📖 Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI) is a new class of heart failure medications.
☝🏻 The first drug in this class is Entresto® (sacubitril/valsartan). It is a combination medication comprised of a neprilysin inhibitor (sacubitril) and an angiotensin II receptor blocker (valsartan).
💊 Sacubitril is a prodrug that inhibits neprilysin thus preventing it from breaking down natriuretic peptides. This mechanism leads to an increase in vasodilation and diuresis as levels of natriuretic peptides rise.
💊 Valsartan directly blocks angiotensin II receptors inhibiting angiotensin II from binding onto the receptors and causing vasoconstriction and aldosterone release.