MMV and Novartis Launch Coartem Dispersible in Africa - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania -- Novartis and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announced today the start of the Africa launch week of Coartem Dispersible. Coartem Dispersible is the result of a unique public-private collaboration between Novartis and the nonprofit Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).  The announcement was made today in Dar es Salaam at the start of a week-long pan-African introduction of Coartem Dispersible, which includes regional events in Mozambique and Senegal.

"Africa bears the overwhelming burden of malaria. We are losing our children - and therefore our future - to this disease. Now we have a lifesaving, dispersible antimalarial drug made specifically for children. This represents a major advance towards our target of achieving universal coverage with treatment by 2010," said Awa Marie Coll-Seck, executive director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership.

To read the full press release, visit the MMV web site.