This enantiomers (left or right [R] oriented) versions of the same compound can have very different properties; this development has been significant particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. For example, the drug Seldane is a racemic mixture of both S and R versions of the drug’s molecules.
Through chiral separation technology, Hoechst was able to bring the drug Allegra to market in only 3 years (far less time than is usually necessary). Hoechst was able to bypass toxicity testing because Allegra is a single chiral form of its molecule. By chiral separation, the most of the side effects of Seldane were avoided in Allegra.