Safety and Tolerability of Valsartan in Children 6 to 17 Years of Age

Inclusion Criteria:

• Documented diagnosis of hypertension
• able to swallow a tablet
• body weight ≥18 kg and ≤160 kg at baseline
• MSSBP must be ≥ 95th percentile and ≤25% above the 95th percentile for age, gender and height.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any clinically significant physical abnormalities or clinically relevant abnormal laboratory values (other than those relating to renal function) obtained at the screening visit.
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• Unilateral, bilateral and graft renal artery stenosis
• Current diagnosis of heart failure (New York Heart Association Class II-IV)
• Patients taking any of the following concomitant medications following screening: Renin-angiotensin receptor(RAAS) blockers other than study drug, Lithium, potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, salt substitutes containing potassium and other substances that may increase potassium levels, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), including selective COX-2 inhibitors, acetylsalicylic acid >3g/day, and non-selective NSAIDs, Antidepressant drugs in the class of Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (e.g. phenelzine), Chronic use of stimulant therapy for Attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) -Patients who demonstrate clinically significant ECG abnormalities such as concurrent potentially life threatening arrhythmia or symptomatic arrhythmia and patients with second or third degree heart block without a pacemaker.
• Coarctation of the aorta with a gradient of =30 mmHg
• Previous solid organ transplantation except renal transplantation.
• Patients known to be positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Any surgical or medical condition which might significantly alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of the study drug
• Known or suspected contraindications to the study drug, including severe hepatic impairment, biliary cirrhosis, cholestasis and history of allergy to ARBs and/or angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE) and/or Direct Renin Inhibitors (DRIs)
• History of malignancy of any organ system, treated or untreated, within the past 5 years whether or not there is evidence of local recurrence or metastases, with the exception of localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin.
• History or evidence of drug or alcohol abuse within the last 12 months.
• Female patients of child-bearing potential, defined as all female patients physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they are willing to use highly effective contraception during the study
• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) female patients
• Participation in any investigational drug study within 30 days prior to screening or within 5 elimination half-lives of the study drug prior to screening, or whichever is longer.
• History of hypersensitivity to the study drug or to drugs of similar chemical classes.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply