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Joenja (leniolisib) Prior Authorization with Quantity Limit Program Summary
Policy Number: PH-1204
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 |
10-01-2023 |
FDA LABELED INDICATIONS AND DOSAGE
Agent(s) |
FDA Indication(s) |
Notes |
Ref# |
Joenja® (leniolisib) Tablets |
Treatment of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3K-delta) syndrome (APDS) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older |
|
1 |
See package insert for FDA prescribing information: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/index.cfm
CLINICAL RATIONALE
Primary Immunodeficiencies |
Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are a group of inborn error disorders that cause immune dysfunction and manifest with increased susceptibility to infections. Many PIDs are monogenic diseases. To date, mutations in more than 300 genes have been shown to cause various PIDs. Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome (APDS) is a PID that results from pathogenic variant mutations in either the PIK3CD gene (APDS1) or the PIK3R1 gene (APDS2). Both genes are important for the growth, survival and function of lymphocytes.(2,3,4,6) Definitive diagnosis is made through genetic testing, which Pharming Healthcare Inc offers at no-charge (including counseling) for individuals who are suspected to carry a pathogenic variant in PIK3CD or PIK3R1. Patients may present in childhood or later in life with severe, persistent and recurrent bacterial and viral infections, bronchiectasis, lymphadenopathy, delayed development (e.g., speech, growth), and/or hepato- or splenomegaly. Additionally, patients may present with signs of autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, such as anemia, cytopenias, nodular lymphoid hyperplasia, enteropathy, glomerulonephritis, organ dysfunction.(5,7,8) Before Joenja, the only treatments for APDS were focused on managing symptoms, with a combination of long-term immunoglobulin replacement therapy to help support the immune system, immunosuppressive medications to help with symptoms due to autoimmunity and inflammation, and daily antibiotics to help prevent infections before they happen.(2,3,5) Joenja is targeted at the actual problem (gain-of-function mutation in the PIK3CD disrupts normal development of immune cells; Joenja selectively inhibits a subunit of PI3K, which specifically reverses the pathophysiology of APDS in a molecularly targeted manner.(6,9) |
Efficacy |
Joenja (leniolisib) is an oral selective PI3K-delta inhibitor. In cell-based assays, Joenja inhibited the signaling pathways that lead to the dysregulation of B and T cells.(1) The efficacy of Joenja was evaluated in the placebo-controlled portion of Study 2201 (NCT02435173), a 12-week blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with confirmed APDS-associated genetic PI3K-delta mutation with a documented variant in either PIK3CD or PIK3R1. Patients had nodal and/or extranodal lymphoproliferation, as measured by index nodal lesion selected by the Cheson methodology on CT or MRI and clinical findings and manifestations compatible with APDS (e.g., history of repeated oto-sino-pulmonary infections, organ dysfunction). Thirty-one patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either Joenja 70 mg (N=21) or placebo (N=10) twice a day for 12 weeks. The co-primary efficacy endpoints were improvement in lymphoproliferation as measured by a change from baseline in lymphadenopathy measured by the log10-transformed sum of product diameters and the normalization of immunophenotype as measured by the percentage of naïve B cells out of total B cells. Findings showed that leniolisib met the coprimary endpoints demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in index lymph node size (p=.006) and normalization of immunodeficiency (as evidenced by an increased proportion of naïve B cells from baseline; p=.002), compared with placebo.(1,6) |
Safety |
Joenja (leniolisib) has no FDA labeled contraindications for use.(1) |
REFERENCES
Number |
Reference |
1 |
Joenja prescribing information. Pharming Technologies BV. March 2023. |
2 |
Singh A, Joshi V, Jindal AK, et al. An Updated Review on Activated PI3 Kinase Delta Syndrome (APDS). Genes Dis. 2020 Mar;7(1):67-74. |
3 |
Michalovich D, Nejentsev S. Activated PI3 Kinase Delta Syndrome: From Genetics to Therapy. Front Immunol. 2018 Feb;9:369. |
4 |
Ewertowska M, Grzesk E, Urbanczyk A, et al. Activated Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Delta Syndrome 1 and 2 (APDS 1 and APDS 2): Similarities and Differences Based on Clinical Presentation in Two Boys. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2020 Apr;16:22. |
5 |
Oh J. Activated Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Delta Syndrome (APDS). National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD). Last updated: April 2023. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/activated-phosphoinositide-3-kinase-delta-syndrome-apds/ |
6 |
Rao VK, Webster S, Sediva A, et al. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial of the PI3K-delta Inhibitor Leniolisib for Activated PI3K-delta Syndrome. Blood. 2023 Mar;141(9):971-983. |
7 |
International Patient Organization for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI). Primary Immunodeficiencies: APDS - Activated PI3K Delta Syndrome. 2020. Available at: http://www.immunodeficiencyuk.org/static/media/up/IPOPIADPS.pdf |
8 |
All About APDS - Healthcare Professionals. Available at: https://allaboutapds-hcp.com/. Accessed December 2023. |
9 |
Rao VK, Webster S, Dalm VASH, et al. Effective "Activated PI3K-Delta Syndrome"-Targeted Therapy with the PI3K-Delta Inhibitor Leniolisib. Blood. 2017 Nov;130(21):2307-2316. |
POLICY AGENT SUMMARY PRIOR AUTHORIZATION
Target Brand Agent(s) |
Target Generic Agent(s) |
Strength |
Targeted MSC |
Available MSC |
Final Age Limit |
Preferred Status |
|
||||||
Joenja |
leniolisib phosphate tab |
70 MG |
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 |
|
|||||||||
Joenja |
leniolisib phosphate tab |
70 MG |
60 |
Tablets |
30 |
DAYS |
|
|
|
CLIENT SUMMARY – PRIOR AUTHORIZATION
Target Brand Agent Name(s) |
Target Generic Agent Name(s) |
Strength |
Client Formulary |
Joenja |
leniolisib phosphate tab |
70 MG |
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 |
Joenja |
leniolisib phosphate tab |
70 MG |
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: 6 months NOTE: If Quantity Limit applies, please refer to Quantity Limit Criteria.
Renewal 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. |
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: Initial up to 6 months; Renewal 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 _ Joenja_leniolisib__PAQL _ProgSum_ 07-01-2024