Chiroscience

Chiroscience Group was a prominent British biotechnology company specializing in the development of single-isomer (chiral) pharmaceutical products. The company utilized its proprietary chiral technology platform to create safer and more effective versions of existing racemic drugs by isolating the active enantiomer. Its most significant commercial achievement was the development of Chirocaine (levobupivacaine), a long-acting local anesthetic that offered a superior safety profile compared to its racemic predecessor. In 1999, Chiroscience merged with Celltech to form Celltech Chiroscience, creating one of Europe's largest biotechnology firms at the time. The combined entity was eventually acquired by the Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB in 2004.