Certolizumab Pegol (Cimzia®)

We develop Medical Policies to provide guidance to Members and Providers. This Medical Policy relates only to the services or supplies described in it. The existence of a Medical Policy is not an authorization, certification, explanation of benefits or a contract for the service (or supply) that is referenced in the Medical Policy. For a determination of the benefits that a Member is entitled to receive under his or her health plan, the Member's health plan must be reviewed. If there is a conflict between the Medical Policy and a health plan or government program (e.g., TennCare), the express terms of the health plan or government program will govern.

POLICY

INDICATIONS

The indications below including FDA-approved indications and compendial uses are considered a covered benefit provided that all the approval criteria are met and the member has no exclusions to the prescribed therapy.

FDA-Approved Indications

Reducing signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderately to severely active disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy.
Treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment of active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in patients 2 years of age and older.
Treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.
Treatment of adults with active ankylosing spondylitis.
Treatment of adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation.
Treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Compendial Use

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicity - inflammatory arthritis

DOCUMENTATION

Submission of the following information is necessary to initiate the prior authorization review:

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Initial requests:

Chart notes, medical record documentation, or claims history supporting previous medications tried (if applicable), including response to therapy. If therapy is not advisable, documentation of clinical reason to avoid therapy.
Laboratory results, chart notes, or medical record documentation of biomarker testing (i.e., rheumatoid factor [RF], anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide [anti-CCP], and C-reactive protein [CRP] and/or erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]) (if applicable).

Continuation requests:

Chart notes or medical record documentation supporting positive clinical response.

Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (pJIA)

Initial requests:

Chart notes, medical record documentation, or claims history supporting previous medications tried (if applicable), including response to therapy.

Continuation requests:

Chart notes or medical record documentation supporting positive clinical response.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Toxicity

Initial requests:

Chart notes, medical record documentation, or claims history supporting previous medications tried (if applicable), including response to therapy. If therapy is not advisable, documentation of clinical reason to avoid therapy.

Continuation requests:

Chart notes or medical record documentation supporting positive clinical response.

Crohn’s Disease (CD)

Continuation requests:

Chart notes or medical record documentation supporting positive clinical response to therapy or remission.

Plaque Psoriasis (PsO)

Initial requests:

Chart notes or medical record documentation of affected area(s) and body surface area (BSA) affected (if applicable).
Chart notes, medical record documentation, or claims history supporting previous medications tried (if applicable), including response to therapy. If therapy is not advisable, documentation of clinical reason to avoid therapy.

Continuation requests:

Chart notes or medical record documentation of decreased body surface area (BSA) affected and/or improvement in signs and symptoms.

PRESCRIBER SPECIALTIES

This medication must be prescribed by or in consultation with one of the following:

Rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis: rheumatologist
Psoriatic arthritis: rheumatologist or dermatologist
Crohn’s disease: gastroenterologist
Plaque psoriasis: dermatologist

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicity: oncologist, hematologist, or rheumatologist

COVERAGE CRITERIA

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for adult members who have previously received a biologic or targeted synthetic drug (e.g., Rinvoq, Xeljanz) indicated for moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis.

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for adult members for treatment of moderately to severely active RA when both of the following criteria are met:

Member meets either of the following criteria:

Member has been tested for either of the following biomarkers and the test was positive:

Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP)

Member has been tested for ALL of the following biomarkers:

RF
Anti-CCP
C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Member meets either of the following criteria:

Member has had an inadequate response to at least a 3-month trial of methotrexate despite adequate dosing (i.e., titrated to at least 15 mg/week).

Member has an intolerance or contraindication to methotrexate (see Appendix A).

Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (pJIA)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for members 2 years of age or older who have previously received a biologic or targeted synthetic drug (e.g., Xeljanz) indicated for moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for members 2 years of age or older for treatment of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis when any of the following criteria is met:

Member has had an inadequate response to methotrexate or another conventional synthetic drug (e.g., leflunomide, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine) administered at an adequate dose and duration.
Member has had an inadequate response to a trial of scheduled non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and/or intra-articular glucocorticoids (e.g., triamcinolone hexacetonide) and one of the following risk factors for poor outcome:

Involvement of ankle, wrist, hip, sacroiliac joint, and/or temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
Presence of erosive disease or enthesitis
Delay in diagnosis
Elevated levels of inflammation markers
Symmetric disease

Member has risk factors for disease severity and potentially a more refractory disease course (see Appendix B) and meets one of the following:

High-risk joints are involved (e.g., cervical spine, wrist, or hip)
High disease activity
Is judged to be at high risk for disabling joint disease

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for adult members who have previously received a biologic or targeted synthetic drug (e.g., Rinvoq, Otezla) indicated for active psoriatic arthritis.

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for adult members for treatment of active psoriatic arthritis when either of the following criteria is met:

Member has mild to moderate disease and meets one of the following criteria:

Member has had an inadequate response to methotrexate, leflunomide, or another conventional synthetic drug (e.g., sulfasalazine) administered at an adequate dose and duration.
Member has an intolerance or contraindication to methotrexate or leflunomide (see Appendix A), or another conventional synthetic drug (e.g., sulfasalazine).
Member has enthesitis or predominantly axial disease.

Member has severe disease.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for adult members who have previously received a biologic or targeted synthetic drug (e.g., Rinvoq, Xeljanz) indicated for active ankylosing spondylitis or active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for adult members for treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis or active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis when either of the following criteria is met:

Member has had an inadequate response to at least two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Member has an intolerance or contraindication to two or more NSAIDs.

Crohn’s Disease (CD)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for adult members for treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease.

Plaque Psoriasis (PsO)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for adult members who have previously received a biologic or targeted synthetic drug (e.g., Sotyktu, Otezla) indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for adult members for treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis when any of the following criteria is met:

Crucial body areas (e.g., hands, feet, face, neck, scalp, genitals/groin, intertriginous areas) are affected.
At least 10% of body surface area (BSA) is affected.
At least 3% of body surface area (BSA) is affected and the member meets either of the following criteria:

Member has had an inadequate response or intolerance to either phototherapy (e.g., UVB, PUVA) or pharmacologic treatment with methotrexate, cyclosporine, or acitretin.
Member has a clinical reason to avoid pharmacologic treatment with methotrexate, cyclosporine, and acitretin (see Appendix A).

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Toxicity

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicity when the member has moderate or severe immunotherapy-related inflammatory arthritis and meets either of the following:

Member has had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or a conventional synthetic drug (e.g., methotrexate, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine).

Member has an intolerance or contraindication to corticosteroids and a conventional synthetic drug (e.g., methotrexate, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine).

CONTINUATION OF THERAPY

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all adult members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis and who achieve or maintain a positive clinical response as evidenced by disease activity improvement of at least 20% from baseline in tender joint count, swollen joint count, pain, or disability.

Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (pJIA)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all members 2 years of age or older (including new members) who are using the requested medication for moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and who achieve or maintain a positive clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition when there is improvement in any of the following from baseline:

Number of joints with active arthritis (e.g., swelling, pain, limitation of motion)
Number of joints with limitation of movement
Functional ability

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all adult members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for psoriatic arthritis and who achieve or maintain a positive clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition when there is improvement in any of the following from baseline:

Number of swollen joints
Number of tender joints
Dactylitis
Enthesitis
Axial disease
Skin and/or nail involvement
Functional status
C-reactive protein (CRP)

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all adult members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for ankylosing spondylitis or non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and who achieve or maintain a positive clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition when there is improvement in any of the following from baseline:

Functional status
Total spinal pain
Inflammation (e.g., morning stiffness)
Swollen joints
Tender joints
C-reactive protein (CRP)

Crohn’s Disease (CD)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all adult members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease and who achieve or maintain a positive clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition when there is improvement in any of the following from baseline:

Abdominal pain or tenderness
Diarrhea
Body weight
Abdominal mass
Hematocrit
Appearance of the mucosa on endoscopy, computed tomography enterography (CTE), magnetic resonance enterography (MRE), or intestinal ultrasound
Improvement on a disease activity scoring tool (e.g., Crohn’s Disease Activity Index [CDAI] score)

Plaque Psoriasis (PsO)

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all adult members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and who achieve or maintain a positive clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition when either of the following is met:

Reduction in body surface area (BSA) affected from baseline
Improvement in signs and symptoms from baseline (e.g., itching, redness, flaking, scaling, burning, cracking, pain)

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Toxicity

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for all members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for immunotherapy-related inflammatory arthritis and who achieve or maintain a positive clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition.

OTHER

For all indications: Member has had a documented negative tuberculosis (TB) test (which can include a tuberculosis skin test [TST] or an interferon-release assay [IGRA]) within 12 months of initiating therapy for persons who are naïve to biologic drugs or targeted synthetic drugs associated with an increased risk of TB.

If the screening testing for TB is positive, there must be further testing to confirm there is no active disease (e.g., chest x-ray). Do not administer the requested medication to members with active TB infection. If there is latent disease, TB treatment must be started before initiation of the requested medication.

For all indications: Member cannot use the requested medication concomitantly with any other biologic drug or targeted synthetic drug for the same indication.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Approvals may be subject to dosing limits in accordance with FDA-approved labeling, accepted compendia, and/or evidence-based practice guidelines.

APPENDIX

Appendix A: Examples of Clinical Reasons to Avoid Pharmacologic Treatment with Methotrexate, Cyclosporine, Acitretin, or Leflunomide

Clinical diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, alcoholic liver disease, or other chronic liver disease
Drug interaction
Risk of treatment-related toxicity
Pregnancy or currently planning pregnancy
Breastfeeding
Significant comorbidity prohibits use of systemic agents (e.g., liver or kidney disease, blood dyscrasias, uncontrolled hypertension)
Hypersensitivity
History of intolerance or adverse event

Appendix B: Risk Factors for Articular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Positive rheumatoid factor
Positive anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies
Pre-existing joint damage

MEDICATION QUANTITY LIMITS

Drug Name	Diagnosis	Maximum Dosing Regimen
Cimzia (Certolizumab)	Ankylosing Spondylitis or Axial Spondyloarthritis	Route of Administration: Subcutaneous ≥18 Years Initial: 400mg on weeks 0, 2, and 4 Maintenance: 200mg every 2 weeks or 400 mg every 4 weeks
Cimzia (Certolizumab)	Crohn's Disease	Route of Administration: Subcutaneous ≥18 Years Initial: 400mg on weeks 0, 2, and 4 Maintenance: 400mg every 4 weeks
Cimzia (Certolizumab)	Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Toxicities: Inflammatory Arthritis	Route of Administration: Subcutaneous ≥18 Years Initial: 400mg on weeks 0, 2, and 4 Maintenance: 200mg every 2 weeks
Cimzia (Certolizumab)	Plaque Psoriasis	Route of Administration: Subcutaneous ≥18 Years 400mg every 2 weeks
Cimzia (Certolizumab)	Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis	Route of Administration: Subcutaneous ≥2 year(s) 10 - <20kg Initial: 100mg on weeks 0, 2, and 4 Maintenance: 50mg every 2 weeks ≥2 year(s) 20 - <40kg Initial: 200mg on weeks 0, 2, and 4 Maintenance: 100mg every 2 weeks ≥2 year(s) ≥40kg Initial: 400mg on weeks 0, 2, and 4 Maintenance: 200mg every 2 weeks
Cimzia (Certolizumab)	Psoriatic Arthritis	Route of Administration: Subcutaneous ≥18 Years Initial: 400mg on weeks 0, 2, and 4 Maintenance: 200mg every 2 weeks or 400 mg every 4 weeks
Cimzia (Certolizumab)	Rheumatoid Arthritis	Route of Administration: Subcutaneous ≥18 Years Initial: 400mg on weeks 0, 2, and 4 Maintenance: 200mg every 2 weeks or 400 mg every 4 weeks

APPLICABLE TENNESSEE STATE MANDATE REQUIREMENTS

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s Medical Policy complies with Tennessee Code Annotated Section 56-7-2352 regarding coverage of off-label indications of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs when the off-label use is recognized in one of the statutorily recognized standard reference compendia or in the published peer-reviewed medical literature.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For appropriate chemotherapy regimens, dosage information, contraindications, precautions, warnings, and monitoring information, please refer to one of the standard reference compendia (e.g., the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network®, Drugdex Evaluations of Micromedex Solutions at Truven Health, or The American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information).

REFERENCES

Cimzia [package insert]. Smyrna, GA: UCB, Inc.; September 2024.
van der Heijde D, Ramiro S, Landewe R, et al. 2016 Update of the international ASAS-EULAR management recommendations for axial spondyloarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;0:1-14.
Smolen JS, Landewé RBM, Bijlsma JWJ, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: 2019 update. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79(6):685-699. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216655.
Singh JA, Saag KG, Bridges SL Jr, et al. 2015 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016;68(1)1-26.
Saag KG, Teng GG, Patkar NM, et al. American College of Rheumatology 2008 recommendations for the use of nonbiologic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2008;59(6):762-784.
Menter A, Korman NJ, Elmets CA, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Section 6: Guidelines of care for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: case-based presentations and evidence-based conclusions. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011;65(1):137-174.
Gossec L, Baraliakos X, Kerschbaumer A, et al. European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies; 2019 update. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79(6):700-712.
Gladman DD, Antoni C, Mease P, et al. Psoriatic arthritis: epidemiology, clinical features, course, and outcome. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005;64(Suppl II):ii14–ii17.
Coates LC, Soriano ER, Corp N, et al. Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA): updated treatment recommendations for psoriatic arthritis 2021. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2022;18(8):465-479.
Braun J, van den Berg R, Baraliakos X, et al. 2010 update of the ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2011;70:896–904.
Landewe R, Braun J, Deodhar A, et al. Efficacy of certolizumab pegol on signs and symptoms of axial spondyloarthritis including ankylosing spondylitis: 24-week results of a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled Phase 3 study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014;73(1):39-47.
Ward MM, Deodhar A, Gensler LS, et al. 2019 Update of the American College of Rheumatology/Spondylitis Association of America/Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network Recommendations for the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(10):1599-1613. doi:10.1002/art.41042.
Talley NJ, Abreu MT, Achkar J, et al. An evidence-based systematic review on medical therapies for inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011;106(Suppl 1):S2-S25.
Lichtenstein GR, Loftus Jr EV, Isaacs KI, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Crohn’s Disease in Adults. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113:481-517.
Menter A, Strober BE, Kaplan DH, et al. Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with biologics. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(4):1029-1072.
Testing for TB Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on August 5, 2024 from: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/testing/index.html.
Singh JA, Guyatt G, Ogdie A, et al. 2018 American College of Rheumatology/National Psoriasis Foundation Guideline for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(1):5-32. doi:10.1002/art.40726.
Menter A, Cordero KM, Davis DM, et al. Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis in pediatric patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82(1):161-201.
Menter A, Gelfand JM, Connor C, et al. Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis with systemic nonbiologic therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82(6): 1445-86.
Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, et al. 2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheum. 2010;62(9):2569-81.
Smolen JS, Aletaha D. Assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity in clinical trials and clinical practice. In: UpToDate, Post TW (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA. Available with subscription. URL: www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 19, 2021.
Feuerstein J, Ho E, Shmidt E, et al. AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Medical Management of Moderate to Severe Luminal and Perianal Fistulizing Crohn’s Disease. Gastroenterology. 2021; 160:2496-2508.

Elmets C, Korman N, et al. Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with topical therapy and alternative medicine modalities for psoriasis severity measures. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021; 84(2):432-470.
Fraenkel L, Bathon JM, England BR, et al. 2021 American College of Rheumatology guideline for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthrit Care Res. 2021;0:1-16.
The NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium® © 2024 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. Available at: http://www.nccn.org. Accessed August 13, 2024.
Ringold S, Angeles-Han ST, Beukelman T, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Therapeutic Approaches for Non-Systemic Polyarthritis, Sacroiliitis, and Enthesitis. Arthritis Care Res. 2019;71(6):717-734. doi:10.1002/acr.23870.
Onel KB, Horton DB, Lovell DJ, et al. 2021 American College of Rheumatology guideline for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: therapeutic approaches for oligoarthritis, temporomandibular joint arthritis, and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2022;74(4):553-569.

ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 12/13/2008

MOST RECENT REVIEW DATE: 5/31/2025

ID_CHS

Policies included in the Medical Policy Manual are not intended to certify coverage availability. They are medical determinations about a particular technology, service, drug, etc. While a policy or technology may be medically necessary, it could be excluded in a member's benefit plan. Please check with the appropriate claims department to determine if the service in question is a covered service under a particular benefit plan. Use of the Medical Policy Manual is not intended to replace independent medical judgment for treatment of individuals. The content on this Web site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice in any way. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider if you have questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.

This document has been classified as public information