Apple Signals Product Price Hikes Amid Rising Memory Chip Costs 
SK Hynix Shares Hit Record High After Shipping Next-Generation HBM4E AI Memory Samples 
HSBC Australia Faces A$35M Penalty Over Scam Protection Failures 
Why the future of marijuana legalization remains hazy despite high public support 
RFK Jr. Orders Extended Hantavirus Quarantine for Cruise Passenger 
US Tightens Ebola Controls as Congo Outbreak Sparks Global Concern 
BHP Shares Fall as Jansen Potash Project Costs Surge 
Supreme Court Blocks 5th Circuit Ruling on Abortion Pill Access 
US-Iran De-Escalation Shifts Washington’s Focus to AI Regulation and Crypto Legislation 
Trump Says Anthropic No Longer Seen as National Security Threat 
Kingboard Holdings Shares Surge After HK$11.77 Billion Block Trade to Expand PCB and AI Supply Chain Business 
CDC Confirms U.S. Ebola Case Linked to Congo Outbreak as Travel Restrictions Tighten 
Medicare to Cover GLP-1 Weight-Loss and Diabetes Drugs Starting July 1 
TD Bank Expands Employee Monitoring Software to Boost Productivity Amid Privacy Concerns 
SoftBank Shares Drop as OpenAI Losses and Rising Costs Spark Investor Concerns 
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis (SIX:NOVN) has reaffirmed its commitment to producing life-saving treatments for malaria and leprosy, even amid uncertainty over global health funding. According to Dr. Lutz Hegemann, President of Global Health at Novartis, the company will continue manufacturing its 28 million annual malaria treatment courses regardless of demand or funding disruptions.
Most of Novartis' antimalarial drugs are sold at a not-for-profit price to global initiatives, including the U.S.-funded President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). However, recent aid cuts under President Donald Trump have threatened such programs. Earlier this year, a contractor for PMI canceled an order due to a government stop-work directive, but resumed the request shortly after receiving an exemption. “We are not going to be the bottleneck,” said Hegemann, emphasizing the company's commitment to maintaining supply even during funding gaps.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria remains the largest purchaser of Novartis' malaria treatments. While it has not yet faced funding cuts, it is actively seeking donations in a difficult financial environment.
Speaking from London, Hegemann urged the pharmaceutical industry to take a more proactive role in global health, advocating for deeper collaborations with low- and middle-income countries. He stressed that companies should go beyond merely compensating for shrinking donor aid and instead foster long-term public-private partnerships.
Novartis is also ramping up its R&D spending on malaria and neglected tropical diseases. The company expects to invest $490 million by 2025—nearly double its original $250 million pledge. Ongoing projects include a dengue antiviral, new therapies for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, and the first malaria drug designed for newborns.
This strong commitment highlights Novartis’ leadership in global health and its resolve to support vulnerable communities worldwide.
