Orion sues Wockhardt USA LLC and Wockhardt Limited in the U.S. to enforce Orion's U.S. Patents 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 U.S. Patent Nos. 5,135,950; 5,446,194; and
6,500,867 against Wockhardt USA LLC and Wockhardt Limited, who seek
to market generic versions of Orion Corporation's proprietary drug,
Stalevo® (specifically 25/200/100 mg, 37.5/200/150 mg, and 50/200/200
mg strengths of carbidopa/entacapone/levodopa) 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 December 2008, Orion Corporation was notified that
Wockhardt Limited submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application
(ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that included
a Paragraph IV challenge to several of Orion Corporation's patents.
By suing to enforce its patents within 45 days from receipt of the
Paragraph IV certification notice, Orion Corporation is entitled to
an automatic stay prohibiting the FDA from approving the applicant's
ANDA for 30 months, or until an earlier court decision adverse to
Orion Corporation's patents in the 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 Stalevo.

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. In the end of 2008, the number
of employees in the Orion Group was approximately 3,300, of which
2,700 persons were working in Finland. Orion corporate headquarters
are in Espoo, Finland.  For more information, please visit
http://www.orion.fi/english/. The financial statements of the Orion
Group for 2008 will be published on 6 February 2009.


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 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