In 2003 a group of pharmacologists of the University of Leipzig claimed to have proven the efficacy of high-potency homeopathic Belladonna solutions (D32, D60 and D100). The authors, Franziska Schmidt, Prof. Karen Nieber and Prof. Wolfgang Suess had done in-vitro-experiments with tissue from the rat intestine. Even before the publication of their positive results… the homeopathic community was so enthusiastic about this new proof of homeopathy that in 2003 the three authors were awarded the "Heinrich-Reckeweg-Preis" (worth 10.000 Euros) of the International Society of Homotoxicology ([broken link removed]).
Skeptics soon pointed out that the study was seriously flawed ([broken link removed]) and complained with the dean of the faculty where the results were produced. Nothing happened for quite a while, but now the German Pharmacistś Journal (Deutsche Apothekerzeitung) reports in its latest issue (2005, vol. 145, no. 44, pp. 24f.) that the authors have now admitted that their study was flawed; and that, as a consequence, the publication has been withdrawn from the journal Biologische Medizin and the Reckeweg Prize has been returned. Indeed, the award notice was removed without comment from Niebeŕs homepage in the night from November 8 to 9, 2005.