Novo Nordisk Data Breach: What Ozempic and Wegovy Patients Should Know

Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss, announced a cybersecurity incident last week. The company disclosed that criminals accessed their computer systems and stole data. A group called FulcrumSec demanded a payment of 25 million dollars, and when Novo Nordisk refused to pay, the criminals released the stolen information publicly. This affects anyone who takes insulin, Ozempic, or Wegovy and has interacted with Novo Nordisk directly. This could include people who signed up for patient assistance programs, subscribed to medication information, or contacted the company's customer service. The company has not specified exactly what information was taken, but data breaches at pharmaceutical companies can include names, contact information, prescription details, and sometimes medical information. If you take any Novo Nordisk medication, watch your email and mail closely for the next few months.

Here is what to do right now:

1. Monitor your medical accounts and insurance statements for any unusual activity or charges you do not recognize.
2. Be extra cautious about emails or phone calls claiming to be from Novo Nordisk, your pharmacy, or your insurance company. Criminals often use stolen information to make scams more convincing.
3. If you receive any communication from Novo Nordisk about this breach, read it carefully and follow their instructions.
4. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report if you are concerned about identity theft. For ongoing protection, remember that you cannot control whether companies keep your data safe, but you can control how you respond. Never give out personal or medical information over the phone unless you initiated the call. Save any official notices from companies about data breaches. Keep a list of which companies have your medical information so you know who to contact if something seems wrong.