A pharmaceutical pellet is provided, comprising a spherical core containing the active substance with a smooth surface and a coating on the core, which controls pH-independent release of the active substance. With a pellet of this kind, the release of the active substance may follow a profile with a lag-phase from 60 minutes to 840 minutes, where during the lag-phase a proportion of 5 wt. % or less of the active substance is released. Furthermore, the active substance may be released from the pellet with a profile such that, after the lag-phase, the release of the active substance is between 3 and 25 wt. % per hour. The active substance is a metoprolol salt.