As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2000
                                                     Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                                 Neurobiological
                               Technologies, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


           Delaware                                               94-3049219
-------------------------------                              -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)                              Identification No.)


             3260 Blume Drive, Suite 500, Richmond California 94806
            --------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                -------------------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plan)


                                 Paul E. Freiman
                      Chief Executive Officer and President
                           3260 Blume Drive, Suite 500
                           Richmond, California 94806
                     ---------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent For Service)


                                 (510) 262-1730
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                                    Copy to:

                               Stephen C. Ferruolo
                       Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP
                        4250 Executive Square, 8th Floor
                        San Diego, California 92037-9103
                            Telephone: (858) 450-8400
                            Facsimile: (858) 450-8499

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

================================================================================
                                            Proposed      Proposed
                                            Maximum       Maximum
                                 Amount     Offering     Aggregate    Amount of
    Title of Securities          to be       Price        Offering  Registration
      to be Registered         Registered  per Share(1)    Price        Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value $.001   150,000      $3.86       $579,000     $152.86
================================================================================
(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of registration
     fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
     based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's Common
     Stock reported on the Nasdaq Smallcap Market on December 15, 2000.

================================================================================
<PAGE>

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

     The registrant previously filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 1999 ( Registration No.
333-92425) in connection with its Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase
Plan ("Plan"). This registration statement registers 150,000 additional shares
of the registrant's common stock to be issued pursuant to the Plan.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     The following documents filed or to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by the registrant are incorporated by
reference in this registration statement:

     (a) The  registrant's  (1) Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
ended June 30,  2000 and (2)  Quarterly  Report on Form  10-QSB for the  quarter
ended September 30, 2000;

     (b) All other reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act since June 30, 2000;

     (c) The description of the Common Stock of the registrant  contained in the
registrant's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on January 14, 1994 (file
no. 0-23280); and

     (d) All documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, 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.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     The registrant has the power to indemnify its officers and directors
against liability for certain acts pursuant to Section 145 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Article VIII, Sections A, B and C of
the registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provide as follows:

     "A. No Personal Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be
personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as director, except for liability (a) for any
breach of the director's duty to loyalty to the Corporation and its
stockholders; (b) for act or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law; (c) under Section 174 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law; or (d) for any transaction from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit.

     B. Indemnification. Each person who is or is made a party or is threatened
to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"),
by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal
representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether
the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a
director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a
director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by
the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General
Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the
case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the
Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted
the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense,
liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise
taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably
incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such
indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in

                                      II-1
<PAGE>
the second paragraph hereof, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person
seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to
indemnification conferred in this section shall be a contract right and shall
include the right to be paid by the Corporation any expenses incurred in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided,
however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, the payment of
such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a
director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is
rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without
limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final
disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation
of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all
amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this section or otherwise. The
Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to
employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the
foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.

     If a claim under the first paragraph of this section is not paid in full by
the Corporation within thirty (30) days after a written claim has been received
by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against
the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in
whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of
prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an
action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking,
if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has
not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Delaware
General Corporation Law for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the
amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the
Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a
determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of
the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation
Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders)that the claimant has
not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or
create a presumption that the claimant had not met the applicable standard of
conduct.

     The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this
section shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors
or otherwise.

     C. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect
itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation
would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or
loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law."

     In addition, Article V of the registrant's Bylaws provides as follows:

     "Section 1. Actions Other than by or in the Right of the Corporation.
Subject to Section 4 of this Article V, 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,
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
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement 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 proceedings, 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

                                      II-2
<PAGE>
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
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

     Section 2. Actions by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to
Section 4 of this Article V, 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,
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
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 a 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
Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware 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 Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper.

     Section 3. Success on the Merits. To the extent that any person described
in Section 1 or 2 of this Article V has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in said
Sections, 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 4. Specific Authorization. Any indemnification under Section 1 or 2
of this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation
only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
Section 1 or 2, as the case may be, of this Article V. Such determination shall
be made (1) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting
of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if
such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of
disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, or (3) by the stockholders of the corporation.

     Section 5. Advance Payment. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or
criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of
the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the
board of directors in the manner provided for in Section 4 of this Article V
upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of any person described in said
Section to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is
entitled to indemnification by the corporation as authorized in this Article V.

     Section 6. Non-Exclusivity. The indemnification and advancement of expenses
provided by this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled
under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person; provided, however, that any repeal or amendment of any of the provisions
of this Article V shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any
indemnitee existing at the time of such repeal or amendment.

     Section 7. Insurance. The board of directors may authorize, by a vote of
the majority of the full board, the corporation 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 V.

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

     Section 8. Severability. If any word, clause or provision of this Article V
or any award made hereunder shall for any reason be determined to be invalid,
the provisions hereof shall not otherwise be affected thereby but shall remain
in full force and effect.

     Section 9. Intent of Article. The intent of this Article V is to provide
for indemnification to the fullest extent not prohibited by section 145 of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware. To the extent that such Section or any
successor section may be amended or supplemented from time to time, this Article
V shall be amended automatically and construed so as to permit indemnification
to the fullest extent from time to time not prohibited by law."

Item 8. Exhibits

     5.1       Opinion of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP

     23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

     23.2      Consent of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP (filed as part of
               Exhibit 5.1)

     24.1      Power of Attorney (See page II-6)


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;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the 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 the registration
statement;

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided,
however, that paragraphs A(1)(i) and A(1)(ii) do 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
15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities 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.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

     B. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act

                                      II-4
<PAGE>
that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed
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 Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-5
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, 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 Richmond, State of California, on this 20th day of
December, 2000.

                                       NEUROBIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.



                                       By: /s/ Paul E. Freiman
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Paul E. Freiman
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                       POWER OF ATTORNEY TO SIGN AMENDMENT

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below does hereby constitute and appoint Paul E. Freiman such person's true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for such person in such person's name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises
in order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he or
such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities
and on the dates indicated.

        Signature                       Capacity                     Date
--------------------------   --------------------------------  ----------------


/s/ Paul E Freiman           President, Chief Executive        December 20, 2000
--------------------------   Officer and Director (Principal
    Paul E. Freiman          Executive Officer, Principal
                             Financial Officer and Principal
                             Accounting Officer)


/s/ Abraham E. Cohen         Chairman of the Board of          December 20, 2000
--------------------------   Directors
    Abraham E. Cohen


/s/ Enoch Callaway           Director                          December 20, 2000
--------------------------
    Enoch Callaway, M.D.


/s/ Theodore L. Eliot, Jr.   Director                          December 20, 2000
--------------------------
    Theodore L. Eliot, Jr.

                                      II-6
<PAGE>
/s/ Abraham D. Sofaer        Director                          December 20, 2000
--------------------------
    Abraham D. Sofaer


/s/ John B. Stuppin          Director                          December 20, 2000
--------------------------
    John B. Stuppin

                                      II-7
<PAGE>
                                Index to Exhibits


Item No.    Description of Item
--------    -------------------

  5.1       Opinion of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP

  23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

  23.2      Consent of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP (filed as part of
            Exhibit 5.1)

  24.1      Power of Attorney (See page II-6)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "FORM S-8 OF NEUROBIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES", "secsgml_size_bytes": 26381}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NEUROBIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC /CA/", "cik": "0000918112", "assigned-sic": "2836", "irs-number": "943049219", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-52370", "film-number": "792846"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1387 MARINA WAY S", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "CA", "zip": "94804", "phone": "5102158000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1387 MARINA WAY SOUTH", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "CA", "zip": "94804"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2000
                                                     Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 Neurobiological
                               Technologies, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

           Delaware                                               94-3049219
-------------------------------                              -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)                              Identification No.)

             3260 Blume Drive, Suite 500, Richmond California 94806
            --------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                -------------------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                 Paul E. Freiman
                      Chief Executive Officer and President
                           3260 Blume Drive, Suite 500
                           Richmond, California 94806
                     ---------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent For Service)

                                 (510) 262-1730
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                                    Copy to:

                               Stephen C. Ferruolo
                       Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP
                        4250 Executive Square, 8th Floor
                        San Diego, California 92037-9103
                            Telephone: (858) 450-8400
                            Facsimile: (858) 450-8499

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

================================================================================
                                            Proposed      Proposed
                                            Maximum       Maximum
                                 Amount     Offering     Aggregate    Amount of
    Title of Securities          to be       Price        Offering  Registration
      to be Registered         Registered  per Share(1)    Price        Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value $.001   150,000      $3.86       $579,000     $152.86
================================================================================
(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of registration
     fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
     based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's Common
     Stock reported on the Nasdaq Smallcap Market on December 15, 2000.

================================================================================
EXPLANATORY NOTE

     The registrant previously filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 1999 ( Registration No.
333-92425) in connection with its Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase
Plan ("Plan"). This registration statement registers 150,000 additional shares
of the registrant's common stock to be issued pursuant to the Plan.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     The following documents filed or to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by the registrant are incorporated by
reference in this registration statement:

     (a) The  registrant's  (1) Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
ended June 30,  2000 and (2)  Quarterly  Report on Form  10-QSB for the  quarter
ended September 30, 2000;

     (b) All other reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act since June 30, 2000;

     (c) The description of the Common Stock of the registrant  contained in the
registrant's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on January 14, 1994 (file
no. 0-23280); and

     (d) All documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, 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.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     The registrant has the power to indemnify its officers and directors
against liability for certain acts pursuant to Section 145 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Article VIII, Sections A, B and C of
the registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provide as follows:

     "A. No Personal Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be
personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as director, except for liability (a) for any
breach of the director's duty to loyalty to the Corporation and its
stockholders; (b) for act or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law; (c) under Section 174 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law; or (d) for any transaction from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit.

     B. Indemnification. Each person who is or is made a party or is threatened
to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"),
by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal
representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether
the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a
director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a
director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by
the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General
Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the
case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the
Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted
the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense,
liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise
taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably
incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such
indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in

                                      II-1
the second paragraph hereof, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person
seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to
indemnification conferred in this section shall be a contract right and shall
include the right to be paid by the Corporation any expenses incurred in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided,
however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, the payment of
such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a
director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is
rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without
limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final
disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation
of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all
amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or
officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this section or otherwise. The
Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to
employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the
foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.

     If a claim under the first paragraph of this section is not paid in full by
the Corporation within thirty (30) days after a written claim has been received
by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against
the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in
whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of
prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an
action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking,
if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has
not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Delaware
General Corporation Law for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the
amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the
Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a
determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of
the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation
Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders)that the claimant has
not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or
create a presumption that the claimant had not met the applicable standard of
conduct.

     The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this
section shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors
or otherwise.

     C. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect
itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation
would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or
loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law."

     In addition, Article V of the registrant's Bylaws provides as follows:

     "Section 1. Actions Other than by or in the Right of the Corporation.
Subject to Section 4 of this Article V, 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,
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
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement 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 proceedings, 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

                                      II-2
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
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

     Section 2. Actions by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to
Section 4 of this Article V, 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,
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
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 a 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
Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware 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 Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper.

     Section 3. Success on the Merits. To the extent that any person described
in Section 1 or 2 of this Article V has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in said
Sections, 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 4. Specific Authorization. Any indemnification under Section 1 or 2
of this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation
only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
Section 1 or 2, as the case may be, of this Article V. Such determination shall
be made (1) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting
of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if
such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of
disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, or (3) by the stockholders of the corporation.

     Section 5. Advance Payment. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or
criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of
the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the
board of directors in the manner provided for in Section 4 of this Article V
upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of any person described in said
Section to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is
entitled to indemnification by the corporation as authorized in this Article V.

     Section 6. Non-Exclusivity. The indemnification and advancement of expenses
provided by this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled
under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person; provided, however, that any repeal or amendment of any of the provisions
of this Article V shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any
indemnitee existing at the time of such repeal or amendment.

     Section 7. Insurance. The board of directors may authorize, by a vote of
the majority of the full board, the corporation 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 V.

                                      II-3
Section 8. Severability. If any word, clause or provision of this Article V
or any award made hereunder shall for any reason be determined to be invalid,
the provisions hereof shall not otherwise be affected thereby but shall remain
in full force and effect.

     Section 9. Intent of Article. The intent of this Article V is to provide
for indemnification to the fullest extent not prohibited by section 145 of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware. To the extent that such Section or any
successor section may be amended or supplemented from time to time, this Article
V shall be amended automatically and construed so as to permit indemnification
to the fullest extent from time to time not prohibited by law."

Item 8. Exhibits

     5.1       Opinion of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP

     23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

     23.2      Consent of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP (filed as part of
               Exhibit 5.1)

     24.1      Power of Attorney (See page II-6)

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;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the 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 the registration
statement;

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided,
however, that paragraphs A(1)(i) and A(1)(ii) do 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
15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities 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.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

     B. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act

                                      II-4
that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed
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 Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-5
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, 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 Richmond, State of California, on this 20th day of
December, 2000.

                                       NEUROBIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Paul E. Freiman
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Paul E. Freiman
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                       POWER OF ATTORNEY TO SIGN AMENDMENT

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below does hereby constitute and appoint Paul E. Freiman such person's true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent for such person in such person's name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises
in order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he or
such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities
and on the dates indicated.

        Signature                       Capacity                     Date
--------------------------   --------------------------------  ----------------

/s/ Paul E Freiman           President, Chief Executive        December 20, 2000
--------------------------   Officer and Director (Principal
    Paul E. Freiman          Executive Officer, Principal
                             Financial Officer and Principal
                             Accounting Officer)

/s/ Abraham E. Cohen         Chairman of the Board of          December 20, 2000
--------------------------   Directors
    Abraham E. Cohen

/s/ Enoch Callaway           Director                          December 20, 2000
--------------------------
    Enoch Callaway, M.D.

/s/ Theodore L. Eliot, Jr.   Director                          December 20, 2000
--------------------------
    Theodore L. Eliot, Jr.

                                      II-6
/s/ Abraham D. Sofaer        Director                          December 20, 2000
--------------------------
    Abraham D. Sofaer

/s/ John B. Stuppin          Director                          December 20, 2000
--------------------------
    John B. Stuppin

                                      II-7
Index to Exhibits

Item No.    Description of Item
--------    -------------------

  5.1       Opinion of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP

  23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

  23.2      Consent of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP (filed as part of
            Exhibit 5.1)

  24.1      Power of Attorney (See page II-6)