University of Copenhagen Researchers Unveil Biosynthetic Method to Cut the Cost of Taxol and Make Production More Sustainable

University of Copenhagen Researchers Unveil Biosynthetic Method to Cut the Cost of Taxol and Make Production More Sustainable

(IN BRIEF) Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have made a breakthrough in the biosynthetic production of Taxol, a widely used chemotherapy drug. By identifying the enzymes responsible for the final steps in the biosynthetic pathway of Taxol, the team has developed a method that enables the drug to be produced in yeast cells. This new method offers significant cost reductions, with the potential to cut the price of Taxol by 50%, and is also more sustainable than traditional chemical synthesis methods. This breakthrough is especially important as the demand for affordable cancer treatment increases in low and middle-income countries.

(PRESS RELEASE) COPENHAGEN, 19-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have made a breakthrough in the biosynthetic production of Taxol, one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs, which could significantly reduce the cost of production and make it more sustainable. For 30 years, scientists have struggled to understand the final steps in the biosynthetic pathway of Taxol, a complex natural compound originally derived from the Pacific yew tree. Now, a research team led by Feiyan Liang and Sotirios Kampranis has successfully identified the enzymes responsible for the final steps in this pathway, opening the door to biotech-based production of the drug.

Taxol, which is prescribed for the treatment of breast, ovarian, cervical, and lung cancers, has traditionally been difficult and expensive to produce. The drug was originally extracted from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, but the process was highly unsustainable as it required the destruction of the trees, which take decades to mature. Today, the drug is synthesized from yew needles through a chemical semi-synthesis process, but this method is still costly, with Taxol priced at over USD 20,000 per kilogram.

The University of Copenhagen’s research team has now cracked the code. By cloning the genes responsible for Taxol production from the yew tree and inserting them into yeast cells, the team has developed a biotechnological process that allows for the efficient production of Taxol in yeast, essentially creating micro-factories capable of producing the drug.

“This has been the Holy Grail for researchers in this field,” said Sotirios Kampranis, Professor at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. “Now that we fully understand how Taxol is formed, we can produce it in a more sustainable and cost-effective manner.”

Yew tree at the botanical garden of the University of Copenhagen (Credit: Feiyan Liang, University of Copenhagen)

The new method offers a significant reduction in production costs, with expectations to eventually cut the price of Taxol by up to 50%. This is especially important as the global prevalence of ovarian cancer is rising rapidly, with the number of cases expected to increase by over 55% by 2050, primarily in low and middle-income countries. The high cost of Taxol has been a barrier to access in these regions, and this new biosynthetic production method could help provide more affordable cancer treatment.

Beyond cost savings, the biosynthetic method is also more sustainable. It avoids the use of harmful chemicals and solvents required in traditional chemical synthesis and utilizes less purified extracts from yew needles, which are significantly cheaper. Furthermore, the process is more environmentally friendly as materials used in the production can be recycled.

“The goal is to show that it’s possible to create a biotechnological production process for drugs that is both low-cost and sustainable,” said Kampranis. “This research lays the groundwork for the future of sustainable drug production.”

The research team has applied for patents for the method and is in the process of launching a spin-out company to begin manufacturing biosynthetic Taxol.

Media Contacts:

Sotirios Kampranis
Professor
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
University of Copenhagen
soka@plen.ku.dk
+45 35 33 29 89

Feiyan Liang
Assistant professor
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
University of Copenhagen
fel@plen.ku.dk
+45 35 33 29 45

Maria Hornbek
Journalist
University of Copenhagen
maho@adm.ku.dk
+45 22 95 42 83

SOURCE: University of Copenhagen