A TECHNICIAN EXAMINES A BEAKER FILLED WITH ANTIGALL CAPSULES, A GALLSTONE-DISSOLVING DRUG AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES THAT COULD BE A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO AT LEAST 175,000 GALLBLADDER OPERATIONS EACH YEAR. THE DRUG URSODIOL MAY REPRESENT A SAVINGS OF $2 BILLION IN ANNUAL HEALTH CARE COSTS, ACCORDING TO GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER SPECIALIST HANS FROMM, WHO HAS CONDUCTED CLINICAL TRIALS OF THE DRUG SINCE 1977.
