Ulcerative colitis

When an ulcer creates an actual perforation in the digestive tract, surgery is currently the only treatment. In the not-too-distant future, however, such holes may be easily plugged with the equivalent of a tiny remote-control swallowable pen.

A once-daily pill for ulcerative colitis has delivered strong results in a clinical trial, easing symptoms even in patients for whom other treatments had failed and raising hopes for a safer, more effective therapy for a condition that affects millions.