The FDA has approved Novartis Coartem Baby, the first malaria treatment designed for newborns and young infants.
The medicine, developed in collaboration with Medicines for Malaria Venture, a nonprofit partnership, is intended for babies weighing less than 10 pounds, an age group previously left without an approved option, according to a July 8 news release from Novartis.
The new formulation, also known as Riamet Baby in other countries, was developed to help close the treatment gap that has forced healthcare providers to use older children’s medications off label, raising the risk of incorrect dosing, the release said.
