How Long Has Taxol Been Around? A Deep Dive Into Its History

October 6, 2025 •

3 min read

First isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree in the 1960s, the journey to answer 'How long has Taxol been around?' reveals a multi-decade saga of scientific discovery and development that transformed cancer treatment [1.2.1, 1.10.2].

Quick Summary

Taxol (paclitaxel) was first isolated in 1967, its structure was published in 1971, and it received FDA approval in 1992 for ovarian cancer [1.3.1, 1.3.3]. Its history spans over 60 years of research and development.

Key Points

Initial Discovery: The active compound, later named Taxol, was first isolated in 1967 from the bark of the Pacific yew tree as part of an NCI screening program started in 1962 [1.3.3].
Mechanism Uncovered: In 1979, Dr. Susan B. Horwitz discovered Taxol's unique mechanism: it stabilizes microtubules, arresting cell division, which was a novel approach to fighting cancer [1.3.3, 1.16.1].
FDA Approval: After 30 years of development, the FDA approved Taxol for treating ovarian cancer on December 29, 1992 [1.2.1, 1.5.3].
Supply Solution: The initial supply crisis, caused by the low yield from rare trees, was solved by developing a semi-synthetic process from the renewable needles of the European yew [1.2.2, 1.11.3].
Modern Formulations: Newer formulations like nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) were developed to eliminate the toxic solvent used in the original Taxol, reducing side effects and improving drug delivery [1.14.2].
Broad Efficacy: Taxol (paclitaxel) is now approved and used for a wide range of cancers, including ovarian, breast, lung, and Kaposi's sarcoma [1.7.3].
The Taxane Family: Paclitaxel is a member of the taxane family of chemotherapy drugs, which also includes the closely related compound docetaxel (Taxotere) [1.9.2].

The Journey from Tree Bark to Landmark Cancer Drug

The story of Taxol (paclitaxel) begins in 1962 with a large-scale plant screening program initiated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) [1.2.3]. Botanist Arthur Barclay, working under a U.S. Department of Agriculture contract, collected a sample of bark from a single Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia) in a forest in Washington state [1.10.2]. This sample, coded NSC 67054, was sent to researchers at the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) for testing [1.10.2].

Discovery and Initial Challenges

In 1967, chemists Monroe E. Wall and Mansukh C. Wani successfully isolated the active compound, which they named "taxol" [1.3.3]. They published its complex chemical structure in 1971 [1.2.1]. Despite its demonstrated anti-tumor activity in mouse models in 1977, development was slow due to major challenges [1.4.3]. The yield of paclitaxel from yew bark was extremely low; it took about 6,000 trees to produce just 1.9 kg of the compound [1.11.3]. This led to significant supply issues and environmental concerns about the slow-growing yew trees [1.4.2, 1.2.3]. The drug was also difficult to formulate for human use due to its poor water solubility [1.2.1].

Unraveling a Unique Mechanism of Action

A major breakthrough occurred in 1979 when Dr. Susan B. Horwitz and her colleagues at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine discovered Taxol's unique mechanism of action [1.3.3, 1.4.2]. Unlike other anti-mitotic drugs of the time that worked by preventing the assembly of microtubules, Taxol was found to stabilize them [1.16.1]. It binds to the microtubule assembly, preventing it from disassembling. This disruption of normal microtubule dynamics freezes the cell's internal skeleton, arresting the cell division process (mitosis) and ultimately leading to cancer cell death [1.2.2, 1.6.3]. This novel mechanism renewed interest and catalyzed further development by the NCI [1.3.1].

The Path to FDA Approval and Commercialization

Clinical trials began in the 1980s, with a Phase I trial in 1984 showing promising results [1.3.3, 1.4.2]. In 1991, the NCI selected Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) as its partner to commercialize the drug through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) [1.3.3, 1.2.2]. This partnership was crucial for overcoming the supply problem. BMS, utilizing semi-synthesis technology licensed from Florida State University, was able to produce a sufficient supply of paclitaxel from renewable resources like the needles of the European Yew (Taxus baccata), which contain precursors to the drug [1.2.2, 1.11.3].

On December 29, 1992, thirty years after the initial bark sample was collected, the FDA granted approval for Taxol's use in treating refractory ovarian cancer [1.2.1, 1.5.3]. This was followed by approvals for advanced breast cancer (1994), AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, and non-small cell lung cancer (1999) [1.5.1, 1.3.3]. Since its approval, over a million patients have been treated with Taxol, making it one of the most successful cancer drugs ever developed [1.2.2].

Modern Formulations and Related Drugs

The original formulation of paclitaxel used a solvent called Cremophor EL, which was responsible for many hypersensitivity reactions [1.2.3]. This led to the development of new formulations.

Taxane Family Comparison

Taxol is part of a class of drugs called taxanes. Its closest relative is Docetaxel (Taxotere), and a newer formulation is nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane). Abraxane binds paclitaxel to albumin nanoparticles, avoiding the need for the Cremophor solvent and allowing higher doses to be administered [1.2.3, 1.14.2].


Feature	Paclitaxel (Taxol)	Docetaxel (Taxotere)	nab-Paclitaxel (Abraxane)
Source	Originally from Taxus brevifolia bark; now semi-synthetic [1.2.1, 1.2.2]	Semi-synthetic from Taxus baccata needles [1.9.2]	Albumin-bound nanoparticle form of paclitaxel [1.2.3]
Formulation	Requires Cremophor EL solvent [1.2.3]	Uses Polysorbate 80 solvent [1.9.2]	Solvent-free [1.14.2]
Key FDA Approvals	Ovarian, Breast, Lung, Kaposi's Sarcoma [1.7.1, 1.7.3]	Breast, Lung, Prostate, Head and Neck, Gastric [1.9.1]	Breast, Lung, Pancreatic Cancer [1.2.3, 1.14.2]
Common Side Effects	Hypersensitivity reactions, neuropathy, myelosuppression [1.8.2]	Fluid retention, skin toxicity, neutropenia [1.9.1]	Higher rates of neuropathy, but fewer hypersensitivity reactions [1.14.2]

Authoritative Link: National Cancer Institute - Paclitaxel

Conclusion: An Enduring Legacy in Oncology

The journey of Taxol from a forest discovery to a cornerstone of modern chemotherapy is a testament to decades of scientific persistence. From its initial isolation in 1967 to its first FDA approval in 1992, the development of paclitaxel overcame immense environmental and chemical challenges [1.3.3]. Its unique mechanism of stabilizing microtubules opened a new frontier in cancer therapy [1.16.1]. Today, paclitaxel and its derivatives remain vital tools in the fight against a wide range of cancers, demonstrating an enduring legacy that began with the bark of a single tree over 60 years ago [1.2.2, 1.7.3].

Frequently Asked Questions

The active compound in Taxol, paclitaxel, was first isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree in 1967 by scientists Monroe Wall and Mansukh Wani [1.3.3].

It took approximately 30 years from its initial discovery in the 1960s. The FDA officially approved Taxol for medical use in treating ovarian cancer in December 1992 [1.2.1].

The FDA has approved Taxol for treating ovarian cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma [1.7.3]. It is also used off-label for several other cancers [1.7.2].

Taxol works by stabilizing microtubules, which are essential components of the cell's skeleton. This prevents them from disassembling, which in turn halts the process of cell division (mitosis) and leads to the death of cancer cells [1.16.1, 1.6.3].

Taxol was originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia [1.10.1]. Due to the scarcity of these trees, a semi-synthetic method using precursors from the more common European yew is now used [1.11.3].

Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) is a newer, albumin-bound nanoparticle formulation of paclitaxel. Unlike the original Taxol, it does not require the potentially toxic solvent Cremophor EL, which can cause fewer hypersensitivity reactions and allow for higher dosage delivery [1.2.3, 1.14.2].

Dr. Susan B. Horwitz discovered Taxol's unique mechanism of stabilizing microtubules in 1979, a critical finding that spurred its development as a clinical drug [1.3.3, 1.16.1].