The primary objective is to assess the antihypertensive efficacy of 4 different AVE 7688 doses on the change from baseline in trough diastolic blood pressure at the end of week 12. The secondary objectives are: * To assess the antihypertensive efficacy of 4 different AVE 7688 doses on the change from baseline in trough systolic blood pressure at the end of week 12 * To compare the percentages of responders after 12 week of treatment * To evaluate the long term safety and tolerability of AVE 7688 with particular attention to angioedema
This study is a prospective multi-center, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled parallel-group, dose ranging study with 5 treatment groups (AVE7688 at 4 different dosages, and losartan-potassium 100 mg). There will be 3 study phases: placebo lead-in, treatment, and follow-up. During the placebo lead-in phase (duration 3 to 4 weeks), patients will discontinue concomitant treatment with any antihypertensive or vasodilating agents and will receive single-blind placebo until randomization. Patients who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomized to receive once-daily oral doses of either 2.5, 10, 35 or 50 mg AVE7688, or 100 mg losartan-potassium. The treatment phase will consist of two parts: an efficacy evaluation period, with a 2 week titration period (from randomization to week 2, visit T1 to visit T3) up to 12 weeks, followed by a long-term safety evaluation period until the end of week 52. Antihypertensive treatment such as diuretics, beta blockers or calcium channel blockers can be introduced or re-introduced if indicated during the long term safety evaluation period but angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are not permitted. An additional visit (visit F1) will occur two weeks after the last dose of study medication.
oral administration (capsules)
oral administration (capsules)
Buenos Aires, Argentina