BP-EASE -Effectiveness of Losartan 50 mg/Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg Versus Valsartan 80 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg Titrated as Needed in Patients With Essential Hypertension Not Controlled on Monotherapy (0954A-333)

Inclusion Criteria:

• An Adult Patient 18 to 75 Years Of Age

• Patient with essential hypertension receiving an antihypertensive agent inmonotherapy for at least 4 weeks for whom the antihypertensive agent can (and will)be discontinued and whose blood pressure is not controlled:

• Either systolic or diastolic blood pressure > 140/90 mm Hg up to 180/110 mm Hg (inclusive)

• Either systolic or diastolic blood pressure > 130/80 mm Hg up to 160/100 mm Hg (inclusive) for diabetic patients

• Patient is male or a female who is highly unlikely to conceive as she falls into oneof the categories listed below:

• Surgically sterilized female

• Postmenopausal female > 45 years of age with > 2 years since her last menses

• Non-sterilized pre-menopausal female who agrees to: (1) use 2 adequate methodsof contraception to prevent pregnancy [either 2 barrier methods or a barriermethod plus a hormonal method]; or (2) abstain from heterosexual activitythroughout the study starting with Visit 1 and for 14 days after the last doseof study medication; or (3) only engage in heterosexual activity withsurgically sterilized male partner(s) throughout the study starting with Visit 1 and for 14 days after the last dose of study medication

• Patient judged to be in otherwise good, stable health on the basis of medicalhistory and physical examination

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known secondary hypertension of any aetiology (e.g., uncorrected renal arterystenosis, malignant hypertension, or hypertensive encephalopathy)

• Patient Needing An Initiation Of A Lipid Lowering Agent Or A Modification Of HisLipid Therapy At Visit 1 Or During The Study Period (12 Weeks)

• Patient taking allopurinol

• Patient Previously Shown To Be Intolerant To Any Component Of Losartan Valsartan, OrHCTZ Or With A Documented History Of Angioedema/Anaphylaxis

• Patient With Confirmed Clinically Significant Renal Or Hepatic Dysfunction And/OrElectrolyte Imbalance Laboratory Test Within The Last 3 Months Prior To Visit 1:Serum Creatinine > 130 Umol/L Or Creatinine Clearance < 45 Ml/Min, Aspartatetransaminase (AST) > 2 Times Above The Normal Range, Alanine transaminase (ALT) > 2Times Above The Normal Range, Serum Potassium < 3.5 Or > 5.5 Meq/L

• Patient with osteoarthritis who has undergone hip or knee replacement within thelast 4 months

• Patient with chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus,inflammatory bowel disease and those that need a chronic inflammatory therapy suchas prednisone or other steroid agents

• Patient with symptomatic heart failure (classes 3 and 4)

• Patient with a history of stroke within the last 6 months

• Patient with coronary heart disease: has undergone percutaneous coronaryangioplasty, has had coronary artery bypass, has had past myocardial infarction, allthat occurred less than 6 months prior to visit 1 or has unstable angina

• Patient having participated in an investigational drug program in the last 30 days (prior to Visit 1)

• Unable or unwilling to comply with the protocol, therefore likely to leave the trialbefore its completion

• Patient intends to move or to vacation away from home during the course of the studywhich would interfere with the scheduled visits.