Cyberattack hits EU medicines agency 

A cyberattack has been launched against the EU’s medicines regulator. 

The European Medicines Agency, which is currently weighing up whether to give special approval for several coronavirus vaccines, said on Wednesday it had been the victim of a cyberattack.

‘EMA has been the subject of a cyberattack. The Agency has swiftly launched a full investigation, in close cooperation with law enforcement and other relevant entities,’ the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency said in a statement. 

It was not immediately clear when or how the attack took place, who was responsible or what, if any, data was compromised.

But hacking attempts against healthcare and medical organisations have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic as attackers ranging from state-backed spies to cyber criminals scramble to obtain the latest information about the outbreak.

Hackers linked to North Korea, Iran, Vietnam, China and Russia have on separate occasions been accused of trying to steal information about the virus and its potential treatments.