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Specialty Pharmacy Clinical Policy Bulletins
Aetna Non-Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Subject: Tysabri-Tyruko 1846-A SGM P2023a

Drug
TYSABRI  (natalizumab)
TYRUKO  (natalizumab-sztn)


Policy:

      I.  INDICATIONS

          The indications below including FDA-approved indications and
          compendial uses are considered a covered benefit provided that
          all the approval criteria are met and the member has no
          exclusions to the prescribed therapy.

          FDA-Approved Indications
          A.  Indicated for inducing and maintaining clinical response and
               remission in adult patients with moderately to severely active
               Crohn’s disease (CD) with evidence of inflammation who
               have had an inadequate response to, or are unable to
               tolerate, conventional CD therapies and inhibitors of tumor
               necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Tysabri and Tyruko should not
               be used in combination with immunosuppressants (e.g., 6-
               mercaptopurine, azathioprine, cyclosporine, or methotrexate)
               or inhibitors of TNF-α.
          B.  Indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of relapsing
               forms of multiple sclerosis, to include clinically isolated
               syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary
               progressive disease, in adults. Tysabri and Tyruko increase
               the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
               When initiating and continuing treatment with Tysabri or
               Tyruko, physicians should consider whether the expected
               benefit of Tysabri or Tyruko is sufficient to offset this risk.

          All other indications are considered experimental/investigational
          and not medically necessary.


    II.  DOCUMENTATION

          Submission of the following information is necessary to initiate
          the prior authorization review:

          Crohn’s disease (CD):
          A.  Initial requests: Chart notes, medical record documentation,
               or claims history supporting previous medications tried,
               including response to therapy.
          B.  Continuation requests: Chart notes or medical record
               documentation supporting positive clinical response to
               therapy or remission.


   III.  PRESCRIBER SPECIALTIES

          The medication must be prescribed by or in consultation with
          one of the following:

          A.  Crohn’s disease: gastroenterologist
          B.  Multiple sclerosis: neurologist


   IV.  CRITERIA FOR INITIAL APPROVAL
          A.  Crohn’s disease (CD)
               Authorization of 12 months may be granted to adult
               members who have received any other biologic indicated for
               the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn’s
               disease and who have been tested for anti-JCV antibodies.

          B.  Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
               Authorization of 12 months may be granted to members who
               have been diagnosed with a relapsing form of multiple
               sclerosis (including relapsing-remitting and secondary
               progressive disease for those who continue to experience
               relapse) and those who have been tested for anti-JCV
               antibodies.

          C.  Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)
               Authorization of 12 months may be granted to members for
               the treatment of clinically isolated syndrome of multiple
               sclerosis and those who have been tested for anti-JCV
               antibodies.


     V.  CONTINUATION OF THERAPY

          A.  Crohn’s disease (CD)
               1.  Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all adult
                    members (including new members) who are using the
                    requested medication for moderately to severely active
                    Crohn’s disease and who achieve or maintain remission.

               2.  Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all adult
                    members (including new members) who are using the
                    requested medication for moderately to severely active
                    Crohn’s disease and who achieve or maintain a positive
                    clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or
                    improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition
                    when there is improvement in any of the following from
                    baseline:
                    i.      Abdominal pain or tenderness
                    ii.     Diarrhea
                    iii.    Body weight
                    iv.    Abdominal mass
                    v.     Hematocrit
                    vi.    Appearance of the mucosa on endoscopy, computed
                            tomography enterography (CTE), magnetic
                            resonance enterography (MRE), or intestinal
                            ultrasound
                    vii.    Improvement on a disease activity scoring tool
                            (e.g., Crohn’s Disease Activity Index [CDAI] score)

     B.  Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically
          isolated syndrome (CIS)
          Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all members
          (including new members) who achieve or maintain a positive
          clinical response with the requested drug as evidenced by
          experiencing disease stability or improvement.


   VI.  OTHER

          For all indications: Members cannot use the requested drug
          concomitantly with any other disease modifying multiple
          sclerosis agents (Note: Ampyra and Nuedexta are not disease
          modifying), immunosuppressants, or TNF inhibitors (e.g.,
          adalimumab, infliximab).


  VII.  DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

          Approvals may be subject to dosing limits in accordance with
          FDA-approved labeling, accepted compendia, and/or evidence-
          based practice guidelines.

 


Place of Service:

Outpatient

The above policy is based on the following references:
  1. Tysabri [package insert]. Cambridge, MA: Biogen Inc; April 2023.
  2. Tyruko [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Sandoz Inc; August 2023.
  3. Talley NJ, Abreu MT, Achkar J, et al. An evidence-based systematic review on medical therapies for inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011;106(Suppl 1):S2-S25.
  4. Lichtenstein GR, Loftus Jr EV, Isaacs KI, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Crohn’s Disease in Adults. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113:481-517.
  5. Feuerstein JD, Ho EY, Shmidt E, et al. AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Medical Management of Moderate to Severe Luminal and Perianal Fistulizing Crohn’s Disease. 2021; 160: 2496- 2508.
Copyright Aetna Inc. All rights reserved. Pharmacy Clinical Policy Bulletins are developed by Aetna to assist in administering plan benefits and constitute neither offers of coverage nor medical advice. This Clinical Policy Bulletin contains only a partial, general description of plan or program benefits and does not constitute a contract. Aetna does not provide health care services and, therefore, cannot guarantee any results or outcomes. Participating providers are independent contractors in private practice and are neither employees nor agents of Aetna or its affiliates. Treating providers are solely responsible for medical advice and treatment of members. This Clinical Policy Bulletin may be updated and therefore is subject to change.

December 09, 2023
Aetna
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