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United StatesCulture4 days ago

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about hackers extorting Novo, an FDA about-face, and more

A cyber extortion group called FulcrumSec claims to have stolen over a terabyte of data from Novo Nordisk, including source code, drug development information, and internal AI models. The group reportedly spent over two months inside the company's network before failing to secure a $25 million ransom. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reversed its stance on a controversial experimental treatment.

By Ed Silverman

June 17, 2026

Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the middle of the week. Congratulations on making it this far, and remember there are only a few more days until the weekend arrives. So keep plugging away. After all, what are the alternatives? While you ponder the possibilities, we invite you to join us for a needed cup of stimulation. Our choice today is maple bourbon. A shot of salvation, if you will. Meanwhile, here is the latest menu of tidbits to help you on your way. We hope you conquer the world and have a wonderful day. And as always, please do stay in touch. …

A cyber extortion group claimed ​to have stolen more than a terabyte of data from Novo Nordisk and said it is ‌exploring selling parts of the data after unsuccessfully demanding $25 million from the company , Reuters reports. FulcrumSec, a cyber extortion group that emerged in October 2025, said in a long message posted to its website that it spent more than two months in Novo Nordisk’s networks stealing data. It said that data included company source code, proprietary information on ​released and unreleased drugs, trial data, employee, doctor, and patient data, information related to company processing facilities, and internal AI model ​information.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reversed its opposition to a closely watched experimental treatment for Huntington’s disease, clearing a path for UniQure to file for marketing approval , STAT writes. The decision comes after a recent meeting with FDA officials during which the agency agreed that a three-year analysis of an early-stage study that showed a benefit for patients with Huntington’s was “acceptable” to support a marketing application. These are the same data that former FDA officials, most notably Commissioner Marty Makary and Vinay Prasad, the agency’s top regulator of cell and gene therapies, previously concluded were insufficient to support a marketing application.

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Source document: Reuters report on FulcrumSec's claim against Novo Nordisk

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STAT NewsIndependentCenter4 days ago
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about hackers extorting Novo, an FDA about-face, and more

A cyber extortion group called FulcrumSec claims to have stolen over a terabyte of data from Novo Nordisk, including source code, drug development information, and internal AI models. The group reportedly spent over two months inside the company's network before failing to secure a $25 million ransom. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reversed its stance on a controversial experimental treatment.

Bias read (Center): The article provides factual details about a cybersecurity incident involving a pharmaceutical company and mentions a regulatory reversal by the FDA without taking a clear ideological stance or using biased language. There is no evident framing that favors one side over another.

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