Ireland1 The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of the ,3-adrenoceptor antagonist H-I 42 BS were examined in healthy subjects. 2 In an open dose ranging study, H-I 42 BS 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg were given as single oral doses to four subjects. H-I 42 BS 400 mg caused maximum reduction in exercise heart rate (20.4 ± 1.0% -mean ± s.d.) at 4 h and still reduced exercise heart rate at 96 h (18.4 ± 7.2%). 3 Seven subjects received in double-blind, randomised order, single oral doses of H-I 42 BS 50, 100 and 200 mg, atenolol 50 and 100 mg and placebo. H-I 42 BS 400 mg was given in a single blind manner as the last dose of the study. Both H-I 42 BS and atenolol reduced supine and standing heart rate and systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05) although atenolol had the more marked effect. The maximum percent reduction of exercise heart rate after H-I 42 BS 50 mg was 10.9 ± 7.1%, after 100 mg was 18.7 ± 5.8%, after 200 mg was 20.6 + 6.4% and after 400 mg was 21.9 ± 8.2%. H-I 42 BS 400 mg still caused 11.0 ± 3.5% reduction at 168 h. Atenolol 50 mg caused maximum percent reduction of exercise heart rate of 26.0 ± 6.0% but did not reduce exercise heart rate after 24 h. 4 The mean peak plasma concentrations for all doses of H-I 42 BS occurred at 5.1 ± 1.5 h. The plasma elimination half-life was 47.6 ± 8.1 h. There was a linear correlation between the dose and AUCO-o (r = 0.97). 5 The cardioselectivity of H-I 42 BS and atenolol was compared. Six subjects received in double-blind random order H-I 42 BS 100 and 400 mg, atenolol 50 mg and placebo. After each dose, graded infusions of isoprenaline were given until the heart rate increased by 50 beats min-1 . Dose-response curves for heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, forearm blood flow and finger tremor were constructed. 6 There was no difference in the dose-response curves for forearm blood flow or finger tremor after H-I 42 BS400 mg or atenolol 50 mg. Atenolol 50 mg caused more attenuation (P < 0.01) of the diastolic blood pressure response. 7 These results indicate that H-I 42 BS is a cardioselective ,B-adrenoceptor antagonist with a long duration of action in man.