The Food and Drug Administration is debating whether to approve Eli Lilly & Co.'s new drug Xigris. The drug is considered the best hope for treating sepsis, a frequently fatal blood disease. The agency is expected to make a decision within the next week regarding approval of the revolutionary drug. One concern surrounding Xigris is the astronomical cost of the drug, between $1,000 and $10,000 per dose. Another primary concern is the drug's serious side effect of internal bleeding in some patients.

Xigris is the first drug shown to cure those suffering from sepsis. Despite its extraordinary price, hospitals and insurers may not be able to refuse the drug to patients. Xigris is proven to reduce sepsis deaths by 20%, significantly more beneficial than any other drug of this sort. An estimated 225,000 Americans die each year from the disease. Because of the grave consequences of sepsis and the effectiveness of the drug, hospitals and insurers may face lawsuits if they choose not to prescribe the medication.

Major hospitals throughout the country are bracing for the expense of Xigris. Some of these hospitals see approximately 10 patients per week with septic infections, as such, Xigris could cost hospitals between $500,000 and $5,000,000 annually. Hospitals and insurers are said to be preparing for these expenditures. In recent years, several biotechnology firms have gone bankrupt trying to develop a drug to combat sepsis, one of the most stubborn infections known to doctors. It often occurs in patients with weakened immune systems caused by chemotherapy or surgery.