Perhaps the most radical overhaul of the corporate structure took place in summer 2006, when pharmaceutical and healthcare wholesale were separated from Orion’s business as Orion demerged to form two new companies. In the demerger, the current Orion Corporation was formed of the pharmaceuticals and diagnostics businesses of the former Orion, and Oriola-KD Corporation took over the pharmaceutical wholesale businesses.

The New Orion that was established in the demerger and listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange focuses solely on pharmaceuticals and diagnostic tests. Orion thus returned to its roots. Over its long history, its product range and structure have included many kinds of operations, some of which have had nothing to do with healthcare, but pharmaceuticals have always constituted the core of its operations.

The current Orion and Oriola-KD are continuing the businesses of the demerged Orion  backed by a history of no less than 90 years and the cumulated experience as a platform for carrying the operations further. Both new companies received a strong financial heritage from the old Orion, which racked up record earnings in the last year of its 89 years in business.

The two new companies were entered in the Trade Register on 1 July 2006. The old Orion was dissolved on 30 June 2006, the last trading day for its shares on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. The present Orion Corporation and Oriola-KD Corporation were listed as new companies on the stock exchange on 3 July 2006.