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Liposomal anthracycline + pyrimidine analogue (specialist)

Daunorubicin with cytarabine

Brand names: Vyxeos

Daunorubicin with cytarabine is a specialist combination chemotherapy, available as a fixed-dose liposomal formulation, used in the treatment of certain types of acute myeloid leukaemia; it is a haemato-oncology product, not a rheumatology drug.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

Daunorubicin is an anthracycline that intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II, while cytarabine is an antimetabolite incorporated into DNA to halt synthesis; together they kill dividing leukaemic cells.

Prescribing in practice

  • Anthracycline exposure carries a cumulative dose-dependent risk of irreversible cardiotoxicity, so cardiac function must be assessed before and during treatment.
  • Profound myelosuppression causes prolonged cytopenias with high infection and bleeding risk requiring supportive care; the liposomal product is not interchangeable with other formulations.
  • Administered only under specialist haemato-oncology supervision per the SPC and chemotherapy protocols.

Monitoring

Monitor full blood count, cardiac function, and renal and hepatic function throughout the treatment course.

Counselling the patient

  • Report breathlessness, swollen ankles or palpitations.
  • Seek urgent help for fever, bleeding or signs of infection.
  • Attend all blood tests and cardiac assessments.

Evidence & guidelines

The liposomal combination's benefit in secondary acute myeloid leukaemia is supported by a pivotal randomised trial.

Reference: NICE TA552; BSH AML; ESMO; SmPC; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

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