Dr. Henry I. Miller describes the Biopharm Thrilla in Manila:
The early-stage R&D I saw during my travels was astonishing. University of the Philippines, Manila, Professor Nina Barzaga — “The Illustrious Nina,” as she is known locally — has introduced into banana plants the genes that express potential vaccine proteins for typhoid fever, rabies and the HIV virus. She and her collaborators intend to process the bananas sufficiently to be able to standardize the dose — by converting them to dried banana chips, for example — and then to carry out clinical testing.