RELIANTPHARMACEUTICALS, INC. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN

Exhibit 10.3(a)

AWARD AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO

RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN

This Award Agreement (this “Agreement”), made as of the          day of                     , 200   (the “Grant Date”), by RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), with                                          (hereinafter called the “Participant”);

This Agreement is made under the terms of the Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Stock Appreciation Rights Plan, as amended and continued from time to time (the “Plan”). The Plan is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement and shall control the rights and obligations of the Company and the Participant. Except as otherwise provided herein, terms used herein shall have the meaning ascribed in the Plan. To the extent, if any, that there may exist a conflict between the Plan and this Agreement, the Plan shall prevail.

1. Grant of Rights. The Company hereby grants to the Participant Rights with respect to              shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a Base Price per share of $             (the “Rights”), on the Grant Date subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement.

2. Vesting. The Participant shall vest in the Rights according to the following schedule:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for Cause, then the Participant shall forfeit all Rights, whether or not previously vested. For purposes of the above schedule, Participant’s Vesting Date is                                         , 2004.

3. Exercise and Term. The Rights may be exercised during its term only to the extent vested. Any portion of the Rights in which the Participant is not vested shall be forfeited and terminate on the date the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any reason. Any portion of the Rights in which the Participant is vested shall be exercisable until the earlier of:

(a) twelve (12) months after the date the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider by reason of death or Disability;

(b) thirty (30) days after the date the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any reason other than death or Disability; and

(c) the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.

Any vested Rights not exercised prior to its Expiration Date will be forfeited and terminate.

Vested Rights may be exercised by completing a Rights Exercise Notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and returning it to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company prior to its Expiration Date.

4. Payment. At the election of the Company, the Company may settle the exercise of all or any portion of the Rights either (i) in a cash lump sum within 30 days of such exercise (ii) by cancellation of all or a portion of any outstanding indebtedness of the Participant to the Company or (iii) in five equal annual installments, with any unpaid balance accruing interest (compounded annually) at the interest rate publicly quoted by Bank One, N.A. or its successor from time to time as its prime rate.

5. Miscellaneous.

(a) Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns.

(b) Stockholder Rights. Participant acknowledges that he/she does not have any rights as a stockholder of the Company by reason of a grant of the Rights or settlement of the Rights pursuant to the Plan.

(c) Nontransferrable. The Rights are not transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and may be realized, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant or by his or her guardian or legal representative.

(d) Governing Law. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

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EXHIBIT A

RELIANT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PLAN

RIGHTS EXERCISE NOTICE

Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

110 Allen Road

Liberty Corner, New Jersey 07938

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Effective as of today,                                         , the undersigned Participant hereby elects to exercise Participant’s vested Rights with respect to                      shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Rights”) pursuant to the Reliant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Stock Appreciation Rights Plan and the Award Agreement dated                                         .

I acknowledge that payment for the Rights will be made in accordance with the terms set forth in the Award Agreement, less any legally required withholdings.