Date |
|
1960-1962 |
A large scale screening of various natural chemicals was initiated by the National
Cancer Institute (NCI) in the hope of discovering and isolating new anticancer drugs. |
1962 |
One such extract showed remarkable activity against a broad range of
different tumours. |
1967 |
Wani and Wall working for the Research
Triangle Institute in North Carolina managed to isolate the active compound from the
bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus Brevifolia) |
1971 |
Wani and Wall report on the structure
of taxol in Journal of the American Chemical Society4.
There conclusion was based on X-ray crystallographic data. |
1979 |
Horwitz and co-workers discover that taxol's mode
of action is unique5. This
generated intense interest in taxol as a potential drug candidate. |
1983 |
The National Cancer
Institute (NCI) commence phase I clinical trials with taxol in short supply.
Environmentalists raise concerns about the destruction of ancient yew trees further
restricting supplies. |
29/11/1988 |
Entry in Beilstein Registry Database (BSN 1420456) (Last updated
26/04/96) |
1989 |
The National
Cancer Institute (NCI) investigations at the John
Hopkins Oncology Centre indicate that taxol is effective at fighting advanced ovarian
cancer. 30 percent of previously treated patients showed partial or complete
responses to the drug. |
1990 |
10-deacetylbaccatin III, a precursor of taxol lacking the C-13 side chain. |
Dec 1992 |
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve the use of taxol for
treatment of patients suffering from advanced refractory (treatment resistant) ovarian
cancer. The prohibitive cost of taxol prompts several research to research methods
of synthesis. |
Apr 1994 |
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve the use of taxol for
treatment of metastatic breast cancer and for breast cancer that has recurred within 6
months of initial chemotherapy treatment. |
Oct 1995 |
K.C. Nicolaou11,12,13 working at the Scripps
Research Institute and R.A. Holton15,16 finalise their complete synthesises of taxol. |
1995 |
Taxol is Bristol-Myers
Squibb's strongest performer with sales increasing by 62%. |
1996 |
S.J. Danishefsky17
finalises a third stereoselective synthesis of taxol. |
1997 onwards |
Various groups including the Magnus
researchers at Austin, Texas, and the Wender group at
Stanford18,19,20,21 are conducting
research into the use of pinene as a precursor to taxol and research into the development
of superior agents. |
