AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement with Aralez Pharmaceuticals for rights to Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate)

AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement with Aralez Pharmaceuticals Trading DAC, a subsidiary of Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the rights to branded and authorised generic Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate) in the US. Toprol-XL is a beta-blocker medicine for the control of hypertension (high blood pressure), angina (chest pain) and heart failure. It was first approved in the US in 1992. Under the terms of the agreement, Aralez will pay AstraZeneca $175 million to acquire the rights to Toprol-XL tablets in the US, and the authorised generic medicine marketed by Par Pharmaceuticals. Aralez will also pay AstraZeneca up to $48 million in milestone and sales-related payments, as well as mid-teen percentage royalties on sales. AstraZeneca will continue to manufacture and supply Toprol-XL and the authorised generic medicine to Aralez.