Inotiv Pharma Hit by Ransomware Attack, Disrupting Operations
â–Ľ Summary
– Inotiv experienced a ransomware attack on August 8, 2025, which encrypted some of its systems and data, disrupting business operations.
– The company initiated an investigation with external security experts and notified law enforcement about the cybersecurity breach.
– The Qilin ransomware gang claimed responsibility, alleging theft of 162,000 files (176GB) and published data samples on their leak site.
– Inotiv, an Indiana-based contract research organization with 2,000 employees and over $500 million in annual revenue, is working to restore affected systems and has migrated some operations offline.
– No timeline has been provided for a return to normal operations, and the company expects adverse effects to persist for some time.
A major cybersecurity incident has severely impacted Inotiv, a prominent pharmaceutical research firm, after a ransomware attack encrypted critical systems and disrupted essential business functions. The company confirmed the breach in an official filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, revealing that unauthorized access was detected on August 8, 2025. Immediate containment measures were initiated to limit further damage and protect sensitive operational data.
Inotiv launched a comprehensive investigation with assistance from external cybersecurity professionals and promptly alerted law enforcement agencies. The Qilin ransomware group has publicly taken responsibility for the attack, asserting they exfiltrated approximately 162,000 files totaling 176GB of data. Samples of the stolen information have already appeared on the gang’s dark web leak site, raising concerns about potential data exposure.
As a contract research organization headquartered in Indiana, Inotiv plays a vital role in drug discovery, development, and safety evaluation, in addition to live animal research modeling. With a workforce of nearly 2,000 specialists and annual revenues surpassing $500 million, the company’s operations are integral to numerous pharmaceutical and biotech partners.
The intrusion significantly impaired key networks, databases, and internal applications, leading to considerable operational delays. In response, Inotiv’s IT division is actively working to restore affected systems while transitioning certain functions to offline alternatives to maintain continuity. Despite these efforts, the company has not provided a timeline for full recovery, indicating that disruptions may continue for an unspecified period.
Inquiries regarding the validity of Qilin’s claims remain unanswered as the situation continues to develop. The incident underscores the persistent threat ransomware poses to critical research and healthcare infrastructure.
(Source: NewsAPI Cybersecurity & Enterprise)
