"And in the case of fecal transplants, there's no drug or medical device involved, and thus no pharmaceutical company or device maker with diverticula deep enough to fund the multiple rounds of controlled clinical trials. If anything, drug companies might be inclined to fight the procedure's approval. Pharmaceutical companies make money by treating diseases, not by curing them. "There's billions of dollars at stake," says Khoruts. "I told Katerina, if this works, don't be surprised to find me at the bottom of the river."