If Prof Ananda M. Chakrabarty — the scientist who fought a long legal battle to patent the first living organism — has his way, we could soon have a bacteria drug that can fight HIV and cancer.

"In three years time, I can have a bacteria product ready for clinical trials provided that administrative hurdles and funding is taken care of," says the eminent scientist, currently Distinguished Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago.

"All it will take is Rs 30 crore to bring the drug to clinical trials stage in India. However, there is a cultural problem in India. The industry just does not want to take risks," says Prof Chakrabarty.

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