FDA APPROVES NOVARTIS' VERSION OF TOPROL-XL

Novartis, the world's second-largest generic drugmaker, won FDA approval for its version of AstraZeneca's Toprol-XL 25 mg hypertension drug.

AstraZeneca sold $1.7 billion worth of the drug in 2005, and the 25-mg dose represents about 20 percent of the drug's sales. Toprol-XL is AstraZeneca's third-best selling drug. The company is appealing a U.S. court loss over the patent.