The World Health Organization has prequalified Coartem Baby (artemether-lumefantrine), the first malaria treatment specifically developed for newborns and young infants weighing between 2kg and 5kg for uncomplicated malaria.

• Treatment Gap Addressed: The formulation is designed for infants previously underserved by existing malaria treatments, as babies under 4.5kg had often been treated using adapted doses of medicines intended for older children.
• Development and Collaboration: Coartem Baby was developed by Novartis in collaboration with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), with additional support through the PAMAfrica consortium.
• Global Health Access: WHO prequalification enables procurement by international agencies, supporting broader public-sector distribution in malaria-endemic regions.

This summary is based on a news article issued by BioSpectrum Asia.

Image for illustrative purposes only. Source: Canva.