TEHRAN, Nov. 26 (MNA) – Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company have developed an anti-cancer prodrug from the bark of yew trees which will be unveiled during Research Week in mid-December.

Dr. Farid Mor, head of Fars Technology Park, told Mehr News correspondent on Sunday that a group of Iranian researchers at a knowledge-based company have succeeded in developing an anti-cancer prodrug named ‘Taxol’ (an antimitotic agent used to treat cancer) from the yew trees.

According to him, the researchers managed to develop an enzyme that is active in taxol production.

He went on to add that the taxol has received approval of production from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. If the prodrug reaches mass production, it will lead to a significant progress in producing the major anti-cancer drug in which this enzyme is effective.

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