Medical Drug Criteria (MDC)

Policy Num:      P1.002.009
Policy Name:    Xolair® (omalizumab) 
Policy ID:          [P1.002.009]  [Ac / Mg / M+ / P+]  [0.00.00]

Last Review:       December 17, 2024
Next Review:      December 20, 2025
 

Related MDC: NONE

Xolair® (omalizumab) 

Summary

Omalizumab is an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody produced by recombinant DNA technology using Chinese hamster ovaries. It binds specifically to human immunoglobulin E (IgE) and inhibits the binding of IgE to mast cells and basophils. The reduction in IgE binding limits the allergic response.

POLICY STATEMENTS

Coverage is provided in the following conditions: 
• Patient is at least 18 years of age (unless otherwise specified); AND 

Universal Criteria Universal Criteria 
 
• Must not be used in combination with another anti-IL4 or anti-IL5 monoclonal antibody 
(e.g., benralizumab mepolizumab, reslizumab, dupilumab, etc.); AND 
 

Moderate-to-severe persistent al severe persistent al severe persistent allergic asthma 

• Patient is at least 6 years of age; AND

• Will not be used for treatment of acute bronchospasm, status asthmaticus, or allergic conditions (other than indicated);AND

• Patient has a positive skin test or in vitro reactivity to a perennial aero-allergen; AND

• Patient must weigh between 20 kg (44 lbs.) and 150 kg (330 lbs.); AND

• Patient has a serum total IgE level, measured before the start of treatment, of either: o ≥ 30 IU/mL and ≤ 700 IU/mL in patients age ≥ 12 years; OR o ≥ 30 IU/mL and ≤ 1300 IU/mL in patients age 6 to <12 years; AND

• Patient has documented ongoing symptoms of moderate-to-severe asthma* with a minimum (3) month trial on previous combination therapy including medium- or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids PLUS another controller medication (e.g., long-acting beta-2 agonist, leukotriene receptor antagonist, theophylline, etc.); AND

• Baseline measurement of at least one of the following for assessment of clinical status:

o Use of inhaled rescue medication o Use of inhaled or systemic corticosteroids

o Reported disease severity symptoms (e.g., number of hospitalizations, ER visits, unscheduled visits to healthcare provider due to condition, asthma attacks, chest tightness or heaviness, coughing or clearing throat, difficulty taking deep breath or difficulty breathing out, shortness of breath, sleep disturbance, night wakening, or symptoms upon awakening, tiredness, wheezing/heavy breathing/fighting for air, etc.)

o Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)

Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) 

• Patient is at least 12 years of age; AND

• The underlying cause of the patient’s condition is NOT considered to be any other allergic condition(s) or other form(s) of urticaria; AND

• Patient is avoiding triggers (e.g., NSAIDs, etc.); AND

• Documented baseline score from an objective clinical evaluation tool, such as: urticaria activity score (UAS7), angioedema activity score (AAS), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Angioedema Quality of Life (AE-QoL), or Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL); AND

• Patient had an inadequate response to a one or more month trial on previous therapy with scheduled dosing of a second-generation H1-antihistamine product**; AND

• Patient had an inadequate response to a one or more month trial on previous therapy with scheduled dosing of at least one of the following:

o Up-dosing/dose advancement (up to 4-fold) of a second generation H1-antihistamine**

o Add-on therapy with a leukotriene antagonist (e.g., montelukast, zafirlukast, etc.)

o Add-on therapy with another H1-antihistamine

o Add-on therapy with a H2-antagonist (e.g. ranitidine, etc.)

o Add-on therapy with cyclosporine Note: renewal will require submission of a current (within 30 days) score from an objective clinical evaluation tool (i.e., UAS7, AAS, DLQI, AE-QoL or CU-Q2oL).

Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP)

• Patient has bilateral symptomatic sino-nasal polyposis with symptoms lasting at least 8 weeks; AND

• Patient has failed at least 8 weeks of daily intranasal corticosteroid therapy; AND

• Patient has at least four (4) of the following indicators for biologic treatment [Note: Patients with a history of sino-nasal surgery are only required to have at least three (3) of the indicators]:

o Patient has evidence of type 2 inflammation (i.e., biological biomarkers indicating immune dysregulation and epithelial barrier dysfunction)

o Patient has required two or more short courses of systemic corticosteroids within the previous year o Disease significantly impairs the patient’s quality of life

o Patient has experienced significant loss of smell

o Patient has a comorbid diagnosis of asthma; AND

• Patient does not have any of the following: o Antrochoanal polyps

o Nasal septal deviation that would occlude at least one nostril

o Disease with lack of signs of type 2 inflammation

o Cystic fibrosis o Mucoceles; AND

• Other causes of nasal congestion/obstruction have been ruled out (e.g., acute sinusitis, nasal infection or upper respiratory infection, rhinitis medicamentosa, tumors, infections, granulomatosis, etc.); AND

• Physician has assessed baseline disease severity utilizing an objective measure/tool; AND

• Therapy will be used in combination with intranasal corticosteroids unless not able to tolerate or is contraindicated

Management of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Toxicity 

• Patient has been receiving therapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab, cemiplimab, ipilimumab, etc.); AND

• Patient has refractory and severe (i.e., grade 3: intense or widespread, constant, limiting self-care activities of daily living or sleep) pruritis; AND

• Patient has an increased serum IgE level above the upper limit of normal of the laboratory reference value

Systemic Mastocytosis Systemic Mastocytosis 

• Used for the prevention of one of the following:

o Chronic mast cell mediator-related cardiovascular (e.g., pre-syncope, tachycardia, etc.) or pulmonary (e.g., wheezing, throat-swelling, etc.) symptoms insufficiently controlled by conventional therapy (e.g., H1 or H2 blockers or corticosteroids); OR

o Unprovoked anaphylaxis; OR

o Hymenoptera or food-induced anaphylaxis in patients with a negative test for specific IgE antibodies or a negative skin test; OR

• Used to improve tolerance while on immunotherapy (i.e., venom immunotherapy [VIT])

Policy Guidelines

Renewal Criteria 

• Patient continues to meet the universal and other indication-specific relevant criteria identified in section III; AND

• Absence of unacceptable toxicity from the drug. Examples of unacceptable toxicity include the following: symptoms of anaphylaxis (bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, and/or angioedema), malignancy, symptoms similar to serum sickness (fever, arthralgia, and rash), parasitic (helminth) infection, eosinophilic conditions (e.g. vasculitic rash, worsening pulmonary symptoms, cardiac complications, and/or neuropathy, especially upon reduction of oral corticosteroids), etc.;AND

Moderate-to-severe persistent allergic asthma 

• Patient must weigh between 20 kg (44 lbs.) and 150 kg (330 lbs.); AND

• Treatment has resulted in clinical improvement as documented by one or more of the following:

o Decreased utilization of rescue medications; OR

o Decreased frequency of exacerbations (defined as worsening of asthma that requires increase in inhaled corticosteroid dose or treatment with systemic corticosteroids); OR

o Improvement in lung function (increase in percent predicted FEV1 or PEF) from pretreatment baseline; OR

o Reduction in reported disease severity symptoms as evidenced by decreases in frequency or magnitude of one or more of the following symptoms:

− Hospitalizations, ER visits, unscheduled visits to healthcare provider

− Asthma attacks − Chest tightness or heaviness

− Coughing or clearing throat

− Difficulty taking deep breath or difficulty breathing out

− Shortness of breath

− Sleep disturbance, night wakening, or symptoms upon awakening

− Tiredness − Wheezing/heavy breathing/fighting for air; AND

• Patient is periodically checked to reassess the need for continued therapy based upon the patient’s disease severity and level of asthma control

Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU)

• Treatment with Xolair (omalizumab) has resulted in clinical improvement as documented by improvement from baseline using objective clinical evaluation tools such as the urticaria activity score (UAS7), angioedema activity score (AAS), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Angioedema Quality of Life (AE-QoL), or Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire(CU-Q2oL); AND

• Submitted current UAS7, AAS, DLQI, AE-QoL, or Cu-Q2oL was recorded within the past 30 days.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP)

• Disease response as indicated by improvement in signs and symptoms compared to baseline in one or more of the following: nasal/obstruction symptoms, improvement of sinus opacifications as assessed by CT-scans and/or an improvement on a disease activity scoring tool (e.g., nasal polyposis score (NPS), nasal congestion (NC) symptom severity score, sinonasal outcome test-22 (SNOT-22), etc.); OR

• Patient had an improvement in at least one (1) of the following response criteria:

− Reduction in nasal polyp size

− Reduction in need for systemic corticosteroids

− Improvement in quality of life

− Improvement in sense of smell

− Reduction of impact of comorbidities Management of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor

- Management of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Toxicity elated Toxicity elated Toxicity

• May not be renewed Systemic Mastocytosis Systemic Mastocytosis

• Disease response as indicated by improvement in signs and symptoms compared to baseline or a decreased frequency of exacerbations.

DOSAGE/ADMINISTRATION

 Asthma: XOLAIR 75 to 375 mg SC every 2 or 4 weeks. Determine dose (mg) and dosing frequency by serum total IgE level (IU/mL), measured before the start of treatment, and body weight (kg). See the dose determination charts.

§§The pre-filled syringe formulation may be self-administered after the initial 3 doses are administered in the healthcare setting AND the healthcare provider determines that self-administration is appropriate based on assessment of risk for anaphylaxis and mitigation strategies. See criteria below.

 Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: XOLAIR 75 to 600 mg SC every 2 or 4 weeks. Determine dose (mg) and dosing frequency by serum total IgE level (IU/mL), measured before the start of treatment, and body weight (kg).

 IgE-Mediated Food Allergy: XOLAIR 75 mg to 600 mg SC every 2 or 4 weeks. Determine dose (mg) and dosing frequency by serum total IgE level (IU/mL), measured before the start of treatment, and body weight (kg).

Chronic idiopathic urticaria

150 or 300 mg administered subcutaneously by a health care provider every 4 weeks. Dosing is not dependent on serum IgE (free or total) level or body weight.

§§The pre-filled syringe formulation may be self-administered after the initial 3 doses are administered in the healthcare setting AND the healthcare provider determines that self-administration is appropriate based on assessment of risk for anaphylaxis and mitigation strategies. See criteria below.

Nasal polyps

75 to 600 mg administered subcutaneously by a health care provider every 2 or 4 weeks. Determine dose (mg) and dosing frequency by serum total IgE level (IU/mL), measured before the start of treatment, and body weight (kg). See table below.

§§The pre-filled syringe formulation may be self-administered after the initial 3 doses are administered in the healthcare setting AND the healthcare provider determines that self-administration is appropriate based on assessment of risk for anaphylaxis and mitigation strategies. See criteria below.

Management of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor

Related Toxicity & Systemic Mastocytosis

150 or 300 mg administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks. Dosing is not dependent on serum IgE (free or total) level or body weight.

**Must ONLY be administered by a health care provid ** er

REQUIRED MEDICAL INFORMATION

Baseline measurement of at least one of the following for assessment of clinical status:

o Use of inhaled rescue medication

o Use of inhaled or systemic corticosteroids

o Reported disease severity symptoms (e.g., number of hospitalizations, ER visits, unscheduled visits to healthcare provider due to condition, asthma attacks, chest tightness or heaviness, coughing or clearing throat, difficulty taking deep breath or difficulty breathing out, shortness of breath, sleep disturbance, night wakening, or symptoms upon awakening, tiredness, wheezing/heavy breathing/fighting for air, etc.)

o Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)

exclusion criteria

None

BENEFIT APPLICATION

As stated in the policy.

OTHER CRITERIA

Medicare coverage for outpatient (Part B) drugs is outlined in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (Pub. 100-2), Chapter 15, §50 Drugs and Biologicals. In addition, National Coverage Determination (NCD), Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs), and Local Coverage Articles (LCAs) may exist and compliance with these policies is required where applicable. They can be found at: http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/search/advanced-search.aspx. Additional indications may be covered at the discretion of the health plan.

REFERENCES

1. Xolair [package insert]. South San Francisco, CA; Genentech, Inc.; April 2021. Accessed July 2021.

2. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP). Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Expert Panel Report 3. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); August 2007.

3. Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. 2018 Update. Available from: http://www.ginasthma.org. Accessed April 2018.

4. Baiardini I, Braido F, Bindslev-Jensen C, et al. Recommendations for assessing patientreported outcomes and health-related quality of life in patients with urticaria: a GA (2) LEN taskforce position paper. Allergy. 2011 Jul;66(7):840-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1398- 9995.2011.02580.x. Epub 2011 Mar 9.

5. Zuberbier T, Aberer W, Asero R, et al. EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guideline for the Definition, Classification, Diagnosis and Management of Urticaria. The 2017 Revision and Update. Allergy. 2018 Jan 15. doi: 10.1111/all.13397.

6. Maurer M, Rosén K, Hsieh HJ, et al. Omalizumab for the treatment of chronic idiopathic or spontaneous urticaria. N Engl J Med. 2013 Mar 7;368(10):924-35. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1215372. Epub 2013 Feb 24.

7. Siles RI, Hsieh FH. Allergy blood testing: A practical guide for clinicians. Cleve Clin J Med. 2011 Sep;78(9):585-92. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.78a.11023.

8. Bernstein JA, Lang DM, Khan DA, et al. The diagnosis and management of acute and chronic urticaria: 2014 update. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014 May;133(5):1270-7.

9. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Drugs and Biologics Compendium (NCCN Compendium®) Omalizumab. National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2021. The NCCN Compendium® is a derivative work of the NCCN Guidelines®. NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER NETWORK®, NCCN®, and NCCN GUIDELINES® are trademarks owned by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. To view the most recent and complete version of the Compendium, go online to NCCN.org. Accessed July 2021.

10. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities 3.2021. National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2021. NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER NETWORK®, NCCN®, and NCCN GUIDELINES® are trademarks owned by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. To view the most recent and complete version of the Guidelines, go online to NCCN.org. Accessed July 2021.

11. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Systemic Mastocytosis Version 3.2021. National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2021. NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER NETWORK®, NCCN®, and NCCN GUIDELINES® are trademarks owned by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. To view the most recent and complete version of the Guidelines, go online to NCCN.org. Accessed July 2021.

12. Carter MC, Robyn JA, Bressler PB, Walker JC, Shapiro GG, Metcalfe DD. Omalizumab for the treatment of unprovoked anaphylaxis in patients with systemic mastocytosis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;119(6):1550-1551.

13. Slapnicar C, Trinkaus M, Hicks L, Vadas P. Efficacy of Omalizumab in Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis. Case Rep Hematol. 2019;2019:3787586. Published 2019 Sep 16.

14. Jendoubi, F, Gaudenzio, N, Gallini, A, et al. Omalizumab in the treatment of adult patients with mastocytosis: A systematic review. Clin Exp Allergy. 2020; 50: 654– 661.

15. Busse W, Corren J, Lanier BQ, et al. Omalizumab, anti-IgE recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of severe allergic asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001;108(2):184-190.

16. Solèr M, Matz J, Townley R, et al. The anti-IgE antibody omalizumab reduces exacerbations and steroid requirement in allergic asthmatics. Eur Respir J. 2001;18(2):254- 261.

17. Lanier B, Bridges T, Kulus M, et al. Omalizumab for the treatment of exacerbations in children with inadequately controlled allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;124(6):1210-1216.

18. Milgrom H, Berger W, Nayak A, et al. Treatment of childhood asthma with antiimmunoglobulin E antibody (omalizumab). Pediatrics. 2001;108(2):E36.

19. Saini SS, Bindslev-Jensen C, Maurer M, et al. Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria who remain symptomatic on H1 antihistamines: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(1):67- 75.

20. Holguin F, Cardet JC, Chung KF, et al. Management of severe asthma: a European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society guideline. Eur Respir J 2020; 55: 1900588 [https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.00588-2019].

21. Gevaert P, Omachi TA, Corren J, et al. Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in nasal polyposis: 2 randomized phase 3 trials. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020 Sep;146(3):595-605. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.05.032. Epub 2020 Jun 7.

22. Fokkens WJ, Lund V, Bachert C, et al. EUFOREA consensus on biologics for CRSwNP with or without asthma. Allergy. 2019;74(12):2312–2319. doi:10.1111/all.13875.

23. Gandhi NA, Bennett BL, Graham NMH, et al. Targeting key proximal drivers of type 2 inflammation in disease. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2016;15(1):35-50.

24. ASCIA Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) Position Paper and Treatment Guidelines; updated July 2020. Available at: https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers/chronic-spontaneousurticaria-csu-guidelines

25. First Coast Service Options, Inc. Local Coverage Article: Billing and Coding: Omalizumab (A57658). Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services. Updated on 11/22/2019 with effective dates 10/03/2018. Accessed July 2021.

26. National Government Services, Inc. Local Coverage Article: Billing and Coding: Omalizumab (A52448). Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services. Updated on 06/25/2021 with effective dates 07/01/2021. Accessed July 2021.

Codes

Applicable Modifiers

As per payment guidelines

Policy History