Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696A in Patients With Essential Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or females from 18 up to and including 75 years * Patients with mild-to-moderate uncomplicated essential hypertension, untreated or currently taking antihypertensive therapy (monotherapy or combination therapy of 2 drugs; therapy with a fixed dose combination of two active substances represents 2 drugs) * Untreated patients must have had an office msDBP≥ 95 mmHg at the randomization visit (Visit 3) and the 2 preceding visits (Visits 1 and 2). * Treated patients must have had an office msDBP≥ 90 mmHG after washout (Visit 2), and a msDBP\> 95 mmHg at baseline (Visit 3); Exclusion Criteria: * Severe hypertension (msSBP ≥180 mmHg and/or msDBP ≥110 mmHg) * History of angioedema, drug-related or otherwise, as reported by the patient * Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus (according to the ADA criteria) * 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, etc. * History of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, coronary bypass surgery, ischemic heart disease, surgical or percutaneous arterial intervention of any kind (coronary, carotid or peripheral intervention), stroke, TIA (transient ischemic attack), carotid artery stenosis, aortic aneurysm or peripheral arterial disease