Narrative review demonstrates the development of paclitaxel from natural extraction to synthetic biology, highlighting multi-decade advancements in organic chemistry and cancer therapy.
The journey of paclitaxel (Taxol®) represents a defining narrative in modern organic chemistry, reflecting the evolution of total synthesis, semisynthetic manufacturing and synthetic biology. The perspective highlights the achievements of researchers across disciplines to bring a molecule from a Pacific forest to becoming one of the most important life-saving drugs.
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Mainkar et al. (2026) studied this question.
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