As the war against bioterrorism heats up, so another war begins amongst the pharma companies who manufacture antibacterials against anthrax. As of 1 November, 4 deaths in the US have been attributed to deliberately-spread anthrax; not a large number by any means, but enough to create such terror among Americans that demand for antibacterials to prevent anthrax has skyrocketed. Bayer AG's ciprofloxacin ['Cipro'] was approved by the US FDA in August last year for the treatment and prophylaxis of inhalation anthrax, the most fatal form of the disease, and has been the most popular antibacterial used in this outbreak. With tens of thousands of people currently taking the drug to prevent anthrax, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is now recommending prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin or doxycycline, to achieve a better balance in the types of drugs used and to decrease the chance of antibacterial resistance. Bayer has a patent on ciprofloxacin until 2003, leading companies who manufacture generic versions of the drug to demand a relaxation of patent laws. Drug companies who make other antibacterials similar to ciprofloxacin, but not FDA-approved for anthrax, are stating that they would make the drugs free of charge to the US government if they were to be approved for the disease.