Step 1: The combination drug sacubitril/valsartan is an ARNI, and the angiotensin receptor part is valsartan, so sacubitril must supply the other mechanism.
Step 2: Sacubitril is activated to its metabolite, which blocks neprilysin (the neutral endopeptidase that degrades natriuretic peptides, bradykinin, and adrenomedullin).
Step 3: Blocking this enzyme keeps beneficial vasodilatory and natriuretic peptides around longer, helping unload the failing heart.
Step 4: Therefore sacubitril is correctly classed as a neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, not an ACE inhibitor or any of the other classes.
\[\boxed{\text{Neutral endopeptidase (neprilysin) inhibitor}}\]