Novartis launches paediatric malaria treatment

Novartis has launched a paediatric formulation for the treatment of malaria.

A phase III study, published in the Lancet, found the product – named Coartem Dispersible – provides high cure rates in comparison to Coartem.

The therapy will be dispensed in collaboration with Medicines for Malaria Venture.

Chairman and chief executive officer of Novartis Dr Daniel Vasella said: “This new Coartem Dispersible tablet can help improve treatment and compliance saving many of the more than 700,000 children under five who die each year from malaria.”

He added he was “pleased” a “clearly better” formulation could be provided.

Last month, Novartis said new data showed its product Zometa enhanced the effect of chemotherapy on reducing the size of breast tumours by 33 per cent.

Based in Basel, Switzerland, the company has two sites in the UK – a research and development site in Horsham and a major production facility in Grimsby.