Global malaria efforts have received a boost as the World Health Organisation approves the first treatment specifically developed for newborns.
The WHOÂ said the breakthrough was announced in a statement marking World Malaria Day, observed annually on April 25.
According to the agency, the new medicine targets babies weighing between two and five kilograms, a group that has long relied on treatments designed for older children, raising concerns over dosing accuracy and safety.
The drug, artemether-lumefantrine, is the first antimalarial formulation specifically developed for infants, addressing a critical treatment gap in malaria-endemic regions.
WHO said its prequalification confirms the medicine meets international standards for quality, safety and effectiveness, allowing for broader access through public health systems.
The agency estimated that about 30 million babies are born each year in countries where malaria is endemic, many of whom have had limited access to appropriately formulated treatment.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said malaria continues to affect millions of families but noted that new tools, including vaccines, improved diagnostics, insecticide-treated nets and infant-specific medicines, are helping to shift the global response.
He added that ending malaria is increasingly achievable, but stressed the need for sustained political commitment and funding, under this year’s theme, “Driven to End Malaria”.
In addition, WHO announced the prequalification of three rapid diagnostic tests designed to detect malaria strains that evade standard HRP2-based testing, which can produce false-negative results.
The agency warned that in some regions, particularly parts of the Horn of Africa, up to 80 percent of cases may go undetected using older methods, delaying treatment and increasing health risks.
The new tests target an alternative parasite protein, pfLDH, improving diagnostic accuracy in areas where conventional testing is less effective.
According to WHO’s latest malaria report, there were an estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths globally in 2024, reflecting a rise despite progress in some countries moving towards malaria-free certification.
The organisation also cautioned that gains in malaria control remain under threat from drug resistance, insecticide resistance, diagnostic gaps and funding constraints, even as global efforts have prevented billions of infections since 2000.
