This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of vildagliptin 50 mg bid in elderly patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

Inclusion Criteria:

• age: ≥ 70 years inclusive at Visit 1.
• patients with a confirmed diagnosis of T2DM
• HbA1c of ≥ 7% and ≤10.0% by central laboratory at Visit 1 and assessed by the investigator to be inadequately controlled
• body mass index (BMI) in the range of 19-45kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• FPG ≥ 270 mg/dL (≥ 15.0 mmol/L)
• previous or current participation in any vildagliptin clinical study.
• history of hypersensitivity to DPP-4 inhibitors.
• concurrent medical condition that may interfere with the interpretation of efficacy and safety data during the study.
• donation of blood or significant blood loss equaling to at least one unit of blood within the past 2 weeks of start of study or a blood transfusion within the past 12 weeks or planned regular transfusions during the study period Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply