Statins expert calls for safety checks over the drug

‘An Oxford professor whose findings were central to the mass prescription of statins is to re-examine trial data after concerns over the heart drug.

Prof Rory Collins, whose research helped rubber stamp statins as safe, said his team will carry out a “challenging” reassessment of the evidence which will include studying all reported side effects.

Although the original research looked at the effect of statins on the heart and considered cancer risks it did not examine other side effects.

Separate studies and patient complaints have included muscle pain, cataracts, diabetes, fatigue and memory loss. Dr Collins, who championed the controversial drug, said the additional work was needed to convince the public that statins were safe.’

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