Second Ecstasy paper to be retracted

The European Journal of Pharmacology has received an e-mail from George Ricaurte, principal author of the recently retracted Science paper on the effects of the recreational drug Ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA), which may indicate that another paper will have to be retracted. Editorial representatives of the journal would not describe the contents of the e-mail, but told The Scientist that a decision on the matters therein will be taken at tomorrow's (September 18) editorial board meeting.

The Baltimore Sun last week reported that according to a spokesperson for the Ricaurte group, Una McCann, "a letter of retraction had been sent to a medical journal, which she declined to identify until editors there decide how to handle the matter."

McCann's admission indicated that experiments other than the one reported in Science may also have used the wrong chemical. The letter of retraction to Science indicated that the suspect container for Ecstasy ...