Effectiveness of a Valsartan Based Versus an Amlodipine Based Treatment Strategy in naïve Patients With Stage 1 or Stage 2 Hypertension or in Patients Uncontrolled on Current Monotherapy

Inclusion criteria Stage/grade 1 or stage/ grade 2 hypertension, MSSBP ≥ 140 mm Hg, and/ or MSDBP ≥ 90 mm Hg, at Visit 1 and 2 in untreated patients Or Patients who are currently treated on monotherapy and uncontrolled and have a blood pressure ≤ 160/100 mm Hg at Visit 1 and Visit 2 Exclusion criteria Current treatment with a CCB MSSBP ≥ 180 mm Hg or MSDBP ≥ 110 mm Hg at any time between visit 1 and Visit 2 History of hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or to drugs with similar chemical structures Evidence of a secondary form of hypertension Cerebrovascular accident or myocardial infarction during the last 12 months, prior to Visit 1 Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply