The primary study endpoint is the effect of DP-b99 on systemic inflammation in acute pancreatitis as reflected by C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels. The secondary endpoints are the safety of DP-b99 in this population of patients (through routine safety laboratory tests, physical examination and vital signs monitoring, ECG and adverse event reporting), DP-b99's effects on other plasma inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinase 9, tumor necrosis factor alpha) as well as its effects on the clinical course of pancreatitis (based on changes in the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) and Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, and on contrast material-enhanced abdominal Computerised Tomography (CT), versus placebo.