Children and malaria

Children and malaria

At MMV we believe every child should be able to access the medicines they need. Malaria continues to take the life of a child under 5 every 2 minutes. By developing new antimalarial medicines, MMV is working to change this reality for children in Africa and the world over. Consistent with the Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed  initiative, MMV has pledged its support to ending preventable child deaths. The campaign calls on all countries to reduce under-5 mortality to 20 or fewer under-five deaths per 1,000 live births, for every segment of society, by 2035.

Children and malaria

Around 483,000 children under 5 die of malaria every year.

(World Health Organization World Malaria Report 2015)

Children and malaria

Children are not just little adults. To ensure correct treatment, medicines must be tailored to their needs.

Children and malaria

MMV seeks to develop a formulation specifically tailored to the needs of children for every medicine it co-develops.

Children and malaria

In 2009, Novartis and MMV launched the first high quality, child-friendly, fixed-dose artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT).

Children and malaria

Malaria can become severe and potentially fatal in 24 hours of symptom onset if not properly treated.

(World Health Organization Media Centre)

Children and malaria

MMV worked with Guilin Pharmaceutical to obtain WHO prequalification for injectable artesunate. This treatment for severe malaria was prequalified in November 2010. Given that artesunate injection offers a 22% reduction in mortality compared to the alternative, injectable quinine,1 up to an estimated 165,000 additional young lives have been saved by this medicine over this time period.

1. Dondorp AM et al. Artesunate versus quinine in the treatment of severe falciparum malaria in African children (AQUAMAT): an open-label, randomised trial. Lancet. 13;376(9753):1647-57 (2010).

Children and malaria

In the past, paediatric formulations of medicines would not have been developed or would only be developed after the adult medicine had been approved.

Children and malaria

To expedite the development and delivery of child-friendly medicines, MMV plans to develop paediatric formulations that can also be used in adults.

Children and malaria

Malaria has an adverse effect on educational attainment of school children.

Fernando SD et al. The impact of repeated malaria attacks on the school performance of children. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 69(6):582-8 (2003).

Children and malaria

MMV is working with public and private partners to achieve a future without malaria for all children.

Slideshow created June 2012

Photo credits: Slide 1 - MMV; Slide 2 - MMV; Slide 3 - Ben Moldenhauer Slide 4 - Novartis; Slide 5 - Ben Moldenhauer; Slide 6 - MMV; Slide 7 - MMV; Slide 8 - MMV; Slide 9 - MMV; Slide 10 - MMV

For detailed information please visit the conference website or download the conference flyer.