Galapagos' experimental bowel disease drug GLPG1205 failed in medical trial. According to the Belgian pharmaceutical research company, the drug GLPG1205 was well tolerated and proven overall safe.

However, GLPG1205 failed to perform better compared to the placebo that was used in the medical trial. Galapagos said it will stop the drug program for the treatment of bowel disease.

"Further details about the ORIGIN study will be published later during 2016. Galapagos will evaluate whether GLPG1205 will be developed in alternative indications," the company wrote in a press release.

Ulcerative colitis, which is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causes long-term ulcers or sores in the digestive tract. The disease's symptoms develop gradually and affect the large intestine's innermost lining and the rectum.

Cases of ulcerative colitis can be devastating. Severe cases can sometimes lead to fatal complications. To date, ulcerative colitis has no cure. The current treatments can only decrease the symptoms but can also bring lasting reduction.

The main symptoms of ulcerative colitis include frequent diarrhea, which can contain pus or blood, pain in the abdomen, and the need to frequently empty the bowels. Depending on the colon's and rectum's levels of inflammation, the ulcerative colitis can greatly impact the life quality.

There are people who do not experience symptoms for weeks even months, which is known as remission. Some deal with periods of mild symptoms that can be followed with flare-ups.

The National Health Services (NHS) in the United Kingdom advised people to see a doctor if they are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms, especially if they have never been diagnosed with the disease. Health clinics and hospitals will ask people to take a blood and stool exams to determine the cause of the symptoms and will be advised to take further tests for IBD if required.

NHS estimates that about 146,000 people in the UK are suffering from ulcerative colitis, which is one in every 420 people. People aged 15 years old to 25 years old have the highest numbers of people diagnosed with the disease which can advance in any age.

NHS said the condition is prevalent in white people of European descent, particularly from those who come from Ashkenazi Jewish communities. It is also common in black people but very rare among Asians.

Photo: Christian Schnettelker | Flickr