Treatment of angina pectoris patients with niludipine a new calcium antagonistic drug.

The antianginal effectivity of niludipine (Bay a 7168), a new calcium antagonistic drug, was investigated in angina pectoris patients, selected for admission to the trials by pre-determined strict criteria. Oral administration of from 60--120 mg niludipine daily for 4--8 weeks, resulted in the following: 1. Number of anginal attacks significantly reduced. 2. Nitrate consumption markedly lowered. 3. Investigating physicians assessed globally the clinical results of niludipine treatment on the basis of the reduction of the number of anginal attacks, nitrate consumption, improved physical ability and reports by the patients as to their subjective evaluation of the test drug. Niludipine was judged clinically effective in 21 out of 27 patients (77.8%). 4. Full records of ECGs, a necessary item for assessment, were obtained from 24 out of 27 patients. Ischemic ECGs were improved or normalized in 6 out of 24 patients (25%). 5. In the investigators' final overall assessment, including the evaluation of ECG changes, niludipine was rated effective for 20 out of 27 patients (74.1%). 6. Tolerance to the test drug was excellent. Only one patient complained of transient, mild nausea. After reduction of the daily dose, the patient completed the trial without any further appearance or complaints of side effects. Results suggest that niludipine is a useful antianginal drug in the management of coronary artery disease patients. Further clinical investigations with a larger number of patients should be conducted.