• Change in mean sitting systolic blood pressure (MSSBP) [ Time Frame: after 8-week treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Incidence of peripheral edema quantified as adverse event (AE) reported peripheral edema [ Time Frame: after 8-week treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

• Change in mean sitting systolic blood pressure (MSSBP) after 8-week treatment
• Incidence of peripheral edema quantified as adverse event (AE) reported peripheral edema after 8-week treatment

• Change in mean sitting diastolic blood pressure (MSDBP) [ Time Frame: after 8-week treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
• Change from baseline in MSSBP and MSDBP [ Time Frame: after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Systolic blood pressure responder rate (defined as MSSBP < 130 mmHg or ≥ 20 mmHg reduction from baseline) [ Time Frame: at week 4, 8, and 12 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Proportion of patients who reach systolic blood pressure control (defined as MSSBP < 130mmHg) [ Time Frame: at week 4, 8, and 12 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Proportion of patients who reach overall blood pressure control (defined as BP <140/90 mmHg for non-diabetic patients and < 130/80 mmHg for diabetic patients) [ Time Frame: at week 4, 8, and 12 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• Change in mean sitting diastolic blood pressure (MSDBP) after 8-week treatment
• Change from baseline in MSSBP and MSDBP after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment
• Systolic blood pressure responder rate (defined as MSSBP < 130 mmHg or ≥ 20 mmHg reduction from baseline) at week 4, 8, and 12
• Proportion of patients who reach systolic blood pressure control (defined as MSSBP < 130mmHg) at week 4, 8, and 12
• Proportion of patients who reach overall blood pressure control (defined as BP <140/90 mmHg for non-diabetic patients and < 130/80 mmHg for diabetic patients) at week 4, 8, and 12

This study is designed to compare the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of the combination valsartan/amlodipine 160/5 mg versus amlodipine 10 mg in patients with essential hypertension not adequately controlled [defined as mean sitting systolic blood pressure (MSSBP) ≥ 130 mmHg and ≤ 160 mmHg] on amlodipine 5 mg alone.

The study will evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of both treatment groups by providing data evaluating blood pressure lowering efficacy and the proportion of patients developing peripheral edema.

• Drug: Valsartan/Amlodipine
• Drug: Amlodipine

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female outpatients &#8805; 55 years of age
• Patients with essential hypertension measured using a validated automated oscillometric device at Visit 1
• Non-treated patients must have a MSSBP &#8805;&#61472;140 mmHg and &#8804; 160 mmHg
• Patients pre-treated on monotherapy prior to Visit 1 must have MSSBP &#8804; 160 mmHg
• To be eligible for randomization at Visit 2 (Day 1) all patients must have a MSSBP &#8805;&#61472;130 mmHg and &#8804; 160 mmHg
• No peripheral edema at Visit 2 (randomization)
• Written informed consent to participate in this study prior to any study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant
• Known or suspected contraindications, including history of allergy or hypersensitivity to angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, or to drugs with similar chemical structures
• Patients taking more than 1 antihypertensive medication at Visit 1
• Administration of any agent indicated for the treatment of hypertension after Visit 1 with the exception of pre-treated patients that require tapering down of anti-hypertensive treatments. For patients with previous antihypertensive medication that require a gradual downward titration, the tapering down should be done according to manufacturers instructions and last dose should be taken by week -2 prior to randomization
• MSSBP >180mmHg or MSDBP >110 mmHg at any time between Visit 1 and Visit 2
• Evidence of a secondary form of hypertension, including but not limited to any of the following: coarctation of the aorta, hyperaldosteronism, unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis, Cushing's disease, polycystic kidney disease, or pheochromocytoma
• History of hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) 12 months prior to Visit 1
• History of heart failure Grade II - IV according to the NYHA classification
• Second or third degree heart block with or without a pacemaker
• Concomitant potentially life threatening arrhythmia or symptomatic arrhythmia
• Concomitant unstable angina pectoris
• Clinically significant valvular heart disease
• Patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who are not well controlled based on the investigator's judgment. It is recommended that Type 2 diabetic patients are adequately controlled and, if treated with medication, be on a stable dose of oral anti-diabetic medication for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.