First Malaria Treatment Approved for Babies

For the first time, a malaria treatment has been approved for babies and young children. Once circulated the medicine is likely to help save thousands of lives each year, especially for those living in heavily impacted regions like sub-Saharan Africa.

The treatment, called Artesunate, has been approved by global health authorities for use on infants weighing less than 5 kilograms (about 11 pounds). Until now, babies with malaria had limited treatment options, which made early infections especially dangerous. Malaria is one of the world’s deadliest diseases for children under five, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Malaria is a deadly illness, spread by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, which is most active after sunset. These mosquitoes transmit a parasite called Plasmodium, that causes the disease. In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that approximately 263 million people worldwide contracted malaria.

Each year, over 600,000 people die of malaria, and around 80% of those deaths are children under five. When babies are infected, they can get sick much faster than older children or adults. Fever, weakness, and seizures can set in quickly, and without fast treatment, the infection can become deadly in just days.

“Every one of those [babies] is a potential target for malaria infection,” Dr, Lutz Hegemann, president of Novartis’ global health program, told Euronews Health.

“We don’t want to leave any patient behind, no matter how small they are,” he stressed.

The new baby-safe version of Artesunate comes in smaller doses and has been tested to make sure it is both effective and gentle on newborn bodies. Health workers in high-risk regions have called the move a “lifesaving breakthrough.”

“Babies are often the most vulnerable, and finally we have a treatment made with them in mind,” said Dr. Mercy Adogo, a pediatrician working in Nigeria.

Experts say this approval could lead to wider access and faster treatment in rural clinics and hospitals. It’s also a reminder of the ongoing global fight to reduce malaria deaths. While vaccines and mosquito nets will help prevent infections, treatments like Artesunate are critical if a child does get sick.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184

https://www.euronews.com/health/2025/07/08/worlds-first-malaria-treatment-for-newborn-babies-gets-approval#:~:text=%E2%80%9CEvery%20one%20of%20those%20%5Bbabies,not%2Dfor%2Dprofit%20basis.