“Exploring the Potential: Can a Novel Malaria drug Medication Improve Survival Odds for Infants?”
When Rose Akinyi’s baby, Jayla Joy, Malaria drug exhibited signs of distress, she initially attributed it to a stomach upset. Despite administering mild pain medication, Jayla’s condition worsened, leading her mother to seek medical help. The nearest hospital was miles away, and calls to doctors went unanswered. By the time they reached the hospital the next morning, Jayla’s temperature was alarmingly high. The diagnosis of malaria shocked Rose, who, like many, assumed her baby was protected by maternal immunity.
Malaria in newborns presents unique challenges, often with symptoms that are not easily distinguishable from common childhood illnesses. The assumption that mothers confer immunity to babies has excluded them from clinical trials for malaria treatments. Currently, there is no malaria treatment for babies weighing under 5kg (11lbs).
Malaria drug
A new drug by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, undergoing stage 3 trials in several African countries, offers hope for treating newborns with malaria. The trials, supported by the PAMAfrica Consortium and co-funded by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership and Medicines for Malaria Venture, aim to address the lack of treatment options for this vulnerable population.
Malaria remains a leading cause of child deaths in Africa, constituting nearly 80% of all malaria-related deaths on the continent. The Novartis drug, if successful, could provide a crucial breakthrough in treating newborns with malaria, a population that has been neglected in clinical trials and faces challenges in accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Results from the trials are expected in early 2024.
