Orion - Company Announcement

U.S. District Court gives decision on Precedex® patent litigation

Orion Corporation         Stock Exchange Release        1 May 2012        at
16.00 EEST

Orion Corporation has received information that the United States District Court
for the District of New Jersey has rendered its decision on the patent
infringement lawsuit that Orion Corporation and Hospira Inc. filed on 4
September 2009 to enforce U.S. Patents Nos 4,910,214 and 6,716,867. The
respondents in the case are Sandoz Inc., Sandoz International GmbH and Sandoz
Canada Inc. (hereinafter collectively "Sandoz").

The court found that U.S. Patent No. 4,910,214 is valid and enforceable.  Sandoz
is permanently enjoined from the commercial manufacture, use, sale or offer for
sale in the United States or importation into the United States of its generic
dexmedetomidine product until such time as U.S. Patent No. 4,910,214 expires,
including any applicable extensions.  The Court also ordered that the effective
date of Sandoz' Abbreviated New Drug Application No. 91-465 shall not occur
until the expiration of the '214 patent, including any applicable extensions.
Separately, the court found that U.S. Patent No. 6,716,867 is invalid as
obvious.

Orion's partner Hospira Inc. sells Precedex® in the United States and in markets
outside Europe.

Orion is evaluating its further measures in the case. The company will announce
possible further information on the litigation in its upcoming Interim Reports
with the exception of final outcome of the litigation which will be published as
a stock exchange release.



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, mobile
+358 50 966 3054



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

Orion is a globally operating Finnish company developing pharmaceuticals and
diagnostic tests - a builder of well-being. Orion develops, manufactures and
markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, active pharmaceutical ingredients
and diagnostic tests. The company is continuously developing new drugs and
treatment methods. Pharmaceutical R&D focuses on central nervous system drugs,
oncology and critical care drugs, and Easyhaler(®) pulmonary drugs.
Orion's net sales in 2011 amounted to EUR 918 million and the company had about
3,400 employees. Orion's A and B shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.

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