A Safety and Tolerability Study of the Combination of Aliskiren/Valsartan in Patients With High Blood Pressure, Followed by Long-term Safety and Tolerability of Aliskiren, Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide.

A 54-week, Open-label, Multicenter Study to Assess the Long-term Safety and Tolerability of the Combination of Aliskiren 300 mg /Valsartan 320 mg in Patients With Essential Hypertension Followed by a 26 Week Open-label Extension to Assess the Long-term Safety and Tolerability of the Triple Combination of Aliskiren/Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide(HCTZ)

Assessment of the long-term safety and tolerability of the combination of aliskiren and valsartan (300 mg/ 320 mg) in patients with high blood pressure,followed by assessment of long-term safety and tolerability of the combination of aliskiren/valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide(HCTZ).

Inclusion Criteria: -

• Male and female outpatients 18 years of age and older.
• For newly diagnosed/untreated patients with essential hypertension defined as msDBP ≥ 90 and < 110 mmHg at Visit 1 and Visit 4
• For previously treated patients with essential hypertension defined as msDBP ≥ 90 and < 110 mmHg after 2 to 4 weeks of washout (Visit 4)
• Patients who were eligible and able to participate in the study and who consented to do so after the purpose and nature of the investigation had been clearly explained to them (written informed consent).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension (msDBP ≥ 110 mmHg and/or msSBP ≥ 180 mmHg)
• Women of child-bearing potential, unless they met definition of post-menopausal or were using acceptable methods of contraception.
• History or evidence of a secondary form of hypertension.
• History of hypertensive encephalopathy or cerebrovascular accident.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.