Efficacy and Tolerability of an Aliskiren-based Treatment Algorithm in Patients With Mild to Moderate Hypertension

A Twenty-four Week, Open-label, Non-comparative, Multi-center Study to Assess the Efficacy and Tolerability of an Aliskiren-based Treatment Algorithm in Patients With Mild to Moderate Hypertension.

This study will assess the efficacy of an aliskiren based treatment regimen in reaching blood pressure (BP) target in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. (defined as mean sitting Systolic Blood Pressure [msSBP] ≥ 140 mmHg and < 180 mmHg and/or mean sitting Diastolic Blood Pressure [msDBP] ≥ 90 and <110 mmHg).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Outpatients ≥ 18 years of age
• Patients with a diagnosis of mild to moderate hypertension at Visit 1
• All patients must have a msSBP ≥ 140 mmHg and < 180 mmHg and/or msDBP ≥ 90 mmHg and < 110 mmHg mmHg at Visit 3

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension defined as msSBP ≥ 180 mmHg and/or msDBP ≥ 110 mmHg
• Secondary form of hypertension
• Current diagnosis of heart failure (NYHA Class II-IV)
• Current angina pectoris requiring pharmacological therapy (other than stable doses of oral or topical nitrates)
• Second or third degree heart block without a pacemaker
• Concurrent potentially life threatening arrhythmia or symptomatic arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, during the 12 months prior to Visit 1

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.