The approval of the first malaria treatment for newborns and young infants could lead to imminent widespread use in Africa, drugmaker Novartis said Tuesday.

The newly approved medication, Coartem Baby, is a combination of two antimalarials. It is a lower dose version of a tablet previously approved for other age groups, including older children.

The first malaria treatment suitable for babies and very young children has been approved for use. It's expected to be rolled out in African countries within weeks. Until now there have been no approved malaria drugs specifically for babies.