A unique collaboration between Novartis and WHO
A landmark private-public agreement between Novartis and WHO was unveiled in 2001. In a 10-year pact, Novartis agreed to make Coartem® available without profit for distribution through WHO in malaria-endemic developing countries.
Developing countries or their agents procure Coartem® using grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and other donors. The Global Fund is the world’s largest financier of malaria control programmes, receiving support mainly from G-8 countries and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The US President’s Malaria Initiative, the World Bank Malaria Booster Program and, more recently, the airline tax charity UNITAID are other important funders of malaria management initiatives. This broad partnership has provided millions of children and adults with access to a high-quality treatment for malaria.
Expanding access to Coartem®
For patients in developing countries who are treated through the public healthcare system, Novartis announced a significant price reduction in 2006, lowering the price for Coartem® treatment from an average of US$1.57 to US$1.00. In April 2008, and again in August 2009, the company made further reductions, cutting the public sector price to an average of US$0.76 (or US$0.36 for a child’s treatment pack). Since 2001, the price of Coartem® for public sector buyers has dropped by over 50%.
Coartem® production continues to be a non-profit-making initiative for Novartis.
