The Malaria Initiative
Resting on four key pillars – access, treatment, research & development, and capacity building – the Novartis Malaria Initiative is tailored to best meet patient needs. It has become one of the largest access-to-medicine programs in the healthcare industry, measured by the number of patients reached annually.
Since 2001, working with a range of organizations, we have provided 500 million treatments for adults and children, without profit, to more than 60 malaria-endemic countries, contributing to a significant reduction of the death toll from malaria, mostly infants and children. We are proud of the remarkable public heath milestones these collaborations have helped to achieved.
1994
2010
2011
Innovative collaboration starts between Novartis and Chinese partners
1997
Novartis former CEO and current Chairman Daniel Vasella commits to make the fight against malaria a key aspect of the company’s access-to-medicine programs
1998-1999
First regulatory approvals for artemether-lumefantrine in Africa (Gabon), Switzerland and Europe (UK)
1999
Launch of artemether-lumefantrine, the first ACT brought to market in a fixed-dose form
2001
Collaboration with the WHO to supply artemether-lumefantrine without profit to the public sector
2002
Artemether-lumefantrine is the first ACT listed on the WHO's Model List of Essential Medicines
2005-2006
Subsequent production scale-up to 100 million treatment capacity per year
2006
Start of best practice sharing workshops with national malaria control program managers
2006-2009
Price more than halved thanks to economies of scale
2009
Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council Award
2009
- Launch of Dispersible artemether-lumefantrine with MMV
- Artemether-lumefantrine is the first ACT approved by the US FDA
- Prix Galien USA
- World Business and Development Award, United Nations
- Award for Corporate Social Responsibility by the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals
Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award for SMS for Life
2011
GBC Business Action on Health Awards for SMS for Life
2012
SMS for Life honored with a catalytic grant from The Innovation Working Group
2012
500 million artemether-lumefantrine treatments delivered to patients – contributing to a significant reduction of the death toll from malaria – since 2001
