(AOF) – DMS Group (Diagnostic Medical Systems Group) announces that it has been the target of a ransomware-type cyberattack. The specialist in high-performance medical imaging systems for digital radiology and bone densitometry specifies that the situation is currently contained, that no health data was found on the hacked servers, and that no equipment installed by the company among its customers was not impacted. DMS Group expects a gradual resumption of activity from next week, priority having been given to operations.
In view of these elements, DMS Group does not anticipate any significant impact on activity on an annual basis, and a limited impact on the 1st quarter.
AOF – LEARN MORE
Learn more about the specialty distribution industry
Concerns remain
According to the Federation of Specialized Trade, Procos, in October 2022, activity fell by 1.5% year-on-year. However, the activity of beauty and health (+ 5.2%) and specialized food (+ 3.5%) are dynamic compared to October 2021. Attendance at points of sale was very impacted by the problems fuel and unfavorable weather. Compared to October 2019, a pre-covid year, the drop in attendance is very sharp (-20.9% in October). Shopping centers and the outskirts are more impacted than city centers with a gap of four to five points.
There are several reasons for concern for the future. The players are experiencing a very significant jaws effect given the increase in their operating costs while the evolution of demand is very uncertain. Very few brands can pass on the increase in their costs in sales prices. The federation therefore asks, among other things, to limit the indexation of the Commercial Rent Index to + 3.5% for the rents of all companies in 2023. It also invokes an absolute emergency: to cap the price of energy for 2023 and retroact on contracts already signed to prevent the rate of failures from accelerating.
Learn more about the Pharmacy sector
Oncology, priority of pharmaceutical giants
Sanofi’s stock market disappointment recorded at the end of October 2023 underlines the new direction for the group, which has now set oncology as its number 1 priority. Efforts in this segment, where therapies are advancing the fastest, notably involve investments in R&D which weigh on profitability. Sanofi therefore announced a drop in its earnings per share in 2024 and the abandonment of its objective of an operating margin of 32% in 2025. Merck has just unveiled a new alliance. It will pay up to $22 billion to the Japanese group Daiichi Sankyo as part of a partnership on experimental cancer treatments. While some experts estimate that the United States represents nearly half of global oncology spending (drugs and treatments), or $196 billion in 2022, Chinese spending in this area has more than doubled in five years, going from 5 to 11.8 billion dollars.