subsidiaries that is intended, or could
reasonably be expected, to prevent, materially impede, or materially impair or
delay consummation of the AAI Merger or the other transactions contemplated by
the Merger Agreement. Any such vote shall be cast or consent shall be given in
accordance with such procedures relating thereto as shall ensure that it is duly
counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and for purposes of
recording the results of such vote or consent. Stockholder agrees not to enter
into any agreement, letter of intent, agreement in principle or understanding
with any Person that violates or conflicts with or could reasonably be expected
to violate or conflict with the provisions and agreements contained in this
Agreement or the Merger Agreement.

         SECTION 2.2 GRANT OF IRREVOCABLE PROXY. Stockholder hereby appoints
Cima and any designee of Cima, and each of them individually, as Stockholder's
proxy and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
to vote or act by written consent during the Voting Period with respect the
Subject Shares in accordance with Section 2.1. This proxy is given to secure the
performance of the duties of Stockholder under this Agreement. The Stockholder
shall promptly cause a copy of this Agreement to be deposited with AAI at its
principal place of business. Stockholder shall take such further action or
execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of
this proxy.

         SECTION 2.3 NATURE OF IRREVOCABLE PROXY. The proxy and power of
attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.2 by Stockholder shall be irrevocable
during the term of this Agreement, shall be deemed to be coupled with an
interest sufficient in Law to support an irrevocable proxy and shall revoke any
and all prior proxies granted by Stockholder. The power of attorney granted by
Stockholder herein is a durable power of attorney and shall survive the
dissolution, bankruptcy, death or incapacity of Stockholder. The proxy and power
of attorney granted hereunder shall terminate upon the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1.

         SECTION 2.4 LEGEND. Stockholder shall promptly cause the following
legend to be conspicuously noted on each certificate representing its Subject
Shares:

                  "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A
                  STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 5, 2003. THE
                  STOCKHOLDER



                                       2


                  VOTING AGREEMENT RESTRICTS THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE SHARES
                  REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND INCLUDES A VOTING
                  AGREEMENT AND AN IRREVOCABLE PROXY TO VOTE THE SHARES
                  REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE."

         SECTION 2.5 CAPACITY. No person executing this Agreement who is or
becomes during the term hereof a director or officer of AAI makes any agreement
or understanding herein in his or her capacity as such a director or officer of
AAI. Stockholder signs solely in his, her or its capacity as the record holder
and beneficial owner of, or the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the
beneficial owners of, the Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or
affect any actions taken by Stockholder or any Affiliate of Stockholder in his
capacity as an officer or director of AAI to the extent permitted by the Merger
Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE III
                                    COVENANTS

         SECTION 3.1 GENERALLY. Stockholder agrees that, except as contemplated
by the terms of this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, during the Voting
Period, he shall not (a) sell, transfer, tender, pledge, encumber, assign or
otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other agreement with
respect to, or consent to, the sale, transfer, tender, pledge, encumbrance,
assignment or other disposition of, any or all of the Subject Shares, except for
transfers by operation of law, by will or pursuant to the laws of descent or
distribution; or (b) take any action that would have the effect of preventing,
impeding, interfering with or adversely affecting his ability to perform his
obligations under this Agreement.

         SECTION 3.2 STANDSTILL OBLIGATIONS OF STOCKHOLDER. Stockholder, jointly
and severally, covenants and agrees with Cima that, during the period commencing
on the date hereof and ending on the date this Agreement is terminated under
Section 6.1 hereof:

         (a) Stockholder shall not, nor shall Stockholder permit any of his
Affiliates to, nor shall Stockholder act in concert with or permit any Affiliate
to act in concert with any Person to, solicit or participate, directly or
indirectly, in any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as defined by the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or powers of attorney or
similar rights to vote from any holder of shares of Common Stock, nor shall they
seek to advise or influence any Person with respect to the voting of any shares
of Common Stock in connection with any vote or other action on any matter, other
than to recommend that stockholders of AAI vote in favor of the AAI Merger and
the Merger Agreement and otherwise as expressly provided by Article II of this
Agreement.

         (b) Stockholder shall not, nor shall Stockholder permit any of his
Affiliates to, nor shall Stockholder act in concert with or permit any Affiliate
to act in concert with any Person to, deposit any shares of Common Stock in a
voting trust or subject any shares of Common Stock to any arrangement or
agreement with any Person with respect to the voting of such shares of Common
Stock, except as provided by Article II of this Agreement.



                                       3


                                   ARTICLE IV
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDER

         Stockholder hereby represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to
Cima as follows:

         SECTION 4.1 CAPACITY. Stockholder has all legal capacity and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Stockholder
enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights or by general equity principles).

         SECTION 4.2 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. As of the date hereof, Stockholder is
the lawful owner of 41,250 shares of Common Stock (the "Owned Shares") and has
the sole power to vote (or cause to be voted) such shares of Common Stock.
Except as set forth on Schedule I hereto, neither Stockholder nor any Affiliate
of Stockholder owns or holds any right to acquire any additional shares of any
class of capital stock of AAI or other securities of AAI or any interest therein
or any voting rights with respect to any securities of AAI. Stockholder has good
and valid title to the Owned Shares, free and clear of any and all pledges,
mortgages, liens, charges, proxies, voting agreements, encumbrances, adverse
claims, options, security interests and demands of any nature or kind
whatsoever, other than those created by this Agreement.

         SECTION 4.3 NO CONFLICTS. (a) No filing with any Governmental Entity,
and no authorization, consent or approval of any other Person is necessary for
the execution of this Agreement by Stockholder and the consummation by
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) none of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, the consummation by
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by Stockholder
with any of the provisions hereof shall (i) result in, or give rise to, a
violation or breach of or a default under any of the terms of any material
contract, understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which
Stockholder is a party or by which Stockholder or any of the Subject Shares or
assets may be bound or (ii) violate any applicable order, writ, injunction,
decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation which could reasonably be expected
to adversely affect Stockholder's ability to perform his obligations under this
Agreement.

         SECTION 4.4 RELIANCE BY CIMA. Stockholder understands and acknowledges
that Cima is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder.

                                   ARTICLE V
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CIMA

         Cima hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholder as follows:

         SECTION 5.1 DUE ORGANIZATION, ETC. Cima is a company duly organized and
validly existing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Cima
has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions



                                       4


contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Cima
and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Cima enforceable in accordance
with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by general
equity principles).

         SECTION 5.2 CONFLICTS. (a) No filing with any Governmental Entity, and
no authorization, consent or approval of any other Person is necessary for the
execution of this Agreement by Cima and the consummation by Cima of the
transactions contemplated hereby and (b) none of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Cima or the consummation by Cima of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall (i) conflict with or result in any breach of the
organizational documents of Cima, (ii) result in a violation or breach of or a
default under any of the terms of any material contract, understanding,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Cima is a party or by which
Cima or any of its assets may be bound or (iii) violate any applicable order,
writ, injunction, decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation which could
reasonably be expected to adversely affect Cima's ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                   TERMINATION

         SECTION 6.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate, and neither
Cima nor Stockholder shall have any rights or obligations hereunder and this
Agreement shall become null and void and have no effect upon the earliest to
occur of (a) the mutual consent of Cima and Stockholder to terminate this
Agreement, (b) the Effective Time, (c) the date of termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with its terms, (d) the Termination Date or (e) the date
of any amendment to the Merger Agreement in a manner that reduces the AAI
Exchange Ratio, increases the Cima Exchange Ratio or amends or alters Section
6.04 therein in a manner adverse to Stockholder, unless consented to by
Stockholder; provided, however, that (1) the termination of this Agreement shall
not prevent any party hereunder from seeking any remedies (at Law or in equity)
against any other party hereto for such party's breach of any of the terms of
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 7.2 through 7.13,
inclusive, of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 7.1 PUBLICATION. Stockholder hereby permits Cima to publish and
disclose in the Proxy Statement (and all related documents and schedules filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission) his identity and ownership of
shares of Common Stock and the nature of its commitments, arrangements and
understandings pursuant to this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.2 FURTHER ACTIONS. Each of the parties hereto agrees that it
will use its reasonable best efforts to do all things necessary to effectuate
this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.3 AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC. This Agreement may not be
amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated,
except upon the execution



                                        5



and delivery of a written agreement executed by each of the parties hereto. The
failure of any party hereto to exercise any right, power or remedy provided
under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at Law or in
equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party hereto with its
obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the parties at variance
with the terms hereof shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its right
to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand such
compliance.

         SECTION 7.4 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not to be performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that
the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof in
addition to any other remedies at Law or in equity.

         SECTION 7.5 NOTICES. Any notices or other communications required or
permitted under, or otherwise in connection with this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in Person or
upon confirmation of receipt when transmitted by facsimile transmission (but
only if followed by transmittal by national overnight courier or hand for
delivery on the next Business Day) or on receipt after dispatch by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, or on the next Business Day if
transmitted by national overnight courier, in each case as follows:

                           If to Cima, addressed to it at:

                           Cima Labs, Inc.
                           10000 Valley View Road
                           Eden Prairie, MN  55344-9361
                           Fax: (952) 947-8770
                           Attn:  Chief Executive Officer

                           with a copy to:

                           Latham & Watkins LLP
                           650 Town Center Drive, Suite 2000
                           Cost Mesa, California  92626-1918
                           Attention:       Patrick T. Seaver
                                            Charles K. Ruck
                                            R. Scott Shean
                           Facsimile:       (714) 755-8290



                                       6


                           If to the Stockholder, addressed to it at:

                           Philip S. Tabbiner
                           2320 Scientific Park Drive
                           Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
                           Fax:   (910) 815-2387
                           Attn:  Philip S. Tabbiner

                           with a copy to:

                           Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
                           101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1900
                           Charlotte, North Carolina  28246
                           Attention:       Stephen M. Lynch
                                            Matthew S. Churchill
                                            Laura C. Smith
                           Facsimile:       (704) 373-3955

         SECTION 7.6 HEADINGS. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.7 SEVERABILITY. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to
the end that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent
possible.

         SECTION 7.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (together with the Merger
Agreement, to the extent referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, between the parties, or any
of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         SECTION 7.9 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assigned by
operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of each of the
parties.

         SECTION 7.10 PARTIES IN INTEREST. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy
of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.11 MUTUAL DRAFTING. Each party hereto has participated in the
drafting of this Agreement, which each party acknowledges is the result of
extensive negotiations between the parties.



                                       7


         SECTION 7.12 GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY
JURY.

         (a) This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and all
disputes between the parties under or related to the Agreement or the facts and
circumstances leading to its execution, whether in contract, tort or otherwise,
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard to the application of Delaware principles of conflicts
of laws.

         (b) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any
Delaware State court, or Federal court of the United States of America, sitting
in Delaware, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the agreements
delivered in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and
each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees not to
commence any such action or proceeding except in such courts, (ii) agrees that
any claim in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in such Delaware State court or, to the extent permitted by Law, in
such Federal court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in any such Delaware State or
Federal court, and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such Delaware State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by Law. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to
service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.5. Nothing in
this Agreement shall affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve
process in any other manner permitted by Law.

         (c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY
ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK
TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE
IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV)
IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.12(c).

         SECTION 7.13 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.



                                       8


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Cima and Stockholder have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.



                                           CIMA LABS INC.


                                           By: /s/ Steven B. Ratoff
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Steven B. Ratoff
                                               Interim Chief Executive Officer


                                           STOCKHOLDER


                                           By: /s/ Philip S. Tabbiner
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Philip S. Tabbiner, D.B.A.






                   SIGNATURE PAGE TO TABBINER VOTING AGREEMENT



                          STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT


                                  BY AND AMONG

                                 AAIPHARMA INC.

                                       AND

                                 JOHN M. SIEBERT


                           DATED AS OF AUGUST 5, 2003




                          STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT

         This STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as
of August 5, 2003, by and among aaiPharma Inc., a Delaware corporation ("AAI"),
and John B. Siebert ("Stockholder"), a stockholder of Cima Labs Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Cima").

                                  WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Stockholder "beneficially owns" (as
such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended) and is entitled to dispose of (or to direct the disposition
of) and to vote (or to direct the voting of) 338,096 shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Cima, as such shares may be
adjusted by stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination, merger,
consolidation, reorganization or other change in the capital structure of Cima
affecting the Common Stock (such shares of Common Stock, together with any other
shares of Common Stock the voting power over which is acquired by Stockholder
during the period from and including the date hereof through and including the
date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, are
collectively referred to herein as the "Subject Shares");

         WHEREAS, AAI, Cima, Scarlet Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Holding Company"), Scarlet MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Holding Company ("S MergerCo"), and Crimson
MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
Holding Company ("C MergerCo"), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended, the "Merger
Agreement"), pursuant to which Holding Company will acquire all of the capital
stock of each of Cima and AAI through the merger of S MergerCo with and into AAI
(the "AAI Merger") and the merger of C MergerCo with and into Cima (the "Cima
Merger"), with AAI and Cima surviving as wholly owned subsidiaries of Holding
Company; and

         WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of AAI to enter into the
Merger Agreement, and as an inducement and in consideration therefor, AAI has
required that Stockholder agree, and Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this
Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized
terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
them in the Merger Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II
                     VOTING AGREEMENT AND IRREVOCABLE PROXY

         SECTION 2.1 AGREEMENT TO VOTE THE SUBJECT SHARES. Stockholder, in his
capacity as such, hereby agrees that, during the period commencing on the date
hereof and continuing until





the termination of this Agreement (such period, the "Voting Period"), at any
meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) of the holders of any class
or classes of the capital stock of Cima, however called, or in connection with
any written consent of the holders of any class or classes of the capital stock
of Cima, Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares (x) in
favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Cima Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (and any actions
required in furtherance thereof), (y) against any action, proposal, transaction
or agreement that would result in a breach in any respect of any covenant,
representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Cima or any
of its subsidiaries under the Merger Agreement or of Stockholder under this
Agreement, and (z) except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by AAI,
against (i) any Acquisition Proposal; (ii) any change in the Persons who
constitute the board of directors of Cima that is not approved in advance by at
least a majority of the Persons who were directors of Cima as of the date of
this Agreement (or their successors who were so approved); and (iii) any other
action or proposal involving Cima or any of its subsidiaries that is intended,
or could reasonably be expected, to prevent, materially impede, or materially
impair or delay consummation of the Cima Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Any such vote shall be cast or consent
shall be given in accordance with such procedures relating thereto as shall
ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is
present and for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent.
Stockholder agrees not to enter into any agreement, letter of intent, agreement
in principle or understanding with any Person that violates or conflicts with or
could reasonably be expected to violate or conflict with the provisions and
agreements contained in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement.

         SECTION 2.2 GRANT OF IRREVOCABLE PROXY. Stockholder hereby appoints AAI
and any designee of AAI, and each of them individually, as Stockholder's proxy
and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to
vote or act by written consent during the Voting Period with respect the Subject
Shares in accordance with Section 2.1. This proxy is given to secure the
performance of the duties of Stockholder under this Agreement. The Stockholder
shall promptly cause a copy of this Agreement to be deposited with Cima at its
principal place of business. Stockholder shall take such further action or
execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of
this proxy.

         SECTION 2.3 NATURE OF IRREVOCABLE PROXY. The proxy and power of
attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.2 by Stockholder shall be irrevocable
during the term of this Agreement, shall be deemed to be coupled with an
interest sufficient in Law to support an irrevocable proxy and shall revoke any
and all prior proxies granted by Stockholder. The power of attorney granted by
Stockholder herein is a durable power of attorney and shall survive the
dissolution, bankruptcy, death or incapacity of Stockholder. The proxy and power
of attorney granted hereunder shall terminate upon the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1.

         SECTION 2.4 LEGEND. Stockholder shall promptly cause the following
legend to be conspicuously noted on each certificate representing its Subject
Shares:

                  "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A
                  STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 5, 2003. THE
                  STOCKHOLDER



                                       2


                  VOTING AGREEMENT RESTRICTS THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE SHARES
                  REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND INCLUDES A VOTING
                  AGREEMENT AND AN IRREVOCABLE PROXY TO VOTE THE SHARES
                  REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE."

         SECTION 2.5 CAPACITY. No person executing this Agreement who is or
becomes during the term hereof a director or officer of Cima makes any agreement
or understanding herein in his or her capacity as such a director or officer of
Cima. Stockholder signs solely in his, her or its capacity as the record holder
and beneficial owner of, or the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the
beneficial owners of, the Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or
affect any actions taken by Stockholder or any Affiliate of Stockholder in his
capacity as an officer or director of Cima to the extent permitted by the Merger
Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE III
                                    COVENANTS

         SECTION 3.1 GENERALLY. Stockholder agrees that, except as contemplated
by the terms of this Agreement and the Merger Agreement or as set forth on
Schedule I hereto, during the Voting Period, he shall not (a) sell, transfer,
tender, pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any
contract, option or other agreement with respect to, or consent to, the sale,
transfer, tender, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition of, any
or all of the Subject Shares, except for transfers by operation of law, by will
or pursuant to the laws of descent or distribution; or (b) take any action that
would have the effect of preventing, impeding, interfering with or adversely
affecting his ability to perform his obligations under this Agreement.

         SECTION 3.2 STANDSTILL OBLIGATIONS OF STOCKHOLDER. Stockholder, jointly
and severally, covenants and agrees with AAI that, during the period commencing
on the date hereof and ending on the date this Agreement is terminated under
Section 6.1 hereof:

         (a) Stockholder shall not, nor shall Stockholder permit any of his
Affiliates to, nor shall Stockholder act in concert with or permit any Affiliate
to act in concert with any Person to, solicit or participate, directly or
indirectly, in any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as defined by the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or powers of attorney or
similar rights to vote from any holder of shares of Common Stock, nor shall they
seek to advise or influence any Person with respect to the voting of any shares
of Common Stock in connection with any vote or other action on any matter, other
than to recommend that stockholders of Cima vote in favor of the Cima Merger and
the Merger Agreement and otherwise as expressly provided by Article II of this
Agreement.

         (b) Stockholder shall not, nor shall Stockholder permit any of his
Affiliates to, nor shall Stockholder act in concert with or permit any Affiliate
to act in concert with any Person to, deposit any shares of Common Stock in a
voting trust or subject any shares of Common Stock to any arrangement or
agreement with any Person with respect to the voting of such shares of Common
Stock, except as provided by Article II or Schedule I of this Agreement.



                                       3


                                   ARTICLE IV
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDER

         Stockholder hereby represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to
AAI as follows:

         SECTION 4.1 CAPACITY. Stockholder has all legal capacity and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Stockholder
enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights or by general equity principles).

         SECTION 4.2 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. As of the date hereof, Stockholder is
the lawful owner of 195,120 shares of Common Stock (the "Owned Shares") and has
the sole power to vote (or cause to be voted) such shares of Common Stock.
Except as set forth on Schedule II hereto, neither Stockholder nor any Affiliate
of Stockholder owns or holds any right to acquire any additional shares of any
class of capital stock of Cima or other securities of Cima or any interest
therein or any voting rights with respect to any securities of Cima. Except as
set forth on Schedule I hereto, Stockholder has good and valid title to the
Owned Shares, free and clear of any and all pledges, mortgages, liens, charges,
proxies, voting agreements, encumbrances, adverse claims, options, security
interests and demands of any nature or kind whatsoever, other than those created
by this Agreement.

         SECTION 4.3 NO CONFLICTS. (a) No filing with any Governmental Entity,
and no authorization, consent or approval of any other Person is necessary for
the execution of this Agreement by Stockholder and the consummation by
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) none of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, the consummation by
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by Stockholder
with any of the provisions hereof shall (i) result in, or give rise to, a
violation or breach of or a default under any of the terms of any material
contract, understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which
Stockholder is a party or by which Stockholder or any of the Subject Shares or
assets may be bound or (ii) violate any applicable order, writ, injunction,
decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation which could reasonably be expected
to adversely affect Stockholder's ability to perform his obligations under this
Agreement.

         SECTION 4.4 RELIANCE BY AAI. Stockholder understands and acknowledges
that AAI is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder.

                                    ARTICLE V
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF AAI

         AAI hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholder as follows:

         SECTION 5.1 DUE ORGANIZATION, ETC. AAI is a company duly organized and
validly existing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. AAI
has all necessary corporate



                                       4


power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by AAI and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of AAI
enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights or by general equity principles).

         SECTION 5.2 CONFLICTS. (a) No filing with any Governmental Entity, and
no authorization, consent or approval of any other Person is necessary for the
execution of this Agreement by AAI and the consummation by AAI of the
transactions contemplated hereby and (b) none of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by AAI or the consummation by AAI of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall (i) conflict with or result in any breach of the
organizational documents of AAI, (ii) result in a violation or breach of or a
default under any of the terms of any material contract, understanding,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which AAI is a party or by which
AAI or any of its assets may be bound or (iii) violate any applicable order,
writ, injunction, decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation which could
reasonably be expected to adversely affect AAI's ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                   TERMINATION

         SECTION 6.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate, and neither
AAI nor Stockholder shall have any rights or obligations hereunder and this
Agreement shall become null and void and have no effect upon the earliest to
occur of (a) the mutual consent of AAI and Stockholder to terminate this
Agreement, (b) the Effective Time, (c) the date of termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with its terms, (d) the Termination Date or (e) the date
of any amendment to the Merger Agreement in a manner that reduces the Cima
Exchange Ratio, increases the AAI Exchange Ratio or amends or alters Section
6.04 therein in a manner adverse to Stockholder, unless consented to by
Stockholder; provided, however, that (1) the termination of this Agreement shall
not prevent any party hereunder from seeking any remedies (at Law or in equity)
against any other party hereto for such party's breach of any of the terms of
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 7.2 through 7.13,
inclusive, of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 7.1 PUBLICATION. Stockholder hereby permits AAI to publish and
disclose in the Proxy Statement (and all related documents and schedules filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission) his identity and ownership of
shares of Common Stock and the nature of its commitments, arrangements and
understandings pursuant to this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.2 FURTHER ACTIONS. Each of the parties hereto agrees that it
will use its reasonable best efforts to do all things necessary to effectuate
this Agreement.



                                       5


         SECTION 7.3 AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC. This Agreement may not be
amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated,
except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by each
of the parties hereto. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any right,
power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect
hereof at Law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party
hereto with its obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the parties
at variance with the terms hereof shall not constitute a waiver by such party of
its right to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand such
compliance.

         SECTION 7.4 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not to be performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that
the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof in
addition to any other remedies at Law or in equity.

         SECTION 7.5 NOTICES. Any notices or other communications required or
permitted under, or otherwise in connection with this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in Person or
upon confirmation of receipt when transmitted by facsimile transmission (but
only if followed by transmittal by national overnight courier or hand for
delivery on the next Business Day) or on receipt after dispatch by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, or on the next Business Day if
transmitted by national overnight courier, in each case as follows:

                           If to AAI, addressed to it at:

                           aaiPharma Inc.
                           2320 Scientific Park Drive
                           Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
                           Facsimile:  (910) 815-2387
                           Attention:  Gregory S. Bentley, General Counsel

                           with a copy to:

                           Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
                           101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1900
                           Charlotte, North Carolina  28246
                           Attention:       Stephen M. Lynch
                                            Matthew S. Churchill
                                            Laura C. Smith
                           Facsimile:       (704) 373-3955



                                       6


                           If to the Stockholder, addressed to it at:

                           John B. Siebert
                           c/o CyDex, Inc.
                           12980 Metcalf Avenue, Suite 470
                           Overland Park, KS  66213
                           Fax:   (913) 685-8856
                           Attn:  John B. Siebert

                           with a copy to:

                           Latham & Watkins LLP
                           650 Town Center Drive, Suite 2000
                           Cost Mesa, California  92626-1918
                           Attention:       Patrick T. Seaver
                                            Charles K. Ruck
                                            R. Scott Shean
                           Facsimile:       (714) 755-8290

         SECTION 7.6 HEADINGS. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.7 SEVERABILITY. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to
the end that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent
possible.

         SECTION 7.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (together with the Merger
Agreement, to the extent referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, between the parties, or any
of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         SECTION 7.9 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assigned by
operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of each of the
parties.

         SECTION 7.10 PARTIES IN INTEREST. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy
of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.



                                       7


         SECTION 7.11 MUTUAL DRAFTING. Each party hereto has participated in the
drafting of this Agreement, which each party acknowledges is the result of
extensive negotiations between the parties.

         SECTION 7.12 GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY
JURY.

         (a) This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and all
disputes between the parties under or related to the Agreement or the facts and
circumstances leading to its execution, whether in contract, tort or otherwise,
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard to the application of Delaware principles of conflicts
of laws.

         (b) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any
Delaware State court, or Federal court of the United States of America, sitting
in Delaware, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the agreements
delivered in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and
each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees not to
commence any such action or proceeding except in such courts, (ii) agrees that
any claim in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in such Delaware State court or, to the extent permitted by Law, in
such Federal court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in any such Delaware State or
Federal court, and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such Delaware State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by Law. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to
service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.5. Nothing in
this Agreement shall affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve
process in any other manner permitted by Law.

         (c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY
ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK
TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE
IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV)
IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.12(c).



                                       8


         SECTION 7.13 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.



                                       9



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, AAI and Stockholder have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                           AAIPHARMA INC.

                                           By: /s/ Philip S. Tabbiner
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Philip S. Tabbiner
                                               President and Chief Executive
                                                Officer


                                           STOCKHOLDER




                                           By: /s/ John M. Siebert
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               John M. Siebert, Ph.D.




                   SIGNATURE PAGE TO SIEBERT VOTING AGREEMENT

                          STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT



                                  BY AND AMONG

                                 AAIPHARMA INC.

                                       AND

                                STEVEN B. RATOFF



                           DATED AS OF AUGUST 5, 2003






                          STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT

         This STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as
of August 5, 2003, by and among aaiPharma Inc., a Delaware corporation ("AAI"),
and Steven B. Ratoff ("Stockholder"), a stockholder of Cima Labs Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Cima").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Stockholder "beneficially owns" (as
such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended) and is entitled to dispose of (or to direct the disposition
of) and to vote (or to direct the voting of) 93,530 shares of common stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Cima, as such shares may be
adjusted by stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination, merger,
consolidation, reorganization or other change in the capital structure of Cima
affecting the Common Stock (such shares of Common Stock, together with any other
shares of Common Stock the voting power over which is acquired by Stockholder
during the period from and including the date hereof through and including the
date on which this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, are
collectively referred to herein as the "Subject Shares");

         WHEREAS, AAI, Cima, Scarlet Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Holding Company"), Scarlet MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Holding Company ("S MergerCo"), and Crimson
MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of
Holding Company ("C MergerCo"), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended, the "Merger
Agreement"), pursuant to which Holding Company will acquire all of the capital
stock of each of Cima and AAI through the merger of S MergerCo with and into AAI
(the "AAI Merger") and the merger of C MergerCo with and into Cima (the "Cima
Merger"), with AAI and Cima surviving as wholly owned subsidiaries of Holding
Company; and

         WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of AAI to enter into the
Merger Agreement, and as an inducement and in consideration therefor, AAI has
required that Stockholder agree, and Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this
Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
premises, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized
terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
them in the Merger Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II
                     VOTING AGREEMENT AND IRREVOCABLE PROXY

         SECTION 2.1 AGREEMENT TO VOTE THE SUBJECT SHARES. Stockholder, in his
capacity as such, hereby agrees that, during the period commencing on the date
hereof and continuing until




the termination of this Agreement (such period, the "Voting Period"), at any
meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) of the holders of any class
or classes of the capital stock of Cima, however called, or in connection with
any written consent of the holders of any class or classes of the capital stock
of Cima, Stockholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares (x) in
favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Cima Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (and any actions
required in furtherance thereof), (y) against any action, proposal, transaction
or agreement that would result in a breach in any respect of any covenant,
representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Cima or any
of its subsidiaries under the Merger Agreement or of Stockholder under this
Agreement, and (z) except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by AAI,
against (i) any Acquisition Proposal; (ii) any change in the Persons who
constitute the board of directors of Cima that is not approved in advance by at
least a majority of the Persons who were directors of Cima as of the date of
this Agreement (or their successors who were so approved); and (iii) any other
action or proposal involving Cima or any of its subsidiaries that is intended,
or could reasonably be expected, to prevent, materially impede, or materially
impair or delay consummation of the Cima Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Any such vote shall be cast or consent
shall be given in accordance with such procedures relating thereto as shall
ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is
present and for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent.
Stockholder agrees not to enter into any agreement, letter of intent, agreement
in principle or understanding with any Person that violates or conflicts with or
could reasonably be expected to violate or conflict with the provisions and
agreements contained in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement.

         SECTION 2.2 GRANT OF IRREVOCABLE PROXY. Stockholder hereby appoints AAI
and any designee of AAI, and each of them individually, as Stockholder's proxy
and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to
vote or act by written consent during the Voting Period with respect the Subject
Shares in accordance with Section 2.1. This proxy is given to secure the
performance of the duties of Stockholder under this Agreement. The Stockholder
shall promptly cause a copy of this Agreement to be deposited with Cima at its
principal place of business. Stockholder shall take such further action or
execute such other instruments as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of
this proxy.

         SECTION 2.3 NATURE OF IRREVOCABLE PROXY. The proxy and power of
attorney granted pursuant to Section 2.2 by Stockholder shall be irrevocable
during the term of this Agreement, shall be deemed to be coupled with an
interest sufficient in Law to support an irrevocable proxy and shall revoke any
and all prior proxies granted by Stockholder. The power of attorney granted by
Stockholder herein is a durable power of attorney and shall survive the
dissolution, bankruptcy, death or incapacity of Stockholder. The proxy and power
of attorney granted hereunder shall terminate upon the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1.

         SECTION 2.4 LEGEND. Stockholder shall promptly cause the following
legend to be conspicuously noted on each certificate representing its Subject
Shares:

                  "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A
                  STOCKHOLDER VOTING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 5, 2003. THE
                  STOCKHOLDER



                                       2



                  VOTING AGREEMENT RESTRICTS THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THE SHARES
                  REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND INCLUDES A VOTING
                  AGREEMENT AND AN IRREVOCABLE PROXY TO VOTE THE SHARES
                  REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE."

         SECTION 2.5 CAPACITY. No person executing this Agreement who is or
becomes during the term hereof a director or officer of Cima makes any agreement
or understanding herein in his or her capacity as such a director or officer of
Cima. Stockholder signs solely in his, her or its capacity as the record holder
and beneficial owner of, or the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the
beneficial owners of, the Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or
affect any actions taken by Stockholder or any Affiliate of Stockholder in his
capacity as an officer or director of Cima to the extent permitted by the Merger
Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE III
                                    COVENANTS

         SECTION 3.1 GENERALLY. Stockholder agrees that, except as contemplated
by the terms of this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, during the Voting
Period, he shall not (a) sell, transfer, tender, pledge, encumber, assign or
otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other agreement with
respect to, or consent to, the sale, transfer, tender, pledge, encumbrance,
assignment or other disposition of, any or all of the Subject Shares, except for
transfers by operation of law, by will or pursuant to the laws of descent or
distribution; or (b) take any action that would have the effect of preventing,
impeding, interfering with or adversely affecting his ability to perform his
obligations under this Agreement.

         SECTION 3.2 STANDSTILL OBLIGATIONS OF STOCKHOLDER. Stockholder, jointly
and severally, covenants and agrees with AAI that, during the period commencing
on the date hereof and ending on the date this Agreement is terminated under
Section 6.1 hereof:

         (a) Stockholder shall not, nor shall Stockholder permit any of his
Affiliates to, nor shall Stockholder act in concert with or permit any Affiliate
to act in concert with any Person to, solicit or participate, directly or
indirectly, in any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as defined by the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or powers of attorney or
similar rights to vote from any holder of shares of Common Stock, nor shall they
seek to advise or influence any Person with respect to the voting of any shares
of Common Stock in connection with any vote or other action on any matter, other
than to recommend that stockholders of Cima vote in favor of the Cima Merger and
the Merger Agreement and otherwise as expressly provided by Article II of this
Agreement.

         (b) Stockholder shall not, nor shall Stockholder permit any of his
Affiliates to, nor shall Stockholder act in concert with or permit any Affiliate
to act in concert with any Person to, deposit any shares of Common Stock in a
voting trust or subject any shares of Common Stock to any arrangement or
agreement with any Person with respect to the voting of such shares of Common
Stock, except as provided by Article II of this Agreement.



                                       3



                                   ARTICLE IV
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF STOCKHOLDER

         Stockholder hereby represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to
AAI as follows:

         SECTION 4.1 CAPACITY. Stockholder has all legal capacity and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Stockholder and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Stockholder
enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights or by general equity principles).

         SECTION 4.2 OWNERSHIP OF SHARES. As of the date hereof, Stockholder is
the lawful owner of 6,300 shares of Common Stock (the "Owned Shares") and has
the sole power to vote (or cause to be voted) such shares of Common Stock.
Except as set forth on Schedule I hereto, neither Stockholder nor any Affiliate
of Stockholder owns or holds any right to acquire any additional shares of any
class of capital stock of Cima or other securities of Cima or any interest
therein or any voting rights with respect to any securities of Cima. Stockholder
has good and valid title to the Owned Shares, free and clear of any and all
pledges, mortgages, liens, charges, proxies, voting agreements, encumbrances,
adverse claims, options, security interests and demands of any nature or kind
whatsoever, other than those created by this Agreement.

         SECTION 4.3 NO CONFLICTS. (a) No filing with any Governmental Entity,
and no authorization, consent or approval of any other Person is necessary for
the execution of this Agreement by Stockholder and the consummation by
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) none of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, the consummation by
Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance by Stockholder
with any of the provisions hereof shall (i) result in, or give rise to, a
violation or breach of or a default under any of the terms of any material
contract, understanding, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which
Stockholder is a party or by which Stockholder or any of the Subject Shares or
assets may be bound or (ii) violate any applicable order, writ, injunction,
decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation which could reasonably be expected
to adversely affect Stockholder's ability to perform his obligations under this
Agreement.

         SECTION 4.4 RELIANCE BY AAI. Stockholder understands and acknowledges
that AAI is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder.

                                   ARTICLE V
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CIMA

         AAI hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholder as follows:

         SECTION 5.1 DUE ORGANIZATION, ETC. AAI is a company duly organized and
validly existing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. AAI
has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions



                                       4



contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by AAI
and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of AAI enforceable in accordance
with its terms (except as enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by general
equity principles).

         SECTION 5.2 CONFLICTS. (a) No filing with any Governmental Entity, and
no authorization, consent or approval of any other Person is necessary for the
execution of this Agreement by AAI and the consummation by AAI of the
transactions contemplated hereby and (b) none of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by AAI or the consummation by AAI of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall (i) conflict with or result in any breach of the
organizational documents of AAI, (ii) result in a violation or breach of or a
default under any of the terms of any material contract, understanding,
agreement or other instrument or obligation to which AAI is a party or by which
AAI or any of its assets may be bound or (iii) violate any applicable order,
writ, injunction, decree, judgment, statute, rule or regulation which could
reasonably be expected to adversely affect AAI's ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                   TERMINATION

         SECTION 6.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate, and neither
AAI nor Stockholder shall have any rights or obligations hereunder and this
Agreement shall become null and void and have no effect upon the earliest to
occur of (a) the mutual consent of AAI and Stockholder to terminate this
Agreement, (b) the Effective Time, (c) the date of termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with its terms, (d) the Termination Date or (e) the date
of any amendment to the Merger Agreement in a manner that reduces the Cima
Exchange Ratio, increases the AAI Exchange Ratio or amends or alters Section
6.04 therein in a manner adverse to Stockholder, unless consented to by
Stockholder; provided, however, that (1) the termination of this Agreement shall
not prevent any party hereunder from seeking any remedies (at Law or in equity)
against any other party hereto for such party's breach of any of the terms of
this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 7.2 through 7.13,
inclusive, of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 7.1 PUBLICATION. Stockholder hereby permits AAI to publish and
disclose in the Proxy Statement (and all related documents and schedules filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission) his identity and ownership of
shares of Common Stock and the nature of its commitments, arrangements and
understandings pursuant to this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.2 FURTHER ACTIONS. Each of the parties hereto agrees that it
will use its reasonable best efforts to do all things necessary to effectuate
this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.3 AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, ETC. This Agreement may not be
amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated,
except upon the execution



                                       5




and delivery of a written agreement executed by each of the parties hereto. The
failure of any party hereto to exercise any right, power or remedy provided
under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at Law or in
equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party hereto with its
obligations hereunder, and any custom or practice of the parties at variance
with the terms hereof shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its right
to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand such
compliance.

         SECTION 7.4 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The parties hereto agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not to be performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that
the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof in
addition to any other remedies at Law or in equity.

         SECTION 7.5 NOTICES. Any notices or other communications required or
permitted under, or otherwise in connection with this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in Person or
upon confirmation of receipt when transmitted by facsimile transmission (but
only if followed by transmittal by national overnight courier or hand for
delivery on the next Business Day) or on receipt after dispatch by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, or on the next Business Day if
transmitted by national overnight courier, in each case as follows:

                           If to AAI, addressed to it at:

                           aaiPharma Inc.
                           2320 Scientific Park Drive
                           Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
                           Facsimile: (910) 815-2387
                           Attention: Gregory S. Bentley, General Counsel

                           with a copy to:

                           Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
                           101 N. Tryon Street, Suite 1900
                           Charlotte, North Carolina  28246
                           Attention: Stephen M. Lynch
                                      Matthew S. Churchill
                                      Laura C. Smith
                           Facsimile: (704) 373-3955


                           If to the Stockholder, addressed to it at:

                           Steven B. Ratoff
                           c/o Cima Labs, Inc.
                           10000 Valley View Road
                           Eden Prairie, MN  55344
                           Fax:  (952) 947-8711
                           Attn: Steven B. Ratoff



                                       6



                           with a copy to:

                           Latham & Watkins LLP
                           650 Town Center Drive, Suite 2000
                           Cost Mesa, California  92626-1918
                           Attention: Patrick T. Seaver
                                      Charles K. Ruck
                                      R. Scott Shean
                           Facsimile: (714) 755-8290


         SECTION 7.6 HEADINGS. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.7 SEVERABILITY. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the
original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to
the end that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent
possible.

         SECTION 7.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (together with the Merger
Agreement, to the extent referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, between the parties, or any
of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         SECTION 7.9 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assigned by
operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of each of the
parties.

         SECTION 7.10 PARTIES IN INTEREST. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy
of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.11 MUTUAL DRAFTING. Each party hereto has participated in the
drafting of this Agreement, which each party acknowledges is the result of
extensive negotiations between the parties.

         SECTION 7.12 GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY
JURY.

         (a) This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and all
disputes between the parties under or related to the Agreement or the facts and
circumstances leading to its execution, whether in contract, tort or otherwise,
shall be governed by and construed in



                                       7




accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the
application of Delaware principles of conflicts of laws.

         (b) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any
Delaware State court, or Federal court of the United States of America, sitting
in Delaware, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the agreements
delivered in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and
each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees not to
commence any such action or proceeding except in such courts, (ii) agrees that
any claim in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in such Delaware State court or, to the extent permitted by Law, in
such Federal court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in any such Delaware State or
Federal court, and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such Delaware State or Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by Law. Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to
service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.5. Nothing in
this Agreement shall affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve
process in any other manner permitted by Law.

         (c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY
ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO
REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK
TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE
IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV)
IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.12(c).

         SECTION 7.13 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.



                                       8







         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, AAI and Stockholder have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                    AAIPHARMA INC.



                                    By: /s/ Philip S. Tabbiner
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Philip S. Tabbiner
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer


                                    STOCKHOLDER



                                    By: /s/ Steven B. Ratoff
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Steven B. Ratoff



                    SIGNATURE PAGE TO RATOFF VOTING AGREEMENT




               AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         This Amendment, dated as of August 5, 2003 (this "Amendment"), to the
Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2001 (the "Rights
Agreement"), is between CIMA LABS INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, N.A., a national banking association (the
"Rights Agent").

                                    RECITALS

         1. The Company and the Rights Agent have heretofore executed and
entered into the Rights Agreement.

         2. Pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, the Company and the
Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend the Rights Agreement in
accordance with the provisions of Section 27 thereof.

         3. The Company proposes to enter into a merger transaction (the
"Merger") whereby Crimson MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct,
wholly-owned subsidiary of Scarlet Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Holding Company"), would merge with and into the Company with the Company
continuing after the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holding Company.

         4. In anticipation of the Merger, the Company desires to amend the
Rights Agreement to provide that the Merger will not result in the occurrence of
a Distribution Date, a Shares Acquisition Date, a party thereto becoming an
Acquiring Person or otherwise result in a trigger of the Rights (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement).

         5. All acts and things necessary to make this Amendment a valid
agreement according to its terms have been done and performed, and the execution
of delivery of this Amendment by the Company and the Rights Agent have been in
all respects authorized by the Company and the Rights Agent.

                                    AGREEMENT

         In consideration of the foregoing premises and mutual agreements set
forth in the Rights Agreement and this Amendment, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

         1. Section 1(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby modified by adding as
the final sentence thereto the following:

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, aaiPharma Inc., a Delaware corporation
         ("aaiPharma"), or any Affiliate or Associate thereof, including Scarlet
         Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary
         of aaiPharma ("Holding Company"), and Crimson MergerCo, Inc., a
         Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Holding Company
         (collectively with Holding Company, aaiPharma and any Affiliate or
         Associate of aaiPharma,




         "Parent"), shall not become an "Acquiring Person" as a result of the
         approval, execution or delivery of, or consummation of the transactions
         contemplated by, that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
         August 5, 2003 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among the Company,
         aaiPharma, Holding Company, C MergerCo, Inc. and Scarlet MergerCo,
         Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Holding
         Company, including the approval, execution and delivery of the Cima
         Voting Agreements (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement);
         provided, however, that Parent will become an "Acquiring Person" in the
         event that Parent becomes the Beneficial Owner of an aggregate of 15%
         or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding other than
         pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement or the Cima Voting
         Agreements.

         2. Section 1(m) of the Rights Agreement is hereby modified and amended
to read in its entirety as follows:

         (m) "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE" shall mean the first date of public
         announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring
         Person has become such; PROVIDED, HOWEVER that, if such Person is
         determined not to have become an Acquiring Person pursuant to clause
         (y) of the penultimate sentence of Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares
         Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have occurred. Notwithstanding
         anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Shares Acquisition Date
         shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of (i) the
         approval, execution or delivery of the Merger Agreement or the Cima
         Voting Agreements, (ii) adoption of the Merger Agreement by the
         Company's stockholders, (iii) the exchange of the Company's Common
         Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (iv) the consummation of the
         Cima Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or (v) the
         consummation of all of the events described in clauses (i) through
         (iv), or of any and all other transactions contemplated by the Merger
         Agreement or the Cima Voting Agreements.

         3. Section 3(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended by adding as
the final sentence thereto the following:

         Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no
         Distribution Date shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result
         of (i) the approval, execution or delivery of the Merger Agreement or
         the Cima Voting Agreements, (ii) adoption of the Merger Agreement by
         the Company's stockholders, (iii) the exchange of the Company's Common
         Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (iv) the consummation of the
         Cima Merger (as



                                       2


         defined in the Merger Agreement) or (v) consummation of all of the
         events described in clauses (i) through (iv), or of any and all other
         transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Cima Voting
         Agreements.

         4. Clause (i) of Section 7(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended
and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

         (i) the earlier of (A) the Close of Business on June 26, 2011 or (B)
         the time that is immediately prior to the Effective Time, as defined in
         the Merger Agreement (the date on which the earlier of (A) or (B)
         occurs, the "Final Expiration Date")

         5. Section 13(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended by adding as
the final sentence thereto the following:

         Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the
         events described in clauses (x) through (z) of the first sentence of
         Section 13(a) shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of
         (i) the approval, execution or delivery of the Merger Agreement or the
         Cima Voting Agreements, (ii) adoption of the Merger Agreement by the
         Company's stockholders, (iii) the exchange of the Company's Common
         Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (iv) the consummation of the
         Cima Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or (v) the
         consummation of all of the events described in clauses (i) through
         (iv), or of any and all other transactions contemplated by the Merger
         Agreement or the Cima Voting Agreements.

         6. A new Section 35 shall be added and shall read as follows:

         Immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger
         Agreement), this Agreement shall be terminated and all outstanding
         Rights shall expire.

         7. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware.

         8. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and
each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed an original, and all
such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

         9. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment to the Rights
Agreement shall not by implication or otherwise alter, modify, amend or in any
way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements
contained in the Rights Agreement, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all
respects and shall continue in full force effect.



                                       3


         10. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined (either directly
herein or by reference to the Merger Agreement) shall have the meanings given to
them in the Rights Agreement.

         11. The term "Agreement" as used in the Rights Agreement shall be
deemed to refer for all purposes to the Rights Agreement as amended by this
Amendment.

                            [signature page follows]



                                       4


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                             CIMA LABS INC.


                                             By: /s/ Steven B. Ratoff
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Name: Steven B. Ratoff
                                                 Title: Interim Chief Executive
                                                        Officer


                                             WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.,
                                             as Rights Agent


                                             By: /s/ John D. Baker
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Name: John D. Baker
                                                 Title: Assistant Vice President



                 SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                           aaiPHARMA AND CIMA ANNOUNCE
               MERGER TO CREATE A LEADING SCIENCE-BASED, SPECIALTY
                             PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY

        -- ACCELERATES BOTH COMPANIES' STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP, ENHANCE AND
               COMMERCIALIZE PROPRIETARY PHARMACEUTICAL BRANDS --

                  -- CREATES SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES -

          --PROVIDES A PLATFORM OF DIVERSIFIED EARNINGS AND CASHFLOW --

     --CREATES A STRONG BALANCE SHEET FOR THE COMBINED COMPANY WITH 2003 PRO
             FORMA DEBT TO TOTAL CAPITALIZATION OF APPROXIMATELY 26%

    -- aaiPharma STOCKHOLDERS TO RECEIVE 1.0 SHARE OF COMMON STOCK IN THE NEW
      COMPANY FOR EACH aaiPharma SHARE; CIMA STOCKHOLDERS TO RECEIVE 1.3657
        SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IN THE NEW COMPANY FOR EACH CIMA SHARE --

   -- EXPECTS 2004 COMBINED REVENUES OF BETWEEN $405 MILLION AND $415 MILLION,
                   COMBINED EPS OF BETWEEN $1.25 AND $1.30 --

   -- ANNOUNCES INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL AND WEB CAST TODAY AT 10:00 AM EDT --


WILMINGTON, NC AND EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, AUGUST 05, 2003 - Creating a more powerful
science-based, specialty pharmaceutical company with established proprietary
products and technologies, aaiPharma (NASDAQ: AAII) and CIMA (NASDAQ: CIMA)
today announced that they have signed a definitive merger agreement.

aaiPharma has a strong branded product portfolio and pipeline. aaiPharma's
revenue growth is driven by the development, acquisition and commercialization
of products. CIMA has a leading position in orally disintegrating tablet (ODT)
drug delivery technologies, product development and manufacturing competencies
and a strong partner portfolio. Together both companies can more effectively
create value-added new products, particularly in the pain management and
gastrointestinal categories, utilizing their combined scientific and development
skills. We expect that these activities will drive revenue growth and increase
the value of the companies beyond what could be achieved separately.

The merger will create a more powerful science-based, specialty pharmaceutical
company with:

         o        Combined revenue and income from operations for the twelve
                  months ended June 30, 2003 of $321 million and $83 million,
                  respectively

         o        Combined capitalization of $907 million, based on the August
                  4, 2003 closing market prices for the shares of both companies

         o        Well-recognized pharmaceutical brands and proven, patented
                  drug delivery technologies

         o        Robust pipeline of near and long term proprietary products in
                  development

         o        Strong financial position





         o        Leading drug development services business

         o        Experienced pharmaceutical management team

         o        Enhanced R&D capabilities with an expected budget of more than
                  $30 million in 2004

         o        Expanded manufacturing capabilities with sterile and
                  non-sterile production, including 1 billion blister tablet
                  manufacturing capacity in 2004, and 950 million bottle tablet
                  manufacturing capacity expected to be operational by 2004

         o        Dedicated pharmaceutical product marketing and field sales
                  force of 150 professionals

         o        Approximately 1500 employees

"This merger creates a specialty pharmaceutical company with substantial
intellectual property and R&D capabilities," said Dr. Philip S. Tabbiner,
President and CEO of aaiPharma. "By combining with CIMA, we are building upon
our science base by adding attractive proprietary technologies that we believe
can be applied to our acquired brands to accelerate pipeline development and
drive organic revenue growth. At the same time, with a strengthened balance
sheet, the combined company will be well-positioned to take advantage of
strategic brand acquisitions in the near term."

Steven B. Ratoff, Chairman and Interim CEO of CIMA stated, "This combination
fuels our strategy to create a portfolio of proprietary brands and will lead to
a more integrated specialty pharmaceutical company. By joining now with a
complementary science-based company with development and marketing and sales
expertise, a portfolio of branded products, and an experienced management team,
this merger will allow us to expedite our proprietary product strategy as well
as continue to provide our ODT technologies to others."

"We believe this merger will allow both companies to accelerate their goals of
maximizing a strong science base to develop, enhance and commercialize
proprietary pharmaceutical brands, which we expect to drive revenue growth and
increase the shareholder value of the companies, surpassing what could be
achieved independently," said Frederick D. Sancilio, Ph.D., Chairman of
aaiPharma.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY

Under the terms of the merger agreement, each share of aaiPharma common stock
will be exchanged for 1.0 share of the new company's common stock. Each share of
CIMA common stock will be exchanged for 1.3657 shares of the new company's
common stock. At inception, aaiPharma stockholders will own 59.4 percent of the
combined company and CIMA stockholders will own 40.6 percent. The transaction is
structured to be tax-free to the stockholders of each company.

The Boards of Directors of both companies have approved the merger agreement.
The transaction is subject to approval by the stockholders of both companies, as
well as regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing
conditions. Subject to the satisfaction of these conditions, the transaction is
expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2003.

Banc of America Securities acted as financial advisor and Robinson, Bradshaw &
Hinson acted as legal counsel to aaiPharma. Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.
acted as financial




advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP and Faegre & Benson acted as legal counsels to
CIMA.

PROFILE OF THE COMBINED COMPANY

The combined company is expected to have pro forma 2003 revenues of between $350
million and $365 million, combined 2003 operating income of $90 to $95 million
and a strong balance sheet with more than $50 million in cash and $175 million
in debt. It is estimated that the combination will result in annual pre-tax
synergies in the $8 million to $10 million range for the first year, and a
minimum of $18 million to $20 million in 2005, increasing each year thereafter.

The merger is expected to be immediately accretive to CIMA stockholders and
accretive to aaiPharma stockholders beginning in 2006. Accretion to CIMA's
earnings per diluted share is estimated to be $0.36 and $0.35 in 2004 and 2005,
respectively. Dilution to aaiPharma's earnings per diluted share is estimated to
be $0.16 and $0.18 in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

As a result of the underlying strength of its business, aaiPharma anticipates
being able to fund a portion of the impact of the merger with anticipated
stand-alone earnings between $1.40 and $1.45 per diluted share in 2004,
substantially above current consensus estimates of $1.27. As a result, assuming
the transaction closes in 2003, 2004 revenues and earnings per diluted share for
the combined company are expected to be in the range of $405 million to $415
million and $1.25 to $1.30, respectively.

The company will be headquartered in Wilmington, NC and is expected to maintain
both of CIMA's facilities in Eden Prairie and Brooklyn Park, MN.

The two companies have determined the organizational structure of the new
company and have selected members of the senior management team. Upon completion
of the merger, Frederick D. Sancilio, Ph.D., Executive Chairman and Chief
Scientific Officer of aaiPharma , will serve as Chairman of NewCo. Steven B.
Ratoff, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer of CIMA, will become Vice
Chairman of NewCo. Dr. Philip S. Tabbiner, President and Chief Executive Officer
of aaiPharma , will be President and Chief Executive Officer of the combined
company. William L Ginna, Chief Financial Officer of aaiPharma will serve as
Chief Financial Officer for the new company. An integration team for the new
company will identify and implement all synergies, including new business
models, marketing initiatives, products, services, and information systems. The
Board of Directors of the combined company will consist of 8 directors at
closing, comprised of four members from each of aaiPharma's and CIMA's current
Boards.

A fact sheet summarizing the proposed merger follows below.

INVESTMENT COMMUNITY CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

aaiPharma and CIMA will discuss the merger on a conference call for financial
analysts and investors at 10:00a.m. EDT today. Related financial charts and
certain other information to be discussed on the conference call will be
available on each company's website (www.aaiPharma.com and www.cimalabs.com)
beginning later today. Reporters and the public are invited to listen to the
call, which will be webcast via the companies' websites and the merger website
at www.acinews.com.




For those unable to connect to the companies' websites, you may listen via
telephone. The dial-in numbers are (800) 381-2652 (domestic) or (312) 461-1932
(international). The access number is 5797685. Please call five to ten minutes
prior to the scheduled start time. A replay of the conference call will be
available from 2:30 p.m. EDT today until 12:00 a.m. EDT on August 19, 2003. For
the replay please dial (888) 203-1112 (domestic) or (719) 457-0820
(international). The replay access code is 444385.

ABOUT aaiPharma

aaiPharma is a leading, science-based specialty pharmaceutical company with
corporate headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina. With more than 23 years of
drug development expertise and a proven sales and marketing track record, the
Company is focused on acquiring, improving and marketing well-known, branded
medicines in pain management, gastroenterology and critical care. In addition to
its branded product portfolio and robust pipeline, aaiPharma continues to offer
comprehensive drug development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology,
generic and device industries through its services division, aaiPharma
Development Services. For more information, please visit aaiPharma's website at
www.aaiPharma.com

ABOUT CIMA

CIMA develops and manufactures prescription and over-the-counter products based
upon its proprietary, orally disintegrating drug delivery technologies,
OraSolv(R) and DuraSolv(R). Based on these technologies, an active drug
ingredient, which the company frequently taste-masks, is formulated into a new,
orally disintegrating dosage form that dissolves quickly in the mouth without
chewing or the need for water. CIMA's business involves a dual operating
strategy. The company develops and manufactures orally disintegrating versions
of drugs for pharmaceutical company partners for whom CIMA currently produces
three branded prescription pharmaceuticals and three over-the-counter brands.
CIMA is also developing proprietary products utilizing its orally disintegrating
technologies, as well as its new OraVescent(R) enhanced absorption, transmucosal
drug delivery technology.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
"safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of the
management of aaiPharma and CIMA and are subject to a number of factors and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements
contained in this press release include statements about future financial and
operating results and the proposed merger of aaiPharma and CIMA. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon
assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual
outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed herein.

In any forward-looking statement in which aaiPharma or CIMA expresses an
expectation or belief as to future results, that expectation or belief is
expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can
be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will result or be
achieved or accomplished. Risks and uncertainties pertaining to the following
factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from
those described in the forward-looking statements: the ability of




aaiPharma and CIMA to obtain the stockholder and regulatory approvals required
for the merger; the new company's ability to successfully integrate the
businesses of the two companies; unexpected costs involved in the merger or to
the new company's ability to achieve cost-cutting synergies; the impact of
uncertainty surrounding the merger on the businesses of the two companies; the
impact of competition, new data, supply issues or marketplace trends on the
market for the companies' products; a deterioration in the business of aaiPharma
and Cima prior to closing; technical, regulatory or manufacturing issues, new
data or intellectual property disputes that may affect the companies' programs;
the ability of the new company to develop and market products in a timely
manner; and difficulties in gaining approval of new products. Additional
economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting aaiPharma's
and CIMA's businesses generally that may cause actual results to differ
materially are discussed in their respective filings with the SEC, including
their Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002,
especially in the Management's Discussion and Analysis section, their most
recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and their Current Reports on Form 8-K.
aaiPharma and CIMA do not undertake obligation to (and expressly disclaim any
such obligation to) update or alter their forward-looking statements, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

Scarlet Holding Corporation, the holding company to be formed in this
transaction, intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a
registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant documents in connection with the
proposed transaction. INVESTORS OF AAIPHARMA AND CIMA ARE URGED TO READ THE
JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS WHEN THEY BECOME
AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SCARLET
HOLDING CORPORATION, CIMA, AAIPHARMA AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors may
obtain a free copy of these materials (when they are available) and other
documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the SEC's website
at www.sec.gov. A free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it
becomes available may also be obtained from aaiPharma Inc., 2320 Scientific Park
Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 or CIMA, 10000 Valley View Road, Eden
Prairie, Minnesota 55344. Investors may access copies of the documents filed
with the SEC by aaiPharma on AaiPharma's website at www.aaiPharma.com and
investors and may access copies of the documents filed with the SEC by CIMA on
CIMA's website at www.cimalabs.com. In addition, copies may be obtained free of
charge at written request to aaiPharma at 2320 Scientific Park Drive,
Wilmington, North Carolina 28405, attention: CFO or to CIMA at 10000 Valley View
Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344, attention: CFO.

aaiPharma, CIMA and their respective directors, executive officers and certain
other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in
soliciting proxies from their respective stockholders in favor of the proposed
merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC,
be considered to be participants in the solicitation of aaiPharma's stockholders
in connection with the proposed merger is set forth in aaiPharma's proxy
statement for its 2003 annual meeting, dated April 8, 2003 and filed with the
SEC on April 11, 2003, and information regarding the persons who may, under the
rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of CIMA's
stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction is set




forth in CIMA's proxy statement for its 2003 annual meeting, dated April 14,
2003 and filed with the SEC on April 11, 2003.

Additional information regarding these individuals and any interest they have in
the proposed transaction will be set forth in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC.



CONTACTS:

AAIPHARMA

Investment Community Contact:                    Media Contact:
James B. Sloan, Jr.                              Andrea L. Johnston
Senior Vice President                            Vice President
Corporate Finance                                Corporate Communications
(910) 254-7690                                   (910) 254-7340


CIMA
James C. Hawley                                  David Reichman
Vice President and                               Vice President
Chief Financial Officer                          Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.
(952) 947-8745                                   (617) 542-5300


                                      # # #



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                          Page 1





                                    AAIPHARMA

                           MODERATOR: PHILIP TABBINER
                                 AUGUST 5, 2003
                                  9:00 A.M. CT



Operator: Good day and thank you for joining the aaiPharma and CIMA labs merger
         conference call. Today's call is being recorded.

         At this time, I'd like to turn the call over to the President and Chief
         Executive Officer aaiPharma, Dr. Philip Tabbiner. Please go ahead, sir.

Philip Tabbiner: Thank you, Operator, and good morning, everyone. If you would
         turn to slide two.

         I want to thank you for joining us this morning. And before we get
         started, let me point out that in this call both of our companies will
         be making forward-looking statements about our business, as defined in
         the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
         are based on the current expectations and beliefs of the management of
         aaiPharma and CIMA Labs and are subject to a number of factors and
         uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
         those described in the forward-looking statements.

         The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include
         statements about future financial and operating results, synergies and
         the proposed combination of aaiPharma and CIMA. These statements are
         not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks,
         uncertainties



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                          Page 2

         and assumptions that are difficult to predict and are based upon
         assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore,
         actual outcomes and results may differ materially.

         Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
         materially from those described in our forward-looking statements
         include: the ability of aaiPharma and CIMA Labs to obtain the
         stockholder and regulatory approvals required for the merger; the
         combined companies ability to successfully integrate the businesses of
         the two companies; unexpected costs involved in the merger; the
         combined companies' ability to achieve synergies, which rely in part on
         the future product development, which is inherently uncertain; the
         impact of uncertainties surrounding the merger on the businesses of the
         two companies; the impact of competition, new data, supply issues or
         marketplace trends on the market for the companies' products and
         technical, regulatory or manufacturing issues; new data or intellectual
         property disputes that may affect the companies' programs; and
         difficulties in gaining approval of new products.

         Additional economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors
         affecting aaiPharma and CIMA's businesses generally that may cause
         actual results to differ materially are discussed in our respective
         filings with the SEC, including our annual reports on Form 10-K for the
         fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, especially in the Management's
         Discussion and Analysis section, our most recent quarterly reports on
         Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K. aaiPharma and CIMA are
         under no obligation to and expressly disclaim any obligation to update
         or alter our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
         information, future events or otherwise.

         This conference call is being Webcast and is supported by several
         slides that are available on our company Web sites. For the benefit of
         those listening in by telephone only, we will do our best to
         incorporate the content of these slides in our remarks.

         And if you turn to slide three. This is a tremendously exciting day for
         all of us at CIMA and aaiPharma. By joining together in the merger we
         announced just a short while ago, we are



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                          Page 3


         creating a more powerful, science-based specialty pharmaceutical
         company with: an established, diversified growing base of proprietary
         products; a complete and fully integrated infrastructure, including a
         substantial R&D platform, sales force and manufacturing capability;
         market leading drug delivery technologies, with which to create
         differentiated products; and a strong and flexible financial position.
         Altogether, we're creating a company that will generate sustainable
         value for our shareholders by accelerating each company's growth
         strategy.

         With me here today are: Steve Ratoff, Chairman and Interim CEO of CIMA,
         Fred Sancilio, the Chairman and Founder of aaiPharma; Bill Ginna, CFO
         for aaiPharma; and Jim Hawley, CFO for CIMA.

         In the next 20 minutes or so, Steven and I will discuss the ways in
         which this merger accelerates our strategies and creates shareholder
         value as well as the actual details of the transaction. After the
         presentation, Steven, Fred, Bill, Jim and I will be glad to answer your
         questions.

         Now, turn to slide four. aaiPharma and CIMA are pursuing very similar
         strategies, as science-based specialty pharmaceutical companies. Our
         businesses are highly complementary. And by integrating our strengths,
         we will be able to greatly accelerate our strategies and create value
         for our shareholders faster and more significantly than either company
         could achieve independently. As you can see on slide four, the two
         companies have an outstanding fit in terms of complementary strengths.

         aaiPharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a strong research
         and development foundation, a portfolio of established, branded
         pharmaceutical products such as Darvon and Darvocet, and a growing
         sales and marketing infrastructure. aaiPharma has been in business for
         23 years, accumulating a deep knowledge in drugs for pain management,
         critical care and gastrointestinal disease. A core element of
         aaiPharma's strategy paralleled to developing a commercializing
         products, is acquiring well-known brands that we can enhance through
         science.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                          Page 4


         aaiPharma brings to the combined company strong relationships with big
         pharma and insights into product acquisition opportunities that may be
         a strategic fit for our combined company in the future.

         Complementing aaiPharma's focus and capabilities is CIMA, who has 10
         years of experience developing and manufacturing prescription and
         over-the-counter products based on its proprietary Orally
         Disintegrating Tablet, or ODT, technologies. These proven technologies,
         including OraSolv and DuraSolv, and taste-masking expertise can be
         applied to add value to aaiPharma's portfolio of currently marketed
         brands and its pipeline products. CIMA's advanced technologies have led
         to partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies, including
         Novartis, AstraZeneca, Wyeth, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Schwartz, for
         the development of branded products such as Alavert, Zomig, NuLev,
         Triaminic, Premarin, SolTab and Tempra FirsTabs.

         CIMA has state-of-the-art proprietary manufacturing capabilities for
         taste-masking and tableting, which is expected to grow to one billion
         blister tablet capacity in 2004 and 750 million bottled tablets by
         2004. CIMA's manufacturing expertise and assets will allow increased
         utilization of the capacity and is expected to create efficiencies for
         the combined company. CIMA's de-levered capital structure will enable
         the new company to take advantage of strategic brand acquisitions that
         complement the organic growth companies of the combined company.

         Move to slide five, please. The reason this combination makes
         compelling strategic and financial sense is that we believe we can grow
         faster together as a result of our combined strengths. By bringing to
         bear the strengths that we discussed in the prior slide, the combined
         company will be able to apply CIMA's ODT drug delivery technologies to
         aaiPharma's products and pipeline and will diversify and derive revenue
         from multiple business platforms. The combined company is expected to
         commercialize proprietary products more quickly and increase both R&D
         capabilities and investments as a result of increased cash flow. The
         new company has access to expanded manufacturing capacity and will
         benefit from strong cash flow and balance sheet.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                          Page 5


         Now, if you move to slide six, I'd like to at this point turn the call
         over to Steven Ratoff, who'll explain in greater detail how the
         complementary strength of our company - our companies, rather, will
         translate to near and long-term financial rewards for both of our
         company's shareholders. Steven?

Steven Ratoff:  Thank you, Phil.

         As you can see on slide six, the financial benefits of this transaction
         flow from four key sources - our increased growth opportunities, our
         broader R&D and manufacturing capabilities, our enhanced corporate
         profile, and the strategic synergies that we expect to realize from
         incremental revenue growth, cost savings and cost avoidance.

         If you turn now to slide seven. We see four distinct and new growth
         opportunities for the new company that are not immediately available to
         either company today. First, we can benefit from applying CIMA's
         technology to aaiPharma's products and pipeline to expand patented new
         product launch opportunities, and I will describe several examples of
         this opportunity in a few minutes. Second, with aaiPharma's sales
         infrastructure we can commercialize CIMA's proprietary product
         pipeline. Third, we will be able to support a larger R&D budget and
         thereby develop new products more quickly. Our projected first full
         year R&D budget will be approximately $30 million. Finally, with our
         strong balance sheet and increased cash flow, we open expanded
         opportunities for new near-term product acquisitions, a path we can
         pursue with a broad and deep knowledge of the industry through our
         relationships from years of contract development work. These are four
         compelling and immediately available opportunities from which we can
         drive growth.

         Turn now to slide eight. The combination of aaiPharma and CIMA also
         broadens our respective R&D and manufacturing capabilities. The
         foundation on which our companies are built and the



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                          Page 6


         source of the value that we can deliver is science. And our combined
         company will have vastly expanded scientific and technical basis. We
         will have expanded expertise and resources for the application of our
         technology platforms to add value to our products and our portfolio and
         to products we may elect to acquire. We will have the collective
         expertise of more than 1,000 scientists and researchers operating in
         more than 175,000 square feet of R&D space. And as I mentioned a moment
         ago, a larger investment in R&D will position us to develop new
         proprietary brands.

         Turn now to slide nine. Looking at bit more closely at our respective
         proprietary drug delivery platforms, this slide describes the ODT
         products currently on the market. CIMA has 10 years of experience
         developing and manufacturing prescription, over-the-counter products
         based on its proprietary drug delivery technologies. CIMA's orally
         disintegrating tablet, or ODT, technologies are already in the market,
         and they include OraSolv for taste-masking and management of dosage
         levels, DuraSolv for more compactable formulation and PakSolv, a
         proprietary blister packaging platform. Patent protections on these
         technologies extend from 2010 all the way to 2017.

         CIMA's advanced technologies have led to partnerships with leading
         pharmaceutical companies. And they include Novartis, AstraZeneca,
         Wyeth, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Schwartz and include the currently
         marketed products Alavert, Remeron SolTabs, Zomig, NuLev, Triaminic
         Soft Chews and Tempra FirsTabs. We fully expect to continue growing our
         collaborative partnerships. We also expect, due to the greater R&D
         budget I just referenced as well as the sales capabilities of
         aaiPharma, that we should be able to develop more products independent
         of partnerships and, as a result, capture more of the value of our
         technology.

         Turn now to slide 10. The combined company will also benefit from a
         wide range of patented technologies that may be and are being applied
         to products in our respective pipelines. And they range from: ProSorb
         rapid oral delivery technology to technology for the extended release
         of a



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                          Page 7


         drug for up to six months with a single injection; ProLonic, an oral
         dose that delivers drugs at specific times in the colon; and
         OraVescent, an oral transmucosal drug delivery system.

         Slide 11. The ability to apply CIMA's proven drug delivery technologies
         to aaiPharma's products in the market as well as in development opens a
         number of exciting opportunities to extend our product lifecycle
         management and drive revenue growth. For example, we see potential
         opportunities to apply OraSolv technology to aaiPharma's pain
         franchise, including Darvon, Darvocet. OraSolv also provides a number
         of interesting opportunities for the critical care and pain products,
         including Methadone, Brethine and Omeprazole. And in addition,
         OraVescent Fentanyl is an exciting product currently in development for
         breakthrough cancer pain.

         Turning to slide 12. Here you see a summary of our manufacturing
         capabilities and capacity. And I want to point out that CIMA has made
         manufacturing a particular focus of excellence over the years. The
         merger creates a significantly enhanced corporate profile several
         different ways. The market capitalization of the combined company will
         be approaching $1 billion, while improving shareholder liquidity and
         expanding the shareholder base. Our strong balance sheet will give us
         the flexibility to pursue attractive, strategic acquisition
         opportunities. And we will immediately have in place an experienced and
         entrepreneurial management team with a proven track record as well as a
         substantial and highly skilled workforce, including 1,000 R&D and 200
         sales and marketing professionals.

         Now, Phil will discuss the strategic synergies that we have identified
         as well as the expected financial benefits and other details of the
         transaction.

Philip Tabbiner:  Thanks, Steven.  If you'll turn to slide 14.

         Here, we've outlined the expected revenue and cost synergies and our
         targeted timing for achieving such benefits. While this transaction is
         strategic in nature and not predicated on the



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                          Page 8


         elimination of costs, there are synergies to be gained. We expect
         between $8 million and $10 million in synergies to be achieved in 2004
         and greater synergies of between $18 million and $20 million annually
         thereafter. We are in the process of appointing an integration team to
         oversee further identification and the realization of these and other
         synergies.

         Turn to slide 15. The result of expanded growth opportunities, the
         broadened R&D and manufacturing capabilities and our enhanced corporate
         profile and the synergies that we expect are summarized on this slide.
         If the new company did no acquisitions from the closing of the
         transaction in late 2003 through the end of 2004, we would expect it to
         achieve 2004 revenue of between $405 million and $415 million, a growth
         rate of approximately 15 percent versus anticipated pro forma 2003
         revenues. The 2004 EPS of between $1.25 and $1.30 is an increase of
         approximately 20 percent over expected 2003 pro forma EPS.

         The latter half of this slide indicates the expected compound annual
         growth rate for the new company from 2003 through to 2006. You can see
         that we estimate a revenue compounded annual growth rate of
         approximately 18 to 20 percent and an earnings per share compounded
         annual growth rate of between 25 and 30 percent.

         Now, turning to our management structure, which you'll find on slide
         16, you'll see we have a team that has a significant amount of industry
         experience. Fred Sancilio, who founded aaiPharma in 1979 and who is
         currently aaiPharma's Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, will serve
         in the same capacities in the combined company. Steven Ratoff will
         serve as Vice-Chairman, and I will serve as President and Chief
         Executive Officer. John Hontz, CIMA's Chief Operating Officer, will be
         President of CIMA. Bill Ginna will serve as Chief Financial Officer.
         Vijay Aggarwal will be President of - who is President of aaiPharma's
         Development Services, will be President of the development services
         business in the new company. David Hurley, President of aaiPharma, the
         pharmaceuticals division, will continue as President of that business
         in the



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                          Page 9


         combined company. And George Van Lear will continue as President of R&D
         for the combined company.

         Moving to slide 17. When dealing with terms of the transaction, we
         expect that this will be a tax-free, stock for stock exchange. At
         closing all aaiPharma and CIMA shareholders will receive shares in a
         newly formed holding company. The exchange ratio will be one share of
         the holding company for each aaiPharma share and 1.3657 shares of the
         holding company for each CIMA share. Upon completion on a fully diluted
         basis, aaiPharma shareholders will hold approximately 59.4 percent of
         the new company and CIMA shareholders will hold approximately 40.6
         percent. The boards of both companies have approved the transaction.
         The new company's board of directors will initially consist of four
         members from each of the respective current boards. This transaction is
         subject to shareholder approval and Hart-Scott Rodino clearance as well
         as other customary regulatory reviews. We anticipate closing the
         transaction in the fourth quarter of this year.

         And now move to slide 18. As illustrated here, aaiPharma and CIMA's
         technology platforms and related product portfolios will help fuel the
         expected growth of the new company. Over the years, both aaiPharma and
         CIMA have demonstrated their abilities to successfully grow within very
         dynamic business models. When we put them together, when we combined
         our complementary capabilities and resources, we are confident that we
         can create an even stronger company poised for strategic acceleration.

         Slide 19. To sum up this compelling merger that will enable strategic
         acceleration and value creation, we're bringing together two companies
         with a strong strategic and cultural fit. Combined, they boast a
         diverse portfolio of established branded pharmaceutical products,
         technologies for adding value to drugs and for extending and expanding
         the sales of these established branded and partnered drug products.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 10


         By joining together, we create a fully integrated specialty
         pharmaceutical company with a strong science base for R&D,
         manufacturing capabilities and sales and marketing resources. We also
         have a very strong balance sheet. Managing this exciting combination of
         assets will be a highly experienced and focused management team. With
         the combined strength and depth of our two organizations, we expect the
         new company to be well positioned for attractive sales and earnings
         growth and for creating sustainable shareholder value.

         And with that, we welcome your questions. Thank you.

Operator: We will now begin the question-and-answer segment of the conference.
         If you would like to ask a question, simply press star one on your
         touch-tone phone. Your questions will be answered in the order
         received. We'll pause for a moment.

         The first question comes from David Maris with Bank of America.

David Maris: Good morning and congratulations. A couple questions. I don't
         know a lot about the pipeline of CIMA. So, can you talk a little bit
         more about how complementary for the non-disclosed products? We know
         the sentinel product. But how complementary are the pipelines? Are they
         focused in the same areas as you are? Will you be able to apply the
         technologies to your existing pipeline with any - can you provide any
         definition what products you'll apply those two?

         Then separately, the combined company, can you talk a little bit about
         the combined capital structures - structure, what it might look like
         from a six months from now standpoint? Will you use their cash to pay
         back your debt? Will you - will that free you up from a lending
         standpoint to acquire more products? Are you still looking at products
         to acquire? I don't think I have any other follow-ups.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 11


Philip Tabbiner: Morning, David. It's Phil. And let me take some of those
         questions, maybe in a little bit of a reverse order.

         To your question about our interest and willingness to acquire other
         products given the difference in our capital structure from where
         aaiPharma is today, stepping back and looking strategically why we're
         doing this is that both organizations have a desire to create that
         specialty pharmaceutical company with significant growth out into the
         future. The combination accelerates both of us on that trend. We both
         have a great R&D platform experience, capability and technologies,
         which will enhance products that we have and other products that we
         will now place into our R&D programs.

         But it's also very important to note that the changed balance sheet
         will in fact give us opportunity to pursue other product acquisition
         opportunities to provide to our sales and marketing organization, to
         drive into the market today, but also to continue to add to our
         pipeline and add innovation opportunities in a way to drive future
         growth in revenues and EPS.

         Now, in terms of your question regarding the CIMA technologies and our
         products, how that would affect our pipeline, we certainly see that the
         orally disintegrating tablet technology has a great application to
         products in our pain franchise, certainly obviously Darvon and
         Darvocet. And so, we think that's a tremendous opportunity for us to
         pursue as a way to continue to build up that franchise, positioning it
         not only to bring back use from the generics, where that marketplace is
         approximately $1.2 billion in opportunity, but also to be positioned to
         gain business from C3 compounds that are in the market as well.

         So, we're very much excited by the technology, its application to our
         pain franchise. We're excited by the improved balance sheet of the
         combined company that will enable us to acquire other products. But we
         also think that the inherent R&D platform manufacturing capabilities
         will provide a more integrated company as well.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 12


         And maybe I could let Bill Ginna comment about the future capital
         structure and its implications and what we would be doing with the
         cash.

Bill Ginna: David, hi. At this - based on the pro forma balance sheets that
         we put together, we should end up with about $50 million of cash after
         paying down all our bank debt, which currently is about $80 million. At
         that point, we would have taken our total average ratio down from about
         3.2 currently to about 1.6. And internally, we've talked about we'd be
         heading back towards a 2.5 times leverage. So, if you take your cash
         plus the availability under the difference between the 2.5 and the 1.6
         you'd have about $150 million of availability to purchase another
         product obviously with that, even taking into effect any EBITDA change
         based on the new product.

David Maris: OK. Thank you very much. And have you talked to the rating agencies
         about the current debt?

Philip Tabbiner: No. We had a conversation at the end of the first quarter.
         Our intention was to go back to them now that we've announced this
         transaction.

David Maris:  Thank you very much.

Bill Ginna:  OK.

Operator: The next question is from (Russell Winn) from (Cognis Bond).

(Russell Winn): Yes. Thank you very much. Have the management of CIMA and the
         management of aai seen the Raymond James report dated July 30th? And if
         you have, can you please comment on that?



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 13


Philip Tabbiner: We certainly have seen reports of the different analysts in
         terms of our business. And I know also, so too has the folks from CIMA.
         But today's focus is on the merger of two businesses and the tremendous
         opportunity that that provides us on a go forward basis for the
         aaiPharma shareholders and also the shareholders of CIMA, where we
         think that bringing together these two organizations and the
         technologies, our current products and the opportunities for future
         growth and acquisitions is a tremendously exciting one.

Operator: The next question is from Adam Greene with First Albany.

Adam Greene: Thank you. Good morning. Congratulations. Two or three questions.
         One, can you tell us what your assumption is for the Remeron SolTab
         patent challenge in your guidance, what year you're assuming for that?
         Also, if you can give us an example of one or two R&D programs that you
         think might be accelerated by the combination of aai and CIMA. And
         finally, what your outlook is in terms of R&D mix for spending for
         internal projects versus client-based projects.

Philip Tabbiner: What I'll do is I'll ask if Steven would comment on the
         Remeron question first and then I'll ask Fred to comment on the R&D
         question.

Steven Ratoff: In response to your question on the Remeron SolTab, we have
         seen the competitive threat, as you know, from Barr, but that has not
         actually appeared. It'll - there's no clear indication as to when they
         in fact or if they in fact will come to the market. We have indicated
         in our dialogue with the investment community that we would expect the
         entire Remeron SolTab franchise to peak in '03 and moderate thereafter,
         particularly as a result of the growth in the - outside the United
         States business for this product, which has and is expected through the
         end of this year to continue to offset the decline in the U.S.

         So, I would say I cannot identify specifically when that competitive
         challenge will appear, but it is not as yet.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 14


Fred Sancilio: On the R&D front, the acceleration that we would see would be
         effectively in the third-generation Darvocet products in particular.
         You remember Darvocet is a combination product of Propoxyphene
         Hydrochloride and/or Napsylate and Acetaminophen. And our
         first-generation product, which has been on the market without change
         for 20-some-odd years, will in the relatively short run be moving on to
         a more sophisticated second-generation product. The work that we'll be
         working with CIMA with will actually be a third-generation product that
         should hit the market in a couple of years, which obviously would
         include some of the LDT technology that CIMA is very skilled at.

         In addition, what we bring to CIMA's pipeline is management expertise
         and the phase three clinical trial capability that now awaits Fentanyl,
         the oral Fentanyl product that's in the CIMA pipeline. Again, that's a
         very interesting product for us, again used for severe pain. And an
         oral Fentanyl product in other dosage forms is already on the market
         doing very well. This would be a very convenient tablet, highly
         available form of Fentanyl. And again, those clinical trials are
         routinely performed here at aaiPharma for our pipeline.

Operator: The next question is from Tony Green with Craig-Hallum.

Tony Green: Good morning. Maybe I missed this, but where will the combined
         company be headquartered?

Philip Tabbiner: Yes. The combined company, Tony, will be headquartered in
         Wilmington, North Carolina.

Operator: The next question is from Sue Lee with Maximus Capital.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 15


(Primm Lackman): Good morning. It's (Primm Lackman). Two questions. One, Fred,
         you always talked about your company's therapeutic focus. How will this
         merger change that focus, if at all? And to who were the advisors on
         the transaction?

Fred Sancilio: The - (Primm), good morning. The therapeutic focus of the
         Company remains as-is. Coincidentally and actually fortunately and
         actually by design, both CIMA and aaiPharma do share similar interests
         in their therapeutic focus in their pipeline. Again, the focus on pain
         is our primary focus. That'll continue. We find an abundance of pain
         products and pain expertise at CIMA as they did in our pipeline. And
         gastrointestinal, both of us have some interesting experiences in the
         gastrointestinal area that will continue to leverage on both sides. So,
         no change in therapeutic focus on a go forward basis.

Philip Tabbiner: And (Primm), the - this is Phil. The advisors on aaiPharma's
         side with Bank of America Securities as the financial advisor,
         Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson as legal counsel, for the CIMA side
         Deutsche Bank Securities as financial advisor, Latham Watkins and
         Faegre & Benson as legal counsel.

(Primm Lackman): Thanks.

Operator:  The next question is from Michael Tong from Wachovia Securities.

Michael Tong: Hi. Good morning. Congratulations. Phil, you - Phil and Fred,
         actually, you talked about acceleration of some of the R&D programs. As
         you look at the combined companies now, are there any R&D programs that
         might actually be pared down from a prioritization standpoint? And are
         there any changes to your expectations for Darvon, Darvocet line
         extensions over the next couple of years? Thanks.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 16


Fred Sancilio: I could take that one. On the pared down, as I said before,
         coincidentally, there are programs that are very similar to each other.
         So, there's no need to run both programs. So, there will be synergies
         received as a result of combining these two R&D programs, and that will
         help us as far as managing both the programs and the cash going into
         R&D to broaden that base of products. And my mouth is moving so
         quickly, I forgot what the second question was.

Michael Tong: It's the Darvon, Darvocet line extensions. You've previously laid
         out a pretty clear strategy of two line extensions per year going out
         to '05. Any changes to that?

Fred Sancilio: I think that's - again, I should leave this for Phil. I think
         that's more marketing driven than it is pipeline driven. The Company
         with over 1,000 scientists are capable of doing a lot more in the way
         of line extensions in those products than what we're commercializing.
         It's just a question of how many products you want to commercialize -
         Phil.

Philip Tabbiner: Yes. I think, Michael, with the aspect about the Darvon,
         Darvocet line extensions what we will of course do is rack up the ones
         that we already have in our plans and compare that from a marketplace
         opportunity vis-a-vis a Darvocet or a Darvon line extension using
         CIMA's technology and look for the timing and the opportunity, and, as
         Fred says, see that the launch opportunities line up appropriately. And
         then, if that in fact lets us bring on more, we will - or we may in
         fact replace on with another if there's a better opportunity and a
         timing that would collide.

Operator: The next question is from (Ray Lewis) with (Schroeder's).

(Ray Lewis): Yes. I got a couple ones here. I apologize if this has been
         addressed. I just got on the call. Could you tell us what the breakup
         fee is, please?

Philip Tabbiner: Sure. The breakup fee is $11.5 million.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 17


(Ray Lewis): OK. And just - is Steve Ratoff on the call?

Philip Tabbiner:  Yes, he is.

(Ray Lewis): Just - I got to kind of wonder a little bit how the thought
         process went from your end. I mean, you've kind of publicly stated that
         you view yourself as being north of a 25 percent grower, at least for
         the next few years on a fully tax basis. You've obviously got a large
         cash reserve. And I appreciate that aai brings you some expertise to
         help with the Fentanyl product.

         But I'm having trouble understanding the value that's being created for
         the shareholders here. We've got a situation where CIMA stock is down
         close to three percent. aai's stock is down nearly two percent. This is
         - it's not a very satisfying situation from our perspective. I was
         hoping you could address a little bit also how you went about through
         this process. Has this just - give us a little bit more clear - clarity
         here.

Steven Ratoff:  Let me do that, Phil?

Philip Tabbiner:  Yes, please, Steven.

Steven Ratoff: Clearly, we view this as a strategic transaction that furthers
         our defined objective of driving more value out of CIMA technologies.
         And to the extent that we've been able to do this more rapidly using
         this transaction as a stepping off point is an excellent thing for
         shareholders.

(Ray Lewis): I have trouble with that statement given the market reaction
         right now, but please continue.

Steven Ratoff: (Ray), I was not clear on the ...



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 18


(Ray Lewis): I mean, you've got difference in cash balance, your own core
         business that seems to be growing quite well, and yet you're kind of
         satisfied for basically a take under, for all intents and purposes.

Steven Ratoff: Well, I would not view it as that. I would say that the ...

(Ray Lewis): There's no premium to where your stock was.

Steven Ratoff: Well, this transaction is clearly a merger where the value of
         the transaction is accretive immediately to CIMA's shareholders and, in
         time, will produce significant value for all shareholders. So, to the
         extent it brings - your view that it brings - or the comment that it
         brings no value I don't believe is correct.

         The ability of the Company to increase its return on equity and
         ultimately increase shareholder value requires a significant amount of
         work over the next three or four years, which, as we have said to the
         marketplace, would increase our investment in research and development
         and other resources required. This transaction offers the unique
         opportunity to accelerate that maturation of our company by bringing
         the technical resources of aai's science base, coupled with its strong
         management base, together with our technology, their technology and, in
         fact, our financial resources. So, to the - to me it is a prima fascia
         a marvelous opportunity to grow shareholder value for all shareholders,
         and specifically for CIMA shareholders.

Operator: The next question is from David Steinberg from Deutsche Bank
         Securities.

David Steinberg: Yes. Hi. You've mentioned that the sentinel product, instead
         of out licensing it from CIMA's perspective, would now be directly
         marketed by aaiPharma. And I know there are at least 30 projects in
         development at CIMA. Are there any other products that may have been
         licensed out that now could be directly marketed by aai? And I know
         that most of these products are not



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 19


         disclosed. So, if you can't disclose them could you talk about what
         therapeutic class or what the aggregate end market sales might be of
         those products?

Philip Tabbiner: David, it's Phil. We certainly are using the opportunity from
         the merger to focus in on the therapeutic areas that aaiPharma had
         already focused in on, which is pain management and critical care
         products as well as gastrointestinal products. And that's where we
         would see the application of these technologies going. I think in terms
         of products that have not been disclosed we have decided to keep that
         or maintain that non-disclosure aspect on a go forward basis.

         We're going to be - as we advance in applying these technologies to
         products in our pipeline, we'll be able to better position for you in
         the future the timing and the nature of this technology as applied to
         our products, be it Darvon, Darvocet, be it Brethine or be it six
         Omeprazole, all products that are in our pipeline and part of our
         expectations for significant growth in the future.

Steven Ratoff: Phil, might I add that the CIMA pipeline that we've disclosed -
         or at least we have a pipeline beyond our investment in Fentanyl with
         our proprietary portfolio, you said that there are approximately five
         potential products and that we've focused our attention or investment
         in Fentanyl. I would say generally, David, that the therapeutic
         categories fit well within the construct of the combined company.

Operator: The next question is from (Tim Chiang) with (Bleichroeder).

(Tim Chiang): Hi. I wanted to get some thoughts in terms of synergies for
         your ProSorb B product as well. What sort of drug delivery technology
         could be applied to that product, which I believe you guys are in phase
         three development on?

Philip Tabbiner: I'm not sure what the question is. What type of technology?
         ProSorb B is in late phase three at this point, and its submission will
         occur sometime midyear next year or earlier than that if



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 20


         all goes well. The complementary nature of the ProSorb technology again
         it's specifically designed for very specific type chemical compounds,
         non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, both COX-I and COX-II, to enhance
         their bio-availability and try to minimize the COX-I effect.

         The CIMA technology is somewhat different. It's a solid-based
         technology. This is a soft gel-based technology, again complementary to
         each other, allowing a waterless delivery of a product. The two are
         very complementary to each other, so the same active ingredient could
         be used in both but would give you very different therapeutic effects.

Operator: The next question is from Ken Cacciatore with SG Cowen.

Ken Cacciatore: Yes. Thank you. Just a quick question. The OraVescent
         sentinel program is obviously a key program for CIMA. And I was just
         wondering from the aai perspective we have seen from a couple other
         companies that they'd either slowed or terminated their Fentanyl
         programs due to concerns with having to run toxicology studies on
         Fentanyl. I was wondering what diligence that - did you do, if you can
         disclose to us kind of your comfort level that that's not going to be
         the case here and that that program is on track.

Fred Sancilio: You know, again, I have to answer this pretty much the same
         way as Steve answered it during his conference call a couple of days
         ago. Our belief is that the FDA will allow - remember, the way FDA
         requires the study is in both animals and in drug substance, not drug
         product. So, you really look at the drug substance, not the drug
         product here, which means not the actual tablet itself but the chemical
         itself. And I believe in the past companies have been required to
         perform these studies.

         And there has been negotiation with the FDA to have those requirements
         delayed until after launch of the product. And I believe that if we
         present our case as we have in the past to the FDA with sufficient data
         to show safety of a drug that's been on the market for some 20 years



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 21


         right now - and we were involved in the original development work for
         Fentanyl. I could talk about that now because we have no agreements in
         that area anymore. But we were very much involved with the very first
         doses of that compound.

         So, we know a lot about it and we feel fairly comfortable that we can
         do the toxicology trials after the product is approved as opposed to
         before. But there's always a chance that the FDA may insist, change
         rules, that is, to insist that these studies that were done beforehand.
         But I feel pretty confident that with our experience and with the data
         that obviously hasn't been published thus far that this may be not an
         issue.

Philip Tabbiner: And from the first half of your question, I'd also say, in
         looking at the Fentanyl product vis-a-vis our market orientation
         towards pain management it's a wonderful fit for us. We've said that
         our interest is in building out from the Darvon and Darvocet platform
         in kind the midrange of analgesic products to be able to provide
         products of a milder form as well as products for more severe
         situations. And our investment in Fentanyl would be a classic product
         to fit in that upper range of efficacy and pain management. So, we're
         excited on how this helps us fill out our product portfolio in pain
         management.

Operator: The next question comes from (Mike Burrow) with Leerink Swann.

(Mike Burrow): Hey. Good morning. Just a few follow-up questions. If someone
         could just quickly run through the math, he 36 cents of accretion for
         CIMA shareholders that'll be helpful. Also, if you've got some estimate
         of combined tax rates for the Company in '03 and '04. And lastly,
         you're forecasting a jump in revenues from '03 to '04. Give us some
         idea of what percent of that is dependent on new product launches and
         what percent is from organic growth, if any. Thanks.

Bill Ginna: OK. This is Bill Ginna. Let's start with the tax rate. The tax
         rate we used in our models is 36 percent for both years overall.



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 22


         Looking - speaking about the accretion on the CIMA side, what that
         represents is taking the management estimates from CIMA and then
         working through the transaction, determine their portion of the
         transaction, and that's the calculation that results from it.

         So, I'm not - I gave the tax rate.

         And then you asked about the revenue. Based on current guidance, we're
         looking at about a 20 percent - excuse me, about a 15 percent increase
         in revenue. There are - as part of aai's portion of that, there are new
         product launches recently announced agreement with Athlon. We have
         included a portion of upside into our '04 guidance.

Operator: We only have time for one additional question. And that question comes
         from (Rashan Korinji) from ING.

(Rashan Korinji): Hi. Congratulations on the merger. What I'm not showing on
         the balance sheet in a dedicated organic growth on the ODT side in a
         key position to make product acquisitions. Maybe this is a question for
         you, Bill. Can you elaborate on how you would finance a potential large
         product acquisition, i.e. access to high yield market or back to the
         banks?

Bill Ginna: Yes. (Rashan), I don't know if you heard earlier, but we talked
         about where the pro forma balance sheet will stand. Our intention is to
         take the cash balance and pay down our bank debt, which at the moment
         is about $80 million. That would leave us with approximately a $50
         million cash balance and the total average ratio of about 1.6 times.

         Based on that level and assuming that we'd be willing to go to a 2.5
         times leverage, you would have availability at that point, including
         cash balance, of about $150 million. So, right away you would have the
         chance to do a fairly substantial acquisition at that time. Then, if
         you factor in any



                                                                       AAIPHARMA
                                                      Moderator: Philip Tabbiner
                                                           08-05-03/9:00 a.m. CT
                                                           Confirmation # 444385
                                                                         Page 23


         EBITDA benefit and the resulting 2.5 times availability from the new
         product, it would only enhance that opportunity to a point where you
         could easily see something along the lines of about the same range that
         we went - we did with Darvon, Darvocet.

Philip Tabbiner: I think it's very clear that as we've outlined our strategy
         as an organization is that the science-based specialty pharma company
         not only are we going to have a strong R&D platform to drive our
         pipeline forward and create significant growth from that. But we are
         very interested and we'll pursue product-related acquisition
         opportunities that fit the general criteria we've used in the past,
         that are products that have not only market opportunities for the
         renewal of promotion but more importantly the renewal that will be
         afforded by now a broadened R&D base. And so, we certainly will want to
         drive both the pipeline and product acquisition to enhance the growth
         of the Company.

Operator: At this time, I would like to turn the conference back over to Dr.
         Tabbiner for closing remarks.

Philip Tabbiner: Well, I'd like to thank you all for joining us this morning.
         We're very excited, both aaiPharma and CIMA, to announce this. We think
         that this merger creates a tremendous acceleration for both company's
         strategies for the development, enhancement and commercialization of
         products in our pipelines as well as products that we can acquire and
         enhance through the R&D platform. It creates lots of growth
         opportunities and strong balance sheet gives maximum flexibility to the
         newly merged company.

         So, again, I thank you for your time with us, and have a great day.

                                       END


                          aaiPHARMA AND CIMA ANNOUNCE
                           MERGER TO CREATE A LEADING
                            SCIENCE-BASED, SPECIALTY
                             PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY

                                 AUGUST 5, 2003




FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
"safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of the
management of aaiPharma and Cima and are subject to a number of factors and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements
contained in this presentation include statements about future financial and
operating results and the proposed merger of aaiPharma and CIMA. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon
assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual
outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed herein.


In any forward-looking statement in which aaiPharma or CIMA expresses an
expectation or belief as to future results, that expectation or belief is
expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can
be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will result or be
achieved or accomplished. Risks and uncertainties pertaining to the following
factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from
those described in the forward-looking statements: the ability of aaiPharma and
CIMA to obtain the stockholder and regulatory approvals required for the merger;
the new company's ability to successfully integrate the businesses of the two
companies; unexpected costs involved in the merger or to the new company's
ability to achieve cost-cutting synergies; the impact of uncertainty surrounding
the merger on the businesses of the two companies; the impact of competition,
new data, supply issues or marketplace trends on the market for the companies'
products; a deterioration in the business of aaiPharma and Cima prior to
closing; technical, regulatory or manufacturing issues, new data or intellectual
property disputes that may affect the companies' programs; the ability of the
new company to develop and market products in a timely manner; and difficulties
in gaining approval of new products. Additional economic, business, competitive
and/or regulatory factors affecting aaiPharma's and CIMA's businesses generally
that may cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in their
respective filings with the SEC, including their Annual Reports on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, especially in the Management's
Discussion and Analysis section, their most recent Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q and their Current Reports on Form 8-K. aaiPharma and CIMA do not undertake
obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter
their forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.



                                                                               2

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)





STRATEGIC ACCELERATION AND VALUE CREATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                    aaiPharma                   CIMA




Creating a dynamic science-based, specialty pharmaceutical company based on:


[ ]      Established, diversified and growing base of proprietary brands

[ ]      Substantial R&D platform, sales force and manufacturing capabilities

[ ]      Market-leading drug delivery technologies that create differentiated
         products

[ ]      Strong and flexible financial position


                                                                               3

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)





COMPLEMENTARY STRENGTHS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

aaiPharma                                                                CIMA


    Robust Product                                Market-Leading
      Pipeline                                   ODT Technologies

     Successful Base                              Established Core
     of Acquired and                                of Partnered
     Improved Brands                                  Products
     and Technologies

  Strong R&D Knowledge,                            Proprietary Product
    Growing Sales and                                  Pipeline and
  Marketing Capabilities                        Manufacturing Capabilities

    Intelligence on                                     Unlevered
  Product Acquisition                               Capital Structure
    Opportunities



                                                                               4

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)





DYNAMIC VALUE CREATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MERGER BENEFITS


[ ]      Ability to apply CIMA orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) drug delivery
         technologies to aaiPharma products

[ ]      Multiple platforms create broad services offering and formulations
         powerhouse

[ ]      Better exploit enabling technologies and diversify revenues

[ ]      Preeminent capability in drug delivery technology

[ ]      Expedites commercialization of proprietary products

[ ]      Enhanced R&D capabilities

[ ]      Expanded manufacturing capacity

[ ]      Strong cash flow and balance sheet



                                                                               5

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)




STRATEGIC ACCELERATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



<Table>
                                                                            
INCREASES GROWTH         BROADENS                       ENHANCES        STRATEGIC       DRIVES NEAR
OPPORTUNITIES            R&D CAPACITY &                 CORPORATE       SYNERGIES       & LONG-TERM
                         MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS       PROFILE                         FINANCIAL
                                                                                        RETURNS
</Table>


                                                                              6

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)




INCREASES GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[ ]      Application of CIMA ODT technology to aaiPharma products

[ ]      Capture full value of CIMA proprietary product pipeline and accelerate
         aaiPharma pipeline

[ ]      Acceleration of new product development through larger R&D budget

[ ]      Enables additional brand acquisitions


                                                                              7

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)




BROADENS R&D AND MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ ]      Expansion of scientific and technical bases

         o        Advances pipeline of proprietary products

                  >>       Dedicated science-base of 1000+ scientists and
                           researchers

                  >>       Over 175,000 square feet of R&D facilities

         o        Increases investment in R&D

                  >>       Positioned to develop additional proprietary products

                  >>       Expected 2004 R&D budget in excess of $30 million



                                                                              8

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)



BROADENS R&D AND MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


o ODT PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET


<Table>
<Caption>
Technologies            Patent Exclusivity              Primary Function                          Partner Products
                                                                                         
[ ] OraSolv(R)                2010                      Taste-masking, broader range              (REMERSON GRAPHIC)
                                                        of activities and dosage levels           (NULEV GRAPHIC)

[ ] DuraSolv(TM)              2018                      More compactable formulation, more        (ALAVERT GRAPHIC)
                                                        flexible, less expensive packaging

[ ] PakSolv(TM)               2017                      Blister packaging process and             (ZOMIG GRAPHIC)
                                                        materials
</Table>






                                                                              9

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)





BROADENS R&D AND MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<Table>
<Caption>
Technologies            Patent Expiry                   Primary Function
                                                  
[ ] ProSorb(R)              2019                         o   Very rapid delivery of drugs orally - e.g., 18
                                                             minutes

[ ] ProSlo(TM)              2018                         o   Delivers single or combination drug predictably
                                                             over a long period, having an immediate and
                                                             extended release component

[ ] ProCore(TM)             2007                         o   Slowly releases drugs over an extended period -
                                                             e.g., 24 hours

[ ] ProSpher(TM)            2018                         o   A single injection releases drugs for up to six
                                                             months

[ ] ProLonic(TM)            2016                         o   An oral dose that delivers drugs at specific
                                                             times in the colon

                                                         o   A tablet that dissolves and disintegrates in
[ ] ProMelt(TM)             2019                             your mouth in seconds but allows the release to be
                                                             up to 24 hours

[ ] OraVescent(R)           2019                         o   Oral transmucosal delivery system
</Table>




                                                                             10

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)




BROADENS R&D AND MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[ ] Technologies for Potentially Creating Branded Proprietary Drugs


<Table>
                                               
Darvon(R) / Darvocet(TM)                          OraSolv(R)

Methadone                                         OraSolv(R)

Fentanyl                                          OraVescent(R)

Omeprazole                                        OraSolv(R)
</Table>




                                                                             11

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)



BROADENS R&D AND MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ ]      Expands manufacturing capabilities and capacity

         o        Oral and injectable dose production facilities

         o        1 billion blister tablet capacity in 2004

         o        950 million bottle tablet capacity by 2004

         o        75,000 liters of sterile product annually

[ ]      Over 190,000 square feet of sterile and non-sterile production
         facilities

         o        Eden Prairie, MN

         o        Brooklyn Park, MN

         o        Wilmington, NC

         o        Charleston, SC





                                                                             12

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)




ENHANCES CORPORATE PROFILE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ ]      Increases market capitalization

[ ]      Improves share liquidity

[ ]      Expands shareholder base

[ ]      Provides financial flexibility

[ ]      Diversifies revenue stream

[ ]      Leverages experienced management team and highly skilled workforce

         o        Employees (approx.): 1,500

                  >>   R&D: 1,000

                  >>   Sales & Marketing: 200 (pharmaceutical and development)


                                                                             13

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)





STRATEGIC SYNERGIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ ]      Estimated Annual Synergies:

         >>       2004     Between $8 million and $10 million

         >>       2005     Between $18 million to $20 million,
                           increasing thereafter

[ ]      Economies of scale in manufacturing from increased capacity
         utilization

[ ]      Greater leverage of both companies' R&D expertise and infrastructure

[ ]      Elimination of public company costs and rationalization of general &
         administrative operations

[ ]      Sales of CIMA technologies through aaiPharma's existing sales force





                                                                            14

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)




DRIVES NEAR & LONG-TERM FINANCIAL RETURNS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[ ]      Establishing 2004 Holding Company revenue guidance of $405 to $415
         million

         o        2003-2006 CAGR Revenue Growth of 18% to 20%

[ ]      Establishing 2004 Holding Company EPS guidance $1.25 to $1.30

         o        2003-2006 CAGR EPS Growth of 25% to 30%






                                                                             15

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)





MANAGEMENT TEAM
WITH EXTENSIVE INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<Table>
<Caption>
OFFICER                     TITLE                         BACKGROUND
- -------                     -----                         ----------
                                                    
FREDERICK SANCILIO          Chairman                      Founded aaiPharma in 1979.
                                                          aaiPharma:  Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer
                                                          Prior Experience: Burroughs-Wellcome

STEVEN RATOFF               Vice Chairman                 CIMA:  Chairman of the Board, Interim Chief Executive Officer.
                                                          Prior Experience: MacroMed, Brown-Forman, BMS

PHILIP TABBINER             CEO                           aaiPharma:  President and CEO
                                                          Prior Experience: Bayer, DuPont Merck


WILLIAM GINNA               CFO                           aaiPharma: Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President.
                                                          Prior Experience: London International Group, Athlone Industries

VIJAY AGGARWAL              President,                    aaiPharma: President, aaiPharma Development Services
                            Development Services          Prior Experience: Quest Diagnostics, SmithKline Beecham

JOHN HONTZ                  President,                    CIMA:  Chief Operating Officer
                            CIMA Division                 Prior Experience: Glaxo Wellcome, Burroughs-Wellcome

DAVID HURLEY                President, Pharmaceuticals    aaiPharma: President, Pharmaceuticals
                                                          Prior Experience: Geneva Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Baxter

GEORGE VAN LEAR             President, R&D                aaiPharma: President, R&D
                                                          Prior Experience: Senetek, Glaxo Wellcome
</Table>




                                                                             16

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)




TRANSACTION SUMMARY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ ]      Stock-for-stock exchange, tax-free transaction (subject to IRS
         notification)

[ ]      Holding company transaction structure

         o        At closing, all aaiPharma and CIMA shareholders will receive
                  shares in a newly formed public company

         o        1.000 Holding Company shares for each aaiPharma share

         o        1.3657 Holding Company shares for each CIMA share

[ ]      Share ownership (fully diluted)

         o        aaiPharma 59.4%

         o        CIMA 40.6%

[ ]      Approved and recommended by both aaiPharma and CIMA Boards

[ ]      At closing, there will be 8 directors of the Holding Company; 4 current
         aaiPharma directors and 4 current CIMA directors. Prior to the closing,
         aaiPharma will designate 3 of its directors who are independent and
         CIMA will designate 2 of its directors who are independent and these 5
         independent directors shall select, after the closing, between one and
         three additional directors to the board of directors of Holding
         Company.

[ ]      Next steps

         o        Hart-Scott-Rodino filings

         o        Special shareholder meetings for both companies--Q4 2003

         o        Closing anticipated in Q4 of 2003



                                                                             17

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)





COMPELLING MERGER OF
COMPLEMENTARY BUSINESSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

o        Strategic and cultural fit

o        Diverse portfolio of brands, technologies and partnered products

o        Substantial R&D and manufacturing expertise

o        Strong and flexible financial position

o        Experienced management team

o        Compelling synergies expected


                                                                              18

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)





ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT


[ ]      Scarlet Holding Corporation, the holding company to be formed in this
         transaction, intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
         Commission a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a
         joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents in
         connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS OF AAIPHARMA AND
         CIMA ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER
         RELEVANT MATERIALS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN
         IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SCARLET HOLDING CORPORATION, CIMA,
         AAIPHARMA AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors may obtain a free
         copy of these materials (when they are available) and other documents
         filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the SEC's website
         at www.sec.gov. A free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus
         when it becomes available may also be obtained from aaiPharma Inc.,
         2320 Scientific Park Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 or CIMA,
         10000 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344. Investors may
         access copies of the documents filed with the SEC by aaiPharma on
         aaiPharma's website at www.aaiPharma.com and investors and may access
         copies of the documents filed with the SEC by CIMA on CIMA's website at
         www.cimalabs.com. In addition, copies may be obtained free of charge at
         written request to aaiPharma at 2320 Scientific Park Drive, Wilmington,
         North Carolina, attention: CFO or to CIMA at 10000 Valley View Road,
         Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344, attention: CFO.

[ ]      aaiPharma, CIMA and their respective directors, executive officers and
         certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be
         participants in soliciting proxies from their respective stockholders
         in favor of the proposed merger. Information regarding the persons who
         may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in
         the solicitation of aaiPharma's stockholders in connection with the
         proposed merger is set forth in aaiPharma's proxy statement for its
         2003 annual meeting, dated April 8, 2003 and filed with the SEC on
         April 11, 2003, and information regarding the persons who may, under
         the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the
         solicitation of CIMA's stockholders in connection with the proposed
         transaction is set forth in CIMA's proxy statement for its 2003 annual
         meeting, dated April 14, 2003 and filed with the SEC on April 11, 2003.

[ ]      Additional information regarding these individuals and any interest
         they have in the proposed transaction will be set forth in the joint
         proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC.



                                                                             19

(aaiPHARMA(R) LOGO)                                               (CIMA(TM)LOGO)



                 aaiPharma AND CIMA: KEY FACTS (AUGUST 4, 2003)


                      aaiPharma                                  CIMA
                      ---------                                  ----
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         
COMPLEMENTARY         Science-based, specialty pharma          Science-based, specialty pharma company that develops and
CORPORATE             company focused on research and          manufactures prescription and OTC products based on proprietary
PROFILES:             development, product marketing and       orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) technologies.
                      contract pharmaceutical drug
                      development services.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARKET CAP:           $539.3 million                           $368.0 million
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 RESULTS:         $230.5M Revenues                         $46.6M Revenues
                      $55.4M Income from Operations            $9.8M Income from Operations
                      $22.7M Income Before Extraordinary Loss
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:  1.0 NewCo. Shares per aaiPharma share    1.3657 NewCo. Shares per CIMA share
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRANDS AND            Darvon(R)/Darvocet-N(R)                  Alavert(TM)
PARTNERED PRODUCTS:   M.V.I.-12(R) and M.V.I. Pediatric(R)     Zomig-ZMT(R)
                      Aquasol A(R) and Aquasol E(R)Drops       NuLev(TM)
                      AZASAN(TM)                               Triaminic(R) Softchews(R)
                      Brethine(R)                              Remeron(R) SolTab(TM)
                      Calcitriol Injection                     Tempra(R) FirsTabs(TM)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PIPELINE PRODUCTS:    Darvon(R)/Darvocet(TM) line extensions   ODT Allegra(R)
                      Brethine(R) Vial                         OraVescent(R) Fentanyl
                      M.V.I. Adult(TM)                         >10 confidential, partnered products in development
                      Prosorb-D(TM)
                      Imidapril
                      Ecabet
                      Mesalamine
                      6-Omeprazole
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANUFACTURING AND     Over 100,000 square feet of sterile      92,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities including
R&D:                  and non-sterile production facilities    blister tablet capacity growing to 1 billion in 2004.
                                                               950 million bottle tablet capacity by 2004.
                      90,000 square feet of laboratory
                      facilities                               85,000 square feet of research and development facilities
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GLOBAL                Worldwide headquarters in Wilmington,    Headquarters and manufacturing facility in Eden Prairie, MN,
INFRASTRUCTURE:       NC; manufacturing facilities in          and laboratory and manufacturing facilities in
                      Wilmington, NC and Charleston, SC, and   Brooklyn Park, MN.
                      drug development facilities in
                      Chapel Hill, NC; Natick, MA;
                      North Brunswick, NJ; Shawnee, KS;
                      Ontario, Canada; Neu-Ulm, Germany;
                      and, China.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMPLOYEES:            Approximately 1,300 employees            274 employees
                      worldwide, 900 of which are dedicated
                      to science


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
Scarlet Holding Corporation, the holding company to be formed in this
transaction, intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a
registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant documents in connection with the
proposed transaction. Investors of aaiPharma Inc. and CIMA LABS INC. are urged
to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials when
they become available because they will contain important information about CIMA
LABS INC., aaiPharma Inc. and

                                  Page 1 of 2


the proposed transaction. Investors may obtain a free copy of these materials
(when they are available) and other documents filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. A free copy of the
joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available may also be obtained
from aaiPharma Inc., 2320 Scientific Park Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina
28405 or CIMA LABS INC., 10000 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344.
In addition, investors may access copies of the documents filed with the SEC by
aaiPharma Inc. on aaiPharma's website at www.aaiPharma.com and investors may
access copies of the documents filed with the SEC by CIMA LABS INC. on CIMA's
website at www.cimalabs.com.

aaiPharma Inc., CIMA LABS INC. and their respective directors, executive
officers and certain other members of management and employees may be soliciting
proxies from their respective stockholders in favor of the proposed merger.
Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be
considered to be participants in the solicitation of aaiPharma's stockholders in
connection with the proposed merger is set forth in aaiPharma's proxy statement
for its 2003 annual meeting, dated April 8, 2003 and filed with the SEC on April
11, 2003, and information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the
SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of CIMA's stockholders
in connection with the proposed transaction is set forth in CIMA's proxy
statement for its 2003 annual meeting, dated April 14, 2003 and filed with the
SEC on April 11, 2003.

Additional information regarding these individuals and any interest they have in
the proposed transaction will be set forth in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC.

CONTACTS:

aaiPharma Inc.
- --------------

Investment Community Contact:           Media Contact:
James B. Sloan, Jr.                     Andrea L. Johnston
Senior Vice President                   Vice President
Corporate Finance                       Corporate Communications
(910) 254-7690                          (910) 254-7340


CIMA LABS INC.
- --------------

James C. Hawley                         David Calusdian
Vice President and                      Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer                 Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.
(952) 947-8745                          (617) 542-5300



                                  Page 2 of 2