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.