The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has welcomed the approval of the world’s first malaria treatment specifically designed for newborns and infants, calling it a “major advance” in protecting Africa’s most vulnerable children. The drug, Coartem Baby, is tailored for infants weighing under five kilograms — a group previously treated with scaled-down versions of medicines meant for older children, a practice that carried risks of overdose and toxicity.
Developed by Novartis in partnership with the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), the formulation received approval from Swiss drug regulators in July 2025. Clinical trials were successfully conducted in eight African countries — Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya described the approval as a landmark in malaria control saying “this ensures that even the smallest and most vulnerable infants now have access to safe and effective treatment.”
The medicine is expected to be rolled out in the trial countries within weeks, with Africa CDC pledging to support governments to make it widely accessible. Malaria remains one of Africa’s deadliest diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease killed 597,000 people globally in 2023, with Africa accounting for the overwhelming majority. Children under five represented 76% of malaria deaths on the continent. Health experts say the approval of Coartem Baby fills a critical treatment gap and signals Africa’s growing role in advancing global health innovation.
