Two trials investigating the use of the platelet activating factor antagonist lexipafant have shown that treatment with the agent can reduce mortality and complications associated with acute pancreatitis, when compared with placebo administration. However, the treatment is only effective in patients receiving lexipafant within 48 hours of disease onset. At the 6th United European Gastroenterology Week [Birmingham, UK; October 1997], gastro-enterologists called for an improvement in the early diagnosis of this life-threatening condition in order to give potential new treatments a greater chance of improving outcome.