Finnish Orion sues Sun Pharmaceuticals in U.S.

HELSINKI Nov 13 (Reuters) - Finnish drugmaker Orion (ORNBV.HE) said on Tuesday it had filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States against Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (SUN.BO), which is seeking to market generic versions of Orion's Stalevo tablets.

Stalevo is an enhanced levodopa treatment and is marketed in the United States by its exclusive licensee, Novartis (NOVN.VX), for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, Orion said in a statement.

Orion said it and Novartis would vigorously defend the intellectual property rights covering Stalevo. (Reporting by Sami Torma; Editing by David Holmes)