Current Affairs - Science - Discussion

Switzerland, through its medical authority Swissmedic, approved the world’s first malaria medicine for infants weighing between 2 and 5 kilograms on July 9, 2025. This groundbreaking approval was for a drug developed by Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical company based in Basel. The approval was granted under a fast-track process in partnership with the World Health Organisation to ensure quicker access in developing countries. The new treatment targets vulnerable infants who previously relied on less suitable medications adjusted from those made for older children. This is especially significant for Africa, where infant malaria remains a leading cause of child mortality.