New therapies are currently in development for the treatment of severe sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response of the host to circulating microorganisms. Moreover, estimates of the annual incidence and the national burden of illness are required, as well as costs associated with treatment and the key cost drivers associated with managing the disease. The burden of sepsis and the costs associated with treatment using drotrecogin-alfa in European countries were the focus of four presentations at the 5th Annual European Congress of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research [Rotterdam, The Netherlands; November 2002]. All four studies received financial support from Eli Lilly & Co.