The change in heart rate over 30 minutes for ESCAPE-1 (preoperative) and ESCAPE-2 (postoperative) are shown in Figure 3 and 4.

Figure 3. Mean change in heart rate (bpm) during 30-minute infusion, ESCAPE-1 (preoperative)

Figure 4. Mean change in heart rate (bpm) during 30-minute infusion, ESCAPE-2 (postoperative)

In three Phase 3 open-label clinical trials (ECLIPSE), 1512 patients were randomized to receive Cleviprex, nitroglycerin (perioperative hypertension), sodium nitroprusside (perioperative hypertension), or nicardipine (postoperative hypertension), for the treatment of hypertension in cardiac surgery. The mean exposure in the ECLIPSE studies was 8 hours at 4.5 mg/hour for the 752 patients who were treated with Cleviprex. Blood pressure control was assessed by measuring the magnitude and duration of SBP excursions outside the predefined pre- and post-operative SBP target range of 75-145 mmHg and the predefined intra-operative SBP range of 65-135 mmHg. In general, blood pressure control was similar with the four treatments.

14.2Severe Hypertension
Cleviprex was eva luated in an open-label, uncontrolled clinical trial (VELOCITY) in 126 patients with severe hypertension (SBP >180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] >115 mmHg). Cleviprex infusion was initiated at 2 mg/hour and up-titrated every 3 minutes, doubling up to a maximum dose of 32 mg/hour as required to achieve a prespecified target blood pressure range within 30 minutes (primary endpoint). The transition to oral antihypertensive therapy was assessed for up to 6 hours following cessation of Cleviprex infusion.

The blood pressure effect in this study is shown in Figure 5. The average infusion rate was 9.5 mg/hour. The mean duration of Cleviprex exposure was 21 hours.

Figure 5. Mean percent change in SBP (%) during the first 30 minutes of infusion, VELOCITY (severe hypertension)

Oral antihypertensive therapy was instituted 1 hour prior to the anticipated cessation of Cleviprex infusion. Transition to oral antihypertensive therapy within 6 hours after discontinuing Cleviprex infusion was successful in 91% (115/126) of patients. No patient had IV antihypertensive therapy reinstituted following transition to oral therapy.

14.3Essential Hypertension
Cleviprex was eva luated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind, parallel 72 hour continuous infusion study in 61 mild to moderate essential hypertensives. The mean baseline blood pressure was 151/86 mmHg.

Subjects were randomized to placebo or to 2, 4, 8, or 16 mg/hour. Doses above 2 mg/hour were started at 2 mg/hour and force-titrated in 2-fold increments at 3-minute intervals. Blood pressure, heart rate, and blood levels of clevidipine were measured during the infusion period. Blood levels were monitored 1 hour after the infusion was discontinued. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored for 8 hours and also at 96 hours after the termination of infusion. Systolic blood pressure effect was related to the concentration of clevidipine and plateaued at higher measured concentrations, with the maximal effect estimated at 25% of baseline systolic blood pressure. The estimated infusion rate necessary to achieve half of this maximal effect was approximately 10 mg/hour.

16HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING
Cleviprex (clevidipine) injectable emulsion is supplied as a ster