By Faridat Salifu
Nigeria has been recognised as a leading contributor to a historic clinical trial that has delivered the first-ever malaria treatment specifically designed for newborns and infants weighing less than five kilograms.
In a press release issued on Sunday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) credited Nigeria alongside Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda for steering the research that led to the breakthrough.
The infant-friendly formulation of artemether-lumefantrine dissolves in breast milk and has a sweet taste to aid administration to newborns.
For decades, babies under five kilograms had no approved malaria therapy, forcing health workers to improvise with modified doses of drugs meant for older children — a practice that risked overdosing and toxicity.
The drug, developed by Novartis with the Medicines for Malaria Venture under the PAMAfrica consortium, has already secured approval from Swiss regulators. African countries, including Nigeria, are expected to fast-track clearance through the Swiss agency’s Marketing Authorisation for Global Health Products process.
Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, said the development proves Africa’s capacity to drive global health innovations, ensuring the smallest and most vulnerable infants gain access to safe, effective treatment. Dr Ngashi Ngongo, Principal Advisor to the Africa CDC DG, noted that Nigeria’s contribution was instrumental to the trial’s success.
Beyond approval, Africa CDC pledged support to help Nigeria integrate the new formulation into its health system through expedited regulatory clearance, updated treatment guidelines, health worker training, and equitable access in rural communities.
According to the World Health Organisation, Nigeria carries the heaviest malaria burden worldwide — with 27 per cent of global cases and 31 per cent of deaths. Experts say the new therapy is poised to prevent thousands of infant deaths annually and demonstrates that African-led research partnerships can deliver solutions for Africa’s most persistent health crises.
Novartis said the medicine will be supplied on a primarily not-for-profit basis to improve availability in malaria-endemic regions.