First malaria treatment for babies under 5kg
![Photo: Toby Madden/MMV](https://www.pamafrica-consortium.org/sites/pam-africa/files/styles/nugget-mobile/public/content/paragraphs/text/images/2020-06-12/baby.jpg?itok=tYfm0q_T×tamp=1591994547)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 24 million children were estimated to be infected with the Plasmodium falciparum parasite in 2018 in sub-Saharan Africa. Infants below 5kg make up a critical neglected group and developing antimalarials specifically suited to their needs is essential to malaria control and elimination. Currently, newborns or underweight infants infected with malaria are treated with either a whole tablet or half a tablet of Coartem® (artemether-lumefantrine/AL) or with quinine. However, this could lead to inappropriate dosing, and/or adverse reactions. The safety and efficacy of Novartis’ AL is well studied in children older than 6 months and over 5 kg. The PAMAfrica Consortium will trial a new formulation of this gold-standard antimalarial and provide valuable support for a new dose ratio designed specifically for newborns.
This trial will test a novel formulation/ratio from Novartis of the current gold standard treatment artemether-lumefantrine in newborn infants weighing less than 5 kg or who are malnourished.
Learn more about developing medicines specifically suited to the needs of children from this infographic on child-friendly formulations.