Retraction
The formal withdrawal of a published paper due to errors, fabricated data, or other serious problems that undermine its reliability. Retracted papers should not be cited as evidence. Retraction status is particularly important for research compounds where the evidence base may be limited.
Technical Context
Retraction Watch (retractionwatch.com) is the primary resource tracking retracted publications. MEDLINE marks retracted articles with [Retracted Publication] in the citation, and PubMed displays a prominent retraction notice. Retraction rates have increased over time (partly reflecting improved detection). Common retraction reasons: data fabrication/falsification (~60% of retractions), plagiarism (~15%), duplicate publication (~10%), and errors (~10%). For peptide compounds with limited evidence bases, a retraction of key supporting publications can fundamentally change the compound's credibility — this is particularly relevant for research compounds where the evidence base may rely on a small number of publications from a limited number of research groups. PeptideTrace notes retraction status where relevant, particularly for compounds like Dihexa where retraction history affects evidence interpretation.