Where can I get epothilone in the UK?

The epothilones are actually a group of chemotherapy drugs known as epothilone analogues. Analogue means they are different drugs, but they all have a similar structure. The epothilones are still being researched as cancer drugs and aren't available yet. They work in a similar way to taxol and taxotere (the taxanes). 

Early clinical trials seemed to show that the epothilones may help to treat some types of cancer. There are some side effects, including low resistance to infection, tiredness, and numbness and tingling in fingers and toes.

So far the most widely used epothilone analogue has been ixabepilone. Ixabepilone has been approved in the US to treat locally advanced breast cancer or breast cancer that has spread. It is licensed there for people who have already had treatment with other chemotherapy drugs, including an anthracycline (such as doxorubicin or epirubicin), and a taxane or capecitabine. Doctors give it either on its own or with capecitabine. Ixabepilone is now being tested for earlier stage breast cancer and for advanced womb cancer. 

In Europe, in 2008, the European Medicines Agency turned down an application for a licence for ixabepilone because the agency did not feel the benefits of the drug did not outweigh the side effects. In particular, they were concerned about damage to the nerve cells (neuropathy). The company who make it reapplied, but then decided to withdraw their application until they had further information about the risks and benefits. 

There are research studies looking at using ixabepilone

  • The CA163115 trial is comparing ixabepilone and bevacizumab (a biological therapy) with paclitaxel and bevacizumab for breast cancer that has come back or spread
  • The CA163196 trial is comparing ixabepilone with either paclitaxel or doxorubicin for womb cancer that has come back or spread to another part of the body after treatment with chemotherapy
  • The CA163100 trial is looking at doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and either ixabepilone or paclitaxel as chemotherapy before surgery for early stage breast cancer

We need more research with larger numbers of people to see whether ixabepilone works as well as the chemotherapy drugs we already have. We do not know yet whether this drug will be licensed in Europe and the UK.