Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc, Florida, has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration on its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets USP in the 100 and 200 mg strengths, the generic equivalent to AstraZeneca's Toprol XL tablets. Watson intends to begin shipping the product next week.

Toprol XL 100 and 200 mg and its generic equivalents had total US sales of approximately US$ 403 million for the twelve months ending February 2010, according to IMS Health. Metoprolol succinate extended-release is a beta-blocker used to treat angina, heart failure and high blood pressure.