Publication:

Angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor: a novel therapy in the treatment of heart failure

Recently US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved valsartan/sacubitril is the first angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) that offers a new standard of treatment to physicians for the patients of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Sacubitril is a prodrug which gets activated to sacubitrilat and this inhibits the enzyme neprilysin which is a membrane bound endopeptidase and which in turn is responsible for the degradation of various natriuretic peptides. The action of Valsartan which selectively blocks the angiotensin II type-1 receptor is needed in addition to sacubitril because inhibition of neprilysin is accompanied by the activation of renin-angiotensin system. The combination appears to be a suitable alternative for patients of heart failure with persistent symptoms or with recent exacerbation or hospitalization while on standard optimized treatment. The availability of this novel sacubitril/valsartan combination is an important development in the heart failure management.