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More than a decade ago, in a large, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, researchers demonstrated that recombinant activated protein C (rAPC; drotrecogin alfa [activated]; Xigris) lowered sepsis-related mortality in patients with septic shock (JW Gen Med Mar 20 2001). Soon thereafter, practice changed rapidly, largely as a result of a controversial grade B recommendation for rAPC from the architects of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (funded entirely by the drug's manufacturer). However, subsequent studies failed to confirm the benefit of rAPC, particularly in patients with mild sepsis, and raised concerns about frequent bleeding complications. In this industry-sponsored, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, investigators reexa…