May 8 (Reuters) - Aralez Pharmaceuticals Inc ARZ.TO :
* ARALEZ ANNOUNCES NEW STRATEGIC DIRECTION
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - DISCONTINUATION OF U.S. COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, WITH SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN OPERATING EXPENSES
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - FOCUS ON CANADIAN OPERATIONS, SUPPORTED BY TOPROL-XL FRANCHISE REVENUES AND VIMOVO ROYALTIES
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - CONCLUDED THAT MOMENTUM FROM ZONTIVITY ALONE IS INSUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN U.S. COMMERCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - ACTIVELY EXPLORING STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES FOR BUSINESS
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - ARALEZ CANADA WILL FOCUS ON DRIVING ORGANIC GROWTH IN CANADA WITH BLEXTEN AND CAMBIA
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - ARALEZ EXPECTS CASH OPERATING EXPENSES WILL BE REDUCED TO ABOUT $25 MILLION ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES INCLUDE ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS TO DIVEST U.S. RIGHTS TO YOSPRALA, FIBRICOR AND BEZALIP SR
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - COMPANY CAUTIONS THAT IT HAS VERY RECENTLY EXPERIENCED INCREASED GENERIC COMPETITION WITH RESPECT TO TOPROL-XL FRANCHISE
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - STRATEGIC ALTERNTIVES ALSO INCLUDE BROADER STRATEGIC AND REFINANCING ALTERNATIVES FOR ITS BUSINESS
* ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC - EVALUATING MARKET DYNAMICS, EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO MITIGATE RISK INVOLVED WITH TOPROL-XL FRANCHISE COMPETITION