In a major breakthrough for global health, the first-ever malaria treatment specifically designed for babies and newborns has been approved and is expected to be rolled out across African countries in the coming weeks.
The new drug, Coartem Baby also known as Riamet Baby in some countries targets children weighing less than 4.5kg (about 10 pounds), a group previously excluded from approved malaria treatment options.
Until now, infants infected with malaria have had to rely on drugs formulated for older children, which posed significant safety risks, including accidental overdosing.
Experts say this created a dangerous “treatment gap” for the youngest and most vulnerable.
The new treatment, developed by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis in collaboration with the not-for-profit Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), has been approved by Swiss regulators and will be distributed largely on a not-for-profit basis.
According to the World Health Organisation, malaria was responsible for approximately 597,000 deaths in 2023. Nearly all of them occurred in Africa, with about 75% of the victims being children under the age of five.
“This is an important moment,” said Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan. “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.”
Eight African nations were involved in the trials and assessments of Coartem Baby and are expected to be among the first to receive the medicine. The drug’s development was backed by MMV, whose partners include the British, Swiss, and Dutch governments, the World Bank, and the Rockefeller Foundation.
Martin Fitchet, MMV’s CEO, said the approval marks an essential step in reducing malaria’s deadly toll, “Malaria is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, particularly among children. The approval of Coartem Baby provides an optimised dose to treat an otherwise neglected group of patients.”
Dr Marvelle Brown, a public health expert and associate professor at the University of Hertfordshire, called the new drug a “major breakthrough” in reducing child mortality in Africa.
“The death rate for malarial infections, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is extremely high over 76% of deaths occur in children under five. Babies born with sickle cell disease are even more vulnerable due to weak immune systems,” she said.
“Making this not-for-profit will help reduce healthcare inequality.”
With the rollout imminent, health officials and humanitarian groups hope the new treatment will finally close a deadly gap in malaria care and save tens of thousands of young lives each year.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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