Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Combination Aliskiren/Amlodipine in Patients With Hypertension Not Adequately Responding to Amlodipine Alone

A Randomized, Eight Week Double-blind, Parallel-group, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of the Combination of Aliskiren / Amlodipine (150/10 mg and 300/10 mg) in Comparison With Amlodipine 10 mg in Patients With Essential Hypertension Not Adequately Responsive to Amlodipine 10 mg Monotherapy

This study will assess the safety and efficacy of combination aliskiren/amlodipine in patients with hypertension not adequately controlled with amlodipine alone.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newly diagnosed patients or patients who have not been treated for hypertension within the 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 must have a msDBP ≥ 95 mmHg and < 110 mmHg at Visits 1 and 2
• Patients who have been treated for hypertension within the 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 must have a msDBP ≥ 90 mmHg and < 110 mmHg at Visit 2
• All patients must have a msDBP ≥ 90 mmHg and < 110 mmHg at Visit 5 (randomization)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension
• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women
• Pre-menopausal women not taking accepted form of birth control
• Serum potassium ≥ 5.3 mEq/L (mmol/L) at Visit 1
• History of cardiovascular conditions
• Uncontrolled Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Hypersensitivity to renin inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, or to drugs with similar chemical structures

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply