About Genexol > Overview > Production method
Paclitaxel originated from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia.
However, supplies of yew bark are scarce, and current extraction procedures are inadequate to meet the increasing demands of the chemical. In addition, deforestation has become an environmental problem.
At the present time, production of paclitaxel from cutting hundred-year-olds trees is prohibited in the United States. To overcome a limitation of resources, synthetic methods of producing paclitaxel have been attempted.
However, the chemical's molecular structure is so complex that commercial production is unfeasible. Based on the efforts of total synthesis, Bristol-Myers Squibb developed a semi-synthesis process from 10-DAB, which showed high concentration in renewable Taxus needles.
Inspite of fewer steps and use of renewable needle sources, the production costs of paclitaxel are still high. Production of adequate supplies of paclitaxel and precursors used in semi-synthetic processes may ultimately rely on biological processes like cell culture.
To select stable high-producing cell lines, more than 300 cell lines were induced and selected from various kinds of Taxus trees by our research team.
We have also developed a method that uses several elicitation methods, which greatly increases the production of paclitaxel. All parameters related to the cultivation were optimized to achieve large-scale production using computer simulation.
Extraction and purification methods were also developed to obtain highly purified Genexol®. At present, our Daejon plant, the first plant cell culture facility for paclitaxel in the world, was constructed for a dedicated purpose - Genexol® manufacturing.
The traditional method involves extraction and purification of paclitaxel from Taxus bark.
Due to the limitation of natural resources, it was extremely difficult to consistently produce paclitaxel. In addition, the amount of production varies with environmental and climatical conditions. Extremely low contents of paclitaxel in Taxus tree increases prices and prevents a stable supply.
The chemical method of paclitaxel synthesis is by chemicals through many complex steps. Low yields of final products make it difficult to commercialize.
To overcome the resource limitation of other methods, renewable sources were used. 10-deacetylbaccatin III from renewable needles were used as the starting material for the synthesis of paclitaxel. Bristol-Myers Squibb has been producing most paclitaxel by this method.