Cipla, a global pharmaceutical company, and the product development partnership Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announced the launch of 100 mg Artesunate Rectocaps/Rectal Artesunate Suppositories (RAS), a life-saving, pre-referral intervention for the management of severe malaria in young children.

Initially developed by the World Health Organization's (WHO) Tropical Diseases Research programme, RAS 100 mg manufactured by Cipla was recently added to the Global Fund Expert Review Panel's list of quality-assured medicines, while the process of WHO prequalification of this medicine moves through its final stages. This authorization makes it the first quality-assured RAS product.

Umang Vohra, MD and Global CEO, Cipla, said, ''Cipla is committed to providing access to affordable medicines. Our endeavour is to make RAS 100 mg available in rural areas in Africa and to national community health programmes, notably with the support of international donors that have already pledged to procure Rectal Artesunate.''

Shares of the company gained Rs 0.55, or 0.1%, to trade at Rs 565.05. The total volume of shares traded was 13,421 at the BSE (10.08 a.m., Wednesday).