Oncology firm Novocure says cyberattack exposed US patient records

Sept. 1 (Reuters) - Oncology company Novocure NVCR.O said on Tuesday a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to certain information systems in mid-August exposed internal records of more than 1,400 U.S. patients.

The breach adds to a growing number of cyberattacks on the healthcare sector, including medical device makers Abbott ABT.N, Stryker SYK.N, Medtronic MDT.N and Boston Scientific BSX.N, drugmaker Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO and drug-delivery equipment supplier West Pharmaceutical Services WST.N.

Here are some more details:

• Novocure said it activated its cybersecurity response plan, implemented containment measures and initiated an internal investigation of the event.
• The exposed data included internal company patient ID numbers and general contact information for healthcare providers the company works with and for Novocure employees such as their job titles and phone numbers.
• Data for fewer than 50 other patients in the western U.S. that included additional identifying information was also exposed.
• The company said access to its medical treatment devices was not obtained, and that all its systems are fully functional.
• Novocure does not expect this cybersecurity incident to have a material impact on its financials.