Par ships authorized generic cardiovascular drug

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — Generic drug maker Par Pharmaceutical Cos. has started shipping an authorized generic version of a heart-disease medication made by AstraZeneca.

Par said it had entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca to supply authorized generic Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) and had begun shipping the drug in the 4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg and 32 mg strengths. Atacand has annual sales of about $113 million, according to IMS Health, and is used to treat certain kinds of heart failure and high blood pressure in children and adults.

Authorized generics are branded drugs marketed at a discount under their generic names, usually under a deal between the original manufacturer and a third-party company. Novartis generic subsidiary Sandoz announced Wednesday that it had received Food and Drug Administration approval for the generic version of Atacand.