Aphios Corporation

Paclitaxel

Product: Paclitaxel is a natural product with potent anticancer activity.

Chemistry: The chemical name for paclitaxel is 5ß, 20-epoxy-1,2a,4,7ß, 10ß, 13a-hexahydroxytax-11-en-9-one, 4,10-diacetate 2-benzoate 13-ester with (2R, 3S)-N-benzoyl-3-phenylisoserine. Paclitaxel has the following structural formula:

Chemical Formula: C₄₇H₅₁NO₁₄

Molecular Weight: 853.9

Solubility: Soluble in Cremophor EL and organic solvents. Highly insoluble in water and aqueous buffers.

Stability: Samples stored at room temperature for 30 days showed no decomposition as indicated by UV absorption, TLC or HPLC

Source: Aphios produces a natural paclitaxel from the needles or leaves of the American yew, Taxus media “hicksii,” an ornamental species grown by cloning in nurseries in the United Sates utilizing its patented SuperFluids™CXP technology. Aphios also produces paclitaxel from the needles or leaves of the wild Canadian yew, Taxus Canadensis.

Purity: > 99% determined by HPLC chromatographic scans

Mechanism of Action: Paclitaxel has demonstrated a significant effectiveness against ovarian and breast cancers, and a number of other cancers in clinical trials. Paclitaxel works by stabilizing microtubules and preventing unregulated cell mitosis or division. Paclitaxel is also being used as an adjunct therapy with the new breed of genetically-engineered drugs as exemplified with Genentech’s Herceptin.^® The adjunct use of paclitaxel significantly increased the therapeutic effectiveness of Herceptin.^® Paclitaxel has repeatedly demonstrated an additive or synergistic effect with other drugs. Paclitaxel and its relatives thus hold the promise to have widespread applicability to cancer and other non-tumorgenic diseases.

Cremophor^® EL – Registered Trademark of BASF Aktiengesellschaft
Taxol^® – Registered Trademark of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
LoTax™ – Trademark of Aphios Corporation
Herceptin^® – Registered Trademark of Genentech