BP-EASE -Effectiveness of Losartan 50 mg/Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg Versus Valsartan 80 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg Titrated as Needed in Patients With Essential Hypertension Not Controlled on Monotherapy (0954A-333)

Inclusion criteria

• An Adult Patient 18 to 75 Years Of Age
• Patient with essential hypertension receiving an antihypertensive agent in monotherapy for at least 4 weeks for whom the antihypertensive agent can (and will) be discontinued and whose blood pressure is not controlled:
• Either systolic or diastolic blood pressure > 140/90 mm Hg up to 180/110 mm Hg (inclusive)
• Either systolic or diastolic blood pressure > 130/80 mm Hg up to 160/100 mm Hg (inclusive) for diabetic patients
• Patient is male or a female who is highly unlikely to conceive as she falls into one of the categories listed below:

• Surgically sterilized female
• Postmenopausal female > 45 years of age with > 2 years since her last menses
• Non-sterilized pre-menopausal female who agrees to: (1) use 2 adequate methods of contraception to prevent pregnancy [either 2 barrier methods or a barrier method plus a hormonal method]; or (2) abstain from heterosexual activity throughout the study starting with Visit 1 and for 14 days after the last dose of study medication; or (3) only engage in heterosexual activity with surgically sterilized male partner(s) throughout the study starting with Visit 1 and for 14 days after the last dose of study medication
• Patient judged to be in otherwise good, stable health on the basis of medical history and physical examination

Exclusion criteria

• Known secondary hypertension of any aetiology (e.g., uncorrected renal artery stenosis, malignant hypertension, or hypertensive encephalopathy)
• Patient Needing An Initiation Of A Lipid Lowering Agent Or A Modification Of His Lipid Therapy At Visit 1 Or During The Study Period (12 Weeks)
• Patient taking allopurinol
• Patient Previously Shown To Be Intolerant To Any Component Of Losartan Valsartan, Or HCTZ Or With A Documented History Of Angioedema/Anaphylaxis
• Patient With Confirmed Clinically Significant Renal Or Hepatic Dysfunction And/Or Electrolyte Imbalance Laboratory Test Within The Last 3 Months Prior To Visit 1: Serum Creatinine > 130 Umol/L Or Creatinine Clearance < 45 Ml/Min, Aspartate transaminase (AST) > 2 Times Above The Normal Range, Alanine transaminase (ALT) > 2 Times Above The Normal Range, Serum Potassium < 3.5 Or > 5.5 Meq/L
• Patient with osteoarthritis who has undergone hip or knee replacement within the last 4 months
• Patient with chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and those that need a chronic inflammatory therapy such as prednisone or other steroid agents
• Patient with symptomatic heart failure (classes 3 and 4)
• Patient with a history of stroke within the last 6 months
• Patient with coronary heart disease: has undergone percutaneous coronary angioplasty, has had coronary artery bypass, has had past myocardial infarction, all that occurred less than 6 months prior to visit 1 or has unstable angina
• Patient having participated in an investigational drug program in the last 30 days (prior to Visit 1)
• Unable or unwilling to comply with the protocol, therefore likely to leave the trial before its completion
• Patient intends to move or to vacation away from home during the course of the study which would interfere with the scheduled visits.