• Change from baseline diastolic blood pressure after 4 weeks
  

• Change from baseline systolic blood pressure after 4 weeks
  
• Change from baseline diastolic and systolic blood pressure in patients with a diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg at randomization after 4 weeks
  
• Adverse events and serious adverse events at each study visit for 4 weeks
  

Inclusion Criteria:

• • Male or female age between 18-80 years of age, inclusive

  • Diagnosed at enrollment (visits 2) to be mild to moderate hypertensive with a MSDBP  95 and  109 mmHg for non treated patients.
  • Previously treated patients should have a MSDBP  109 mmHg at visit 1 and a MSDBP  95 and 109 mmHg at visit 2.
  • Written informed consent to participate in the study prior to any study procedures
  • Ability to communicate and comply with all study requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypertension (grade 3 of WHO classification; 110 mmHg diastolic and/or  180 mmHg systolic).
• Malignant hypertension
• Inability to discontinue all prior anti-hypertensive medications safely for a period of 2 weeks, as required by the protocol.
• Known history of proteinuria (greater than 0.3 gram per day)
• Female patients who are not either post-menopausal for one year or surgically sterile, and who are not using effective contraceptive methods such as barrier method with spermicidal or an intra-uterine device. Oral contraceptive use is not allowed.
• Known Keith-Wagener grade III or IV hypertensive retinopathy.
• History of hypertensive encephalopathy or cerebrovascular accident at anytime prior to Visit 1.
• Transient ischemic cerebral attack during the last 12 months prior to Visit 1.