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The path to drug approval is long, hard and often perplexing. In recent months, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has promised to bolster 'regulatory science', which aims to transform its decision-making process to be more efficient, transparent and accountable. However, diverse stakeholders, including patients, drug developers and the US Congress, will have to rise to the challenge of coordinating their priorities if this endeavor is to succeed.
Retracting a paper is perhaps the most unpleasant task a journal has to face, particularly if the retraction involves scientific misconduct. With the number of retractions on the rise, an improved mechanism to deal with misconduct is necessary.