Medical Drug Criteria (MDC)

Policy Num: P1.002.011
Policy Name: Ultomiris® (ravulizumab-cwvz)
Policy ID: [P1.002.011][Ac/ Mg/ M+ /P+ ][0.00.00]

Last Review: October 24, 2024
Next Review: June 27, 2025

Related Policies: None

Ultomiris® (ravulizumab-cwvz)

Popultation Reference No.	Populations
1	Individuals: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
2	Individuals: Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS)
3	Individuals: Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG)
4	Individuals: Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)

Summary

Ravulizumab-cwvz is a complement inhibitor indicated as a treatment for adult patients, 18 years and older, with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) to reduce hemolysis.

Policy Statements

Coverage is provided in the following conditions:

• Patient is at least 18 years of age (unless otherwise specified); AND

• Confirmation that patient does not have an unresolved serious Neisseria meningitidis infection prior to initiating therapy; AND

Universal Criteria 1

• Prescriber is enrolled in the Ultomiris and Soliris Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program; AND

Patient must be vaccinated against meningococcal infection (serogroups A, C, W, Y and B) according to current ACIP recommendations at least two weeks prior to initiation of therapy and will continue to be revaccinated in accordance with ACIP recommendations (Note: If urgent Ultomiris therapy is indicated in a patient who is not up to date with meningococcal vaccines according to ACIP recommendations, provide the patient with antibacterial drug prophylaxis and administer these vaccines as soon as possible.); AND
Will not be used in combination with other immunomodulatory biologic therapies (e.g., efgartigimod, efgartigimod-hyaluronidase, eculizumab, pegcetacoplan, satralizumab, tocilizumab, inebilizumab, rozanolixizumab, rituximab, zilucoplan, pozelimab, etc.); AND

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

Patient is at least 1 month of age; AND
- Used as switch therapy; AND
  - Patient is currently receiving treatment with eculizumab and has shown a beneficial disease response and absence of unacceptable toxicity while on therapy; OR
- Patient is complement inhibitor treatment-naïve; AND
- Diagnosis must be confirmed by detection of PNH clones of at least 5% by flow cytometry testing; AND 
- Patient has at least 2 different glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) protein deficiencies (e.g., CD55, CD59, etc.) within at least 2 different cell lines (e.g., granulocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes); AND  Patient has laboratory evidence of significant intravascular hemolysis (i.e., LDH ≥1.5 x ULN) with symptomatic disease and at least one other indication for therapy from the following (regardless of transfusion dependence):
  - Patient has symptomatic anemia (i.e., hemoglobin < 7 g/dL or hemoglobin < 10 g/dL, in at least two independent measurements in a patient with cardiac symptoms) –
  - Presence of a thrombotic event related to PNH
  - Presence of organ damage secondary to chronic hemolysis (i.e., renal insufficiency, pulmonary insufficiency/hypertension) –
  - Patient is pregnant and potential benefit outweighs potential fetal risk –
  - Patient has disabling fatigue –
  - Patient has abdominal pain (requiring admission or opioid analgesia), dysphagia, or erectile dysfunction; AND
  - Documented baseline values for one or more of the following (necessary for renewal): serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hemoglobin level, packed RBC transfusion requirement, and history of thrombotic events

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS)

Patient is at least 1 month of age; AND
- o Used as switch therapy; AND
  - Patient is currently receiving treatment with eculizumab and has shown a beneficial disease response and absence of unacceptable toxicity while on therapy; OR
- Patient is complement inhibitor treatment-naïve; AND
  - Patient shows signs of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) (e.g., changes in mental status, seizures, angina, dyspnea, thrombosis, increasing blood pressure, decreased platelet count, increased serum creatinine, increased LDH, etc.); AND
  - Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) has been ruled out by evaluating ADAMTS13 level (ADAMTS13 activity level ≥ 10%); AND
  - Shiga toxin E. coli related hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) has been ruled out; AND 
  - Other causes have been ruled out such as coexisting diseases or conditions (e.g., bone marrow transplantation, solid organ transplantation, malignancy, autoimmune disorder, drug-induced, malignant hypertension, HIV infection, Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis or known genetic defect in cobalamin C metabolism, etc.); AND
  - Documented baseline values for one or more of the following (necessary for renewal): serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum creatinine/eGFR, platelet count, and plasma exchange/infusion requirement

Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG)

Used as switch therapy; AND o
- Patient is currently receiving treatment with eculizumab and has shown a beneficial disease response and absence of unacceptable toxicity while on therapy; OR •
Patient is complement inhibitor treatment-naïve; AND
- Patient has Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) Clinical Classification of Class II to IV disease§; AND o
- Patient has a positive serologic test for anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies; AND o
- Patient has had a thymectomy (Note: Applicable only to patients with thymomas OR non-thymomatous patients who are 50 years of age or younger); AND
- Physician has assessed objective signs of neurological weakness and fatiguability on a baseline neurological examination (e.g., including, but not limited to, the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis [QMG] score, etc.); AND
- Patient has a baseline MG-Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) total score of ≥6; AND
  - Patient has had an inadequate response after a minimum one-year trial of concurrent use with immunosuppressant therapy (e.g., corticosteroids plus an immunosuppressant such as azathioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate, etc.); OR
  - Patient required chronic treatment with plasmapheresis or plasma exchange (PE) or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in addition to immunosuppressant therapy; AND
- Patient will avoid or use with caution medications known to worsen or exacerbate symptoms of MG (e.g., certain antibiotics, beta-blockers, botulinum toxins, hydroxychloroquine, etc.)

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) Disease Clinical Classification

− Class I: Any ocular muscle weakness; may have weakness of eye closure. All other muscle strength is normal.

− Class II: Mild weakness affecting muscles other than ocular muscles; may also have ocular muscle weakness of any severity.

• IIa. Predominantly affecting limb, axial muscles, or both. May also have lesser involvement of oropharyngeal muscles.

• IIb. Predominantly affecting oropharyngeal, respiratory muscles, or both. May also have lesser or equal involvement of limb, axial muscles, or both. − Class III: Moderate weakness affecting muscles other than ocular muscles; may also have ocular muscle weakness of any severity.

• IIIa. Predominantly affecting limb, axial muscles, or both. May also have lesser involvement of oropharyngeal muscles.

• IIIb. Predominantly affecting oropharyngeal, respiratory muscles, or both. May also have lesser or equal involvement of limb, axial muscles, or both.

− Class IV: Severe weakness affecting muscles other than ocular muscles; may also have ocular muscle weakness of any severity.

• IVa. Predominantly affecting limb, axial muscles, or both. May also have lesser involvement of oropharyngeal muscles.

• IVb. Predominantly affecting oropharyngeal, respiratory muscles, or both. May also have lesser or equal involvement of limb, axial muscles, or both.

− Class V: Defined as intubation, with or without mechanical ventilation, except when employed during routine postoperative management. The use of a feeding tube without intubation places the patient in class IVb.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)

Used as switch therapy; AND
- Patient is currently receiving treatment with eculizumab and has shown a beneficial disease response and absence of unacceptable toxicity while on therapy; OR
Patient is complement inhibitor treatment-naïve; AND
- Patient has a confirmed diagnosis based on the following:
  - Patient was found to be seropositive for aquaporin-4 (AQP4) IgG antibodies; AND
  - Patient has at least one core clinical characteristic § (*Note: some core clinical characteristics require both clinical and typical MRI findings); AND
  - Alternative diagnoses have been excluded [e.g., myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody disease (MOGAD), multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, cancer, chronic infection, etc.]; AND
- Patient has a history of at least 1 relapse in the last 12 months; AND
- Patient has an Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) of ≤ 7.0; AND
- Patients who are receiving concurrent immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., corticosteroids, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, tacrolimus, etc.) are on a stable dose regimen; AND
- Patient has not received therapy with rituximab or mitoxantrone in the last 3 months; AND
- Patient has not received intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) in the last 3 week

Core Clinical Characteristics of NMOSD

 Acute optic neuritis

 Acute myelitis

 Acute area postrema syndrome (APS): episode of otherwise unexplained hiccups and/or nausea and vomiting (lasting for at least 48 hours or with MRI evidence of a dorsal brainstem lesion)

 Acute brainstem syndrome other than APS

 Symptomatic narcolepsy or acute diencephalic clinical syndrome with NMOSD-typical diencephalic lesion on MRI ¥

 Acute cerebral syndrome with NMOSD-typical brain lesion on MR

¥ Diencephalic syndrome: Periependymal lesion (3rd ventricle) OR hypothalamic/thalamic lesion

ψ Cerebral syndrome: Extensive periependymal lesion (lateral ventricle; often with Gd) OR long (> 1⁄2 length), diffuse, heterogeneous or edematous corpus callosum lesion OR long corticospinal tract lesion (unilateral or bilateral, contiguously involving internal capsule and cerebral peduncle) OR large, confluent (unilateral or bilateral) subcortical or deep white matter lesion

† FDA Approved Indication(s); ‡ Compendia Recommended Indication(s); Ф Orphan Drug

Policy Guidelines

Renewal Criteria

Coverage may be renewed based upon the following 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: serious meningococcal infections (septicemia and/or meningitis), infusion-related reactions, other serious infections, etc.; AND

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

Patient has not developed severe bone marrow failure syndrome (i.e., aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome) OR experienced a spontaneous disease remission OR received curative allogeneic stem cell transplant; AND
Disease response compared to pretreatment baseline as indicated by one or more of the following:
- Decrease in serum LDH
- Stabilization/improvement in hemoglobin level
- Decrease in packed RBC transfusion requirement (i.e., reduction of at least 30%)
- Reduction in thromboembolic events

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS)

Disease response compared to pretreatment baseline indicated by one or more of the following:
Decrease in serum LDH
Stabilization/improvement in serum creatinine/eGFR
Increase in platelet count o Decrease in plasma exchange/infusion requirement

Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG)

Patient has had an improvement (i.e., reduction) of at least 1-point from baseline in the Myasthenia Gravis-Specific Activities of Daily Living scale (MG-ADL) total score Δ; AND
Improvement in muscle strength testing with fatigue maneuvers as evidenced on neurologic examination when compared to baseline

May substitute an improvement of at least 1-point from baseline in the Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) total score, if available]

NMOSD

Disease response as indicated by stabilization/improvement in one or more of the following:
- Neurologic symptoms as evidenced by a decrease in acute relapses, improvement of stability, or improvement in EDSS
- Reduced hospitalizations
- Reduction/discontinuation in plasma exchange treatments

Switch Therapy From Eculizumab to Ravulizumab

Refer to Section III for criteria

DOSAGE/ADMINISTRATION

Indication	Dose
All Indications	IV Dosing for Complement-Inhibitor Therapy Naïve* Administer the INTRAVENOUS doses based on the patient’s body weight. Starting 2 weeks after the loading dose, begin maintenance doses once every 4 weeks or every 8 weeks (depending on body weight)
	Indications	Body Weight Range	Loading Dose (mg)	Maintenance Dose (mg)	Dosing Interval
	PNH, aHUS	5 kg to <10 kg	600	300	Every 4 weeks
		10 kg to <20 kg	600	600
		20 kg to <30 kg	900	2,100	Every 8 weeks
		30 kg to <40 kg	1,200	2,700
	PNH, aHUS, gMG, or NMOSD	40 kg to <60 kg	2,400	3,000	Every 8 weeks
		60 kg to <100 kg	2,700	3,300
		100 kg or greater	3,000	3,600
	IV Dosing for Switch Therapy from Eculizumab OR Ravulizumab SQ to Ravulizumab IV*
	Population					Weight-based Ravulizumab IV Loading Dose	Time of First Ravulizumab IV Weight-based Maintenance Dose
	Currently treated with eculizumab					At time of next scheduled eculizumab dose	2 weeks after ravulizumab IV loading dose
	Currently treated with ravulizumab SQ on-body delivery system					Not applicable	1 week after last ravulizumab SQ maintenance dose
	SQ Dosing for Complement-Inhibitor Therapy Naïve § PNH & aHUS (adult patients weighing ≥40 kg ONLY): 490 mg SQ via on-body injector once weekly starting 2 weeks after the initial IV weight-based loading dose (see IV weight-based dosing table above) SQ Dosing for Switch Therapy from Eculizumab OR Ravulizumab IV to Ravulizumab SQ

	Population					Weight-based Ravulizumab IV Loading Dose	Time of First Ravulizumab SQ Maintenance Dose
	Currently treated with eculizumab					At time of next scheduled eculizumab dose	2 weeks after ravulizumab IV loading dose
	Currently treated with ravulizumab IV					Not applicable	8 weeks after last ravulizumab IV maintenance dose

REQUIRED MEDICAL INFORMATION

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

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

BENEFIT APPLICATION

As stated in the policy.

OTHER CRITERIA

None

References

1. Ultomiris [package insert]. Boston, MA; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc; March 2024. Accessed April 2024.

2. Guidelines for the diagnosis and monitoring of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and related disorders by flow cytometry. Borowitz MJ, Craig FE, DiGiuseppe JA, Illingworth AJ, Rosse W, Sutherland DR, Wittwer CT, Richards SJ. Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2010 Jul;78(4):211-30. doi: 10.1002/cyto.b.20525.

3. Parker C, Omine M, Richards S, et al. Diagnosis and management of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Blood. 2005 Dec 1. 106(12):3699-709.

4. Sahin F, Akay OM, Ayer M, et al. Pesg PNH diagnosis, follow-up and treatment guidelines. Am J Blood Res. 2016;6(2): 19-27.

5. Loirat C, Fakhouri F, Ariceta G, et al. An international consensus approach to the management of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in children. Pediatr Nephrol. 2016 Jan;31(1):15-39.

6. Taylor CM, Machin S, Wigmore SJ, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome in the United Kingdom. Br J Haematol. 2010 Jan;148(1):37-47.

7. Cheong HI, Kyung Jo S, Yoon SS, et al. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Korea. J Korean Med Sci. 2016 Oct;31(10):1516- 1528.

8. Brodsky RA, Peffault de Latour R, Rottinghaus ST, et al. Characterization of breakthrough hemolysis events observed in the phase 3 randomized studies of ravulizumab versus eculizumab in adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Haematologica. 2020 Jan 16. pii: haematol.2019.236877. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2019.236877. [Epub ahead of print]

9. Patriquin CJ, Kiss T, Caplan S, et al. How we treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: A consensus statement of the Canadian PNH Network and review of the national registry. Eur J Haematol. 2019;102(1):36. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

10. Lee H, Kang E, Kang HG, et al. Consensus regarding diagnosis and management of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Korean J Intern Med. 2020;35(1):25-40. doi:10.3904/kjim.2019.388.

11. Sanders DB, Wolfe GI, Benatar M, et al. International consensus guidance for management of myasthenia gravis-Executive Summary. Neurology. 2016 Jul 26; 87(4): 419-25.

12. Vu T, Meisel A, Mantegazza R, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Ravulizumab, a Long-acting Terminal Complement Inhibitor, in Adults with Anti-Acetylcholine Receptor AntibodyPositive Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Results from the Phase 3 CHAMPION MG Study (P1-1.Virtual). Neurology May 2022, 98 (18 Supplement) 791.

13. Narayanaswami P, Sanders D, Wolfe G, Benatar M, et al. International consensus guidance for management of myasthenia gravis, 2020 update. Neurology® 2021;96:114-122. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000011124.

14. Jayam-Trouth A, Dabi A, Solieman N, Kurukumbi M, Kalyanam J. Myasthenia gravis: a review. Autoimmune Dis. 2012;2012:874680. doi:10.1155/2012/874680

15. Gronseth GS, Barohn R, Narayanaswami P. Practice advisory: Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (practice parameter update): Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2020;94(16):705. Epub 2020 Mar 25.

16. Sussman J, Farrugia ME, Maddison P, et al. Myasthenia gravis: Association of British Neurologists’ management guidelines. Pract Neurol 2015; 15: 199-206.

17. Institute for Clinical and Economic Review. Eculizumab and Efgartigimod for the Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis: Effectiveness and Value. Draft evidence report. July 22, 2021. https://icer.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ICER_Myasthenia-Gravis_DraftEvidence-Report_072221.pdf. Accessed December 22, 2021.

18. Cançado RD, Araújo AdS, Sandes AF, et al. Consensus statement for diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy, v43, Iss3, 2021, 341-348. ISSN 2531-1379, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.htct.2020.06.006.

19. Kulagin A, Chonat S, Maschan A, et al. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety of ravulizumab in children and adolescents with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: interim analysis of a phase 3, open-label study. Presented at the European Hematology Association 2021 Virtual Congress, June 9-17, 2021.

20. Tanaka K, Adams B, Aris AM, et al. The long-acting C5 inhibitor, ravulizumab, is efficacious and safe in pediatric patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome previously treated with eculizumab. Pediatr Nephrol. 2021 Apr;36(4):889-898. doi: 10.1007/s00467-020-04774-2.

21. Rondeau E, Scully M, Ariceta G, et al; 311 Study Group. The long-acting C5 inhibitor, Ravulizumab, is effective and safe in adult patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome naïve to complement inhibitor treatment. Kidney Int. 2020 Jun;97(6):1287-1296. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2020.01.035.

22. Wingerchuk DM, Banwell B, Bennett JL, et al. International consensus diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Neurology. 2015 Jul;85(2):177-89. Epub 2015 Jun 19.

23. Jarius, S., Aktas, O., Ayzenberg, I. et al. Update on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromyelits optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) – revised recommendations of the Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). Part I: Diagnosis and differential diagnosis. J Neurol 270, 3341–3368 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-023-11634-0.

24. Pittock SJ, Barnett M, Bennett JL, et al. Ravulizumab in Aquaporin-4-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder. Ann Neurol. 2023 Jun;93(6):1053-1068. doi: 10.1002/ana.26626. Epub 2023 Apr 5. PMID: 36866852.

25. Kümpfel T, Giglhuber K, Aktas O, et al. Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). Update on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) - revised recommendations of the Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group (NEMOS). Part II: Attack therapy and long-term management. J Neurol. 2023 Sep 7. doi: 10.1007/s00415-023-11910-z. Epub ahead of print.

26. Scully M, Rayment R, Clark A, et al. A British Society for Haematology Guideline: Diagnosis and management of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and thrombotic microangiopathies. Br J Haematol. 2023 Nov;203(4):546-563. doi: 10.1111/bjh.19026.

Codes

Codes	Number	Description
HCPCS	J1303	Injection, ravulizumab-cwvz, 10 mg; 1 billable unit = 10 mg
ICD-10-CM	D59.32	Hereditary hemolytic-uremic syndrome
	D59.39	Other hemolytic-uremic syndrome
	D59.5	Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria [Marchiafava-Micheli]
	G36.0	Neuromyelitis optica [Devic]
	G70.00	Myasthenia gravis without (acute) exacerbation
	G70.01	Myasthenia gravis with (acute) exacerbation

Applicable Modifiers

As per payment guidelines

Policy History

Date	Action	Description
10/24/2024	Drug Criteria Reviewed	Medical Drug Criteria updated with literature review in policy statement section, "trial of at least one year of simultaneous use with immunosuppressive therapy for the indication of Generalized Myasthenia Gravis".
6/27/2024	New MDC	New medical drug criteria for Ultomiris(ravulizumab-cwvz). Reviwed by the Providers Advisory Committee.