Orion experiences “strong sales” during first 9 months of 2009

Orion has posted its financial results for the first nine months of 2009, which, according to the firm, demonstrate “strong sales” during the period.

Net sales for the timeframe reached 578.2 million euros (527 million pounds), while profit before taxes reached 160.6 million euros.

Changes that have occurred within the company during the period include the Easyhaler business being transferred from the specialty products to the proprietary products division in January 2009.

Timo Lappalainen, the group’s chief executive officer, stated: “Thanks to the strong sales, our operating profit was higher than in the comparative period despite slightly lower margins and higher fixed costs.”

Last month, Orion and Hospira announced the filing of legal action against companies that they believe have violated the patents of the drug Precedex.

The firms brought a patent infringement lawsuit to enforce Orion’s patent number 4,910,214 and Orion and Hospira’s commonly-owned patent number 6,716,867 against Sandoz International Gmbh and Sandoz Inc.