Biotechnology company Pharming is accused by Australian counterpart CSL of inciting corporate espionage. A senior researcher from CSL took 25 gigabytes of Australian data to Pharming, where he now holds a high position, write the Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald. CSL also announced the theft to its shareholders on Wednesday.
In the United States, CSL has already applied for a ban on the use of the stolen data by Pharming and his former employee through the courts. The Australians also want compensation and a fine for both the researcher and Pharming.
Joe Chiao, an expert in the field of rare blood disease, suddenly resigned from CSL at the end of September. The company then decided to look at its communication prior to departure and found that he had been in contact with senior figures at Pharming for several months. The weekend before his departure, he downloaded and e-mailed internal documents, says CSL.
Pharming was not immediately available for comment.
