Yes, there is a generic Entresto, and it has been on US pharmacy shelves since July 22, 2025. It is sold as sacubitril and valsartan tablets. The active ingredients and the three tablet strengths match Entresto. The difference you'll notice is the tablet: its shape, sometimes its color, and the code stamped on it.
FDA approved the first generics of Entresto in late May 2024, but they did not reach shelves for more than a year. On July 22, 2025, Novadoz launched "MSN’s AB-rated generic version," and Torrent followed on July 24, according to an OptumRx pharmacy notice.
This article provides general information about medication management and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice specific to your medications.
When Did Generic Entresto Come Out?
The generic tablets launched in late July 2025. At least two companies, Novadoz and Torrent, launched that month, and their tablets can look different from the brand.
What Is the Generic Name for Entresto?
Sacubitril and valsartan (often written sacubitril/valsartan). It is two medicines in one tablet. FDA's approval notice covers the same uses as the brand: adults with chronic heart failure, and children 1 year and older with a certain type of heart failure.
Is Generic Entresto as Good as Regular Entresto?
It's held to the same standard. FDA's Generic Drug Facts says a generic "is required to be the same as a brand-name medicine in dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, and quality, as well as in the way it is taken." "AB-rated" is an Orange Book code for products "FDA considers to be therapeutically equivalent."
The inactive ingredients can differ. Torrent's generic label lists povidone, which the Entresto label does not. Does that matter? FDA's generic drug Q&A answers: "In most cases no, but in a minority of patients, inactive ingredients may affect tolerability or absorption."
On cost, FDA's general statement is that "Generic medicines tend to cost less than their brand-name counterparts."
Is Entresto the Same as Valsartan?
No. Generic Entresto is sacubitril and valsartan. Generic Diovan is valsartan alone. They are different medicines, and even the valsartan part isn't measured the same way.
Both the brand and generic labels say the valsartan in sacubitril/valsartan "is more bioavailable than the valsartan in other marketed tablet formulations," meaning the body absorbs more of it. The label spells it out: "26 mg, 51 mg, and 103 mg of valsartan" in these tablets equal "40 mg, 80 mg, and 160 mg of valsartan in other marketed tablet formulations."
So a valsartan bottle and a sacubitril/valsartan bottle are not interchangeable, and those numbers are not a conversion to use on your own. Only your doctor can move you from one to the other. If a refill says only "valsartan" when you expected sacubitril and valsartan, call the pharmacy before taking it. Our valsartan double-dose guide explains why doubling Entresto is a doctor-call situation.
What Do Generic Entresto Pills Look Like?
Here is the brand next to one generic, from the Entresto and Torrent labels. Torrent lists two color versions for the higher strengths, and other makers differ again.
| Strength (sacubitril/valsartan) | Entresto (Novartis) | Generic (Torrent) |
|---|---|---|
| 24/26 mg | Violet white, ovaloid, "NVR" and "LZ" | Violet white, round, "U4" on one side |
| 49/51 mg | Pale yellow, ovaloid, "NVR" and "L1" | Pale yellow or white to off white, oval, "U5" |
| 97/103 mg | Light pink, ovaloid, "NVR" and "L11" | Light pink or white to off white, oval, "U7" |
FDA says "minor differences in appearance ... do not affect how the medicine works." The bigger risk is people quietly stopping. In a 2014 study in Annals of Internal Medicine of heart attack survivors on generic heart and cholesterol medicines, including valsartan's drug class, the odds of stopping a drug were 66% higher after its shape changed. Entresto itself wasn't studied, and the study didn't measure health outcomes. A 2018 analysis in P&T found 71 makers across the heart failure drugs it looked at, so changes can keep coming. Why your pill looks different from the last refill has the full check.
What about Entresto Sprinkle for children?
Entresto also comes as Entresto Sprinkle: small pellets inside a capsule, which the label says are opened, not swallowed ("Do not swallow the capsules"). The generic launches in July 2025 were tablets. The label gives children separate dose tables for tablets and for Sprinkle, so ask your child's doctor before any change between forms. If your child's refill looks different, ask the pharmacist to confirm the form before giving it.
Four questions for your first generic refill
- Is this sacubitril and valsartan, not valsartan alone?
- Is it the same strength as before, and what should the tablet say?
- Which company makes it, and could that change next month?
- For a child: is this the same form (tablet or Sprinkle) the doctor prescribed?
Does Generic Entresto Have Different Side Effects?
The generic has the same two active ingredients, so its side effects come from the same medicine. FDA's 2024 notice lists possible side effects of Entresto tablets as "hypotension, hyperkalemia, cough, dizziness, and renal failure" (low blood pressure, high potassium, cough, dizziness, and kidney failure). A new symptom after the switch deserves a call to your pharmacist or doctor. If it feels severe, get medical help right away. It also helps to check the bottle for your name, "sacubitril and valsartan," and the strength you had before, and to mention anything else that changed that week.
The label is firm on one point: get emergency medical help right away for swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing, and do not take it again if that swelling happened while you were on it. Otherwise, please don't stop on your own (here's why).
How Pillo Helps
Your schedule stays the same, and so do your Pillo reminders. The persistent alarm keeps going until the dose is marked. Add a dose note like "new sacubitril/valsartan, oval, U5," or look up a tablet by its imprint code with Pillo's pill identifier. Pillo also tracks blood pressure, heart rate, and weight. If you ever lose track, here's what to do when you can't remember if you took your medication.
If you help a parent with their Entresto, Dependents Management lets you run their schedule from your own phone, and here are tips for staying on top of heart failure meds when you're exhausted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is generic Entresto available in the US?
Yes. Generic sacubitril and valsartan tablets launched on July 22, 2025, when Novadoz released MSN's AB-rated version, and Torrent followed on July 24. FDA had approved the first generics in late May 2024.
Is generic Entresto as good as the brand name?
FDA requires a generic to match the brand in dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, quality, and the way it is taken. The inactive ingredients and the tablet's look can differ. FDA says inactive ingredients "may affect tolerability or absorption" in "a minority of patients."
Why is my generic Entresto a different shape?
Different companies designed them. Entresto tablets are ovaloid and marked "NVR," while Torrent's 24/26 mg tablet is round and marked "U4." FDA says minor appearance differences "do not affect how the medicine works."
Can I take plain valsartan instead of generic Entresto?
Only your doctor can make that change. They are different medicines, and the label says the body absorbs more of the valsartan in sacubitril/valsartan than of the valsartan in other tablets. Don't swap one bottle for the other on your own.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before making any changes to your medication routine.
