Orexo signs distribution agreement with Hospira in Asia for pain product Rapinyl™

Orexo signs distribution agreement with Hospira in Asia for pain product
Rapinyl™

Orexo AB and the specialty pharmaceuticals and medication delivery company
Hospira have signed a distribution agreement that grants Hospira exclusive
rights to market and sell Rapinyl™, Orexo's patented product for treatment of
break-through pain in cancer, in Asia Pacific markets including Australia and
New Zealand. Market rights for the US, the EU and Japan were previously
out-licensed, while another distribution agreement has also been signed for the
CIS, Bulgaria and Romania.

“Hospira has a strong market position in cancer treatment, and the company has a
well-established distribution network in the Asia Pacific region. Demand for
new, effective pain treatments is growing rapidly in this region, and we believe
that Hospira will be effectively commercializing Rapinyl™ in all the markets in
the territory,” says Zsolt Lavotha, president and CEO of Orexo AB. “For Orexo,
distributor agreements are important source for generating additional
profitability from Rapinyl on a global basis” he said.

Rapinyl™ is intended for treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer. It is based
on Orexo's unique and patented sublingual tablet technology in which a rapidly
dissolving tablet is placed under the tongue and the active substance is
absorbed by the mucous membrane. The new drug form is designed to provide
quickly administered, predictable and reproducible pain relief and also results
in simplified treatment for patients suffering from breakthrough pain.

“Rapinyl™ is the latest addition to our branded specialty pharmaceutical
portfolio in the region and will support our vision of Advancing Wellness for
cancer patients across Asia. It compliments our existing oncology and
oncology-support product range and our sales and marketing strengths. The Asia
Pacific market is growing rapidly, both in terms of patients and access, and
this new partnership with Orexo will help our companies improve the life of
patients and the effectiveness of their caregivers in the region” added Tim
Oldham, President, Asia-Pacific, for Hospira.

The contract with Hospira covers distribution rights in Asia Pacific markets
including Australia and New Zealand. Hospira will also be responsible for
regulatory approval in these markets. The market rights for Rapinyl™ have been
licensed to Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co. Ltd. for the Japanese market since 2003, to
Endo Pharmaceuticals for the North American market since 2004 and to ProStrakan
Group plc for the EU since 2005. During 2006, a distribution agreement was
signed with Gedeon Richter Ltd. for the CIS (Russia and other countries in the
former Soviet Union), Bulgaria and Romania.

For further information, please contact:
Zsolt Lavotha, President & CEO, Orexo
Tel: +46 (0)18 - 780 88 12
Email: zsolt.lavotha@orexo.com

Claes Wenthzel, Executive Vice President & CFO, Orexo
Tel: +46 (0)18 - 780 88 44
Email: claes.wenthzel@orexo.com

Tim Oldham, President, Hospira Asia-Pacific
Tel: +61 3 9868 0347
Email: tim.oldham@hospira.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Orexo
Orexo is a pharmaceutical company which focuses on identifying suboptimal
therapeutic characteristics of existing products and developing more efficient
and effective delivery methods for them. By combining approved active substances
with Orexo's drug delivery technologies it is possible to significantly enhance
their therapeutic value, such as providing quicker onset of action or ease of
administration. This business model is aimed at bringing products to market
faster with lower development risk and costs. 

Orexo, which has its global headquarters and development laboratories in Sweden,
currently operates across the world through development, licensing and
distribution agreements in all major markets.

Orexo has a balanced portfolio with two products on the market, three in
registration and/or late stage clinical phase, one in clinical phase I, one in
formulation phase and two in early development phase. 

Orexo is listed on the OMX Nordic List Mid Cap (ticker;ORX).
www.orexo.com

About Rapinyl™
Rapinyl™ is a patented product for the management of breakthrough cancer pain.

Rapinyl™ also has registration, development and marketing agreements in the
following countries: 
- US - Endo Pharmaceuticals
- Europe - ProStrakan
- Japan - Kyowa Hakko 
- Russia, Romania, Bulgaria - Gedeon Richter

About Orexo´s technology
Orexo´s product and development endeavours are based on its innovative expertise
in a wide variety of drug delivery formulations, with focus on dry formulations.

About Hospira 
Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery
company dedicated to Advancing Wellness™ by developing, manufacturing and
marketing products that help improve the productivity, safety and efficacy of
patient care. In February 2007, Hospira acquired Mayne Pharma Limited to become
the world leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals. With 70 years
of service to the hospital industry, Hospira's portfolio includes one of the
industry's broadest lines of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, which
help address the high cost of proprietary pharmaceuticals; and integrated
solutions for medication management and infusion therapy. Headquartered north of
Chicago in Lake Forest, Ill., Hospira has approximately  15,000 employees
worldwide. Hospira's news releases and other information can be found at
www.hospira.com.