The epothilones are a new class of cytotoxic molecules, including epothilone A, epothilone B, and epothilone D, identified as potential chemotherapy drugs Vincent T. DeVita, Jr., MD; Samuel Hellman, MD; and Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, PhD (2004) Cancer: Principles And Practice Of Oncology (7th Edition) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins ISBN 0781744504 . Their mechanism of action is similar to that of the taxanes, but their chemical structure is simpler and they are more soluble in water. Early studies in cancer cell lines and in human cancer patients indicate superior efficacy to the taxanes. Epothilones were originally identified as metabolites produced by the myxobacterium sorangium cellulosum.

The principal mechanism of the epothilone class is inhibition of microtubule function. Microtubules are essential to cell division, and epothilones therefore stop cells from properly dividing.

Several epothilone analogs are currently undergoing clinical development for treatment of various cancers, although none is currently approved by international regulatory authorities such as the United States Food and Drug Administration. Epothilones can only be administered to humans in the context of a clinical trial.

Epothilones are thiazoles and are actively researched in total synthesis.

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