Two new studies published online in The American Journal of Gastroenterology report that a new therapy significantly reduces constipation and abdominal pain associated with some kinds of irritable bowel syndrome. “These are as good a set of results as we’ve seen on a drug for patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome,” said Dr. William Chey, co-editor-in-chief of the journal and lead author on one of the papers. The trials helped pave the way to FDA approval of the drug, Linzess, Chey said. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News (9/18)