But he and others involved in the emerging technology said there were critical hurdles.

Efficacy in animal models is a critical scientific and regulatory hurdle for the development of new drugs.

Union Square Park would get a 200-seat, tablecloth-and-umbrella outdoor cafe, perhaps as early as this summer, under a plan that has cleared several critical hurdles.

The action means that the merger clears a critical regulatory hurdle, but it is still subject to approval by Federal and some state regulatory agencies.

Once the final deal has been negotiated and the Met and Cadiz boards have approved it, the two will face perhaps the most critical hurdle.

Still, the Federal finding marks the clearance of perhaps the most critical hurdle in the approval process.

Faster methods have been developed but face a critical hurdle.

The issue could still come to the Senate floor, but Mr. Cohen's aides had viewed today's vote as a critical hurdle.

But Mr. Levin, the company's chairman, cleared a critical hurdle this month, gaining Government approval for the $6.8 billion deal.

In fact, despite a few early setbacks and some critical hurdles ahead, the recording industry now seems intent on taking a leading role in digital distribution.