An article published on January 27, 2009 in Wall Street
Journal reported that Novartis AG and a nonprofit partner said they have
devised a pill that overcomes a longstanding challenge in developing countries:
getting children to take their malaria medicine. The next challenge, however,
will be distributing it to those children in the first place.
Cures for malaria are largely designed for adults; the pills
are often bitter and too big to swallow for children, who account for most of
the more than one million people killed each year by the mosquito-borne
disease, malaria experts say.
The partners rolled out a new children's drug, called Coartem Dispersible,
that is small, cherry-flavored and dissolves easily. The Swiss pharmaceutical
giant and Medicines for Malaria Venture, a nonprofit organization focused on
malaria drugs, have tested the pill in Africa, trying various flavors including
mango, said MMV Chief Executive Chris Hentschel. "The surprise was it was
liked by African children who had never tasted cherry," Mr. Hentschel
said.
Still, the new pill faces a critical challenge: getting it to the people who
need it. In recent years, new investment has poured into creating drugs for
afflictions common in developing countries. But efficient channels to
distribute the products are rare, giving rise to what health workers call
"pile-up" of drugs trying to reach villages and health clinics.
Distribution of Coartem and other drugs is largely done through an
international nonprofit fund set up for the purpose of paying for medicines in
developing countries.
The fund helps a local government buy the drugs, which are then distributed
free through national medical centers and hospitals. Coartem Dispersible will
be included in such programs. But the public distribution misses many rural
areas, which often aren't reached by national health-care facilities.
Another challenge is lowering the drug's price. Many existing malaria
medications have lost their effectiveness as the parasite that causes the
disease has built up resistance to the treatments. But they're cheaper than new
treatments like Coartem, which on average costs about 80 cents per treatment.
And people in countries where the drug is used sometimes mark up the price.
MMV is testing ways of subsidizing small local sellers of the drug in rural
areas. In Uganda, it is working with the Clinton Foundation to develop ways of
getting drugs to rural retailers at around five cents per treatment. MMV
officials said they also are working with governments to train health workers
in local communities to help people manage their health and treatment of
diseases like malaria.
Source: Guth, Robert, “New Child-Friendly Malaria Drug Presents
Distribution Challenge” Wall Street
Journal, January 27, 2009.