Novel therapeutic agents against endotoxemia and septic shock

Upon bacterial infection, the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin from Gram-negative bacterial membranes triggers the production of large quantities of cytokines in the body, which can lead to septic shock and eventual death. Various therapeutic strategies have been used to target different stages of the condition, e.g., antibodies against LPS or cytokines, with little success in the clinic. Recently, two approaches have provided hope - the use of anticoagulants and cationic peptide-based agents that bind to and neutralize LPS. Here, we focus the review on recent advances towards the development of therapeutic agents against endotoxemia and septic shock.