Mivazerol is a new and selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, devoid of hypotensive effects, which has been designed to prevent adverse cardiac outcome in perioperative patients with, or at risk coronary artery disease. This compound, which lacks hypotensive effects, has been demonstrated to prevent hyperadrenergic activity and myocardial ischemia in perioperative patients and tachycardia in rats at emergence from halothane anesthesia. This type of ischemia, frequently encountered in postoperative patients, is considered to be a consequence of stress-induced hyperactivation of the sympathetic system. Anti-ischemic effects of this compound have been demonstrated in different animal models of myocardial ischemia, and Mivazerol has also been shown to improve exercise-induced ischemia in patients with angina pectoris.