How to access Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) from India: the CDSCO named-patient pathway
By Reserve Meds · Clinical & regulatory team · Last reviewed 2026-05-16
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Quick orientation
Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) is an FDA-approved angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) developed by Novartis, first approved in 2015. It is a fixed-dose combination of sacubitril (a neprilysin inhibitor that elevates levels of natriuretic peptides) and valsartan (an angiotensin II receptor blocker), the first-in-class ARNI. FDA-approved indications cover to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalisation for heart failure in adult patients with chronic heart failure, with benefit most pronounced in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction below normal. Entresto is taken orally twice daily. Most patients start at 49/51 mg twice daily and titrate every two to four weeks to the target of 97/103 mg twice daily as tolerated by blood pressure, kidney function, and serum potassium.
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Why Indian patients route Entresto via the named-patient pathway
India's pharmaceutical access framework is governed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019. Rule 36 of these Rules provides a named-patient import mechanism that allows a licensed physician (or the patient, with prescription) to import a specific medicine for a specific patient where the locally available channel does not meet the clinical need.
The most common Rule 36 triggers for Entresto are: (a) the prescribed presentation, strength, or formulation is not locally registered or not currently in stock at the patient's tertiary centre, (b) registration of a newer indication has lagged behind the FDA approval, (c) the patient requires the originator manufacturer for continuity from a prior course of treatment, or (d) local supply has been inconsistent and the treating physician judges that bridge supply is clinically necessary.
Entresto may be registered in India (we confirm its current CDSCO status for your case at intake), but specific dose strengths or extended-supply quantities are occasionally short, and some Indian heart-failure patients on complex regimens prefer the originator presentation for consistency. Because Entresto is shelf-stable (stored at room temperature 20 to 25 degrees Celsius), logistics are simpler than for cold-chain biologics, but presentation fidelity (correct strength, correct manufacturer batch, correct expiry) still requires deliberate coordination.
The named-patient channel exists to bridge the supply side; the clinical infrastructure is already there.
Indian payers (public and private) treat Entresto unevenly. Public-channel access is limited. Private insurers and corporate plans sometimes reimburse named-patient imports on case-by-case approval but typically require prior-authorisation and documented failure or inadequate response on conventional therapy. Most patients budget for cash-pay as the default and submit for reimbursement after the fact.
The CDSCO named-patient pathway for Entresto, step by step
- Consultation with your treating cardiologist (heart failure specialist where available). Eligibility for Entresto is a clinical decision based on diagnosis, prior therapy, and indication-specific criteria.
- Clinical rationale documented. Your physician documents the indication, dose, prior-therapy history, and the reason the local channel does not meet the need (the formulary-gap or supply-gap justification under Rule 36).
- CDSCO application filed. Your physician (or the importing pharmacy partner) files the personal-import / named-patient documentation with CDSCO. The application identifies the patient (anonymised reference), specifies the medicine, dose, and quantity, and attaches the prescription and clinical letter.
- US-side sourcing. Reserve Meds coordinates with our US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner under DSCSA chain-of-custody, with manufacturer-direct sourcing where possible.
- Shipment. Standard ambient shipment with documented chain of custody from US dispensing pharmacy to Indian tertiary centre.
- Arrival and administration. Entresto is delivered to the designated tertiary centre or, where the presentation supports it, directly to the patient for at-home administration. Entresto is taken orally twice daily.
- Ongoing coordination. Reserve Meds supports re-supply cadence aligned to the dosing schedule and coordinates documentation for follow-up CDSCO filings if required.
Where Entresto is administered or dispensed in India
Named-patient medicines are usually given or dispensed at tertiary hospitals with the right specialist team and an in-house import pharmacy. Your treating hospital confirms its own process.
Choice of centre is a clinical decision; Reserve Meds coordinates supply to the centre your treating physician designates and does not direct referral.
Real cost picture for Entresto in India via the named-patient pathway
The cash-pay total for Entresto via this channel decomposes into three components: drug cost, logistics, and coordination.
- Drug cost. Medicine price: quote on request. You get a written quote for your case before you commit.
- Logistics and 3PL. Ambient shipment with customs handling. Medicine price: quote on request. Every case gets a written custom quote before you commit.
- Reserve Meds coordination fee. Quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.
Reserve Meds issues a written custom quote after your physician's documents are uploaded, before you commit. We do not collect a deposit at intake; payment is wired only after a firm quote is accepted. See how our written quotes work.
Some Indian private insurers reimburse named-patient imports on case-by-case approval. We supply documentation for your submission; reimbursement is not guaranteed and is not promised by Reserve Meds.
Typical timeline
We give you a written timeline estimate for your case before you commit.
We give you a written timeline estimate for your case before you commit.
If your clinical situation is time-sensitive, flag that when you
What your physician needs to provide
The CDSCO named-patient application is built around the physician's clinical letter and the prescription. Your treating cardiologist (heart failure specialist where available) will typically need to provide:
- Clinical justification letter. Diagnosis, prior-therapy history, response and tolerability of prior agents, and the clinical rationale for Entresto as the indicated next step.
- MCI / NMC registration. Verification of the physician's Indian medical-council registration (Medical Council of India, now National Medical Commission).
- Patient identifier. Anonymised reference where possible, full identification where the application requires it.
- Prescription. Brand name, strength, dose, quantity, and duration of supply.
- Formulary-gap or supply-gap justification. Specific statement of why the local channel does not meet the clinical need for this patient (the Rule 36 trigger).
- Monitoring plan. Blood pressure, serum creatinine, electrolytes (particularly potassium), and a 36-hour washout window if switching from an ace inhibitor to avoid angioedema.
- Adverse-event reporting commitment. A statement that the physician will report any serious adverse events through CDSCO pharmacovigilance channels.
Reserve Meds provides a physician documentation kit that bundles the templates CDSCO reviewers expect and a worked example for your physician's reference.
Frequently asked
How long until heart-failure benefit is seen? Mortality and hospitalisation benefit emerges within the first three to six months and continues thereafter, based on the PARADIGM-HF and PARAGON-HF trial data.
Can Entresto be combined with ACE inhibitors? No. Entresto must not be co-administered with an ACE inhibitor due to angioedema risk. A 36-hour washout is required when switching.
Is Entresto safe in chronic kidney disease? Entresto is used in CKD with dose adjustment. Your cardiologist defines the starting dose and monitoring cadence based on eGFR.
Does Entresto replace beta-blockers? No. Entresto is one pillar of guideline-directed medical therapy alongside beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors.
What is the typical duration of therapy? Long-term, often lifelong in HFrEF. Your cardiologist reassesses tolerance, ejection fraction, and symptom burden at each visit.
Is this legal? Yes, when executed through the CDSCO Rule 36 personal-import / named-patient framework. See our trust and compliance page.
Can Reserve Meds promise insurance reimbursement? No. Reimbursement is determined by your insurer and your specific policy. We supply documentation; we do not promise outcomes.
Where Reserve Meds fits in
Reserve Meds is a US-based digital health company that coordinates access to cross-border specialty medicine. For Entresto specifically, we provide:
- Sourcing. US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner under DSCSA chain-of-custody, manufacturer-direct where possible.
- Documentation. CDSCO-ready documentation package for your physician and a worked example for the Rule 36 application.
- Logistics. Ambient shipment, customs handling, and delivery to the designated tertiary centre.
- Dedicated case lead. A named point of contact throughout intake, application, shipment, and re-supply cadence.
What we do not do. We are not the prescriber. We do not practice medicine. We are not the dispensing pharmacy. All clinical decisions remain with your treating physician. Our case team responds to intakes within one business day. If Entresto is already available to you locally for your indication, stay on the local channel.
Next step
Composite case examples. This content is for general information and does not constitute medical advice.
Reviewed by the Reserve Meds clinical operations team. Last reviewed: 2026-05-16.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get Entresto in India if it is not approved or available there?
Reserve Meds coordinates US-sourced Entresto for patients in India through a legal named-patient pathway, working with your treating doctor. Your treating physician provides the prescription and clinical justification; Reserve Meds prepares the named-patient documentation for India and arranges DSCSA-compliant US sourcing and delivery to your physician or hospital pharmacy.
Can I access Entresto in India through a named-patient import?
Often, yes. Named-patient access (sometimes called personal import) is the legal route we use for FDA-approved medicines such as Entresto. It is different from compassionate use, which covers investigational medicines through the manufacturer's own program; we do not supply investigational medicines. Eligibility and paperwork depend on the regulator in India, and Reserve Meds maps the specific pathway for each market it coordinates.
Do I need a prescription to access Entresto in India through Reserve Meds?
Yes. Reserve Meds is not a pharmacy and does not prescribe. A valid prescription and clinical justification from your treating physician are required, and all clinical decisions remain with your physician.
How does Reserve Meds deliver Entresto to a patient in India?
Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner, and Reserve Meds coordinates delivery of Entresto to your treating physician or hospital pharmacy in India, with appropriate handling for the product.
How long does it take, and what does Entresto in India cost through Reserve Meds?
After a short intake, the clinical team responds within one business day with case-specific feasibility, an indicative timeline, and a formal written quote. Cost depends on the destination, the prescribed regimen, and the duration of therapy, and is confirmed in writing before anything proceeds.
How do I start a request for Entresto in India?
Submit a 60-second intake through the Reserve Meds patient portal, or message our team on WhatsApp. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.