Taxol® (Paclitaxel)

Taxol® (paclitaxel) has been hailed by many as the most promising new cancer treatment in two decades. The FDA requires that paclitaxel intended for human consumption be obtained only from the bark ofTaxus brevifolia, the Pacific yew. As this may become increasingly uneconomical, new strategies must be explored to ensure the continued availability of taxol and related molecules. This article examines the planning that must be engaged in and the contingencies that must be prepared for in this changing arena.     

An automatic adiabatic low temperature calorimeter

The calorimeter, for use at temperatures from 5° to 330°K, has several novel features. Servoloops have been developed that will maintain the sample environment at a temperature virtually the same as the sample container. All factors necessary for calculation of the results are controlled and recorded automatically as a function of time. Results on n-heptane are presented and serve to establish the reliability of this equipment.