The Steady Drip: Novo Nordisk Hackers Fail in $25 Million Extortion Bid (Connecting the Dots: Novo Nordisk, The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma) & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Novo Nordisk Hackers Fail in $25 Million Extortion Bid (Connecting the Dots: Novo Nordisk, The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma) & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Newsmax.com

Tuesday, 16 June 2026 06:17 PM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/novo-nordisk-cybersecurity-hack/2026/06/16/id/1259882/

A cyber extortion group claimed on Tuesday to have stolen more than a terabyte of data from pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk and said it is exploring selling parts of the data after unsuccessfully demanding $25 million from the company.

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 artificial intelligence model information.

A Novo Nordisk spokesperson said in an email that the company "is aware ⁠of claims that data allegedly copied externally without authorization from our systems has been published online."

"We take this matter seriously and maintain continued operations of our main platforms. We are in contact with the relevant authorities," the spokesperson said.

Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of ‌the data posted by the hacking group. FulcrumSec also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Danish company ‌disclosed a cybersecurity incident on June 11 that it said involved unauthorized access to a limited number of internal information technology systems that included access to certain ‌personal data.

FulcrumSec said that after Novo Nordisk refused to pay $25 million, it was "exploring private sales" for some of the data related to certain drugs and other internal data.

Thomas Willkan, head of research at cybersecurity firm Lab-1, ⁠who has closely tracked FulcrumSec, said the ‌hacking group is "usually quite legit in terms ⁠of both their capabilities and also their claims."

FulcrumSec said it would not share some of the data it stole, including information on thousands ⁠of company ⁠employees and physicians and roughly 11,500 clinical trial patients identified only by codes.

The group said it also would withhold data related to operational technology and software used to interact ‌with sensors and machinery at Novo Nordisk production facilities as part of its "harm-reduction strategy."

Novo Nordisk is known for its treatments for obesity and diabetes, notably Wegovy and Ozempic.

DataBreaches.net, a blog focused on cybersecurity, ransomware, and data extortion, reported on ‌June 15 that FulcrumSec told the blog on June ‌14 it gained access to Novo Nordisk's network in March and shared purported correspondence with Novo Nordisk starting June 1 that included a list of more than 700,000 files, making up roughly 1.3 terabytes of data.

VX-Underground, a malware research and repository site, reported separately on Monday about an unnamed hacker having compromised Novo Nordisk. FulcrumSec said in its message that its attack is separate.

Connecting the Dots:

Covington & Burling LLP was the lobby firm for Novo Nordisk Inc. and is the lobby firm for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma).

John R. Bolton was an associate at the Washington, D.C. office of Covington & Burling LLP and the national security adviser for the Donald Trump's first Administration.

Covington & Burling LLP was the lobby firm for Novo Nordisk Inc. and is the lobby firm for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma).

Eric H. Holder Jr. is a partner at Covington & Burling LLP, was the attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice for the Barack Obama administration and a board member for the American Constitution Society.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the American Constitution Society.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Faith Elizabeth Gay is a board of adviser’s member for the American Constitution Society and was an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP.

Robert Raben was a director at the American Constitution Society, and an assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice.

David B. Barlow was the U.S. attorney for the District of Utah for the U.S. Department of Justice and is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.

Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for Novo Nordisk Inc. and is the lobby firm for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma).

Lars Rebien Sorensen is the president & CEO for Novo Nordisk Inc. and was a supervisory board member for Bertelsmann AG.

Markus Dohle is an executive board member for Bertelsmann AG and was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Elizabeth Frawley Bagley is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a director at the National Park Foundation.

Bryan Traubert is a director at the National Park Foundation and married to Penny S. Pritzker.

Penny S. Pritzker is married to Bryan Traubert, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was the secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Barack Obama administration.

William M. Daley is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was the chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

Rahm I. Emanuel is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was the White House chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago and

counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for Novo Nordisk Inc. and is the lobby firm for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma).

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the American Constitution Society.

Robert Raben was a director at the American Constitution Society and an assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Eric H. Holder Jr. was a board member for the American Constitution Society, the attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice for the Barack Obama administration and is a partner at Covington & Burling LLP.

John R. Bolton was an associate at the Washington, D.C. office of Covington & Burling LLP and the national security adviser for the Donald Trump's first Administration.

Covington & Burling LLP was the lobby firm for Novo Nordisk Inc. and is the lobby firm for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma).

Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for Novo Nordisk Inc. and is the lobby firm for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma).

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the American Constitution Society.

Faith Elizabeth Gay is a board of adviser’s member for the American Constitution Society and was an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP.

Robert Raben was a director at the American Constitution Society, and an assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice.

David B. Barlow was the U.S. attorney for the District of Utah for the U.S. Department of Justice and is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP.

Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for Novo Nordisk Inc. and is the lobby firm for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma).

Lars Rebien Sorensen is the president & CEO for Novo Nordisk Inc. and was a supervisory board member for Bertelsmann AG.

Mayer Brown was the lobby firm for Bertelsmann AG.

Robert A. Helman is a partner at Mayer Brown and was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

William M. Daley is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago,

was the chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration and a partner at Mayer Brown.

George A. Ranney Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and

a senior counsel at Mayer Brown.

Debora de Hoyos is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and a partner at Mayer Brown.

Tyrone C. Fahner is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and a partner at Mayer Brown.

Mayer Brown was the lobby firm for Bertelsmann AG.

Lars Rebien Sorensen was a supervisory board member for Bertelsmann AG and is the president & CEO for Novo Nordisk Inc.

Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for Novo Nordisk Inc. and is the lobby firm for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma).

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Harold H. Koh was a director at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the State Department legal adviser for the Barack Obama administration and a lawyer at Covington & Burling LLP.

Covington & Burling LLP was the lobby firm for Novo Nordisk Inc. and is the lobby firm for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Big Pharma).

John R. Bolton was an associate at the Washington, D.C. office of Covington & Burling LLP and the national security adviser for the Donald Trump's first Administration.

Lanny A. Breuer is a partner at Covington & Burling LLP and was the assistant attorney general, criminal division for the U.S. Department of Justice.