Statin Wars – Have We Been Misled by the Evidence?

When drug companies begin producing grape flavoured statins for children and some experts suggesting that burger outlets should offer statins as “condiments” to counter the negative effects of a fast food meal. Some even debating whether statins should be added to the water supply, shouldn’t we be asking why?

Dr Maryanne Demasi says “Follow the money”

In 2000 and again in 2004 the definition of “high cholesterol” was revised from 6.5 to below 5.0 and in doing so, millions of people became eligible for these medications. This decision was not based on any new science just that it was the view that when it comes to cholesterol – the lower, the better. It was later discovered that 8 out of the 9 people recommending the lowering of the cholesterol threshold had direct financial ties to statin manufacturers.

“When drug industry sponsored trials cannot be examined and questioned by independent researchers, science ceases to exist and it becomes nothing more than marketing”
Professor Peter Gøtzsche, co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration Copenhagen

Dr Peter Gøtzsche exposes big pharma as “organised crime”

Dr. Maryanne Demasi is a former medical scientist who completed her PhD in Medicine at the University of Adelaide. Her research focused on the pathology of Rheumatoid arthritis and potential therapies. Her innovative research has appeared in several internationally published medical journals.

Leaving her lab coat behind, Maryanne accepted a position as a political advisor and speechwriter for the South Australian Minister for Science and Information technology portfolios. She advised on issues concerning Intellectual Property and commercialisation of research.

Maryanne was headhunted by the ABC ‘s Catalyst program in 2006 and gained a reputation for reporting on relevant and sometimes controversial medical stories. She has won numerous accolades for her work and in 2008, 2009 and 2011 was awarded the National Press Club of Australia’s prize for her excellence in health journalism.

The episodes of ABC Catalysts 2006 programmes can be viewed here

Heart of the Matter Part 1

Heart of the Matter Part 2

And her presentation discussing the controversy surrounding the use of statins can be viewed here

Dr. Maryanne Demasi – ‘Statin Wars: Have we been misled by the evidence?’