Switzerland-based Novartis is investing more than USD100m to advance research and development of new antimalarials over the next five years, it was reported yesterday.

The company's five-year commitment to the fight against malaria was announced in conjunction with the 7th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Conference and the Malaria Summit of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

Over the next five years, as part of its commitment, the company will invest more than USD100m to advance research and development of next-generation treatments to combat emerging resistance to artemisinin and other presently used antimalarials. The firm will also implement an equitable pricing strategy to maximise patient access in malaria-endemic countries when these new treatments become available.