Last Review Date: 05/02/2024

Date of Origin: 07/01/2020

Dates Reviewed: 07/2020, 10/2020, 01/2021, 10/2021, 10/2022, 10/2023, 05/2024

1. Length of Authorization

Initial coverage will be provided for 6 months and may be renewed annually thereafter.

2. Dosing Limits

1. Quantity Limit (max daily dose) [NDC Unit]:

Uplizna 100 mg/10 mL single-dose vial for injection:

• Loading Doses: 3 vials on days 1, 15
• Maintenance Dose: 3 vials every 6 months

2. Max Units (per dose and over time) [HCPCS Unit]:
   • 300 billable units (300 mg) on days 1, 15 and then 300 billable units (300 mg) every 6 months thereafter

3. Initial Approval Criteria ^1,2

Coverage is provided in the following conditions:

• Patient is at least 18 years of age; AND
• Patient has been evaluated and screened for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) prior to initiating treatment and confirmed to be negative for active HBV; AND
• Patient has had baseline serum immunoglobulin measured prior to the start of therapy; AND
• Patient has not received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) within 1 month prior to the start of therapy; AND
• Patient does not have an underlying immunodeficiency disorder (i.e., acquired/congenital primary immunodeficiency, HIV, etc.); AND

Universal Criteria ^1,2

• Patient has been evaluated and screened for the presence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection prior to initiating treatment and will receive ongoing monitoring for the presence of TB during treatment; AND
• Patient does not have an active infection, including clinically important localized infections; AND
• Live or live-attenuated vaccinations will not be administered within the 4-weeks prior to the start of therapy and will not be administered concurrently while on therapy; AND

• Patient has not previously received, and will not concomitantly receive, therapy with any of the following:
  • Other drugs which can result in prolonged additive immunosuppression [i.e., alemtuzumab, natalizumab, cyclosporin, methotrexate, mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, tocilizumab, maintenance corticosteroids (not including pre-medications or rescue therapy), etc.]; AND
  • Other immunosuppressant procedures (e.g., total lymphoid irradiation, bone marrow transplant, T-cell vaccination therapy, etc.); AND
• Patient will not concomitantly receive therapy with any of the following:
  • Complement-inhibitors (e.g., eculizumab, ravulizumab, etc.); AND
  • Anti-CD20-directed antibody (e.g., rituximab); AND
  • IL-6 inhibitor (e.g., satralizumab, tocilizumab, sarilumab, etc.) therapies; AND

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) † Ф ^1,2,4,5

• Patient has a confirmed diagnosis based on the following:
  • Patient was found to be seropositive for aquaporin-4 (AQP4) IgG antibodies; AND
  • Patient has at least one core clinical characteristic § (Note: some core clinical characteristics require both clinical and typical MRI findings); AND
  • Alternative diagnoses have been excluded [e.g., myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody disease (MOGAD), multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, cancer, chronic infection, etc.]; AND
• Patient has a history of one or more relapses that required rescue therapy within the prior year OR two or more relapses that required rescue therapy within the prior 2 years; AND
• Patient has an Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) of ≤ 7.5

† FDA Approved Indication(s); ‡ Compendia Recommended Indication(s); Ф Orphan Drug

4. Renewal Criteria ^1,2

Coverage may be renewed based upon the following criteria:

• Patient continues to meet the universal and other indication-specific relevant criteria such as concomitant therapy requirements (not including prerequisite therapy), performance status, etc. identified in section III; AND
• Absence of unacceptable toxicity from the drug. Examples of unacceptable toxicity include: serious infusion related reactions (e.g., headache, nausea, somnolence, dyspnea, fever, myalgia, rash, etc.), serious infections including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), hypogammaglobulinemia necessitating IVIG treatment or leading to recurrent infections, etc.; AND

• Disease response as indicated by stabilization/improvement in one or more of the following:
  • Neurologic symptoms as evidenced by a decrease in acute relapses, improvement in stability, or improvement in EDSS
  • Reduced hospitalizations
  • Reduction/discontinuation in plasma exchange treatments

5. Dosage/Administration ¹

6. Billing Code/Availability Information

HCPCS Code:

• J1823 – Injection, inebilizumab-cdon, 1 mg; 1 billable unit = 1 mg

NDC:

• Uplizna 100 mg/10 mL single-dose vials for injection: 75987-0150-xx   

7. References

1. Uplizna [package insert]. Dublin, Ireland; Horizon Therapeutics Ireland DAC; July 2021. Accessed April 2024.
2. Cree BAC, Bennett JL, Kim HJ, et al; N-MOmentum study investigators. Inebilizumab for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (N-MOmentum): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled phase 2/3 trial. Lancet. 2019 Oct 12;394(10206):1352-1363. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31817-3. Epub 2019 Sep 5.
3. Trebst C, Jarius S, Berthele A, et al. Update on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromyelitis optica: recommendations of the Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). J Neurol 2014; 261:1.
4. Wingerchuk DM, Banwell B, Bennett JL, et al. International consensus diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Neurology. 2015 Jul;85(2):177-89. Epub 2015 Jun 19.
5. Jarius, S., Aktas, O., Ayzenberg, I. et al. Update on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromyelits optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) – revised recommendations of the Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). Part I: Diagnosis and differential diagnosis. J Neurol 270, 3341–3368 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-023-11634-0.
6. Kümpfel T, Giglhuber K, Aktas O, et al. Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). Update on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) - revised recommendations of the Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). Part II: Attack therapy and long-term management. J Neurol. 2023 Sep 7. doi: 10.1007/s00415-023-11910-z. Epub ahead of print.

Appendix 1 – Covered Diagnosis Codes

Appendix 2 – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

The preceding information is intended for non-Medicare coverage determinations. Medicare coverage for outpatient (Part B) drugs is outlined in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (Pub. 100-2), Chapter 15, §50 Drugs and Biologicals. In addition, National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and/or Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) may exist and compliance with these policies is required where applicable. Local Coverage Articles (LCAs) may also exist for claims payment purposes or to clarify benefit eligibility under Part B for drugs which may be self-administered. The following link may be used to search for NCD, LCD, or LCA documents: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/search.aspx. Additional indications, including any preceding information, may be applied at the discretion of the health plan

Medicare Part B Covered Diagnosis Codes (applicable to existing NCD/LCA/LCD): N/A