Cherry-Flavoured Malaria Drug Launched For Children In Africa - UK's Department For International Development Funds Innovative Anti-Malaria Research

Main Category: Tropical Diseases
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Compliance
Article Date: 23 Mar 2009 - 4:00 PST

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A new child-friendly malaria drug which will be distributed in Africa, where a child dies every 30 seconds from malaria, is to be launched in the UK on Monday 23 March 2009.

The new drug is the result of public-private collaboration between Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a non-profit funded by the UK's Department for International Development, and the drug company Novartis. At the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases launch on Monday, UK International Development Minister Ivan Lewis will announce an additional £19 million of funding from 2010 for MMV to continue their ground-breaking research against malaria.

Children were prone to spit out the bitter malaria drug for adults, but the new paediatric version, called Coartem D, is cherry-flavoured and dissolves easily in water or breast milk. On average the entire course will cost approximately 30 cents. There are at least 50 million cases of malaria worldwide each year and at least 1 million deaths, mainly among children.

International Development Minister Ivan Lewis said:

"This is an excellent example of how aid can transform peoples' lives. As a result of the contribution of British taxpayers, the lives of millions of children will be saved. This investment in a quicker, cheaper and better-tasting malaria drug will pay off enormously and we are pleased to support this innovative venture."

In the MMV video clip below, Angelina, a single mother of four living in Western Kenya, tells the story of her two-year-old daughter's scrape with death when she contracted malaria and the positive results brought by Coartem-D. View Video

Source
UK's Department for International Development