CS-905 is a novel dihydropyridine calcium blocker. A single oral administration of CS-905 or nicardipine at doses of 0.3-3.0 mg/kg produced a dose-dependent reduction of blood pressure in conscious SHR. CS-905, when administered orally in conscious SHR, was more than 3 times as potent as nicardipine. Unlike the hypotensive effect of nicardipine, that of CS-905 has a gradual onset and is long-lasting, with little increase in heart rate. An intravenous administration of CS-905 also produced a hypotension with a slow onset and long duration in SHR, but CS-905 was 3 times less potent than nicardipine by intravenous administration. This difference may be attributed to the first pass effect, which was associated with nicardipine but not with CS-905. The blood pressure lowering effects of CS-905 was most potent in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, followed by SHR, RHR and normotensive rats, in this order. CS-905 is expected to be an antihypertensive agent that is effective on a once a day regimen in clinical settings.