Omalizumab (Xolair®)
IMPORTANT REMINDER
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
I. 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.
A. FDA-Approved Indications
1. Allergic asthma
Xolair is indicated for patients 6 years of age and older with moderate to severe persistent asthma who have a positive skin test or in vitro reactivity to a perennial aeroallergen and whose symptoms are inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids.
Limitations of use: Xolair is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus, or for treatment of other allergic conditions.
2. Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU)
Xolair is indicated for the treatment of adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment.
Limitations of use: Xolair is not indicated for treatment of other forms of urticaria.
3. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)
Xolair is indicated for add-on maintenance treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in adult patients 18 years of age and older with inadequate response to nasal corticosteroids.
B. Compendial Uses
1. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicities
2. Systemic mastocytosis
All other indications are considered experimental/investigational and not medically necessary.
II. DOCUMENTATION
Submission of the following information is necessary to initiate the prior authorization review:
A. Asthma:
1. Initial Requests:
i. Member’s chart notes or medical record showing pre-treatment IgE level
ii. Chart notes, medical record documentation, or claims history supporting previous medications tried
2. Continuation requests: Chart notes or medical record documentation supporting improvement in asthma control.
B. CSU:
1. Initial Requests: Member’s chart notes or medical record documentation, or claims history supporting previous medications tried showing an inadequate treatment response to a second-generation H1 antihistamine
2. Continuation Requests: Chart notes or medical record documentation supporting response to therapy
C. CRSwNP:
1. Initial Requests:
i. Member’s chart notes or medical record showing nasal endoscopy, anterior rhinoscopy, or computed tomography (CT) details (e.g., location, size), or Meltzer Clinical Score or endoscopic nasal polyp score (NPS) (where applicable).
ii. Chart notes, medical record documentation, or claims history supporting previous medications tried. If therapy is not advisable, documentation of clinical reason to avoid therapy.
2. Continuation Requests: Chart notes or medical record documentation supporting response to therapy
D. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicity (initial requests): Member’s chart or medical record showing pre-treatment IgE level
E. Systemic mastocytosis (initial requests):
1. Chart notes or medical record documentation supporting diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis
2. Chart notes, medical record documentation, or claims history of prerequisite therapies (if applicable)
III. PRESCRIBER SPECIALTIES
This medication must be prescribed by or in consultation with one of the following:
A. Asthma: allergist/immunologist or pulmonologist
B. Chronic spontaneous urticaria: allergist/immunologist or dermatologist
C. CRSwNP: allergist/immunologist or otolaryngologist
IV. CRITERIA FOR INITIAL APPROVAL
A. Asthma
1. Authorization of 6 months may be granted for members 6 years of age or older who have previously received a biologic drug (e.g., Nucala, Cinqair) indicated for asthma.
2. Authorization of 6 months may be granted for treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma when all of the following criteria are met:
i. Member is 6 years of age or older.
ii. Member has a positive skin test or in vitro reactivity to at least one perennial aeroallergen.
iii. Member has a pre-treatment IgE level greater than or equal to 30 IU/mL.
iv. Member has uncontrolled asthma as demonstrated by experiencing at least one of the following within the past year:
a. Two or more asthma exacerbations requiring oral or injectable corticosteroid treatment.
b. One or more asthma exacerbation resulting in hospitalization or emergency medical care visit.
c. Poor symptom control (frequent symptoms or reliever use, activity limited by asthma, night waking due to asthma).
v. Member has inadequate asthma control despite current treatment with both of the following medications at optimized doses:
a. Medium-to-high-dose inhaled corticosteroid
b. Additional controller (i.e., long acting beta2-agonist, long acting muscarinic antagonist, leukotriene modifier, or sustained-release theophylline)
vi. Member will continue to use maintenance asthma treatments (e.g., inhaled corticosteroid, additional controller) in combination with the requested medication.
B. Chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authorization of 6 months may be granted for treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria when all of the following criteria are met:
1. Member is 12 years of age or older.
2. Member remains symptomatic despite treatment with up-dosing (in accordance with EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines) of a second-generation H1 antihistamine (e.g., cetirizine, fexofenadine, levocetirizine, loratadine) for at least 2 weeks.
3. Member has been evaluated for other causes of urticaria, including bradykinin-related angioedema and interleukin-1-associated urticarial syndromes (auto-inflammatory disorders, urticarial vasculitis).
4. Member has experienced a spontaneous onset of wheals (hives), angioedema, or both, for at least 6 weeks.
C. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)
1. Authorization of 6 months may be granted for adult members who have previously received a biologic drug (e.g., Nucala, Dupixent) indicated for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).
2. Authorization of 6 months may be granted for treatment of CRSwNP when all of the following criteria are met:
i. Member is 18 years of age or older.
ii. Member has bilateral nasal polyps and chronic symptoms of sinusitis despite intranasal corticosteroid treatment for at least 2 months unless contraindicated or not tolerated.
iii. Member has one of the following:
a. A bilateral nasal endoscopy, anterior rhinoscopy, or computed tomography (CT) showing polyps reaching below the lower border of the middle turbinate or beyond in each nostril
b. Meltzer Clinical Score of 2 or higher in both nostrils
c. A total endoscopic nasal polyp score (NPS) of at least 5 with a minimum score of 2 for each nostril
iv. Member has symptoms of nasal blockage, congestion or obstruction plus one of the following additional symptoms:
a. Rhinorrhea (anterior/posterior)
b. Reduction or loss of smell
c. Facial pain or pressure
v. Member will continue to use a daily intranasal corticosteroid while being treated with the requested medication, unless contraindicated or not tolerated.
D. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicity
Authorization of 1 month may be granted for treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicity when both of the following are met:
1. The member has a refractory case of immune-therapy related severe (G3) pruritus
2. The member has elevated IgE levels
E. Systemic mastocytosis
Authorization of 12 months may be granted for the treatment of systemic mastocytosis when both of the following are met:
1. The major and at least one minor diagnostic criterion for systemic mastocytosis are present or three or more minor diagnostic criteria are present (see Appendix)
2. The requested medication will be used in any of the following treatment settings:
i. Used as stepwise prophylactic treatment for chronic mast cell mediator-related cardiovascular and pulmonary symptoms when the member has tried both of the following:
a. H1 blockers and H2 blockers
b. Corticosteroids
ii. Used for prevention of recurrent unprovoked anaphylaxis
iii. Used for prevention of hymenoptera or food-induced anaphylaxis, with negative specific IgE or negative skin test
iv. Used to improve tolerability of venom immunotherapy
V. CONTINUATION OF THERAPY
A. Asthma
Authorization of 12 months may be granted for continuation of treatment of asthma when all of the following criteria are met:
1. Member is 6 years of age or older.
2. Asthma control has improved on Xolair treatment as demonstrated by at least one of the following:
i. A reduction in the frequency and/or severity of symptoms and exacerbations
ii. A reduction in the daily maintenance oral corticosteroid dose
3. Member will continue to use maintenance asthma treatments (e.g., inhaled corticosteroid, additional controller) in combination with Xolair.
B. Chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authorization of 12 months may be granted for continuation of treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria when all of the following criteria are met:
1. Member is 12 years of age or older.
2. Member has experienced a response (e.g., improved symptoms, decrease in weekly urticaria activity score [UAS7]) since initiation of therapy.
C. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)
Authorization of 12 months may be granted for continuation of treatment of CRSwNP when all of the following criteria are met:
1. Member is 18 years of age or older.
2. Member has experienced a response as evidenced by improvement in signs and symptoms (e.g., improvement in nasal congestion, nasal polyp size, loss of smell, anterior or posterior rhinorrhea, sinonasal inflammation, hyposmia and/or facial pressure or pain or reduction in corticosteroid use).
3. Member will continue to use a daily intranasal corticosteroid while being treated with the requested medication, unless contraindicated or not tolerated.
D. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicities and systemic mastocytosis
All members (including new members) requesting authorization for continuation of therapy must meet all initial authorization criteria.
VI. OTHER
For all indications: Member cannot use the requested medication concomitantly with any other biologic drug or targeted synthetic drug for the same indication.
Note: If the member is a current smoker or vaper, they should be counseled on the harmful effects of smoking and vaping on pulmonary conditions and available smoking and vaping cessation options.
VII. APPENDIX
2017 WHO Diagnostic Criteria for Systemic Mastocytosis
A. Major Criteria: multifocal, dense infiltrates of mast cells (at least 15 mast cells in aggregates) detected in sections of bone marrow and/or other extracutaneous organs
B. Minor Criteria
1. In biopsy sections of bone marrow or other extracutaneous organs, greater than 25% of mast cells in the infiltrate are spindle-shaped or have atypical morphology, or greater than 25% of all mast cells in bone marrow aspirate smears are immature or atypical
2. Detection of an activating point mutation at codon 816 of KIT in the bone marrow, blood, or another extracutaneous organ
3. Mast cells in bone marrow, blood, or other extracutaneous organs express CD25, with or without CD2, in addition to normal mast cell markers
4. Serum total tryptase persistently greater than 20 ng/mL (unless there is an associated myeloid neoplasm, in which case this parameter is not valid)
MEDICATION QUANTITY LIMITS
Drug Name |
Diagnosis |
Maximum Dosing Regimen |
Xolair (Omalizumab) |
Asthma |
Route of Administration: Subcutaneous 6 to < 12 Years 20-150kg 375mg every 2 weeks
>12 Years 30-150kg 375mg every 2 weeks |
Xolair (Omalizumab) |
Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) |
Route of Administration: Subcutaneous ≥18 Years 31-150kg 600mg every 2 weeks |
Xolair (Omalizumab) |
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria |
Route of Administration: Subcutaneous ≥12 Years 300mg every 4 weeks |
Xolair (Omalizumab) |
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Toxicity, Systemic Mastocytosis |
Route of Administration: Subcutaneous 600mg every 2 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
1. Xolair [package insert]. South San Francisco, CA: Genentech, Inc.; March 2023.
2. National Institutes of Health. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3: Asthma Management Guidelines: Focused Updates 2020. Bethesda, MD: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute; December 2020. Available at https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/AsthmaManagementGuidelinesReport-2-4-21.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2023.
3. Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. 2022 update. Available at: https://ginasthma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GINA-Main-Report-2022-FINAL-22-07-01-WMS.pdf. Accessed March 1, 2023.
4. Strunk RC, Bloomberg GR. Omalizumab for asthma. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(25):2689-2695.
5. Kew KM, Karner C, Mindus SM. Combination formoterol and budesonide as maintenance and reliever therapy versus combination inhaler maintenance for chronic asthma in adults and children (review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;12:CD009019.
6. Zuberbier T, Aberer W, Asero R, et al. The EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria. Allergy. 2018;73(7):1393-1414. doi: 10.1111/all.13397.
7. Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore J, Cox L, et al. The diagnosis and management of acute and chronic urticaria: 2014 update. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Practice Parameter. http://www.aaaai.org/practice-resources/statements-and-practice-parameters/practice-parameter-guidelines.aspx. Accessed March 16, 2023.
8. Maurer M, Rosen K, Hsieh HJ, et al. Omalizumab for the treatment of chronic idiopathic or spontaneous urticaria. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(10):924-935.
9. ClinicalTrials.gov. National Library of Medicine (US). Identifier NCT03280550, A Clinical Trial of Omalizumab in Participants with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (POLYP 1) 2017 Sep 12. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03280550.
10. ClinicalTrials.gov. National Library of Medicine (US). Identifier NCT03280537, A Clinical Trial of Omalizumab in Participants with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (POLYP 2) 2017 Sep 12. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03280537.
11. The NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium® © 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. Available at: http://www.nccn.org. Accessed March 15, 2023.
12. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Systemic Mastocytosis. Version 2.2022. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/mastocytosis.pdf. Accessed March 15, 2023.
13. Cloutier MM, Dixon AE, Krishnan JA, et al. Managing asthma in adolescents and adults: 2020 asthma guideline update from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. JAMA. 2020;324(22): 2301-2317.
14. Bachert C, Han JK, Wagenmann M, et al, EUFOREA expert board meeting on uncontrolled severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and biologics: Definitions and management. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;147(1):29-36.
15. WJ Fokkens, VJ Lund, C Hopkins, et al. European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020. Rhinology. 2020;58(Suppl S29):1-464.
16. Hopkins C. Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(1):55-63.
ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 4/14/2004
MOST RECENT REVIEW DATE: 4/1/2024
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.
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