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Equitable partnerships to advance early-phase trials in sub-Saharan Africa

Shared leadership between global and African partners is essential to expand early-phase trial capacity in sub-Saharan Africa and ensure that medical innovation serves the populations most affected by disease.

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Acknowledgements

K.E.S. is an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer. The NIHR had no role in the design or writing of this manuscript.

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K.E.S., A.E.C., C.C. and B.N. conceptualized the Comment. K.E.S. wrote the original draft. A.E.C., C.C., B.N., K.J., N.F., D.G.L., M.H., R.F., Z.K., H.C.M. and S.B.G. reviewed and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Katharine E. Stott.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Stott, K.E., Chirwa, A.E., Cole, C. et al. Equitable partnerships to advance early-phase trials in sub-Saharan Africa. Nat. Health (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44360-025-00043-4

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