Orion - Company Announcement

Orion and Hospira,Inc. sue Sandoz companies in the U.S. to enforce their U.S. Patents covering the proprietary drug Precedex®

Orion Corporation Stock Exchange Release Sep 4th 2009 at 21:50 p.m.
EEST

Orion and Hospira,Inc. sue Sandoz companies in the U.S. to enforce
their U.S. Patents covering the proprietary drug Precedex®

Orion states the realisation of generic competition is neither
certain nor imminent

Orion Corporation and Hospira, Inc. filed together a patent
infringement lawsuit in the United States to enforce Orion's U.S.
Patent No.4,910,214 and Orion's and Hospira's commonly owned U.S.
Patent No. 6,716,867 against Sandoz International Gmbh and Sandoz
Inc.

Sandoz Inc. seeks authorisation to produce and market a generic
version of Precedex® (dexmedetomidine hydrochloride 100 mcg base/ml)
in the United States. Precedex®, originated by Orion Corporation and
marketed in the United States by Hospira, Inc., is approved for
continuous intravenous sedation of initially intubated and
mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care setting for up
to 24 hours and in non-intubated patients requiring sedation prior to
and/or during surgical and other procedures.

As reported in July 2009, Orion Corporation was notified that Sandoz
Inc. submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that included a Paragraph IV
challenge to above mentioned patents.

By suing to enforce its patents within 45 days from receipt of the
Paragraph IV certification notice, Orion Corporation and Hospira,
Inc. are 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 and Hospira's patents
in the infringement lawsuit.  As such, the realisation of generic
competition is neither certain nor imminent. Orion Corporation and
Hospira, Inc. will defend the intellectual property rights covering
Precedex.

Orion estimates that its costs of this patent litigation will be
substantially lower than those of the ongoing entacapone patent
litigations in the United States. The patent infringement lawsuit
warrants no revision of the full-year outlook estimate provided in
the Interim Report 1-6/2009 of the Orion Group, published on
7 August 2009.

About Orion
Orion is an innovative European, R&D-based, pharmaceutical and
diagnostic company with a special emphasis on developing medicinal
treatments and diagnostic tests for global markets. Orion develops,
manufactures and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, active
pharmaceutical ingredients as well as diagnostic tests. Orion's
pharmaceutical R&D focuses on developing medicines for the central
nervous system diseases, critical care and oncology as well as
inhaled products for the Easyhaler® platform.

The Group's net sales in 2008 amounted to EUR 711 million and the
company invested EUR 90.0 million in research and development. At the
end of 2008, the Group had a total of 3,300 employees, of whom 2,700
worked in Finland and the rest 600 in other European countries.
Orion's Shares A and B are both listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.

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 the Annual Report
for 2008.

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