Last Review Date: 09/04/2025

Date of Origin: 07/01/2020                                                                                

Dates Reviewed: 07/2020, 09/2020, 01/2021, 03/2021, 03/2022, 03/2023, 03/2024, 09/2025

1. Length of Authorization

• Initial: Prior authorization validity will be provided initially for 6 months.
• Renewal: Prior authorization validity may be renewed every 6 months thereafter

2. Dosing Limits

Max Units (per dose and over time) [HCPCS Unit]:

• 80 billable units every 21 days

3. Initial Approval Criteria ¹

Prior authorization validity is provided in the following conditions:

• Patient is at least 18 years of age; AND

Universal Criteria ¹

• Used as a single agent; AND

Small Cell Lung Cancer † ‡ Ф ^1-4

• Used for metastatic disease after disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy (i.e., cisplatin, carboplatin) †; OR
• Used as subsequent therapy for relapsed or primary progressive disease ‡

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

4. Renewal Criteria ¹

Prior authorization validity may be renewed based on 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
• Disease response with treatment as defined by stabilization of disease or decrease in size of tumor or tumor spread; AND
• Absence of unacceptable toxicity from the drug. Examples of unacceptable toxicity include: myelosuppression (e.g., neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, etc.), hepatotoxicity, extravasation resulting in tissue necrosis, rhabdomyolysis, etc.

5. Dosage/Administration ¹

6. Billing Code/Availability Information

HCPCS Code:

• J9223 – Injection, lurbinectedin, 0.1 mg; 1 billable unit = 0.1 mg

NDC:

• Zepzelca 4 mg single-dose vial for injection: 68727-0712-xx

7. References

1. Zepzelca [package insert]. Palo Alto, CA; Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; July 2025. Accessed July 2025.
2. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium (NCCN Compendium^®) lurbinectedin. National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2025. The NCCN Compendium^® is a derivative work of the NCCN Guidelines^®. NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER NETWORK^®, NCCN^®, and NCCN GUIDELINES^® are trademarks owned by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. To view the most recent and complete version of the Compendium, go online to NCCN.org. Accessed July 2025.
3. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Small Cell Lung Cancer Version 1.2026. National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2025. NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER NETWORK®, NCCN®, and NCCN GUIDELINES® are trademarks owned by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. To view the most recent and complete version of the Guidelines, go online to NCCN.org. Accessed August 2025.
4. Trigo J, Subbiah V, Besse B, et al. Lurbinectedin as second-line treatment for patients with small-cell lung cancer: a single-arm, open-label, phase 2 basket trial. Lancet Oncol. 2020 May;21(5):645-654. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30068-1. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Appendix A – Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTL) Factor Checklist

Non-quantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) refer to the methods, guidelines, standards of evidence, or other conditions that can restrict how long or to what extent benefits are provided under a health plan. These may include things like utilization review or prior authorization. The utilization management NQTL applies comparably, and not more stringently, to mental health/substance use disorder (MH/SUD) Medical Benefit Prescription Drugs and medical/surgical (M/S) Medical Benefit Prescription Drugs. The table below lists the factors that were considered in designing and applying prior authorization to this drug/drug group, and a summary of the conclusions that Prime’s assessment led to for each.

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/LCD/LCA): N/A