Orion - Company Announcement

Orion sues Wockhardt USA, Inc. 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, Inc. and Wockhardt Limited, who seek
to market a generic version of Orion Corporation's proprietary drug,
Stalevo® (specifically 12.5/200/50 mg strength 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 November 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 applicants
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. 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 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
Orionintie 1A, FI-02200 Espoo
Homepage: www.orion.fi