Efficacy/Safety of Valsartan Plus Amlodipine and Valsartan Alone in Patients With Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female outpatients >= 18 years and < 86 years

• Patients with essential diastolic hypertension

• At visit 1, the patient must have mean sitting diastolic blood pressure >= 95 mmHg and < 10 mmHg; patients treated with antihypertensive medication must have a mean sittingdiastolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg

• At visit 2, patients must have a mean sitting diastolic blood pressure of >= 95 mmHgand < 100 mmHg

• At visit 3, patients must have a mean sitting diastolic blood pressure of >= 90 mmHgand < 110 mmHg

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension >= 180/110 mmHg

• Known or suspected contraindications, including a history of allergy orhypersensitivity to valsartan or amlodipine or to other drugs with similar chemicalstructures

• Inability to discontinue all prior antihypertensive medications safely for a maximumperiod of up to 28 days prior to Visit 2

• History of hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemicattack, myocardial infarction or other types of revascularization

• Malignant hypertension

• All patients with Type I diabetes and those patients with Type 2 diabetes who are notwell controlled based on the investigator's clinical judgment

• Pregnant or nursing women

• History of heart failure

• Angina pectoris

• Second or third degree heart block

• Life threatening or symptomatic arrhythmias

• Clinically significant valvular heart disease

• Evidence of a secondary form of hypertension

• Known or moderate malignant retinopathy

• Evidence of hepatic disease

• Evidence of renal impairment Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply.