This malaria drug for babies, first of its kind, is a gamechanger for Africa
A new malaria drug made for babies and very young children has been approved and is expected to be available in parts of Africa within weeks.
This is the first time a malaria treatment has been designed specifically for newborns and infants under 4.5kg, a group that has long been without a safe, tailored option.
Until now, babies have been treated with smaller doses of medicine meant for older children, which experts say can be risky due to their developing bodies.
The new medicine, made by drug company Novartis and known as Coartem Baby or Riamet Baby, aims to close what experts have called a serious “treatment gap.”
Nearly 600,000 people died from malaria in 2023, with most of the deaths in Africa and about three-quarters of them in children under five.
Eight African countries were part of the trials for the new drug and are expected to be among the first to receive it.
The medicine will be rolled out mostly on a not-for-profit basis.
Novartis says the goal is to ensure the smallest and most vulnerable patients are no longer left out of life-saving care.
Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis said, “Together with our partners, we are proud to have gone further to develop the first clinically proven malaria treatment for newborns and young babies. Ensuring even the smallest and most vulnerable can finally receive the care they deserve."
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
