BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Medical Policy Manual

Loncastuximab Tesirine-lpyl (Zynlonta®)

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 Indication

Zynlonta is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (NOS), DLBCL arising from low grade lymphoma, and high-grade B-cell lymphoma.

 

B.    Compendial Uses

1.     Histologic transformation of indolent lymphomas to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

2.     Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related B-cell lymphomas

 

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:

             Chart notes, medical record documentation or claims history supporting previous lines of therapy.

 

 

       III.    CRITERIA FOR INITIAL APPROVAL

 

A.    Large B-cell lymphoma

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for treatment of relapsed, progressive or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (e.g., DLBCL NOS, DLBCL arising from low grade lymphoma, high-grade B-cell lymphoma) when all of the following criteria are met:

1.     The member has received two or more prior lines of systemic therapy.

2.     The requested medication will be used as a single agent.

 

B.    Histologic Transformation of Indolent Lymphomas to Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for treatment of histologic transformation of indolent lymphomas to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma when all of the following criteria are met:

1.     The requested medication will be used as subsequent therapy.

2.     The member is not a candidate for transplant.

 

C.    HIV-Related B-cell lymphomas

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for treatment of relapsed, progressive or refractory HIV-related diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma when all of the following criteria are met:

1.     The member has received two or more lines of systemic therapy.

2.     The requested medication will be used as a single agent.

 

 

       IV.    CONTINUATION OF THERAPY  

 

Authorization of 12 months may be granted for continued treatment in members requesting reauthorization for an indication listed in Section III when there is no evidence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression while on the current regimen.

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.     Zynlonta [package insert]. Murray Hill, NJ: ADC Therapeutics America; October 2022.

2.     The NCCN Drugs & Biologics Compendium® © 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. Available at: https://www.nccn.org. Accessed April 5, 2023. 

ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 7/31/2021

MOST RECENT REVIEW DATE: 5/14/2024

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.

This document has been classified as public information.