This article gives a brief overview of the importance of heart rate as a risk factor in patients with coronary heart diseases. Increased heart rate (> or = 70 bpm) is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events. Ivabradine, the first of the therapeutic class of I(f) current inhibitors, is a selective and specific inhibitor of the I(f) current, resulting in the exclusive reduction in heart rate, while preserving the contractility of the myocardium, atrioventricular conduction, ventricular repolarization and blood pressure. Ivabradine is a new efficient and safe therapeutic option in the treatment of coronary artery disease. The available evidence demonstrates that ivabradine provides clinical benefits in coronary artery disease patients, symptomatic or not with a heart rate > or = 70 bpm, irrespective of the background therapy.