Peru’s National Institute of Health (INS) is urgently reviewing its procedures for authorization and supervision of clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, after protocol deviations in one such trial (see Nature 592, 174–175 (2021) and C. F. Cáceres et al. Nature 592, 685; 2021). Now under investigation by a regulatory body, the incident dented public confidence in the integrity of our scientific community.
The INS aims to ensure that such irregularities can never happen again. It plans to create a National Bioethics Commission, to establish a sanctions procedure and to upgrade training in ethics and scientific integrity for researchers.
There are currently 28 other clinical trials related to COVID-19 (4 vaccines and 24 treatments) in progress in Peru. All conform to international ethical and scientific standards.
