Novartis and Medicines for Malaria Venture launch malaria drug

Coartem dispersible is the result of a public-private collaboration between Novartis and the nonprofit Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Novartis said.

According to the company, Coartem Dispersible tablets enable parents to give the sweet-tasting malaria medicine to their children more easily and, in the process, ensure they receive full effective doses.

Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO of Novartis, 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. I am pleased that we can provide a clearly better formulation to help ensure children with malaria receive and can take an effective therapy.”