Clinical Study to Evaluate the Antihypertensive Efficacy and Safety of Fimasartan in Hypertension Patients

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of Fimasartan (BR-A-657•K) 60 mg\~120 mg in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Fimasartan (BR-A-657-K), a selective blocker of AT1 receptor subtype, showed the rapid and potent antihypertensive effect in many hypertensive models. Phase I study, Fimasartan (BR-A-657-K) 20mg \~ 480mg single dosing with healthy subjects, demonstrated that the Fimasartan(BR-A-657-K) was very safe and well tolerated. Another phase I study, Fimasartan (BR-A-657-K) 120mg and 360mg dosing for 7 days, also showed that Fimasartan (BR-A-657-K) was safe and tolerable though one temporal adverse event was observed in high dose.

A Randomized, Double-blind, Losartan-controlled, Parallel Group Comparison Dose Titration Clinical Study to Evaluate the Antihypertensive Efficacy and Safety of Fimasartan (BR-A-657•K) 60mg\~120mg in Patients with Mild to Moderate Essential Hypertension.

Approximately 480 patients will be enrolled over 12 months in 24 centers nationwide.

After 2 weeks of placebo run-in period, all subjects will be randomized into one of the following 2 groups. Subjects will take test/control drug for 12 weeks of treatment period. And Extensin study have 12 weeks in treatment period.

If subjects take any antihypertensive medications before screening, the subjects will have 1 week of wash-out period.

If the hypertension is not controlled well, there is a possibility of dose titration.

Group I : Fimasartan group. Group II : Losartan group

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Mild to moderate essential hypertension : sitting diastolic blood pressure measured at Placebo visit and Baseline are 90\~109mmHg inclusive and the difference between sitting diastolic blood pressures measured at Placebo visit and Baseline(Day0) is under 7mmHg.
* Subjects who agree to participate in this sudy and give written informed consent
* Subjects considered to understand the study, be cooperative, and able to be followed-up until the end of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

* The sitting DBP is less than 89mmHg or more than 110mmHg or severe hypertensive patient with sitting systolic blood pressure over 200mmHg Patients with secondary hypertension
* Patients with severe renal(Creatinine more 1.5 times than upper limit of normal), gastrointestinal, hematological or hepatic(AST, ALT more 2 twice more than upper limit of normal)disease etc. which might affect absorption, disposition, metabolism or excretion of the drug
* Patients with postural hypotension
* Patients with sever insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus(HbA1c\>9%, regimen change of oral hypoglycemic agents within 12weeks, treated insulin before screening)
* Patients with a history of myocardial infarction, severe coronary artery disease or clinically significant heart failure or valvular defect in last 6 months
* Patients with consumptive disease, autoimmune disease, connective tissue disease
* Patients with a history of type B or C hepatitis(include carrier)
* Patients with HIV or hepatitis
* Patients with clinically significant laboratory abnormality
* Patients receiving any drugs known to affect blood pressure or medical treatments that can influence the blood pressure
* Patients with allergy or contraindication to any angiotensin II receptor antagonists
* Female of childbearing potential who does not undergo hysterectomy or is not post-menopausal
* Patients judged to have a history of alcohol or drug abuse by the investigator
* Patients participated other clinical trial 12 weeks before Screening Patients judged to be inappropriate for this study by the investigator with other reasons