Novartis Receives Swiss Approval for Coartem Baby, First Malaria Treatment for Infants and Neonates

SmartCom APP learned that Novartis (NVS.US) announced on Tuesday that its first drug for treating infant malaria, Coartem Baby, has been approved in Switzerland.

The eight African countries expected to participate in the evaluation are likely to quickly approve the therapy, which is also known as Riamet Baby in some countries.

Novartis launched Coartem for the treatment of malaria in 1999 and has now designed a new dosage for infants.

This medication dissolves in liquids such as breast milk and has a sweet cherry flavor, making it easier to take.

Novartis stated that, so far, there are no approved malaria treatments for infants weighing less than 4.5 kilograms, leaving a treatment gap.

The eight countries participating in the evaluation are Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Novartis stated that approximately 30 million infants are born each year in Africa in areas at risk of malaria. A survey in West Africa showed that the infection rate for infants under 6 months ranges between 3.4% and 18.4%.