Drotrecogin alfa (activated) for severe sepsis

Sepsis, the systemic inflammatory response to infection, is common among severely ill patients and can be life-threatening. Over a quarter of patients in UK intensive care units (ICUs) have severe sepsis in the first 24 hours after admission. Of these, 35% die before leaving the ICU and 47% before leaving hospital despite standard therapy. Drotrecogin alfa (activated) (Xigris - Eli Lilly), a recombinant human activated protein C, is licensed for treating adults who have severe sepsis with multiple organ failure. Here we assess its efficacy and safety.