A Study Comparing the Response of Patients With Hypertension to Amlodipine or Amlodipine Plus Benazepril.

A Multicenter, Group Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Amlodipine and Benazepril Administered in Combination Compared to Amlodipine Monotherapy in Hypertensive Patients Not Adequately Controlled With Amlodipine Alone

Comparison of the safety and efficacy of the combination of amlodipine/Benazepril to amlodipine monotherapy in patients with non-essential hypertension, not controlled on amlodipine alone.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Outpatients 18 years of age or older.
• Male or female patients are eligible. Female patients must be either post-menopausal for one year or surgically sterile, or using effective, contraceptive methods such as barrier method with spermicide, or an intrauterine device.
• Patients with essential hypertension as measured by a validated device

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension (DBP > 115 mmHg diastolic and/or SBP > 180 mmHg systolic).

Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply.