OPSUMIT, Macitentan Form


Opsumit (Macitentan) for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Notes: For initial approval, documentation such as office chart notes, lab results, or other clinical information supporting that the member has met all approval criteria must be submitted. The duration of approval is 6 months for HIM/Medicaid and 12 months or duration of request, whichever is less, for commercial.

Indications

(912953) Has the patient been diagnosed with PAH (WHO Group I)? 
(912954) Is the prescription made by or in consultation with a cardiologist or pulmonologist? 
(912955) Has there been a failure of a calcium channel blocker, unless inadequate response or contraindication to acute vasodilator testing, or contraindications/clinically significant adverse effects to calcium channel blockers are experienced? 
(912956) Has there been a failure of generic ambrisentan or bosentan, unless clinically significant adverse effects are experienced or both are contraindicated? 
(912957) Does the dosage not exceed 10 mg per day and 1 tablet per day? 

YesNoN/A
YesNoN/A
YesNoN/A

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Effective Date

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Last Reviewed

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Original Document

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Macitentan (Opsumit®) is an endothelin receptor antagonist. FDA Approved Indication(s) Opsumit is indicated for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (World Health Organization (WHO) Group I) to reduce the risks of disease progression and hospitalization for PAH.
Effectiveness was established in a long-term study in PAH patients with predominantly WHO Functional Class II-III symptoms treated for an average of 2 years. Patients had idiopathic and heritable PAH (57%), PAH caused by connective tissue disorders (31%), and PAH caused by congenital heart disease with repaired shunts (8%). 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 Opsumit is medically necessary when the following criteria are met:
I. Initial Approval Criteria
A. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (must meet all):

  1. Diagnosis of PAH;
    1. Prescribed by or in consultation with a cardiologist or pulmonologist;
    2. Failure of a calcium channel blocker (see Appendix B), unless member meets one of the following (a or b):
      a. Inadequate response or contraindication to acute vasodilator testing; b. Contraindication or clinically significant adverse effects to calcium channel blockers are experienced;
  2. Failure of generic ambrisentan or bosentan, unless clinically significant adverse effects are experienced or both are contraindicated;

    1. Dose does not exceed both of the following (a and b):
      a. 10 mg per day; b. 1 tablet per day.
      Approval duration:
      HIM/Medicaid – 6 months Commercial – 12 months or duration of request, whichever is less Page 1 of 8

    CLINICAL POLICY
    Macitentan 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
  3. 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.
    II. Continued Therapy A. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (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);
    2. Member is responding positively to therapy;
    3. If request is for a dose increase, new dose does not exceed both of the following (a and b):
      a. 10 mg per day;
      b. 1 tablet per day.
      Approval duration: HIM/Medicaid – 12 months Commercial – 12 months or duration of request, whichever is less B. Other diagnoses/indications (must meet 1 or 2):
  4. 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: Page 2 of 8

    CLINICAL POLICY
    Macitentan CP.CPA.190 for commercial, HIM.PA.103 for health insurance marketplace, and CP.PMN.16 for Medicaid; or

  5. 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 2 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 CTEPH: chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension FC: functional class FDA: Food and Drug Administration
    NYHA: New York Heart Association PA: physical activity PAH: pulmonary arterial hypertension PH: pulmonary hypertension WHO: World Health Organization 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 and may require prior authorization.
    Drug Name Dosing Regimen nifedipine (Adalat® CC, Procardia XL®) diltiazem (Dilacor XR®, Dilt-XR®, Cardizem® CD, Cartia XT®, Tiazac®, Taztia XT®, Cardizem® LA, Matzim® LA) amlodipine (Norvasc®) ambrisentan (Letairis®) bosentan (Tracleer®) 60 mg PO QD; may increase to 120 to 240 mg/day 720 to 960 mg PO QD 20 to 30 mg PO QD 5 mg PO QD Initially 62.5 mg PO BID for 4 weeks, then increased to 125 mg PO BID Dose Limit/ Maximum Dose 240 mg/day 960 mg/day 30 mg/day 10 mg/day 250 mg/day 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 • Contraindication(s): pregnancy, hypersensitivity • Boxed warning(s): embryo-fetal toxicity (REMS program) Page 3 of 8

    CLINICAL POLICY
    Macitentan Appendix D: Pulmonary Hypertension: WHO Classification • Group 1: PAH
    • Group 2: PH due to left heart disease • Group 3: PH due to lung disease and/or hypoxemia • Group 4: CTEPH • Group 5: PH due to unclear multifactorial mechanisms Monitoring for progression of PH and treatment of co- existing conditions Advanced treatment of PH with PH- targeted therapy

    • see Appendix F Appendix E: Pulmonary Hypertension: WHO/NYHA Functional Classes (FC) Treatment Approach Status at Rest PA Limitations FC Heart Failure I Comfortable at rest Tolerance of Physical Activity (PA) No limitation Ordinary PA does not cause undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope. II III IV Comfortable at rest Slight limitation Comfortable at rest Marked limitation Dyspnea or fatigue may be present at rest Inability to carry out any PA without symptoms Ordinary PA causes undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope. Less than ordinary PA causes undue dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope. Discomfort is increased by any PA.
      Signs of right heart failure
      PH supportive measures may include diuretics, oxygen therapy, anticoagulation, digoxin, exercise, pneumococcal vaccination.
      Advanced treatment options also include calcium channel blockers. Appendix F: Pulmonary Hypertension: Targeted Therapies Mechanism of Action Drug Subclass Drug Class Drug Brand/Generic Formulations Reduction of pulmonary arterial pressure through vasodilation Prostacyclin pathway agonist Prostacyclin Member of the prostanoid class of fatty acid derivatives. Synthetic prostacyclin analog Epoprostenol Veletri (IV) Flolan (IV) Flolan generic (IV) Treprostinil Orenitram (oral tablet) Remodulin (IV) Tyvaso (inhalation) Page 4 of 8

    CLINICAL POLICY
    Macitentan Mechanism of Action Drug Class Drug Subclass Drug Endothelin receptor antagonist (ETRA) Nitric oxide- cyclic guanosine monophosphate enhancer Non-prostanoid prostacyclin receptor (IP receptor) agonist Selective receptor antagonist Nonselective dual action receptor antagonist Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor Guanylate cyclase stimulant (sGC) Iloprost Selexipag Brand/Generic Formulations Ventavis (inhalation) Uptravi (oral tablet) Ambrisentan Letairis (oral Bosentan Macitentan Sildenafil Tadalafil Riociguat tablet) Tracleer (oral tablet) Opsumit (oral tablet) Revatio (IV, oral tablet, oral suspension) Adcirca (oral tablet) Adempas (oral tablet) V. Dosage and Administration
    Indication PAH Dosing Regimen 10 mg PO QD Maximum Dose 10 mg/day VI. Product Availability
    Tablet: 10 mg VII.