Millions of tablets of a highly effective medicine for malaria may have to be destroyed in the next few months because orders from the developing world are substantially below original forecasts, Sanofi-Aventis, the French-based pharmaceutical group, has warned.

In a letter sent to malaria specialists earlier this month and obtained by the FT, Robert Sebbag, vice-president in charge of access to medicines at the company, says it may have to write off up to €2m for surplus production and destruction of 10m tablets of artesunate.