Background: Patients (pts) sAML have poor outcomes (CR/CRi= 25-35%) with standard 7+3 induction chemotherapy (7+3). CPX-351 (liposomal encapsulated daunorubicin + cytarabine at a synergistic 5:1 molar ratio) was approved recently for sAML based on improvements in CR/CRi and survival but high cost and toxicity has discouraged its use. FLAG (fludarabine + high-dose cytarabine + granulocyte colony stimulating factor) have emerged as a lower cost, safe alternatives; however, outcomes between CPX-351 and FLAG have yet to be compared. In the absence of a direct trial, we aimed to estimate indirectly by Bayesian NMA the comparative efficacy of CPX-351, FLAG, and 7+3 therapy for sAML patients. Methods: Publications that compared FLAG or CPX-351 to 7+3 in newly diagnosed sAML were identified through a search of PubMed. CR/CRi rates were used in a Bayesian NMA to assess the direct (CPX-351 vs 7+3; FLAG vs 7+3) and indirect (CPX-351 vs FLAG) comparative efficacy of these regimens. Fixed (FE) and random effect (RE) analyses were conducted to estimate pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% credible interval (CrI). Results: Of 169 identified articles, four studies (three RCT and one retrospective cohort) on a total of 781 pts in three treatment arms were retained. NMA showed no significant difference in pooled CR/CRi rates between CPX-351 and FLAG in both FE and RE models. However, pts receiving either FLAG or CPX-351 had significantly higher CR/CRi than those receiving 7+3 in both FE and RE models as shown in the table. Conclusions: This NMA suggests that both CPX-351 and FLAG prevail in CR/CRi efficacy over 7+3. In indirect comparison, CPX-351 and FLAG are equivalent in efficacy. The cost implications of these results remain to be established.

League tables showing the fixed effect results of the NMA comparing the complete response rate of three intervention by reporting odds ratios (OR) and 95% credible intervals. OR > 1 means the top-left treatment is better.