Efficacy and Safety of Lacidipine in Chronic Stable Angina

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 to 80 years * History of stable, exertional angina pectoris (Canadian Cardiovascular Society functional class II to III) for at least 3 months duration prior to enrolment in the study * Patients not currently receiving treatment with antianginal medication (other than short-acting nitrates) * Between visits 2 and 3 two treadmill exercise tests, demonstrating ≥ 0.1 mV of horizontal or down sloping ST-segment depression, must be carried out. The difference in symptom-limited exercise duration between these two tests must not exceed 20% * Total treadmill exercise duration \> 3 minutes (i.e. stage 2 or above on a standard Bruce protocol) * Coronary artery disease, preferably (not mandatory) documented by a history of proven myocardial infarction and/or coronary angiography indicating ≥ 50% reduction in luminal diameter of one or more coronary arteries or their primary branches Exclusion Criteria: * Myocardial infarction within 3 months prior to enrolment in the study * Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery bypass surgery within 6 months * Other types of angina (variant, unstable) * Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure \> 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mmHg) * Resting heart rate \< 50 bpm or \> 100 bpm * Significant valvular heart disease * Heart failure New York Heart Association Class III or IV * Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or asthma with clinical symptoms requiring regular medication * Significant arrhythmia (since this may interfere with the interpretation of the electrocardiogram) including Wolff Parkinson-White syndrome, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, sick sinus syndrome, significant Atrio-Ventricular heart block, intraventricular conduction defect (QRS \> 0.12 seconds) ventricular pre-excitation, bundle branch block, the presence of a pace-maker, the presence of an implanted automatic defibrillator, uncorrected hypokalaemia (potassium \< 3.5 mmol/litre) * Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus * Significant liver disease (Aspartate Aminotransferase or Alanine Aminotransferase \> twice the upper limit of reference range) * Significant renal disease (creatinine \> 1.5 x upper limit of reference range) * Any clinical condition which in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude the safe fulfilment of the protocol and the safe administration of trial medication * Inability to perform repeated exercise testing due to extra-cardiac reasons * Concomitant treatment with any other anti-anginal medication, whether or not prescribed for this indication (e.g. calcium channel blockers, β-blockers or long-acting nitrates) * Concomitant treatment with anti-arrhythmic medication, digitalis or tricyclic anti-depressants or other agents known to affect ST-segment morphology * Known hypersensitivity to any of the components of the investigational drug * Pregnant or nursing women or women of child bearing potential * Participation in any other clinical trial within 2 months of enrolment * History of drug or alcohol abuse