Step 1: Recall the ARNI concept. ARNI stands for Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor, the drug class that combines valsartan with sacubitril.
Step 2: Within that pair, valsartan is the angiotensin receptor blocker, so sacubitril must supply the other action, namely neprilysin inhibition. Neprilysin is the neutral endopeptidase enzyme.
Step 3: By blocking this endopeptidase, sacubitril spares natriuretic peptides ($ANP$, $BNP$, $CNP$) from degradation; the elevated peptide levels promote diuresis and vasodilation, which benefit a failing heart.
Step 4: Rule out the wrong tags. Calcium channel blocker and beta blocker classes have entirely different mechanisms, and the ACE inhibitor label belongs to drugs like enalapril, not to sacubitril.
\[\boxed{Neutral\ endopeptidase\ inhibitor}\]