New Malaria Treatment for Babies
Some mosquitoes transmit a fatal disease called malaria, which could lead to death. But on July 8, 2025, a new malaria treatment for babies made by Novartis was approved.
Malaria is a deadly disease that is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. It could be caused by five parasites of the genus Plasmodium. The symptoms of malaria include fatigue, fever, difficulty breathing, chills, headache, and even jaundice, according to the World Health Organization.
The reason why malaria is such a great threat in Africa is that the climate there is suitable for mosquitoes. Specific countries like Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan are under a higher risk of malaria as their climate is favorable for the insects. Also, it poses a greater threat to younger children and infants as their immune systems are still beginning to develop.
Previously, treatments and vaccines have been made for malaria for older children and adults, but not for babies, as their bodies are still developing. A drug to treat malaria for infants and babies was developed on July 8, 2025 developed by a public company called Novartis. Novartis is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical corporation, according to Wikipedia. The drug is called Coartem Baby and was approved by Swiss drug regulators. Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda, which are all from Africa, are expected to approve the drug.
Now, everybody can be treated for malaria. “For more than three decades, we have stayed the course in the fight against malaria, working relentlessly to deliver scientific breakthroughs where they are needed most,” said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of 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.”
Sources
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/crmvdrg9p7lo
https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-receives-approval-first-malaria-medicine-newborn-babies-and-young-infants
https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/malaria-africa-why-most-countries-havent-beaten-it-yet
https://www.wanda.be/en/a-z-index/malaria-kaart-afrika-/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novartis
https://www.mmv.org/newsroom/news-resources-search/first-malaria-medicine-newborn-babies-and-young-infants-45-kg