Trifarotene (Aklief) Form

Trifarotene (Aklief®) is a retinoid. FDA Approved Indication(s) Aklief is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 9 years of age and older. Policy/Criteria Provider must submit documentation (such as office chart notes, lab results or other clinical information) supporting that member has met all approval criteria.
It is the policy of health plans affiliated with Centene Corporation® that Aklief is medically necessary when the following criteria are met:
I. Initial Approval Criteria
A. Acne Vulgaris (must meet all):

1. Diagnosis of acne vulgaris;
2. Age ≥ 9 years;
3. Failure of generic formulary topical tretinoin, tazarotene, and adapalene, unless all are contraindicated or clinically significant adverse effects are experienced; Prior authorization may be required for tretinoin

4. Dose does not exceed 1 pump every 3 months. Approval duration: 12 months B. Other diagnoses/indications (must meet 1 or 2):

   1. If this drug has recently (within the last 6 months) undergone a label change (e.g., newly approved indication, age expansion, new dosing regimen) that is not yet reflected in this policy, refer to one of the following policies (a or b): a. For drugs on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the no coverage criteria policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.33 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.255 for Medicaid; or b. For drugs NOT on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the non-formulary policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.103 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.16 for Medicaid; or
   2. If the requested use (e.g., diagnosis, age, dosing regimen) is NOT specifically listed under section III (Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized) AND Page 1 of 5

   CLINICAL POLICY Trifarotene criterion 1 above does not apply, refer to the off-label use policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid.
   II. Continued Therapy A. Acne Vulgaris (must meet all):

   1. Member meets one of the following (a or b): a. Currently receiving medication via Centene benefit or member has previously met initial approval criteria; b. Member is currently receiving medication and is enrolled in a state and product with continuity of care regulations (refer to state specific addendums for CC.PHARM.03A and CC.PHARM.03B);
5. Member is responding positively to therapy;

6. Dose does not exceed 1 pump every 3 months. Approval duration: 12 months B. Other diagnoses/indications (must meet 1 or 2):

   1. If this drug has recently (within the last 6 months) undergone a label change (e.g., newly approved indication, age expansion, new dosing regimen) that is not yet reflected in this policy, refer to one of the following policies (a or b): a. For drugs on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the no coverage criteria policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.33 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.255 for Medicaid; or b. For drugs NOT on the formulary (commercial, health insurance marketplace) or PDL (Medicaid), the non-formulary policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.103 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.16 for Medicaid; or
   2. If the requested use (e.g., diagnosis, age, dosing regimen) is NOT specifically listed under section III (Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized) AND criterion 1 above does not apply, refer to the off-label use policy for the relevant line of business: CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid.
      III. Diagnoses/Indications for which coverage is NOT authorized:
      A. Non-FDA approved indications, which are not addressed in this policy, unless there is sufficient documentation of efficacy and safety according to the off label use policies – CP.CPA.09 for commercial, HIM.PA.154 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.53 for Medicaid, or evidence of coverage documents. IV. Appendices/General Information Appendix A: Abbreviation/Acronym Key FDA: Food and Drug Administration Page 2 of 5

   CLINICAL POLICY Trifarotene Appendix B: Therapeutic Alternatives
   This table provides a listing of preferred alternative therapy recommended in the approval criteria. The drugs listed here may not be a formulary agent for all relevant lines of business and may require prior authorization.
   Drug Name Dosing Regimen Dose Limit/ Maximum Dose Various
   Various tretinoin (Retin-A®, Atralin®, Altreno®) adapalene (Differin®) Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) once daily at bedtime once daily at bedtime tazarotene (Tazorac®) Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) Various once daily at bedtime Therapeutic alternatives are listed as Brand name® (generic) when the drug is available by brand name only and generic (Brand name®) when the drug is available by both brand and generic. Appendix C: Contraindications/Boxed Warnings None reported V. Dosage and Administration
   Indication Dosing Regimen Acne vulgaris Apply a thin layer of Aklief cream to the affected areas once daily, in the evening, on clean and dry skin Maximum Dose One application/day VI. Product Availability
   Cream (pump): 0.005% (30 g, 45 g, 75 g) VII.