Novartis' Coartem Baby gets WHO prequalification, enabling malaria treatment for newborns and young infants.

Novartis announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified Coartem Baby, the first malaria treatment specifically developed for newborns and young infants weighing 2 to 5 kilograms. This milestone allows wider access through public sector procurement, especially in malaria-endemic regions, where Novartis offers the treatment largely on a not-for-profit basis. Previously, infants under 4.5 kilograms had no approved malaria treatment, creating a significant treatment gap. The prequalification supports donor-funded and UN purchases, aiming to reduce malaria deaths among the most vulnerable infants in Africa and other affected areas.