The discovery of the critical role of angiogenesis in the human body has opened up new areas of research. Angiogenic factors are being exploited as rapid markers of tumour progression, while their inhibitors are drumming up interest as antitumour agents. In addition, angiogenesis stimulators may be the treatment of the future for peptic ulcer disease. Advances in this field of research were presented in the keynote address at the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics [New Orleans, US; March 1994].