First-Ever Malaria Drug for Infants is Approved
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has welcomed the approval of the first malaria treatment designed for newborns and infants under five kilograms, calling it a "major step forward".
The new artemether-lumefantrin formulation for children was developed through a partnership between Novartis and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), under the PAMAfrica consortium, and 8 African countries participated in clinical trials: Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Children under 5 were often given modified doses of medicines for older children, raising the risk of overdose and toxicity. This new formulation offers a safe, effective, and infant-friendly option, dissolvable in breast milk and with a sweet flavour to ease administration.
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A new formulation by Swiss drug company Novartis AG for treating malaria in infants has been approved for use.
