Effective Date

Date of Origin 

1/1/2024

Signifor^®

(pasireotide)

Subcutaneous injection

Adult patients with Cushing’s disease for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative

1

Cushing's syndrome

Cushing's syndrome denotes pathologic hypercortisolism as a result of excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) production, or autonomous adrenal production of cortisol. This potentially lethal disorder is associated with significant comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes, coagulopathy, cardiovascular disease, infections, and fractures.(5) As a result, even after cure of hypercortisolism, mortality rates may be increased. Because of this it is important to make the diagnosis as early in the disease course as possible, to prevent additional morbidity and residual disease.(2) Signs and symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome are broad and often common among the general population, such as obesity, depression, diabetes, hypertension, or menstrual irregularities. Some features are more discriminatory and unique to Cushing’s syndrome, such as reddish-purple striae, plethora, proximal muscle weakness, bruising with no obvious trauma, and unexplained osteoporosis.(5)

Cushing’s disease is a form of Cushing's syndrome. Cushing’s disease occurs when a benign tumor in the pituitary gland causes the pituitary gland to produce too much ACTH. Cushing's disease can also occur with diffuse growth of the pituitary gland (pituitary hyperplasia). Pituitary hyperplasia can lead to the release of too much ACTH, which then leads to over-production of cortisol by the adrenal glands.(5)

Diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome is often delayed for years, partly because of lack of awareness of the insidious progressive disease process and testing complexity. Screening and diagnostic tests for Cushing’s syndrome assess cortisol secretory status: abnormal circadian rhythm with late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC), impaired glucocorticoid feedback with overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) or low-dose 2-day dexamethasone test (LDDT), and increased bioavailable cortisol with 24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC). The sensitivity of all tests is higher than 90%; the highest sensitivity rates are obtained with DST and LNSC and the lowest with UFC. Specificity is somewhat lower than sensitivity, with LNSC being the most specific and DST and UFC the least specific. LNSC should not be used in patients with disruption of normal day and night cycle, such as night-shift workers.(3)

Clinical considerations and recommendations for Cushing’s syndrome diagnosis and monitoring of Cushing’s disease recurrence:(3)

• If Cushing’s syndrome is suspected:

• Start with UFC, LNSC or both; DST could be an option if LNSC is not feasible
• Multiple LNSC might be easier for patient collection

• If confirming Cushing’s syndrome:

• Can use any test
• UFC (average 2 or 3 collections) above the upper limit of normal – cutoff is assay-specific reference range
• LNSC (2 or more tests) above the upper limit of normal – cutoff is assay-specific reference range
• DST useful in night-shift workers, not in women on estrogen containing contraceptives – above cutoff of 1.8 mcg/dL
• Measuring dexamethasone concentration, with cortisol concentration the morning after 1 mg dexamethasone ingestion improves interpretability

• If Cushing’s syndrome due to adrenal tumor is suspected

• Start with DST as LNSC has lower specificity in these patients

• Monitoring for recurrence:

• Consider which tests were abnormal at initial diagnoses
• LNSC most sensitive and should be done annually – above cutoff of 0.27 mcg/dL
• DST and UFC usually become abnormal after LNSC (with UFC usually the last to become abnormal)
• UFC 1.6 X upper limit of normal
• DST above 1.8 mcg/dL

Transsphenoidal surgery is recommended as first-line therapy for patients with Cushing’s disease. Remission, typically defined as postoperative serum cortisol concentrations lower than 2 mcg/dL, is seen in approximately 80% of patients with microadenomas and 60% with macroadenomas if the procedure is performed by an experienced surgeon. Patients in remission require glucocorticoid replacement until HPA axis recovery. As remission could be delayed, monitoring until postoperative cortisol nadir can usually identify such cases.(3)

Recurrence after successful pituitary surgery is characterized as the reappearance of clinical and biochemical features of hypercortisolism after initial remission. Published recurrence rates vary between 5% and 35% with half of recurrences appearing within the first 5 years after surgery and half after up to 10 years or more. Compared with use in the initial diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome, LNSC, DST, UFC, and desmopressin tests have a lower sensitivity for recurrence, but specificity is high. Repeat transsphenoidal surgery can be considered in patients with biochemical evidence of recurrent Cushing’s disease with visible tumor on MRI.(3)

Medications used for the treatment of Cushing’s disease target adrenal steroidogenesis, somatostatin, and dopamine receptors in the pituitary gland, and glucocorticoid receptors.(3)

• Adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitor agents

• Ketoconazole 400-1600 mg total per day European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved off-label use in USA
• Osilodrostat 4-14 mg total per day FDA approved
• Metyrapone 500 mg to 6 g total per day EMA approved off-label use in USA
• Mitotane 500 mg to 4 g total per day approved by EMA off label use in USA
• Etomidate 0.04 – 0.1 mg/kg/h Off-label use only
• Levoketoconazole 300-1200 mg total per day FDA approved and EMA indicated

• Somatostatin receptor ligands

• Pasireotide 0.6-1.8 mg/mL widely approved
• Pasireotide long-acting 10-30 mg/month widely approved

• Dopamine receptor agonists

• Cabergoline 0.5-7 mg total per week off-label use only

• Glucocorticoid receptor blocker

• Mifepristone 300-1200 mg total per day FDA-approved for hyperglycemia associated with Cushing’s syndrome.

There are several factors helpful in selection of medical therapy:(3)

• If there is a need for rapid normalization of cortisol adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitors are recommended. Osilodrostat and metyrapone have the fastest action and etomidate can be used in very severe cases (high quality, strong recommendation)
• In mild disease, if residual tumor is present and there is a potential for tumor shrinkage, consider pasireotide or cabergoline (moderate quality, strong recommendation)
• If there is a history of bipolar or impulse control disorder, consider avoiding cabergoline (moderate quality, strong recommendation)
• If an expert pituitary endocrinologist is not available to monitor treatment response, use mifepristone cautiously (low quality, discretionary recommendation)
• In pregnant women or those desiring pregnancy, consider cabergoline or metyrapone (low quality, strong recommendation), although no Cushing’s disease medications are approved for use in pregnancy
• Drug intolerance or side-effects, as well as concomitant comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension should further guide type of medication used (moderate quality, strong recommendation)
• Consider cost and estimated therapy duration, especially if definitive treatment (i.e., pituitary or adrenal surgery) is planned or while awaiting effects of radiotherapy (low quality, discretionary recommendation)

Adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitors are usually used first given their reliable effectiveness. For patient with mild disease and no visible tumor on MRI, ketoconazole, osilodrostat, or metyrapone are typically preferred. For patients with mild-to-moderate disease and some residual tumor, there might be a preference for cabergoline or pasireotide because of the potential for tumor shrinkage. For patients with severe disease, rapid normalization of cortisol is the most important goal. With osilodrostat and metyrapone, response will typically be seen within hours, and with ketoconazole within a few days.(3)

Change in treatment should be considered if cortisol levels are persistently elevated after 2-3 months on maximum tolerated doses. If cortisol does not normalize but is reduced or there is some clinical improvement, combination therapy can be considered (low quality, discretionary recommendation). Many experts consider combining ketoconazole with metyrapone or potentially ketoconazole with osilodrostat to maximize adrenal blockade when monotherapy is not effective, or to allow lower doses of both drugs (low quality, discretionary recommendation). Ketoconazole plus cabergoline or pasireotide, and pasireotide plus cabergoline could be rational combinations if there is visible tumor present (low quality, discretionary recommendation). Other combinations that can be used include triplets of cabergoline, pasireotide, plus ketoconazole, and ketoconazole, metyrapone, plus mitotane (low quality, discretionary recommendation).(3)

Radiotherapy is primarily used as adjuvant therapy for patients with persistent or recurrent disease after transsphenoidal surgery or for aggressive tumor growth.(3)

Efficacy(1)

A Phase III multicenter, randomized study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of two dosage levels of Signifor over a 6-month treatment period in Cushing’s disease patients with persistent or recurrent disease despite pituitary surgery or de novo patients for whom surgery was not indicated or had refused surgery.

Patients with a baseline 24-hour urine free cortisol (UFC) greater than 1.5 X the upper limit of normal were randomized to receive a Signifor dosage of either 0.6 mg subcutaneous twice daily or 0.9 mg subcutaneous twice daily. After the initial six months in the study, patients entered an additional 6-month open-label treatment period. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved normalization of mean 24-hour UFC levels after six months of treatment and did not dose increase during this period.

At month 6, the percentages of responders for the primary endpoint were 15% and 26% in the 0.6 mg twice daily and 0.9 mg twice daily groups respectively. The percentages of patients with mean UFC less than or equal to ULN or greater than or equal to 50% reduction from baseline, a less stringent endpoint than the primary endpoint, were 34% in the 0.6 mg twice daily and 41% in the 0.9 mg twice daily groups.

Safety(1)

Signifor (pasireotide) has no FDA labeled contraindications.

1

Signifor prescribing information. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. March 2020.

2

Nieman LK, Biller BMK, Findling JW, et al. Treatment of Cushing’s Syndrome: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Aug;100(8):2807–2831.

3

Fleseriu M, Auchus R, Bancos I, et al. Pituitary Society Consensus on Diagnosis and Management of Cushing's Disease: A Guideline Update. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2021;9(12):847-875.

4

Nieman LK, Biller BMK, Findling JW, et al. The Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 May;93(5):1526–1540. Reference No Longer Used.

5

Endocrine Society. Cushing's Disease. Accessed at: https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/cushings-disease

Signifor

pasireotide diaspartate inj

0.3 MG/ML ; 0.6 MG/ML ; 0.9 MG/ML

M ; N ; O ; Y

N

Signifor

pasireotide diaspartate inj

0.3 MG/ML ; 0.6 MG/ML ; 0.9 MG/ML

60

Ampules

30

DAYS

Signifor

pasireotide diaspartate inj

0.3 MG/ML ; 0.6 MG/ML ; 0.9 MG/ML

Blue Partner ; Commercial ; GenPlus ; Health Insurance Marketplace ; NetResults A Series ; SourceRx

Signifor

pasireotide diaspartate inj

0.3 MG/ML ; 0.6 MG/ML ; 0.9 MG/ML

Blue Partner ; Commercial ; GenPlus ; Health Insurance Marketplace ; NetResults A Series ; SourceRx

Initial Evaluation

Target Agent(s) will be approved when ALL of the following are met: 

1. ONE of the following:
   1. The patient has a diagnosis of Cushing’s disease AND BOTH of the following:
      1. The patient has urinary free cortisol levels greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal AND
      2. ONE of the following:
         1. The patient has had an inadequate response to pituitary surgical resection OR
         2. The patient is not a candidate for pituitary surgical resection OR
   2. The patient has another FDA approved indication for the requested agent and route of administration AND
2. If the patient has an FDA approved indication, then ONE of the following:
   1. The patient’s age is within FDA labeling for the requested indication for the requested agent OR
   2. The prescriber has provided information in support of using the requested agent for the patient’s age for the requested indication AND
3. The prescriber is a specialist in the area of the patient’s diagnosis (e.g., endocrinologist) or the prescriber has consulted with a specialist in the area of the patient’s diagnosis AND
4. The patient will NOT be using the requested agent in combination with Signifor LAR (pasireotide LAR) AND
5. The patient does NOT have any FDA labeled contraindications to the requested agent

Length of Approval: Cushing’s Disease – 6 months

                                All other FDA approved diagnoses – 12 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: 

1. The patient has been previously approved for the requested agent through the plan’s Prior Authorization process AND
2. The patient has had clinical benefit with the requested agent AND
3. The patient has urinary free cortisol levels less than or equal to the upper limit of normal AND
4. The patient has had improvements or stabilization from baseline (prior to therapy with the requested agent) as indicated by ONE of the following:
   1. Fasting plasma glucose OR
   2. Hemoglobin A1c OR
   3. Hypertension OR
   4. Weight AND
5. The prescriber is a specialist in the area of the patient’s diagnosis (e.g., endocrinologist) or the prescriber has consulted with a specialist in the area of the patient’s diagnosis AND
6. The patient will NOT be using the requested agent in combination with Signifor LAR (pasireotide LAR) AND
7. The patient does NOT have an FDA labeled contraindications to the requested agent

Length of Approval: 12 months

NOTE: If Quantity Limit applies, please refer to Quantity Limit Criteria.

QL with PA

Quantity Limit for the Target Agent(s) will be approved when ONE of the following is met:

1. The requested quantity (dose) does NOT exceed the program quantity limit OR
2. ALL of the following:
   1. The requested quantity (dose) exceeds the program quantity limit AND
   2. The requested quantity (dose) does NOT exceed the maximum FDA labeled dose for the requested indication AND
   3. The requested quantity (dose) cannot be achieved with a lower quantity of a higher strength that does not exceed the program quantity limit

Length of Approval: Initial: Cushing’s Disease – 6 months, All other FDA approved diagnosis – 12 months; Renewal: 12 months