Orion comments on ANDA filed by Wockhardt Limited for a generic version of Orion's proprietary drug Stalevo® (25/200/100; 37.5/200/150 and 50/200/200 mg strengths) in the United States

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

Orion Corporation has been informed that an Abbreviated New Drug
Application (ANDA) has been filed by Wockhardt Limited (Wockhardt)
with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking
authorisation to produce and market generic versions of Stalevo®
(specifically the 25/200/100; 37.5/200/150 and 50/200/200 mg
strengths) 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.  At this point, the ANDA review process is just
beginning and the realisation of generic competition is neither
certain nor imminent.
Orion previously sued Wockhardt for patent infringement when it
challenged certain Orion U.S. patents as part of earlier filed ANDAs
on the 12.5/200/50 mg strength of Stalevo® and on a generic version
of Orion's proprietary drug, Comtan® (entacapone). Those actions are
pending in the United States. Wockhardt's ANDA for Stalevo contains
so-called Paragraph IV certifications challenging Orion U.S. patents
Nos. 5,135,950; 5,446,194; 6,500,867; and 6,797,732 covering Stalevo
and listed in the Orange Book, the FDA's official listing of approved
drug products.
Paragraph IV certifications are not uncommon in the U.S.  Orion is,
together with Novartis, currently evaluating its legal options to
protect its rights. Under the U.S. system, if a patent owner brings a
lawsuit against an ANDA applicant within a certain time limit, there
will be a 30-month stay of final FDA approval. During that time, the
FDA can give only a tentative approval to the ANDA applicant unless
the applicant obtains a favorable decision on all challenged patents
in the lawsuit.

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, invested EUR 98.5 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:
Olli Huotari, Senior VP, Corporate Functions, phone +358 10 426 3054




Statements in this news release other than historical information are
forward-looking statements 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
2007.




Publisher:
Orion Corporation
Communications
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Homepage: www.orion.fi