Ivabradine: a new strategy for management of stable angina.

Ivabradine is not only the first of a new class of selective If channel inhibitors, but is also the first new medical treatment for stable angina to be approved in Europe for 10 years. By selectively reducing heart rate without adversely affecting myocardial contractility or blood pressure, ivabradine offers a valuable new option for patients with stable angina in whom beta-blockers are not tolerated or are contraindicated.