Aliskiren in Combination With Amlodipine in Hypertensive Patients Not Responding to Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) Plus Amlodipine

An Open-label, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of a 4 Week Therapy With the Single Pill (SPC) Combination of Aliskiren 300 mg / Amlodipine 10 mg in Hypertensive Patients Not Adequately Respond to an Uptitrated 4 Week Therapy With the SPC of Olmesartan 40 mg / Amlodipine 10 mg, With a Potential Extension if Patients Still Not Adequately Respond With a 4 Week Therapy With the SPC Aliskiren 300 mg / Amlodipine 10 mg / HCTZ 12,5 mg

This study will assess the efficacy and safety of the single pill combination of Aliskiren and Amlodipine in patients with moderate hypertension not adequately responding to a single pill combination of Olmesartan and Amlodipine.

Further this study will also assess the efficacy and safety of a single pill combination of Aliskiren, Amlodipine and Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in patients with moderate hypertension not adequately responding to a single pill combination of Aliskiren and Amlodipine.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Essential hypertension stage II
• Male and female patients
• Age >= 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension (systolic BP >= 180 mmHg, diastolic BP >= 110 mmHg
• Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus or type 1 DM
• History of myocardial infarction, stroke
• Presence of heart failure
• Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply