Orion appoints new members to management board

The Orion Corporation has welcomed two new members to the executive management board to coincide with the appointment of a new president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company.

Last month, it was confirmed that Timo Lappalainen would succeed Jukka Viinanen as president, CEO and chairman of the executive management board, taking up the role at the start of 2008.

Consequently appointments have been made to the management positions held by Mr Lappalainen, which will be effective as of January 2008.

Dr Liisa Hurme has been selected to head the Proprietary Products business division as senior vice-president.

After joining the company in 1999, Dr Hurme is currently director of urology and oncology in the same division.

Orion is also set to welcome Satu Ahomaki as the senior vice-president of Animal Health in the Animal Health business division.

She will move from the position of director of Business Development to take up her new post.

Also this week, Orion filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the US to enforce its formulation patent against Sun Pharmaceuticals.

The Orion Corporation has enforced US patent number 6,500,867 following the announcement by Sun Pharmaceuticals that it was to market generic versions of Orion’s Stalevo tablets in the US.