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.