LivaNova PLC, a prominent global medical technology company, has issued a notification to its U.S. patients concerning a cybersecurity breach initially reported on November 20, 2023. This announcement, made public on April 25, 2024, outlines the details and ramifications of the incident that disrupted parts of the company’s information technology systems last year.
The cybersecurity issue was first detected on November 19, 2023, leading LivaNova to immediately launch an investigation with the help of external cybersecurity experts and collaborate with law enforcement authorities. In response, certain systems were temporarily taken offline to manage the situation, allowing the company to continue its manufacturing operations as previously announced. The investigation revealed that the initial unauthorized access occurred around October 26, 2023.
On April 10, 2024, it was discovered that the intruder had accessed and obtained identifiable personal information of various U.S. patients. The compromised data includes sensitive information such as names, contact details (phone numbers, email, and postal addresses), Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and extensive medical information including treatments, conditions, diagnoses, prescriptions, physician details, medical record numbers, device serial numbers, and health insurance information. The scope and nature of the data breached are still under thorough examination by the company.
To address this severe breach of privacy, LivaNova has taken several steps to mitigate the impact on affected individuals. The company has set up a dedicated notice on its website and is directly contacting U.S. patients for whom it has contact details. LivaNova is offering complimentary identity protection and credit monitoring services to all affected U.S. patients. They are advised to remain vigilant by regularly reviewing their account statements, monitoring their credit reports, and being cautious of unsolicited communications that request personal information.
Patients seeking more information or assistance regarding the breach can contact LivaNova’s dedicated toll-free number, available from Monday through Friday during business hours. The company has also provided an engagement number for reference when calling.
LivaNova PLC, headquartered in London, has nearly five decades of experience in the medical technology field. The company is committed to improving the lives of patients worldwide, employing about 2,900 people and maintaining a presence in over 100 countries. For further details about the company and its initiatives, individuals can visit their official website.
Additionally, the press release contains a safe harbor statement highlighting that the forward-looking statements regarding the cybersecurity incident are subject to various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These factors are detailed in the company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, supplemented by risk factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. LivaNova clarifies that it holds no obligation to update the information shared in the press release following new events or circumstances.
