The World Health Organization has approved the first malaria treatment designed for newborns, aiming to improve survival rates and strengthen global efforts against one of the deadliest infectious diseases.

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• The World Health Organization has granted prequalification to artemether-lumefantrine, the first malaria drug specifically formulated for newborns and infants, marking a major global health milestone.
• This new formulation is tailored for infants, replacing earlier practices where babies were treated with medicines designed for older children, reducing risks of incorrect dosing and toxicity.
• WHO prequalification confirms that the medicine meets international standards of quality, safety, and efficacy, enabling governments and health agencies to procure it for public healthcare systems.
• The approval is expected to improve access to effective malaria treatment in low-income countries, particularly where regulatory systems are limited or underdeveloped.
• Malaria remains a severe global health issue, with approximately 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths reported worldwide in 2024 across nearly 80 countries.
• Africa bears the highest burden, accounting for about 95% of malaria cases and deaths, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions in the region.
• Children under five years represent nearly three-fourths of global malaria deaths, making infant-specific treatment a critical step in reducing mortality rates.
• Malaria is caused by Malaria parasites transmitted through infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, with combination therapies like artemether-lumefantrine widely used for treatment.