The present invention provides a sepsis therapeutic drug useful for prophylaxis and treatment of sepsis. A prophylactic agent and/or a therapeutic agent for sepsis containing 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) or a derivative thereof or a pharmacologically acceptable salt of 5-ALA or the derivative as an active ingredient is prepared. The prophylactic agent and/or the therapeutic agent preferably contains a metal-containing compound such as ferrous sodium citrate in addition to the ALAs. Preferred examples of the ALAs include ALA various esters of ALA such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and pentyl esters and hydrochlorides, phosphates, sulfates of ALA and the esters.
