Public health authorities in Guinea-Bissau suspended a U.S.-funded hepatitis B vaccine study amid questions regarding the authority over clinical research conducted in Africa. The announcement was made at a press conference today by officials from Guinea-Bissau's Ministry of Health, stating the study is suspended pending a technical and ethical review by the country's national public health institute.

The decision follows weeks of conflicting statements regarding the trial's continuation. "There has been no sufficient coordination in order to take a final decision regarding the study," said Quinhin Nantote, the Minister of Public Health for Guinea-Bissau. "Faced with this situation, we decided to suspend it."

The meeting where the suspension was announced was convened by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Last week, an official with the organization signaled that the trial would not proceed.

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new hepatitis B vaccine administered at birth. Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the hepatitis B virus is most commonly spread from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids. A universal birth-dose policy for the Hepatitis B vaccine is slated to be implemented in Guinea-Bissau in 2027.

The suspension raises broader questions about the oversight and ethical considerations surrounding clinical trials conducted in African nations with funding from foreign entities. Some African scientists have voiced concerns about the potential for exploitation and the need for greater local control over research agendas. The review by Guinea-Bissau's national public health institute will likely examine the study's protocol, informed consent procedures, and potential benefits and risks to the local population. The outcome of this review will determine the future of the trial and could influence the way similar studies are conducted in Africa.