Swiss authority approves new antimalarial drug for infants

Switzerland's medical products authority has granted the first approval for a malaria medicine designed for small infants. The medicine, from Basel-based pharmaceutical company Novartis, is intended for babies with body weights between 2 and 5 kilograms. This approval could benefit African nations where malaria is prevalent.

The decision by Swissmedic is significant as it marks only the third time a treatment has been approved under a fast-track process to help developing countries. The infant-designed version of the medicine has already been approved for older age groups.

Malaria expert Quique Bassat highlighted the importance of access to such medicines for all children, emphasizing the safety and efficacy of the newly designed medicine for the specific age group. Previously, antimalarial drugs for older children were used for small infants in a suboptimal manner to avoid overdose or toxicity.

Novartis spokesperson Ruairidh Villar mentioned that eight African countries participated in the assessment and are expected to approve the medicine soon. The company plans to roll out the medicine on a largely not-for-profit basis in malaria-endemic countries.

Malaria is the deadliest disease in Africa, with the region accounting for 95% of global malaria deaths in 2023. The majority of these deaths were among children.