Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 in Comparison to Olmesartan in Japanese Patients With Essential Hypertension

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension, untreated or currently taking antihypertensive therapy. * Treated patients (using antihypertensive treatments within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1) must have an msSBP ≥ 150 mmHg and \< 180 mmHg at the randomization visit (Visit 201) and msSBP ≥140 mmHg \< 180 mmHg at the visit immediately proceeding Visit 201 (Visit 102 or 103). * Untreated patients (newly diagnosed with essential hypertension or having a history of hypertension but have not been taking any antihypertensive drugs for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1) must have an msSBP ≥ 150 mmHg and \< 180 mmHg at both Visit 1 and Visit 201. * Patients must have an absolute difference of ≤15 mmHg in msSBP between Visit 201 and the immediately preceding visit; Exclusion Criteria: * Severe hypertension (msDBP ≥110 mmHg and/or msSBP ≥ 180 mmHg). * History of angioedema, drug-related or otherwise, as reported by the patient. * History or evidence of a secondary form of hypertension, including but not limited to any of the following: renal parenchymal hypertension, renovascular hypertension (unilateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis), coarctation of the aorta, primary hyperaldosteronism, Cushing's disease, pheochromocytoma, polycystic kidney disease, and drug-induced hypertension. * Patients who previously entered a LCZ696 study and had been randomized or enrolled into the active drug treatment epoch. Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.