Mending the Broken Heart: A Neprilysin Inhibitor for Heart Failure

• Sacubitril/valsartan was recently FDA approved to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with reduced ejection fraction heart failure
• This medication is the first in the class of neprilysin inhibitors
• Sacubitril/valsartan could replace angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) as the standard of care in heart failure

Sacubitril/valsartan, an angiotensin-receptor neprilysin inhibitor, was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for reduction of morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Sacubitril is the first drug in the neprilysin inhibitor class that assists with volume regulation by inhibiting the breakdown of brain natriuretic peptide. When compared with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, sacubitril/valsartan demonstrated reductions in rehospitalization and all-cause mortality. Sacubitril/valsartan could replace angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers