# Who is targeting pharmaceutical organisations?

> Public reporting links 8 threat groups to attacks on pharmaceutical organisations, part of the healthcare and pharmaceuticals industry, including Tortoiseshell, Molerats and APT41. 6 of them are thought to have state backing. This page lists them and where they are thought to operate from, so you can see who might come after a business like yours.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/pharmaceuticals
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/) > [Industries](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/industries) > [Healthcare and pharmaceuticals](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/industries/healthcare-pharmaceuticals) > Pharmaceutical

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Threat groups linked | 8 |
| Related sectors with groups | 5 |
| Suspected state backing | 6 of 8 |
| Countries of origin | 4 |
| Part of | Healthcare and pharmaceuticals |

## Which groups target pharmaceutical organisations?

| Group | Thought to operate from | Suspected state backing | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tortoiseshell | Iran | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/tortoiseshell |
| Molerats | Palestinian Territories | Palestine | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/molerats |
| APT41 | China | People's Republic of China | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/apt41 |
| POLONIUM | Lebanon | Lebanon | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/polonium |
| APT9 | China | No | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/apt9 |
| BRONZE SPRING | China | No | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/bronze-spring |
| APT42 | Iran | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/apt42 |
| BANISHED KITTEN | Iran | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/banished-kitten |

## Where are they thought to operate from?

- Iran: 3
- China: 3
- Palestinian Territories: 1
- Lebanon: 1

## Other sectors in healthcare and pharmaceuticals

- [Healthcare](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/healthcare): 10 groups (also called health)
- [Biomedical](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/biomedical): 3 groups (also called medical)
- [Medical organisations](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/medical-organizations): 2 groups
- [Covid-19 research organisations](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/covid-19-research-organizations): 1 group
- [Health care and social assistance](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/health-care-and-social-assistance): 1 group

## Frequently asked questions

### Which threat groups target pharmaceutical organisations?

Public reporting links 8 threat groups to attacks on pharmaceutical organisations, including Tortoiseshell, Molerats, APT41, POLONIUM and APT9.

### Where are these groups thought to operate from?

Most are thought to operate from Iran (3), China (3) and Palestinian Territories (1). 6 of the 8 are thought to have backing from a government.

### Which industry is pharmaceutical part of?

Pharmaceutical sits within healthcare and pharmaceuticals. The industry page lists every group linked to the wider sector.

### How can I check my own organisation's exposure?

Create an account and tell us the software you run. We match it against known flaws, rank each one from 0 to 100 using evidence it is being exploited, let you know as soon as something changes that affects you, and show which groups and ransomware gangs are hitting your sector.

## Check whether it matters to your business

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