Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 in Comparison to Olmesartan in Asian Patients With Essential Hypertension

A Multi-center, Randomized, Double-blind, Active-controlled, 8-week Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 in Comparison to Olmesartan in Patients With Essential Hypertension

This study will assess the efficacy and safety of multiple doses of LCZ696 compared to olmesartan in Asian patients with essential hypertension

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension, untreated or currently taking antihypertensive therapy.
• Treated patients (using antihypertensive treatments within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1) must have an msSBP≥150 mmHg and <180 mmHg at the randomization visit (Visit 201) and msSBP≥140 mmHg <180 mmHg at the visit immediately preceding Visit 201 (Visit 102 or 103).
• Untreated patients (newly diagnosed with essential hypertension or having a history of hypertension but have not been taking any antihypertensive drugs for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1) must have an msSBP≥150 mmHg and <180 mmHg at both Visit 1 and Visit 201.
• Patients must have an absolute difference of ≤15 mmHg in msSBP between Visit 201 and the immediately preceding visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with severe hypertension (msDBP ≥110 mmHg and or msSBP ≥180 mmHg).
• History of angioedema, drug-related or otherwise, as reported by the patient.
• History or evidence of a secondary form of hypertension, including but not limited to any of the following: renal parenchymal hypertension, renovascular hypertension (unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis), coarctation of the aorta, primary hyperaldosteronism, Cushing's disease, pheochromocytoma, polycystic kidney disease, and drug-induced hypertension.
• Patients who previously entered a LCZ696 study and had been randomized or enrolled into the active drug treatment epoch.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.