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

Switzerland’s medical products authority has granted the first approval for a malaria medicine designed for small infants.

The drug will address a neglected patient group and is being introduced largely on a not-for-profit basis. The first-ever treatment for malaria in young babies and infants has been approved.