US-Backed Hepatitis B Vaccine Trial in Guinea-Bissau Halted

The hepatitis B vaccine study planned for newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been stopped, the lead researcher announced on Wednesday. Danish scientist Frederik Schaltz‑Buchholzer posted on LinkedIn that the trial will not proceed because the project did not receive the required governmental approval.

The trial, which was to be funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, faced widespread criticism and backlash from international observers and advocacy groups. The lack of official clearance in Guinea‑Bissau has now made it clear that the study will not move forward in the country.

Researchers had hoped the trial would provide data on protecting infants from hepatitis B, a disease that remains a public‑health concern in many low‑income regions. The cancellation underscores the challenges of conducting vaccine research abroad without full local consent.

Why It Matters

The halt highlights the importance of securing host‑country approval for U.S.-backed health research and the sensitivity surrounding vaccine trials in low‑resource settings.