Currently,
the supply of paclitaxel or taxane intermediates is largely derived from the harvest of Yew trees.
However, finding an alternative when
supplies of paclitaxel dried up proved more challenging.
Instead, Esserman's team encouraged hospitals involved in the trial to use abraxane for patients not enrolled in I - SPY 2, freeing up more of the limited
supplies of paclitaxel for trial participants.