India discovers 'wonder drug' to fight TB

"It may reduce the treatment time to two months and may also reduce the dose to once daily," Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said.

"Since 1963, this is the first success achieved in developing a new therapeutic molecule for TB," he said.

The new synthetic molecule called "Sudoterb" was identified by Mumbai-based Lupin Laboratories in partnership with four institutions back in 2001. Applications have been made to start clinical trials as well as for patents in the United States and India.

The news was greeted as a major boost for Indian's burgeoning bio-medical sector which hopes to turn the country into a global centre for drug research.

However, clinical trials on healthy humans and then TB patients are expected to last four years or more before the drug can be commercialised.