This study will assess the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of aliskiren in healthy subjects and patients with End Stage Renal Disease on hemodialysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female subjects must be of non-child bearing potential, defined as postmenopausal women with no regular menstrual bleeding for at least 1 year prior to screening or female subjects surgically sterilized at least 6 months prior to screening. All female subjects must have negative pregnancy results at screening.

2. Subjects must weigh at least 50 kg to participate in the study, and must have a body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18 to 30 kg/m2

3. Vital signs after 3 minutes resting in the supine position (laying down) should be within the following ranges:

   • Oral body temperature between 35.0-37.8ºC
   • Systolic blood pressure, 95-140 mmHg
   • Diastolic blood pressure, 60-90 mmHg Blood pressure and pulse will be taken again in the standing position. After 3 minutes standing, there shall be no more than a 20 mm Hg drop in systolic or 10 mmHg drop in diastolic blood pressure associated with symptomatic postural hypotension.

4. Subjects must be able to communicate well with the investigator, to understand and comply with the requirements of the study. Subjects must be able to understand and sign the written informed consent.

5. Health subjects must be in good health as determined by past medical history, physical examination, vital signed assessments, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests at screening.

6. Patients with End Stage Renal Disease who have been on intermittent hemodialysis three times a week for at least three months and are in relatively good health.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Smokers who report cigarette use of more than 5 cigarettes per day.
2. Use of aliskiren within 2 weeks prior to study entry.
3. Participation in any clinical investigation within 3 months prior to initial dosing.
4. Hemoglobin levels outside 11-14 mg/dL
5. A history/presence of diabetes mellitus
6. A past medical history of arrhythmias, heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, stroke, or myocardial infarction within 6 months of the start of the study.
7. A past medical history of significant electrocardiogram abnormalities.
8. Recent (within the last 3 years) and/or recurrent history/presence of autonomic dysfunction (e.g., recurrent episodes of fainting, palpitations, etc).
9. Recent (within the last 3 years) and/or recurrent history/presence of acute or chronic bronchospastic disease (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, treated or not treated).
10. Significant drug allergy or history of atopic allergy (asthma, urticaria, eczematous dermatitis). A known hypersensitivity to aliskiren.
11. Total white blood cell (WBC) count outside the normal laboratory reference range.
12. History of immunodeficiency diseases, including a positive HIV (ELISA and Western blot) test result.
13. A positive Hepatitis B surface antigen or Hepatitis C test result.
14. History of drug or alcohol abuse within the 12 months prior to dosing, or evidence of such abuse as indicated by the laboratory assays conducted during the screening on Day -1 of each treatment period.
15. Consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice within 14 days prior to dosing.
16. Lactating and breastfeeding females.
17. History of head and neck angioedema.
18. Donation or loss of 400 mL or more of blood within 8 weeks prior to initial dosing.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply