The CTT Collaboration is an international group which currently involves >100 doctors, statisticians and research scientists, including experts in the field of cardiology, epidemiology, lipidology and clinical trials.
The Collaboration is jointly coordinated by the Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU) in Oxford, UK and the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC) in Sydney, Australia. A Secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the Collaboration’s activities, data management, analyses, and publication.
The Collaboration meets regularly, and fosters engagement with regulators and policy makers such as national clinical guideline groups.
News
Statins do not cause the majority of side effects listed in package leaflets
5 February 2026
Major study finds statins do not cause most commonly reported side effects, challenging widespread concerns about their safety.
Statins can cause a small increase in blood sugar levels, so people at high risk may develop diabetes sooner
28 March 2024
New analysis finds statins linked to small increases in blood sugar, with earlier diabetes diagnosis in high-risk individuals.
New study shows muscle pain is not due to statins in over 90% of those taking the treatment
29 August 2022
Large study finds statins cause little to no excess muscle pain, challenging common concerns about side effects.
FINDINGS
Analyses of data on major vascular events, cancers and mortality have shown that:
- Reduction of LDL cholesterol using statin therapy substantially reduces the risk of major vascular events (major coronary events, strokes or the need for coronary revascularization) and vascular mortality by about one fifth for each 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol achieved.
- Further reductions in LDL cholesterol with more intensive statin therapy produce further reductions in the incidence of major vascular events.
- Statin therapy has no effect on the incidence of, or death from, any type of cancer.
- Statin therapy is effective in women and men, in people with diabetes, and in those at low risk of vascular disease.
- Statin therapy reduces major vascular events in people of all ages, including those over the age of 75.