Cleviprex, the first injectable drug for high blood pressure has been cleared by the FDA. The drug manufactured by Medicines Co, is used to treat patients with difficult-to-treat high blood pressure and is the first new intravenous drug to be approved in a decade. The news pepped the company’s shares up by 6 % to touch its highest level in over a year.

This intravenous drug is designed to give rapid relief in precise doses to patients with acute hypertension who were either unable to take oral drugs or not recommended oral therapy. The Parsippany, New Jersey-based drug maker said their product is different to earlier medications as it is metabolizes in the tissue and blood, rather than the kidneys and liver. This resulted in less buildup in the body.

The FDA said that studies showed that Cleviprex, rapidly lowered high blood pressure and the most common side effects were nausea, headache and vomiting.

Company spokesman Robyn Brown said in an e-mail, that the drug will be launched in September. Last month, the company had forecast revenue of $335 million to $355 million, which included $5 million to $10 million from Cleviprex sales for the year 2008.