[Potassium channels and the development of new drugs]

Ion channel modulation has recently become an attractive target for experimental and clinical research in a never-ending quest for drug development. Following the decades of domination of calcium channel blockers, currently the focus is on potassium channels and their modulators; this is one of the most rapidly developing fields of research. Because potassium channels have an important role in maintaining the membrane potential in all tissues and in shaping the action potential in the heart, potassium channel modulators are expected to provide better therapies primarily in cardiology (acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias) but also in other branches of medicine.