Drugs breakthrough for bowel disease

THOUSANDS of Irish people could be spared surgery for bowel disease because of a significant breakthrough by a team of scientists from University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin.

The team at UCD’s Conway Institute has discovered a potential drug treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, a cure that usually requires surgery.

The condition affects about 15,000 Irish people and millions worldwide. It can limit quality of life for many patients and increases the risk of colorectal cancer.