Orion sues Sun Pharma Global, Inc. in the U.S. to enforce Orion's U.S. Patent No. 5,446,194 covering its proprietary drug Comtan®

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 Pharma Global, Inc., who seeks to market a generic
version of Orion Corporation's proprietary drug, Comtan® in the
United States. Comtan contains entacapone and is a product originated
by Orion Corporation and marketed in the United States for the
treatment of Parkinson's disease by its exclusive licensee, Novartis.


As reported in October 2008, Orion Corporation was notified that Sun
Pharma Global had submitted an 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.  By
suing to enforce its patent within 45 days from receipt of the
Paragraph IV certification notice, Orion Corporation is entitled to
an automatic stay prohibiting the FDA from approving Sun Pharma
Global's ANDA for 30 months, or until an earlier court decision
adverse to Orion Corporation's patent in the patent infringement
lawsuit.  As such, the realisation of generic competition is neither
certain nor imminent.  Orion Corporation and Novartis will vigorously
defend the intellectual property rights covering Comtan.

ABOUT ORION
Orion is dedicated to treating and preventing disease by discovery
and developing innovative medicinal treatments. In 2007, Orion
generated net sales of EUR 683.6 million and invested EUR 98.5
million in research and development. The number of employees is
approximately 3,300. 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 person:
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.



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Orion Corporation
Communications
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Homepage: www.orion.fi