Used as a key biosynthetic intermediate in the production of paclitaxel (Taxol), a potent anticancer drug. It serves as a starting material for semisynthesis of taxane-based chemotherapeutics, especially in cases where direct extraction from natural sources is inefficient. Its xylose-containing structure allows selective chemical or enzymatic modifications to introduce required functional groups, enabling scalable and cost-effective manufacturing of derivatives with improved solubility and tumor-targeting properties. Widely utilized in pharmaceutical research to develop next-generation taxoids with reduced resistance and fewer side effects.