Orion sues Sun Pharmaceuticals in the U.S. to enforce Orion's U.S. Patent No. 5,446,194 covering its proprietary drug Stalevo®

Company states the realisation of generic competition is neither
certain nor imminent


Orion Corporation filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the United
States to enforce its U.S. Patent No. 5,446,194 ("the '194 patent")
against Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited ("Sun"), who seeks to
market generic versions of Stalevo® tablets (25/100/200 and
37.5/150/200 mg strengths of carbidopa/levodopa/entacapone) in the
United States. Stalevo® is an enhanced levodopa treatment originated
by Orion Corporation and marketed in the United States by its
exclusive licensee, Novartis, for the treatment of Parkinson's
disease.

As reported in January 2008, Orion Corporation was notified that Sun
had amended its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that included a Paragraph IV
challenge of Orion Corporation's '194 patent.  Orion Corporation has
now sued Sun for infringement of two Orion Corporation patents in
response to Sun's Paragraph IV challenges.  The other patent is U.S.
Patent No. 6,500,867.  Due to recent developments, Orion Corporation
has removed Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. from the prior
lawsuit.  Orion Corporation, however, maintains the prior action
against Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, the parent company and
ANDA holder.

By suing to enforce its patent by the new lawsuit within 45 days from
the receipt of Sun's latest Paragraph IV certification notice, Orion
is entitled to an automatic stay prohibiting the FDA from approving
Sun's ANDA for 30 months, or until an earlier court decision adverse
to Orion Corporation's patent.  The realisation of generic
competition is neither certain nor imminent.  Orion Corporation and
Novartis will vigorously defend the intellectual property rights
covering Stalevo®.

ABOUT ORION

Orion Corporation is dedicated to treating and preventing disease by
discovery and developing innovative medicinal treatments. In 2007,
Orion Corporation generated sales of EUR 683.6 million, invested EUR
97.6 million in research and development and employed approximately
3,180 people. Orion corporate headquarters are in Espoo, Finland.
For more information, please visit:  http://www.orion.fi/english/.


Orion Corporation



Timo  Lappalainen                  Olli Huotari
President and CEO                Senior VP, Corporate Functions


Contact persons:
Timo Lappalainen, President and CEO, phone +358 10 426 3692
Olli Huotari, Senior VP, Corporate Functions, phone +358 10 426 3054



Statements in this news release other than historical information are
forward-looking statement subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual
results could differ materially depending on factors such as the
availability of resources, the timing and effects of regulatory
actions, the strength of competition, the outcome of litigation and
the effectiveness of patent protection. Additional information
regarding risks and uncertainties is set forth in Annual Report for
2006.



Publisher:
Orion Corporation
Communications
Orionintie 1A, FI-02200 Espoo
Homepage: www.orion.fi