The first drug from a UK biotechnology company to be approved on both sides of the Atlantic could face a bumpy ride to market thanks to the merger of Astra (Stockholm) with Zeneca (London) (Nat. Biotechnol. 17:7). Chiroscience's (Cambridge, UK) Chirocaine, a chirally pure version of the long–lasting local anesthetic bupivacaine was set to be globally commercialized (except in Japan) following a March 1998 licensing agreement with Zeneca. However, Astra owns the main competitor, Marcaine (also based on bupivacaine), and anticompetition laws require another company to sell one of the products, according to Chiroscience CEO John Padfield. Initially, Chirocaine looked to be the more desirable product to retain because Marcaine, unlike its competitor, comes with a warning that certain doses should not be used in obstetrics patients. However, during the FDA approval review of Chirocaine, the FDA decided that, on presentation of more data, the warning could be removed from Marcaine, putting it on equal footing with Chirocaine. But Padfield is optimistic that Chirocaine will reach the market before Marcaine's warning is removed. In any event, offers to purchase Chirocaine are rolling in, he says. "We are in a win–win situation."