In total, 263 million people were infected with malaria worldwide in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Of these, 597,000 died across 83 countries. 94% of cases and 95% of deaths occurred in Africa. Of those who died, 76% were children under the age of 5, according to the WHO. Until then, no medication had been developed specifically for infants and young children.
The very first treatment specifically for babies has just been approved in Switzerland by Swissmedics. Called Coartem Baby or Riamet Baby depending on the region, it was developed by Novartis in partnership with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).
No treatment so far
Malaria, which is mainly prevalent on the African continent, is transmitted by mosquito bites. 8 to 30 days after infection, a fever develops. It may be accompanied by weakness, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or coughing. Fever accompanied by tremors, cold sweats, and intense sweating may occur cyclically, due to the different phases of the parasite cycle. More serious symptoms may occur, such as difficulty breathing, bleeding, jaundice, extreme fatigue, and seizures. In some cases, infected red blood cells can block blood vessels supplying the brain, which can be fatal." , explains thePasteur Institute.
Until now, no malaria treatment had been approved for infants weighing less than 4.5 kilograms. Instead, they were treated with formulations intended for older children, which can increase the risk of overdose and toxicity. Malaria vaccines are also not approved for toddlers., recalls the Novartis laboratory.
A non-profit distribution
Several countries participated in the evaluation of this new treatment, including Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. Novartis says it wants to distribute its drug on a non-profit basis in areas where malaria is endemic, to ensure that " even the youngest and most vulnerable can finally receive the care to which they are entitled", said Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan. The company has not yet provided details on the conditions of this distribution. Approximately 30 million newborns are born each year in areas where malaria is endemic. Between 3.41 and 18.41 infants under 6 months of age are affected by malaria in West Africa, according to Novartis.
The arsenal of treatments available against this disease remains limited for the moment. No single preventive measure can provide complete protection. Even if appropriate treatment has been followed, it is still possible to have a malaria attack, sometimes with a late onset.", recalls the Pasteur Institute. " Currently, the only available vaccine against malaria is RTS,S. However, it has moderate efficacy and targets only the P. falciparum parasite. Its use remains recommended in addition to other measures to prevent severe forms of the disease.. »
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