<PAGE>   1
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 17, 1997
                              REGISTRATION NO. 333-


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

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

                              DEPOTECH CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

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

           CALIFORNIA                                  33-0387911
  (State or other jurisdiction              (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)

                           10450 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE
                           SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

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

                       1997 SUPPLEMENTAL STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

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

                               EDWARD L. ERICKSON
                 PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR
                              DEPOTECH CORPORATION
             10450 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
                                 (619) 625-2424
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

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

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Proposed           Proposed
     Title of                                      Maximum           Maximum
    Securities                  Amount            Offering          Aggregate         Amount of
       to be                    to be               Price           Offering        Registration
    Registered               Registered(1)        per Share           Price              Fee
    ----------               -------------        ---------         ---------       ------------
<S>                          <C>                  <C>               <C>             <C>    

1997 SUPPLEMENTAL
STOCK OPTION PLAN

Common Stock,
no par value                141,000 shares       $13.50 (2)      $1,903,500 (2)     $561.53
</TABLE>


(1)     This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
        Common Stock which become issuable under the 1997 Supplemental Stock
        Option Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
        recapitalization or any other similar transaction without receipt of
        consideration which results in an increase in the number of outstanding
        shares of Common Stock of DepoTech Corporation.

(2)     Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
        Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the
        high and low selling prices per share of Common Stock of DepoTech
        Corporation on December 15, 1997, as reported on the Nasdaq National
        Market.


<PAGE>   2
                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

      DepoTech Corporation (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by reference
into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"):

      (a)   The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 1996, filed with the SEC on March 31, 1997;

      (b)   The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
            quarters ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997, September 30, 1997,
            filed with the SEC on May 14, 1997, August 14, 1997, and November
            14, 1997, respectively; and

      (c)   The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 0-26862 on Form 8-A
            filed with the SEC on September 26, 1995 in which the terms, rights
            and provisions applicable to the Registrant's Common Stock are
            described.


      All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act") after the date of this Registration Statement and prior
to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or
in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.


ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

      Not applicable.


ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

      Not applicable.


ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

      (a)   Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law provides for
the indemnification of officers and directors of the Company against expenses,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement under certain conditions and
subject to certain limitations.

      (b)   Article VI of the Bylaws of the Company provides that the Company
shall have power to indemnify any person who is or was an agent of the Company
as provided in Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law. The rights
to indemnity thereunder 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 the person. In addition, expenses incurred by a
director or officer


                                      II-2
<PAGE>   3
in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding by reason of the
fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Company (or was
serving at the Company's request as a director or officer of another
corporation) shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of
such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as
authorized by the relevant section of the California General Corporation Law.

      (c)   Article IV of the Company's Articles of Incorporation provides that
the liability of the directors of the Company for monetary damages shall be
eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under California law. Accordingly,
a director will not be liable for monetary damages for breach of duty to the
Company or its shareholders in any action brought by or in the right of the
Company. However, a director remains liable to the extent required by law (i)
for acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing and
culpable violation of law, (ii) for acts or omissions that a director believes
to be contrary to the best interests of the Company or its shareholders or that
involve the absence of good faith on the part of the director, (iii) for any
transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit, (iv) for
acts or omissions that show a reckless disregard for the director's duty to the
Company or its shareholders in circumstances in which the director was aware, or
should have been aware, in the ordinary course of performing a director's
duties, of a risk of serious injury to the Company or its shareholders, (v) for
acts or omissions that constitute an unexcused pattern of inattention that
amounts to an abdication of the director's duty to the Company or its
shareholders, (vi) for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when the
exculpation provision became effective and (vii) for any act or omission as an
officer, notwithstanding that the officer is also a director or that his or her
actions, if negligent or improper, have been ratified by the directors. The
effect of the provisions in the Articles of Incorporation is to eliminate the
rights of the Company and its shareholders (through shareholders' derivative
suits on behalf of the Company) to recover monetary damages against a director
for breach of duty as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent
behavior in the context of transactions involving a change of control of the
Company or otherwise, except in the situations described in clauses (i) through
(vii) above. These provisions will not alter the liability of directors under
federal securities laws.

      (d)   Pursuant to authorization provided under the Articles of
Incorporation, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each
of its directors and officers. Generally, the indemnification agreements attempt
to provide the maximum protection permitted by California law as it may be
amended from time to time. Moreover, the indemnification agreements provide for
certain additional indemnification. Under such additional indemnification
provisions, however, an individual will not receive indemnification for
judgments, settlements or expenses if he or she is found liable to the Company
(except to the extent the court determines he or she is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for expenses), for settlements not approved by the Company
or for settlements and expenses if the settlement is not approved by the court.
The indemnification agreements provide for the Company to advance to the
individual any and all reasonable expenses (including legal fees and expenses)
incurred in investigating or defending any such action, suit or proceeding. In
order to receive an advance of expenses, the individual must submit to the
Company copies of invoices presented to him or her for such expenses. Also, the
individual must repay such advances upon a final judicial decision that he or
she is not entitled to indemnification. The Company's Bylaws contain a provision
of similar effect relating to advancement of expenses to a director or officer,
subject to an undertaking to repay if it is ultimately determined that
indemnification is unavailable.

      (e)   The Registrant maintains a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy that, subject to certain limitations, terms and conditions,
will insure the directors and officers of the Registrant against losses arising
from wrongful acts (as defined by the policy) in his or her capacity as a
director or officer.


ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

      Not applicable.


ITEM 8. EXHIBITS


                                      II-3
<PAGE>   4
Exhibit No.   Exhibit
-----------   -------

      4       Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made
              to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 0-26862 on Form 8-A,
              which is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(d)
              of this Registration Statement.

      5       Opinion and Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

      23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

      23.2    Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
              Exhibit 5.

      24      Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-5 of this
              Registration Statement.

      99.1    1997 Supplemental Stock Option Plan.

      99.2    Form of Notice of Grant of Stock Option.

      99.3    Form of Stock Option Agreement.


ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS

      A.    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during
any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment
to this Registration Statement (i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), (ii) to
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in this Registration Statement, and (iii) to
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to
such information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses
(1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall not apply if the information required to be included in
a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act
that are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that
for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold upon the termination of the
Registrant's 1997 Supplemental Stock Option Plan.

      B.    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

      C.    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933
Act may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the indemnity provisions summarized in Item 6 or
otherwise, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-4
<PAGE>   5
                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California on December 17,
1997.


                                       DEPOTECH CORPORATION


                                       By: /s/ Edward L. Erickson
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Edward L. Erickson
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned officers and directors of DepoTech Corporation, a
California corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Edward L. Erickson and
Dane S. McGowan and each of them, the lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any
and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, or either one of them,
determine may be necessary or advisable or required to enable said corporation
to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules or
regulation or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection with this Registration Statement. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted include the power and
authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers and directors in the
capacities indicated below to this Registration Statement, to any and all
amendments, both pre-effective and post-effective, and supplements to this
Registration Statement and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part
of or in conjunction with this Registration Statement or amendments or
supplements thereto, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms
all that said attorneys and agents, or either one of them, shall do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several
counterparts.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney as of the date indicated.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signatures                                Title                                 Date
----------                                -----                                 ----
<S>                               <C>                                    <C> 

/s/ Edward L. Erickson            President, Chief Executive Officer     December 17, 1997
-----------------------------     and Director (Principal 
Edward L. Erickson                Executive Officer)      
</TABLE>


                                      II-5
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signatures                                Title                                 Date
----------                                -----                                 ----
<S>                               <C>                                    <C> 

/s/ Dana S. McGowan               Vice President and                     December 17, 1997
-----------------------------     Chief Financial Officer                          
Dana S. McGowan                   (Principal Financial and             
                                  Accounting Officer)                  
                                              
                                                                       
/s/ Roger C. Davisson             Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Roger C. Davisson                                                      
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ George W. Dunbar, Jr.         Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
George W. Dunbar, Jr.                                                  
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ Stephen B. Howell             Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Stephen B. Howell                                                      
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ Fred A. Middleton             Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Fred A. Middleton                                                      
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ Peter Preuss                  Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Peter Preuss                                                           
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ Pieter J. Strijkert           Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Pieter J. Strijkert                                              
</TABLE>


                                      II-6
<PAGE>   7
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    EXHIBITS

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-8

                                      UNDER

                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                              DEPOTECH CORPORATION




<PAGE>   8
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
   No.     Exhibit
-------    -------

4     Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made to
      Registrant's Registration Statement No. 0-26862 on Form 8-A, which is
      incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(d) of this
      Registration Statement.

5     Opinion and Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

23.1  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.2  Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.

24    Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-5 of this Registration
      Statement.

99.1  1997 Supplemental Stock Option Plan.

99.2  Form of Notice of Grant of Stock Option.

99.3  Form of Stock Option Agreement.


                                      II-7
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 23177}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DEPOTECH CORP", "cik": "0000931686", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "330387911", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-42459", "film-number": "97739708"}, "business-address": {"street1": "10450 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE", "street2": "STE 100", "city": "SAN DIEGO", "state": "CA", "zip": "92037", "phone": "6196252424"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "10450 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE", "city": "SAN DIEGO", "state": "CA", "zip": "92121"}}
1
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 17, 1997
                              REGISTRATION NO. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

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

                              DEPOTECH CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

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

           CALIFORNIA                                  33-0387911
  (State or other jurisdiction              (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)

                           10450 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE
                           SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

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

                       1997 SUPPLEMENTAL STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

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

                               EDWARD L. ERICKSON
                 PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR
                              DEPOTECH CORPORATION
             10450 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121
                                 (619) 625-2424
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

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

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed           Proposed
     Title of                                      Maximum           Maximum
    Securities                  Amount            Offering          Aggregate         Amount of
       to be                    to be               Price           Offering        Registration
    Registered               Registered(1)        per Share           Price              Fee
    ----------               -------------        ---------         ---------       ------------
1997 SUPPLEMENTAL
STOCK OPTION PLAN

Common Stock,
no par value                141,000 shares       $13.50 (2)      $1,903,500 (2)     $561.53
(1)     This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
        Common Stock which become issuable under the 1997 Supplemental Stock
        Option Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
        recapitalization or any other similar transaction without receipt of
        consideration which results in an increase in the number of outstanding
        shares of Common Stock of DepoTech Corporation.

(2)     Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
        Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the
        high and low selling prices per share of Common Stock of DepoTech
        Corporation on December 15, 1997, as reported on the Nasdaq National
        Market.
2
                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

      DepoTech Corporation (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by reference
into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"):

      (a)   The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 1996, filed with the SEC on March 31, 1997;

      (b)   The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
            quarters ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997, September 30, 1997,
            filed with the SEC on May 14, 1997, August 14, 1997, and November
            14, 1997, respectively; and

      (c)   The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 0-26862 on Form 8-A
            filed with the SEC on September 26, 1995 in which the terms, rights
            and provisions applicable to the Registrant's Common Stock are
            described.

      All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act") after the date of this Registration Statement and prior
to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or
in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

      Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

      Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

      (a)   Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law provides for
the indemnification of officers and directors of the Company against expenses,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement under certain conditions and
subject to certain limitations.

      (b)   Article VI of the Bylaws of the Company provides that the Company
shall have power to indemnify any person who is or was an agent of the Company
as provided in Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law. The rights
to indemnity thereunder 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 the person. In addition, expenses incurred by a
director or officer

                                      II-2
3
in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding by reason of the
fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Company (or was
serving at the Company's request as a director or officer of another
corporation) shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of
such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be
determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as
authorized by the relevant section of the California General Corporation Law.

      (c)   Article IV of the Company's Articles of Incorporation provides that
the liability of the directors of the Company for monetary damages shall be
eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under California law. Accordingly,
a director will not be liable for monetary damages for breach of duty to the
Company or its shareholders in any action brought by or in the right of the
Company. However, a director remains liable to the extent required by law (i)
for acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing and
culpable violation of law, (ii) for acts or omissions that a director believes
to be contrary to the best interests of the Company or its shareholders or that
involve the absence of good faith on the part of the director, (iii) for any
transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit, (iv) for
acts or omissions that show a reckless disregard for the director's duty to the
Company or its shareholders in circumstances in which the director was aware, or
should have been aware, in the ordinary course of performing a director's
duties, of a risk of serious injury to the Company or its shareholders, (v) for
acts or omissions that constitute an unexcused pattern of inattention that
amounts to an abdication of the director's duty to the Company or its
shareholders, (vi) for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when the
exculpation provision became effective and (vii) for any act or omission as an
officer, notwithstanding that the officer is also a director or that his or her
actions, if negligent or improper, have been ratified by the directors. The
effect of the provisions in the Articles of Incorporation is to eliminate the
rights of the Company and its shareholders (through shareholders' derivative
suits on behalf of the Company) to recover monetary damages against a director
for breach of duty as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent
behavior in the context of transactions involving a change of control of the
Company or otherwise, except in the situations described in clauses (i) through
(vii) above. These provisions will not alter the liability of directors under
federal securities laws.

      (d)   Pursuant to authorization provided under the Articles of
Incorporation, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each
of its directors and officers. Generally, the indemnification agreements attempt
to provide the maximum protection permitted by California law as it may be
amended from time to time. Moreover, the indemnification agreements provide for
certain additional indemnification. Under such additional indemnification
provisions, however, an individual will not receive indemnification for
judgments, settlements or expenses if he or she is found liable to the Company
(except to the extent the court determines he or she is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for expenses), for settlements not approved by the Company
or for settlements and expenses if the settlement is not approved by the court.
The indemnification agreements provide for the Company to advance to the
individual any and all reasonable expenses (including legal fees and expenses)
incurred in investigating or defending any such action, suit or proceeding. In
order to receive an advance of expenses, the individual must submit to the
Company copies of invoices presented to him or her for such expenses. Also, the
individual must repay such advances upon a final judicial decision that he or
she is not entitled to indemnification. The Company's Bylaws contain a provision
of similar effect relating to advancement of expenses to a director or officer,
subject to an undertaking to repay if it is ultimately determined that
indemnification is unavailable.

      (e)   The Registrant maintains a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy that, subject to certain limitations, terms and conditions,
will insure the directors and officers of the Registrant against losses arising
from wrongful acts (as defined by the policy) in his or her capacity as a
director or officer.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

      Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

                                      II-3
4
Exhibit No.   Exhibit
-----------   -------

      4       Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made
              to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 0-26862 on Form 8-A,
              which is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(d)
              of this Registration Statement.

      5       Opinion and Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

      23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

      23.2    Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
              Exhibit 5.

      24      Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-5 of this
              Registration Statement.

      99.1    1997 Supplemental Stock Option Plan.

      99.2    Form of Notice of Grant of Stock Option.

      99.3    Form of Stock Option Agreement.

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS

      A.    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during
any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment
to this Registration Statement (i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), (ii) to
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in this Registration Statement, and (iii) to
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to
such information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses
(1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall not apply if the information required to be included in
a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act
that are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that
for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold upon the termination of the
Registrant's 1997 Supplemental Stock Option Plan.

      B.    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

      C.    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933
Act may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the indemnity provisions summarized in Item 6 or
otherwise, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-4
5
                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California on December 17,
1997.

                                       DEPOTECH CORPORATION

                                       By: /s/ Edward L. Erickson
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Edward L. Erickson
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

      That the undersigned officers and directors of DepoTech Corporation, a
California corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Edward L. Erickson and
Dane S. McGowan and each of them, the lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any
and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, or either one of them,
determine may be necessary or advisable or required to enable said corporation
to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules or
regulation or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection with this Registration Statement. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted include the power and
authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers and directors in the
capacities indicated below to this Registration Statement, to any and all
amendments, both pre-effective and post-effective, and supplements to this
Registration Statement and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part
of or in conjunction with this Registration Statement or amendments or
supplements thereto, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms
all that said attorneys and agents, or either one of them, shall do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several
counterparts.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney as of the date indicated.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures                                Title                                 Date
----------                                -----                                 ----
/s/ Edward L. Erickson            President, Chief Executive Officer     December 17, 1997
-----------------------------     and Director (Principal 
Edward L. Erickson                Executive Officer)
II-5
6
Signatures                                Title                                 Date
----------                                -----                                 ----
/s/ Dana S. McGowan               Vice President and                     December 17, 1997
-----------------------------     Chief Financial Officer                          
Dana S. McGowan                   (Principal Financial and             
                                  Accounting Officer)                  
                                              
                                                                       
/s/ Roger C. Davisson             Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Roger C. Davisson                                                      
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ George W. Dunbar, Jr.         Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
George W. Dunbar, Jr.                                                  
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ Stephen B. Howell             Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Stephen B. Howell                                                      
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ Fred A. Middleton             Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Fred A. Middleton                                                      
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ Peter Preuss                  Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Peter Preuss                                                           
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
/s/ Pieter J. Strijkert           Director                               December 17, 1997
-----------------------------                                          
Pieter J. Strijkert
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7
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    EXHIBITS

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-8

                                      UNDER

                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              DEPOTECH CORPORATION
8
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
   No.     Exhibit
-------    -------

4     Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made to
      Registrant's Registration Statement No. 0-26862 on Form 8-A, which is
      incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(d) of this
      Registration Statement.

5     Opinion and Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

23.1  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.2  Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.

24    Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-5 of this Registration
      Statement.

99.1  1997 Supplemental Stock Option Plan.

99.2  Form of Notice of Grant of Stock Option.

99.3  Form of Stock Option Agreement.

                                      II-7