Category Filter
- Advanced Imaging
- Autism Spectrum Mandate
- Behavioral Health
- Blue Advantage Policies
- Chronic Condition Management
- Genetic Testing
- HelpScript Program
- Hemophilia Drugs
- Medical Policies
- Pre-Service Review (Predetermination/Precertification)
- Provider-Administered Drug Policies
- Radiation Therapy
- Self-Administered Drug Policies
- Transgender Services
Asset Publisher
Fintepla (fenfluramine) Prior Authorization with Quantiy Limit Program Summary
Policy Number: PH-1140
This program applies to Blue Partner, Commercial, GenPlus, NetResults A series, SourceRx and Health Insurance Marketplace formularies.
POLICY REVIEW CYCLE
Effective Date |
Date of Origin |
07-01-2024 |
01-01-2021 |
FDA LABELED INDICATIONS AND DOSAGE
Agent(s) |
FDA Indication(s) |
Notes |
Ref# |
Fintepla® (fenfluramine) Oral solution |
Treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in patients 2 years of age and older
|
|
1 |
See package insert for FDA prescribing information: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/index.cfm
CLINICAL RATIONALE
Dravet Syndrome |
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe form of epilepsy characterized by frequent, prolonged seizures and neurodevelopmental problems beginning in infancy. Mutations in the alpha-1 subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel (SCN1A) gene are identified in 70-85% of patients with DS. Status epilepticus, or a seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes and sometimes 30 minutes or more, is common. Additional seizure types, including myoclonic, atypical absence, and complex partial seizures, appear before age 5 years. Mortality in DS is elevated above that found in the general epilepsy population, with an estimated mortality of 15-20% by adulthood. First-line treatment is typically valproate, with clobazam added if needed. Additional agents include stiripentol, topiramate, cannabidiol, and fenfluramine. For patients with symptoms refractory to drug therapy, ketogenic diet and vagal nerve stimulation may be beneficial.(2,3,4,9) The mechanisms by which fenfluramine exerts its therapeutic effects in the treatment of seizures associated with DS are unknown. Fenfluramine and its metabolite, norfenfluramine, increase extracellular levels of serotonin through interaction with serotonin transporter proteins, and exhibit agonist activity at serotonin 5HT-2 receptors.(1) |
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome |
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe form of epilepsy that typically becomes apparent during infancy or early childhood. The syndrome has many causes, including genetic disorders, cortical malformations, tumors, encephalopathies following hypoxic-ischemic insults, meningitis, and head injuries. Affected children experience several different types of seizures; atonic, clonic, and atypical absence seizures are the most common. Children with LGS may develop cognitive dysfunction, delays in reaching developmental milestones, and behavioral problems. LGS is difficult to treat because no specific therapy is effective in all cases, and the disorder has proven particularly resistant to most therapeutic options. Valproate is generally considered first-line therapy, and if monotherapy is ineffective another drug such as lamotrigine or rufinamide is added to valproate therapy. Alternative adjunctive antiseizure medications include topiramate, clobazam, cannabidiol, fenfluramine, or felbamate. Additional therapies combined with drug therapy, for patients who do not respond, include the ketogenic diet and vagal nerve stimulation.(7,8) |
Efficacy |
The effectiveness of fenfluramine for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older was established in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in patients 2 to 18 years of age. Study 1 (N = 117) compared a 0.7 mg/kg/day and a 0.2 mg/kg/day dose of fenfluramine with placebo in patients who were NOT receiving stiripentol. Study 2 (N = 85) compared a 0.4 mg/kg/day dose of fenfluramine with placebo in patients who were receiving stiripentol and either clobazam, valproate, or both. In both studies, patients had a clinical diagnosis of Dravet syndrome and were inadequately controlled on at least one antiepileptic drug (AED) or other antiseizure treatment including vagal nerve stimulation or a ketogenic diet. In Study 1, 98% of patients were taking 1-4 concomitant AEDs; in Study 2, 100% were taking 2-4 concomitant AEDs.(1,5,6) The primary efficacy endpoint in both studies was the change from baseline in the frequency of convulsive seizures per 28 days during the treatment period. For Study 1, the percent reduction in monthly convulsive seizure frequency was 70% for the 0.7 mg/kg/day dose (p less than 0.001) and 31.7% for the 0.2 mg/kg/day dose (p=0.043); for Study 2 it was 59.5% reduction (p less than 0.001). A reduction in convulsive seizures was observed within 3-4 weeks of starting fenfluramine, and the effect remained generally consistent over the 14- or 15-week treatment period.(1,5,6) A secondary endpoint was longest seizure-free interval, for which the median longest seizure-free intervals in the 0.7 mg/kg/day, 0.4 mg/kg/day, and 0.2 mg/kg/day groups were 25 days, 22 days, and 15 days, respectively.(5,6) The effectiveness of fenfluramine for the treatment of seizures associated with LGS in patients 2 years of age and older was established in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients 2 to 35 years of age. Study 3 (N=263) compared a 0.7 mg/kg/day and a 0.2 mg/kg/day dose of fenfluramine with placebo in patients with a diagnosis of LGS who were inadequately controlled on at least one antiepileptic drug (AED) or other antiseizure treatment including vagal nerve stimulation and/or a ketogenic diet.(1) The primary efficacy endpoint was the median percent change from baseline (reduction) in the frequency of seizures per 28 days during the treatment period. The median percent change from baseline (reduction) in the frequency of seizures per 28 days was significantly greater for the 0.7 mg/kg/day group compared with placebo (80%; p=0.0037). The effect remained generally consistent over the 14-week treatment period.(1) |
Safety |
Fintepla carries a boxed warning for valvular heart disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension. There is an association between serotonergic drugs with 5-HT2B receptor agonist activity, including fenfluramine, and valvular heart disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Echocardiogram assessments are required before, during, and after treatment with Fintepla; benefits versus risks of initiating or continuing must be considered based on echocardiogram findings. Because of these risks, Fintepla is available only through the Fintepla REMS program.(1) Fintepla has the following contraindications:(1)
|
REFERENCES
Number |
Reference |
1 |
Fintepla prescribing information. Zogenix, Inc. January 2023. |
2 |
Wirrell EC, Laux L, Donner E, et al. Optimizing the Diagnosis and Management of Dravet Syndrome: Recommendations from a North American Consensus Panel. Pediatr Neurol. 2017;68:18-34. |
3 |
Sullivan J, Knupp K, Wirrell E. Dravet Syndrome. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). Last updated 2020. Available at https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/dravet-syndrome-spectrum/. |
4 |
Andrade DM, Nascimento FA, et al. Dravet Syndrome: Management and Prognosis. UpToDate. Literature review current through November 2022. Last updated December 2022. |
5 |
Lagae L, Sullivan J, Knupp K, et al. Fenfluramine Hydrochloride for the Treatment of Seizures in Dravet Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Lancet. 2019;394(10216):2243-2254. |
6 |
Nabbout R, Mistry A, Zuberi S, et al. Fenfluramine for Treatment-Resistant Seizures in Patients with Dravet Syndrome Receiving Stiripentol-Inclusive Regimens: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurol. 2020;77(3):300-308. |
7 |
Wheeless JW. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). Last updated 2020. Available at https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/lennox-gastaut-syndrome/. |
8 |
Wilfong A, et al. Epilepsy Syndromes in Children. UpToDate. Last updated June 2022. Literature review current through December 2022. |
9 |
International Consensus on Diagnosis and Management of Dravet Syndrome. Epilepsia. 2022 Jul;63(7):1761-1777. |
POLICY AGENT SUMMARY PRIOR AUTHORIZATION
Target Brand Agent(s) |
Target Generic Agent(s) |
Strength |
Targeted MSC |
Available MSC |
Final Age Limit |
Preferred Status |
|
||||||
Fintepla |
fenfluramine hcl oral soln |
2.2 MG/ML |
M ; N ; O ; Y |
N |
|
|
POLICY AGENT SUMMARY QUANTITY LIMIT
Target Brand Agent Name(s) |
Target Generic Agent Name(s) |
Strength |
QL Amount |
Dose Form |
Day Supply |
Duration |
Addtl QL Info |
Allowed Exceptions |
Targeted NDCs When Exclusions Exist |
|
|||||||||
Fintepla |
Fenfluramine HCl Oral Soln 2.2 MG/ML |
2.2 MG/ML |
360 |
mLs |
30 |
DAYS |
|
|
|
CLIENT SUMMARY – PRIOR AUTHORIZATION
Target Brand Agent Name(s) |
Target Generic Agent Name(s) |
Strength |
Client Formulary |
Fintepla |
fenfluramine hcl oral soln |
2.2 MG/ML |
Blue Partner ; Commercial ; GenPlus ; Health Insurance Marketplace ; NetResults A Series ; SourceRx |
CLIENT SUMMARY – QUANTITY LIMITS
Target Brand Agent Name(s) |
Target Generic Agent Name(s) |
Strength |
Client Formulary |
Fintepla |
Fenfluramine HCl Oral Soln 2.2 MG/ML |
2.2 MG/ML |
Blue Partner ; Commercial ; GenPlus ; Health Insurance Marketplace ; NetResults A Series ; SourceRx |
PRIOR AUTHORIZATION CLINICAL CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL
Module |
Clinical Criteria for Approval |
|
Initial Evaluation Target Agent(s) will be approved when ALL of the following are met:
Length of Approval: 12 months NOTE: If Quantity Limit applies, please refer to Quantity Limit Criteria.
Target Agent(s) will be approved when ALL of the following are met:
Length of Approval: 12 months NOTE: If Quantity Limit applies, please refer to Quantity Limit Criteria. |
QUANTITY LIMIT CLINICAL CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL
Module |
Clinical Criteria for Approval |
|
Quantity limit for the Target Agent(s) will be approved when ONE of the following is met:
Length of Approval: up to 12 months |
This pharmacy policy is not an authorization, certification, explanation of benefits or a contract. Eligibility and benefits are determined on a case-by-case basis according to the terms of the member’s plan in effect as of the date services are rendered. All pharmacy policies are based on (i) information in FDA approved package inserts (and black box warning, alerts, or other information disseminated by the FDA as applicable); (ii) research of current medical and pharmacy literature; and/or (iii) review of common medical practices in the treatment and diagnosis of disease as of the date hereof. Physicians and other providers are solely responsible for all aspects of medical care and treatment, including the type, quality, and levels of care and treatment.
The purpose of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s pharmacy policies are to provide a guide to coverage. Pharmacy policies are not intended to dictate to physicians how to practice medicine. Physicians should exercise their medical judgment in providing the care they feel is most appropriate for their patients.
Neither this policy, nor the successful adjudication of a pharmacy claim, is guarantee of payment.
Commercial _ PS _ Fintepla_PAQL _ProgSum_ 07-01-2024