From: Fiona Godlee Date: 7 August 2014 09:38 Subject: Next steps towards greater transparency on statins To: Rory Collins Cc: Iain Chalmers , Klim McPherson Dear Rory. I am writing to follow up on the recent email exchanges with Iain and Klim. As you know, the Heath panel report has reiterated calls for the trial data on statins to be made available for independent third party scrutiny. As I explained in an earlier email to you, and as set out in a BMJ editorial to be published this week, it is my intention to support these calls in order, at the very least, to allow a better understanding of the limitations of the data and in hopes of helping to resolve the continuing debate about the wider use of statins in healthy people at low risk of heart disease. It is my understanding that the CTT does not have access to all the trial data, because the data on adverse events and serious adverse events were not included in the CTT agreements for data sharing. It is also my understanding that the CTT does not have the right to share data with third parties. I would be very grateful if you could confirm that this understanding is correct and to provide any additional explanation of the way in which the CTT works that would help readers understand your processes and appreciate the extraordinary amount of collaborative work that has so far been achieved. I would also be grateful of you could outline what you are now doing to obtain these remaining data and to make all the data from the trials (in the form of appropriately redacted clinical study reports and anonymised individual patient data) available for independent third party scrutiny. I am writing to the principal investigators of the 27 statin trials and to the Cochrane statins review group. All letters including this one to you, and any replies, will be posted on thebmj.com/statins. Many thanks for your help with this. I look forward to hearing from you. All best wishes. Fiona Dr Fiona Godlee FRCP Editor in chief, The BMJ London WC1H 9JR www.thebmj.com fgodlee@bmj.com 44 (0)207 383 6002