Geneva: The first malaria cure for babies has been approved and will be rolled out in African countries within weeks, marking a major step in closing a dangerous treatment gap for newborns.
Until now, no malaria drugs were specifically designed for babies weighing less than 4.5 kilograms (around 10 pounds). Instead, infants have been given versions meant for older children, risking unsafe dosing due to differences in how their young bodies process medicine.
In 2023 alone, malaria caused about 597,000 deaths worldwide, and three-quarters of these deaths were children under 5, mostly in Africa. Health experts have stated that the lack of a safe, approved malaria cure for babies has put the youngest patients at risk for decades.
The new medicine, known as Coartem Baby or Riamet Baby, was developed by Novartis together with the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).
Approved by Swiss authorities, the first malaria cure for babies is expected to reach high-risk regions on a largely not-for-profit basis.
Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, noted that this breakthrough shows the company’s long-term commitment to fighting malaria where it hits hardest. Martin Fitchet, CEO of MMV, added that the drug gives doctors a safe, proven option for treating newborns and very young children, a group previously overlooked in malaria care.
Eight African nations helped test the medicine and will be among the first to use it. Dr. Marvelle Brown, associate professor at the University of Hertfordshire, estimated that this could help cut high malaria death rates among babies, especially those born with weak immune systems or sickle cell disease.
Novartis has promised to keep the price low, with no profit motive, to help expand access where malaria deaths are highest. The approval of the first malaria cure for babies is expected to bring new hope to parents and health workers across Africa.
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