In a monumental stride toward combating one of the world’s most fatal diseases, a newly approved malaria drug, Coartem Baby (known as Riamet Baby in some countries), has been specifically formulated for newborns and infants weighing between 2 and 5 kg. Developed by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis and backed by the World Health Organization (WHO), this sweet, dispersible tablet is a game-changer, addressing a critical and long-standing gap in treating the most vulnerable population.
Malaria remains a devastating public health crisis, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it accounts for a disproportionately high number of child deaths. Children under five years old account for approximately 76% of all malaria deaths in the WHO African Region. The approval of Coartem Baby comes as welcome news for countries like Uganda, which has already begun to integrate the drug into its national health protocols. Uganda has one of the world’s highest malaria burdens, with the disease being the leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
Until now, treating infants in this vulnerable weight range has been a significant challenge. Clinicians were often forced to administer scaled-down doses of adult or older pediatric formulations, which are bitter and difficult for babies to swallow. The risk of inaccurate dosing was high, potentially leading to drug resistance or toxicity. Coartem Baby, a fixed-dose combination of artemether and lumefantrine, overcomes these issues with a precise dose and a sweet, easily dissolvable tablet that can be mixed into milk.
The drug works by combining two powerful antimalarial agents. Artemether is a fast-acting compound that provides rapid relief by quickly clearing the parasite from the bloodstream. Lumefantrine, a longer-acting drug, remains in the body to clear any residual parasites and prevent a recurrence of the infection. This combination has been the gold standard for treating malaria for over two decades, but its previous formulation was not optimized for the youngest patients.
Novartis, in collaboration with the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), plans to introduce the drug on a largely not-for-profit basis in malaria-endemic regions. This commitment, along with a special global health scheme that allowed for simultaneous approval in eight African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania, is expected to accelerate the drug’s rollout. With this new tool in the fight against malaria, millions of young lives may be saved.
