Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Profiles of Aliskiren in Japanese Patients With Mild to Moderate Essential Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * Japanese patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension aged 20 to 80 years * Blood pressure: Mean (based on 3 recordings at 1-2 minute intervals) sitting diastolic blood pressure values on 14 days or 3 days before the treatment should meet the following criteria: * 14 days before treatment: ≥ 90 mmHg and \< 110 mmHg * 3 days before treatment: ≥ 95 mmHg and \< 110 mmHg * The difference in mean sitting diastolic blood pressure between 14 days and 3 days before the treatment is within 10 mmHg * Body weight no less than 50 kg Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with mean (based on 3 recordings at 1-2 minute intervals) systolic blood pressure ≥ 180 mmHg and/or mean diastolic blood pressure ≥ 110 mmHg at Day -28, Day -14 and Day -3. * Patients with or suspected of having secondary hypertension * Patients suspected of having malignant hypertension Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply