T-Channel-Selective Calcium Channel Blockade: A Promising Therapeutic Possibility, Only Preliminarily Tested So Far

Basic studies as well as short-term clinical trials of the T-channel-selective calcium channel blocker, mibefradil, are reviewed. The compound reduced afterload and was effective for the symptomatic treatment of hypertension and stable angina pectoris. It did not display any relevant negative inotropic or positive chronotropic effect. Mibefradil has been withdrawn by the manufacturer because of drug interaction at the cytochrome P-450 3A4 enzyme. It is hoped that new T-channel-selective calcium channel blockers will be developed to explore further this promising but so far only preliminarily tested therapeutic possibility.