BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to update our network meta-analysis in order to compare the efficacy of indacaterol 75 μg with that of a fixed-dose combination of formoterol and budesonide (FOR/BUD) and a fixed-dose combination salmeterol and fluticasone (SAL/FP) for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on evidence identified previously in addition to two new randomized clinical trials. METHODS Fifteen randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials including COPD patients were evaluated: indacaterol 75 μg once daily (n = 2 studies), indacaterol 150 μg once daily (n = 5), indacaterol 300 μg once daily (n = 4), FOR/BUD 9/160 μg twice daily (n = 2), FOR/BUD 9/320 μg twice daily (n = 2), SAL/FP 50/500 μg twice daily (n = 4), and SAL/FP 50/250 μg twice daily (n = 1). All trials were analyzed simultaneously using a Bayesian network meta-analysis and relative treatment effects between all regimens were obtained. Treatment-by-covariate interactions were included where possible to improve the similarity of the trials. Outcomes of interest were trough forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) and transitional dyspnea index at 12 weeks. RESULTS Based on the results without adjustment for covariates, indacaterol 75 μg resulted in a greater improvement in FEV(1) at 12 weeks compared with FOR/BUD 9/160 μg (difference in change from baseline 0.09 L [95% credible interval 0.04-0.13]) and FOR/BUD 9/320 μg (0.07 L [0.03-0.11]) and was comparable with SAL/FP 50/250 μg (0.00 L [-0.07-0.07]) and SAL/FP 50/500 μg (0.01 L [-0.04-0.05]). For transitional dyspnea index, data was available only for indacaterol 75 μg versus SAL/FP 50/500 μg (-0.49 points [-1.87-0.89]). CONCLUSIONS Based on results of a network meta-analysis with and without covariates, indacaterol 75 μg is expected to be at least as efficacious as FOR/BUD (9/320 μg and 9/160 μg) and comparable with SAL/FP (50/250 μg and 50/500 μg) in terms of lung function. In terms of breathlessness (transitional dyspnea index) at 12 weeks, the results are inconclusive given the limited data.