The World Health Organization has approved the first malaria treatment specifically designed for infants, marking a significant step in combating one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. The drug, Coartem Baby, can safely treat babies weighing as little as 2 kilograms, addressing a longstanding gap in care for children under six months. Previously, infants were given medications formulated for older children, increasing risks of incorrect dosing and harmful side effects. Developed by Novartis and the Medicines for Malaria Venture, the drug has already seen success in Ghana, where it was used to treat infants as young as 12 weeks old. It will be distributed largely on a not-for-profit basis in high-burden regions. With malaria claiming over 600,000 lives in 2024, most of them African children, the approval could result in a significant reduction in child mortality and improve outcomes across malaria-endemic countries.
The Guardian
