Pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca accidentally sent out confidential internal corporate forecasts to financial analysts last week.
According to the Financial Times, it sent the emails on 5 January and a day later requested recipients destroy the information without accessing it.
“In line with its usual practice, the company will provide specific financial guidance for 2012 and any updates to 2010 to 2014 midterm planning assumptions, in conjunction with its full year 2011 financial results announcement, scheduled for 2 February 2012,” the company said in a statement.
Proofpoint vice-president of technology Andres Kohn said the breach was a classic "fat finger" mistake, but added AstraZeneca should have had policies and technology in place to ensure data was handled appropriately.
