Study of the Efficacy and Safety of the Combination of Two FDA Approved Oral Medications, Nebivolol and Valsartan for Treatment of Stage 1 or 2 Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female outpatients of age 18 years or above * Patients diagnosed with stage 1 or stage 2 essential hypertension * Normal physical examination findings, electrocardiogram (ECG) results and chest x-ray; or abnormal findings judged by the Investigator to be not clinically significant Exclusion Criteria: * Secondary hypertension or severe hypertension * Clinically significant cardiovascular disease or heart failure * Clinical significant respiratory disease that would prohibit the use of a beta blocker * A medical contraindication to discontinuing a current antihypertensive therapy * History of Type 1 diabetes mellitus * History of Severe Mental Illness except mild depression