Should health care money in South Africa be spent on drotrecogin alfa?

D ro t recogin alfa (or recombinant activated protein C) has re c e n t l y been approved in most parts of the world for the treatment of s e v e re sepsis associated with acute organ failure. Considering the poor prognosis associated with severe sepsis and the dearth of e ffective pharmacological interventions, such developments should be embraced. However, critical review of this drug suggests that enthusiasm for this new agent is pre m a t u re.