Security News > 2023 > June > Ransomware scum hit Japanese pharma giant Eisai Group

Japanese pharma giant Eisai today confirmed to The Register that "There is no imminent risk of stock shortage" after it was hit by ransomware at the weekend.

Its Japanese parent group confirmed earlier this week it had taken offline "Certain systems" both inside and outside of Japan, including "Logistics systems" after some of its servers were encrypted by ransomware.

Eisai told The Register today, its manufacturing site in Hatfield, England, continues to operate as normal with UK systems unaffected by the cyber attack.

We asked the pharmaceutical giant whether it paid a ransom and it responded: "While the ransomware incident is being investigated by our cyber security team and law enforcement, no further details can be shared. Eisai prides itself on transparent communications with all stakeholders and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available."

The Japanese giant acquired one of the US's bigger biotech firms, MGI Pharma, for $3.9 billion back in 2008, with reports at the time saying it was part of a push to "Increase its foothold in the fast-growing cancer drug business and its international presence." According to its last annual financial report [PDF], Eisai recently put into operation its Deep Human Biology Learning drug discovery and development system for Eisai's focus fields of neurodegenerative diseases and refractory cancers, those which are resistant to treatment, as well as "The global health field including neglected tropical diseases."

The attack on Eisai is the latest in a string of ransomware blitzes targeting the biotech and pharma sector.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/06/09/eisai_group_hit_by_ransomware/