An Assessment of Long Term Safety of the Combination of Aliskiren / Amlodipine in Patients With High Blood Pressure

A 54-week, Open-label, Multicenter Study to Assess the Long-term Safety and Tolerability of the Combination of Aliskiren 300 mg / Amlodipine 10 mg in Patients With Essential Hypertension

To assess the long-term (6 month and 12 month) safety of the combination of aliskiren 300 mg / amlodipine 10 mg in patients with essential hypertension (Mean Sitting Diastolic Blood Pressure [msDBP] ≥ 90 mmHg and < 110 mmHg).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Outpatients 18 years of age or older
• Male or female patients are eligible
• 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)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension
• History or evidence of a secondary form of hypertension
• History of Hypertensive encephalopathy or cerebrovascular accident.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply