(S)-Lercanidipine is enantiomer of antihypertensive drugs Lercanidipine, that acts by blocking L-type calcium channels, allowing relaxation and opening of blood vessels. The dihydropyridine calcium antagonists promote systemic vasodilatation by a reversible blockade of voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx through L-type channels in the cell membrane. (S)-Lercanidipine has 100- to 200-fold greater affinity than the (R)-enantiomer for the L-type calcium channel. The pharmacokinetics of (S)- Lercanidipine has been evaluated in healthy volunteers, in elderly and non-elderly patients with hypertension, and in patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Patients from these studies were investigated after receiving a single 10 or 20 mg dose of [14C]-labeled rac-Lercanidipine as a solution. The maximum plasma concentrations of (S)-Lercanidipine were reached within 2–3 h and the area under the plasma concentration-time curves were not linearly related to the dose, indicating a saturable first-pass metabolism. The absorption of (S)-LER increases after the ingestion of a high-fat meal. Lercanidipine is highly bound to plasma protein (>98%) in humans. Its volume of distribution of 2–2.5 L/kg was determined in healthy volunteers after intravenous infusion of 2 mg. Lercanidipine is extensively metabolized by CYP 3A4 to inactive pyridine derivatives. A crossover study involving a single administration of either 10 mg of (R)- or (S)-LER or 20 mg of rac-LER as a solution demonstrated no in vivo enantiomer interconversion