WHO Prequalifies Infant Malaria Treatment
Analysis based on 29 articles · First reported Apr 24, 2026 · Last updated Apr 27, 2026
The prequalification of a new malaria treatment for infants and advanced diagnostic tests by the World Health Organization is expected to boost public sector procurement and expand access to quality-assured treatment in malaria-endemic areas. This development could positively impact pharmaceutical companies involved in malaria treatment and diagnostics, while also improving public health outcomes in affected regions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a significant advancement in the fight against malaria by prequalifying the first treatment, artemether-lumefantrine, specifically designed for newborns and young infants weighing between two and five kilograms. This new formulation addresses a critical gap, as infants previously relied on treatments intended for older children, which carried risks of dosing errors and toxicity. Additionally, the World Health Organization prequalified three new rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) that target a different parasite protein (pf-LDH), providing a reliable alternative where HRP2-based tests are failing due to gene deletions in malaria parasite strains. These developments are crucial as global progress in malaria control is stalling, with an estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths in 2024. The World Health Organization's actions aim to protect vulnerable populations, especially in Africa where 30 million babies are born annually in malaria-endemic areas, and to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
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