Importance
Taxol has a lot of importance, both on a national and global scale. It is one of the most effective anti-cancer drug that has been developed from plants in the recent years. It also happens to be the most controversial natural product in recent years. As for its ability to fight cancer itself, it not only stops the tumor from growing, it also shrinks it. This phenomenon is only the second of its kind. It also proved to be one of THE most effective agents in treating breast cancer. It is shown to be highly effective even in patients with advanced cancer. Taxol was obviously seen as a drug with huge potentials, which is why even though it took nearly 22 years for it to be tested on humans, scientists still pursued its’ research.
On a more national scale, the discovery of taxol was the only result of the joined-venture program by NCI-USDA. Inspite of having screened approximately 114,045 plant extracts in almost 20 years, taxol was the only thing the program could produce. It was also important based on the amount of money spent on its research. The US government spent approximately $25 million on developing taxol.
On a more national scale, the discovery of taxol was the only result of the joined-venture program by NCI-USDA. Inspite of having screened approximately 114,045 plant extracts in almost 20 years, taxol was the only thing the program could produce. It was also important based on the amount of money spent on its research. The US government spent approximately $25 million on developing taxol.
Social and Economic Impact
The production of taxol basically spelled massive environmental disaster (it was still being obtained from yew bark at that time). While researchers were craving for the stuff, environmentaists were not happy. What they saw was the destruction of thousands of habitats along the Pacific coast, including a major change in biodiversity and possible extinct of many species of animals that are found only in the yew forests and a definite extinction of the pacific yew tree. Too little taxol came out of one single tree. So, to environmentalists, killing the whole tree was not a justified action.
The economic impact was also pretty big. Taxol was discovered via a government program. It cost the government over $25 million for the development of taxol. But even then it wasn't market ready. After the government sold it to Bristol Myers Squibb, they spent an additional $6 million and 12 years to bring the product to the market. Taxol was the also the only result of 21 years of intensive search through about 114,045 plant samples.
However, after scientists found a way around the bark issu and made it market ready, taxol proved to be one of the best cancer fighting drug ever developed. Its high effectiveness made it the highest selling cancer drug in 1995, passing almost half a billion dollars in revenue. Thousands of patients started getting their lives back thanks to taxol. But even now, taxol has many advantages and disadvantages
The economic impact was also pretty big. Taxol was discovered via a government program. It cost the government over $25 million for the development of taxol. But even then it wasn't market ready. After the government sold it to Bristol Myers Squibb, they spent an additional $6 million and 12 years to bring the product to the market. Taxol was the also the only result of 21 years of intensive search through about 114,045 plant samples.
However, after scientists found a way around the bark issu and made it market ready, taxol proved to be one of the best cancer fighting drug ever developed. Its high effectiveness made it the highest selling cancer drug in 1995, passing almost half a billion dollars in revenue. Thousands of patients started getting their lives back thanks to taxol. But even now, taxol has many advantages and disadvantages