Nigeria has been named among eight African countries that participated in clinical trials for the world’s first malaria treatment designed specifically for newborns.
The new infant-friendly formulation of artemether-lumefantrine, developed under the PAMAfrica consortium by Novartis and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), dissolves easily in breast milk, has a sweet flavour, and is suitable for babies weighing less than five kilogrammes.
Clinical trials were conducted in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda. Swiss regulators have already approved the drug, and participating African nations are expected to fast-track domestic approvals under the Swiss agency’s global health products procedure.
Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), hailed the breakthrough as “a major step forward in the fight against malaria.”
Ngashi Ngongo, principal advisor to the Africa CDC DG, emphasized that the achievement underscores Africa’s ability to drive health innovations through collaboration, noting that Nigeria’s contribution was central to the trial’s success.
Africa CDC announced that it would support countries to integrate the new treatment into their health systems by speeding up approvals, updating guidelines, training health workers, and ensuring access in rural communities.