Efficacy and Safety of Valsartan in Combination With Amlodipine Compared to Losartan Plus Hydrochlorothiazide in Patients With Hypertension and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

An Open-label, Randomized, Parallel Group Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Amlodipine in Combination With Valsartan Compared to Losartan in Combination With Hydrochlorothiazide Given for 52 Weeks on the Regression of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Patients With Mild to Moderate Hypertension

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of amlodipine plus valsartan in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy

Inclusion Criteria:

• Caucasian; male or female outpatients and age between 18-80 years of age, inclusive.
• Patients with a history of essential hypertension and who are actually treated either with an antihypertensive monotherapy and with a diastolic blood pressure >=90 and <= 105mmHg or with a combination therapy (limited to two active compounds) and with a diastolic blood pressure of >=90 and <= 100mmHg.
• Patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension
• Symptomatic heart failure
• History of stroke, heart attack, coronary bypass surgery etc.
• Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply