Switzerland’s medical products authority has approved a new malaria medicine designed for small infants, marking an important advancement in the fight against this deadly disease. The medicine, Coartem Baby, is a lower dose version of a tablet previously approved for other age groups and will be available for treatment of babies weighing between 2 and 5 kilograms.
The approval is significant as it’s only the third time the authority has granted fast-track authorization to help developing countries access needed treatment. The decision could pave the way for African nations to follow suit in coming months.
Malaria, a mosquito-borne illness, takes hundreds of thousands of lives every year, mostly in Africa. The newly approved medicine is a welcome relief as it will provide a safer and more effective treatment option for very young children, who have historically been treated with lower doses or in limited quantities to avoid overdose.
Experts praise the approval, noting that access to such medicines is crucial for all children, regardless of age. Novartis plans to roll out the medicine on a “largely not-for-profit basis” in countries where malaria is endemic, with eight African countries expected to approve the medicine within 90 days.
However, experts also caution that access strategies must consider pricing transparency and clarity. As resistance to antimalarials grows and traditional donor countries cut funding for global health initiatives, the approval of Coartem Baby is a crucial step in combating this deadly disease.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/malaria-novartis-africa-infants-medicine-switzerland-5c990638a700322d88ddbeea67bda158