8-week Randomized, Open-label Study to Evaluate Food Effect on Efficacy and Safety of Oral Aliskiren 300 mg in Patients With Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male or female outpatients age ≥ 18 years old. A higher age limit will be considered
for countries based on their local regulations ( e.g., Taiwan, ≥ 20 years)

- Patients with essential hypertension, untreated or currently taking
antihypertensive therapy (monotherapy or combination therapy).

- Patients must have an office BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg and < 180/110mmHg at the
randomization visit and the preceding visit

- Patients must have an absolute difference of ≤ 10 mmHg in both their msSBP and
their msDBP between the randomization visit and the preceding visit

Exclusion Criteria:

- Malignant hypertension or severe hypertension (grade 3 of WHO classification; msSBP
≥180 mmHg or msDBP ≥110 mmHg)

- History or evidence of a secondary form of hypertension, such as renal parenchymal
hypertension, renovascular hypertension, coarctation of the aorta, primary
hyperaldosteronism, Cushing's disease, drug-induced hypertension, unilateral or
bilateral renal artery stenosis, pheochromocytoma, polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

- Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus with a fasting glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >
8%

- Any surgical or medical condition which may significantly alter the absorption,
distribution, metabolism or excretion of aliskiren, including but not limited to, any
of the following: history of major gastrointestinal tract surgery such as
gastrectomy, gastroenterostomy, bowel resection, gastric bypass, gastric stapling, or
gastric banding, currently active, or active inflammatory bowel syndrome within 12
months prior to Visit 1, regarded as clinically meaningful by the investigator.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.

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