The accusation against Komuro in a blog is strongly reminiscent of the scandal involving Hiroaki Matsubara, another prominent researcher who recently resigned from his position after numerous retractions and investigations.
In addition to his many papers exploring the basic science of the renin-angiotensin system, Matsubara was the chief investigator of the KYOTO HEART Study, a randomized, open-labeled trial studying the add-on effect of valsartan to conventional therapy in high-risk hypertension.
Last March, following accusations by independent bloggers in Japan and Germany, the American Heart Association (AHA) issued an Expression of Concern about five papers published in AHA journals co-authored by the chief investigator of the Kyoto Heart Study, Hiroaki Matsubara, who was a prominent cardiologist and researcher at Kyoto Prefectural University in Japan.