Powdered drug a breakthrough to stop post-natal deaths of mothers in developing countries

Description

Researchers have developed a new form of medicine targeted specifically at preventing post-natal deaths among mothers who bleed out after giving birth.

A team at the Monash University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Melbourne have developed an inhalable drug in powdered form, that replaces the need to inject oxytocin which has been the standard treatment up to now.

Associate Professor Michelle McIntosh says the new medicine is tough enough to survive in tropical conditions, could easily be administered by staff with very basic health qualifications so it could have a huge impact in the Pacific and other parts of the developing world.