ABSTRACT
Paclitael (Taxol®)*, an important new anticancer drug currently derived from the bark of the western yew tree, Taxus brevifolia, has a novel mechanism of action and broad clinical activity. Its clinical development was complex and initially slow due to limited supply, poor solubility, and life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions. Although these formidable challenges all threatened its development, Taxol is now commercially available for second-line treatment of ovarian and breast cancer.
