Drug manufacturer Novartis gets nod for first malaria drug to treat babies

In a breakthrough, drug company Novartis received approval in Switzerland for its malaria drug 'Coartem Baby', which it said was the first drug to treat babies and very young children. 

Novartis launched Coartem in 1999 to treat malaria, with a new dose strength now designed for small babies. The treatment was developed with scientific and financial support from Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a Swiss non-profit group working to deliver medicines to treat, prevent and eliminate the disease that is spread by mosquitoes, Reuters reported. 

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It has been informed that eight African countries, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, participated in the assessment of the drug and are expected to issue quick approvals for the treatment. 

In the latest version of the malaria drug for babies, Coartem is dissolvable, including in breast milk and is even available in a sweet cherry flavour, which makes it easier to administer. 

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Earlier, infants who had to be treated for malaria were given formulations for older children, which was risky due to overdose. 

The treatment will be distributed on a largely not-for-profit basis, informed Novartis. 

"Together with our partners, we are proud to have gone further to develop the first clinically proven malaria treatment for newborns and young babies, ensuring even the smallest and most vulnerable can finally receive the care they deserve," said Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan to Reuters. 

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