Coverage Policy Manual
Policy #: 2022046
Category: Pharmacy
Initiated: October 2022
Last Review: November 2023
  Gene Therapies for Thalassemia: Betibeglogene autotemcel (e.g., Zynteglo)

Description:
Betibeglogene autotemcel is a cell-based gene therapy for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia who require regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Beta-thalassemia is an inherited blood disease caused by mutations in the beta-globin gene and characterized by significantly reduced or absent adult hemoglobin production. Betibeglogene autotemcel treats individuals with beta-thalassemia in its most severe form – transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. Betibeglogene autotemcel is developed by adding functional copies of a modified form of the beta-globin gene to the patient’s own hematopoietic stem cells in the ex vivo setting. This is then administered as a single IV infusion in the hospital inpatient setting.
 
Regulatory Status
 
Betibeglogene autotemcel (e.g., Zynteglo) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 17th, 2022, for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia who require regular RBC transfusions.
 
Coding
 
See CPT/HCPC Code section below.

Policy/
Coverage:
Prior Approval is required for betibeglogene autotemcel (e.g., Zynteglo).
 
 
Effective October 26, 2022
 
Meets Primary Coverage Criteria Or Is Covered For Contracts Without Primary Coverage Criteria
 
Betibeglogene autotemcel meets member benefit certificate primary coverage criteria that there be scientific evidence of effectiveness in improving health outcomes when ALL the following criteria are met:
 
1. Individual has documented diagnosis of β-thalassemia by globin gene testing (Locatelli, 2022); AND
 
2. Individual requires regular peripheral blood transfusions to maintain target hemoglobin levels (Locatelli, 2022); AND
 
3. Individual has documented history of receiving transfusions of 100 ml per kilogram of body weight of packed red cells per year or who had disease that had been managed under standard thalassemia guidelines with 8 transfusions per year in the previous 2 years at the time of treatment decision (Locatelli, 2022); AND
 
4. Individual has Karnofsky performance status of 80 for adults (16 years of age) or a Lansky performance status of 80 for adolescents (< 16 years of age) (Locatelli, 2022); AND
 
5. Individual has negative serologic test for HIV infection (as per US FDA prescribing label, apheresis material from individuals with a positive test for HIV will not be accepted for betibeglogene autotemcel manufacturing) (Locatelli, 2022); AND
 
6. Individual does not have any of the following:
a. Availability of human leukocyte antigen-identical or human leukocyte antigen-matched donor (Locatelli, 2022); OR
b. T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging measurement of myocardial iron of less than 10 msec or other evidence of severe iron overload in the opinion of treating physician (Locatelli, 2022); OR
c. Advanced liver disease (meets any one of the following) (Locatelli, 2022):
i. Persistent aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, or direct bilirubin value greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal; OR
ii. Baseline prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal; OR
iii. Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver demonstrating clear evidence of cirrhosis; OR
iv. Liver biopsy demonstrating cirrhosis, any evidence of bridging fibrosis, or active hepatitis; OR
d. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 70 mL/min/1.73 square meters (FDA, 2022); OR
e. History of receiving prior gene therapy or allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (Locatelli, 2022); OR
f. Any prior or current malignancy (with the exception of adequately treated cone biopsied in situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri and basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin) or myeloproliferative or significant immunodeficiency disorder (Locatelli, 2022); OR
g. Any immediate family member (i.e. parent or siblings) with a known Familial Cancer Syndrome (including but not limited to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis) (Locatelli, 2022); OR
h. Active, uncontrolled HCV or HBV infection (Locatelli, 2022); OR
i. Contraindication to the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), plerixafor, busulfan, or any other medicinal products required during myeloablative conditioning, including hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients (Locatelli, 2022); OR
j. A white blood cell count less than 3 billion/L, and/or platelet count less than 100 billion/L not related to hypersplenism (Locatelli, 2022).
 
Dosage and Administration
Dosing per FDA Guidelines
 
The minimum recommended dose of betibeglogene autotemcel is 5.0 million CD34+ cells/kg of body weight administered as an IV injection by a healthcare professional in the hospital inpatient setting.
 
Dosing limits: one injection per lifetime.
 
Other Considerations
 
· Prophylaxis for hepatic veno-occlusive disease is recommended. Prophylaxis for seizures should be considered.
 
· Monitor platelet counts until platelet engraftment and recovery are achieved. Individuals should be monitored for thrombocytopenia and bleeding.
 
· Monitor absolute neutrophil counts after betibeglogene autotemcel infusion. If neutrophil engraftment does not occur administer rescue cells.
 
· Monitor individuals at least annually for hematologic malignancies for at least 15 years after betibeglogene autotemcel infusion.
 
· Individuals should not take prophylactic anti-retroviral medications or hydroxyurea for at least 1 month prior to mobilization or the expected duration for elimination of the medications, and until all cycles of apheresis are completed as anti-retroviral medications may interfere with manufacturing of the apheresed cells.
 
· Iron chelators should be discontinued at least 7 days prior to initiation of conditioning. After betibeglogene autotemcel infusion, avoid use of these iron chelators for 6 months. If iron chelation is needed, consider administration of non-myelosuppressive iron chelators. Phlebotomy can be used in lieu of iron chelation, when appropriate.
 
    • Betibeglogene autotemcel is available as a single dose intravenous infusion containing a minimum of 5.0 X 10 the power of 6 CD34+cells/kg of body weight, in one or more infusion bags.
 
Please refer to separate policy on Site of Care or Site of Service Review (policy #2018030) for pharmacologic/biologic medications.
 
Does Not Meet Primary Coverage Criteria Or Is Investigational For Contracts Without Primary Coverage Criteria
 
Betibeglogene autotemcel, for any indication or circumstance not described above, does not meet member benefit certificate primary coverage criteria that there be scientific evidence of effectiveness in improving health outcomes including the following:
 
1. Individual has availability of human leukocyte antigen-identical or human leukocyte antigen-matched donor.
 
2. Individual has T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging measurement of myocardial iron of less than 10 msec or other evidence of severe iron overload in the opinion of treating physician.
 
3. Individual has advanced liver disease (meets any one of the following):
a. Persistent aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, or direct bilirubin value greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal.
b. Baseline prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal.
c. Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver demonstrating clear evidence of cirrhosis.
d. Liver biopsy demonstrating cirrhosis, any evidence of bridging fibrosis, or active hepatitis.
 
4. Individual has baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 70 mL/min/1.73 square meters.
 
5. Individual has history of receiving prior gene therapy or allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
 
6. Individual has any prior or current malignancy (with the exception of adequately treated cone biopsied in situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri and basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin) or myeloproliferative or significant immunodeficiency disorder.
 
7. Individual has any immediate family member (i.e. parent or siblings) with a known Familial Cancer Syndrome (including but not limited to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis).
 
8. Individual has active, uncontrolled HCV or HBV infection.
 
9. Individual has contraindication to the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), plerixafor, busulfan, or any other medicinal products required during myeloablative conditioning, including hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients.
 
10. Individual has a white blood cell count less than 3 billion/L, and/or platelet count less than 100 billion/L not related to hypersplenism.
 
For members with contracts without primary coverage criteria, Betibeglogene autotemcel, for any indication or circumstance not described above, is considered investigational including the following:
 
1. Individual has availability of human leukocyte antigen-identical or human leukocyte antigen-matched donor.
 
2. Individual has T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging measurement of myocardial iron of less than 10 msec or other evidence of severe iron overload in the opinion of treating physician.
 
3. Individual has advanced liver disease (meets any one of the following):
a. Persistent aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, or direct bilirubin value greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal.
b. Baseline prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal.
c. Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver demonstrating clear evidence of cirrhosis.
d. Liver biopsy demonstrating cirrhosis, any evidence of bridging fibrosis, or active hepatitis.
 
4. Individual has baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 70 mL/min/1.73 square meters.
 
5. Individual has history of receiving prior gene therapy or allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
 
6. Individual has any prior or current malignancy (with the exception of adequately treated cone biopsied in situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri and basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin) or myeloproliferative or significant immunodeficiency disorder.
 
7. Individual has any immediate family member (i.e. parent or siblings) with a known Familial Cancer Syndrome (including but not limited to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis).
 
8. Individual has active, uncontrolled HCV or HBV infection.
 
9. Individual has contraindication to the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), plerixafor, busulfan, or any other medicinal products required during myeloablative conditioning, including hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients.
 
10. Individual has a white blood cell count less than 3 billion/L, and/or platelet count less than 100 billion/L not related to hypersplenism.
 
Investigational services are specific contract exclusions in most member benefit certificates of coverage.

Rationale:
The efficacy of ZYNTEGLO was evaluated in 2 ongoing Phase 3 open-label, single-arm, 24-month, multicenter studies (Study 1 and Study 2) in 41 patients aged 4 to 34 years with β-thalassemia requiring regular transfusions. Following completion of the 24-month parent studies, patients were invited to enroll in an ongoing long-term safety and efficacy follow-up study for an additional 13 years.
 
Patients were considered to be eligible for the Phase 3 studies if they had a history of transfusions of at least 100 mL/kg/year of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) or with 8 or more transfusions of pRBCs per year in the 2 years preceding enrollment.
 
Study 1 (NCT02906202) is an ongoing Phase 3 open-label, single-arm, 24-month study to evaluate the efficacy of ZYNTEGLO in 23 patients with β-thalassemia requiring regular transfusions and with a non-β0/β0 genotype. Nineteen out of 23 patients have rolled over into a long-term follow-up study (Study 3, NCT02633943) after Month 24.
The median (min, max) duration of follow-up is 29.5 (13.0, 48.2) months. All patients remain alive at last follow-up. There were no cases of graft versus-host disease (GVHD), graft failure, or graft rejection in the clinical studies.
 
The benefit of ZYNTEGLO was established based on achievement of transfusion independence (TI), defined as a weighted average Hb ≥ 9 g/dL without any pRBC transfusions for a continuous period of ≥ 12 months at any time during the study, after infusion of ZYNTEGLO. Of 22 patients evaluable for TI, 20 (91%, 95% CI: 71, 99) achieved TI with a median (min, max) weighted average Hb during TI of 11.8 (9.7, 13.0) g/dL. All patients who achieved TI maintained TI, with a min, max duration of ongoing TI of 15.7+, 39.4+ months (N = 20). The median (min, max) time to last pRBC transfusion prior to TI was 0.9 (0.5, 2.4) months following ZYNTEGLO infusion. For the patients who were evaluable for TI and did not achieve TI (N = 2), a reduction of 32% and 31% in transfusion volume requirements and a reduction of 30% and 26% in transfusion frequency were observed from 6 months post-drug product infusion to last follow-up compared to pre-enrollment requirements.
 
Study 2 (NCT03207009) is an ongoing Phase 3 open-label, single-arm, 24-month study to evaluate the efficacy of ZYNTEGLO in 18 patients with β-thalassemia requiring regular transfusions and a β0/β0 or non-β0/β0 (IVS-I-110/IVS-I-110 or IVS-I-110/ β0) genotype. Ten out of 18 patients have rolled over into a long-term follow-up study (Study 3, NCT02633943) after Month 24.
 
The median (min, max) duration of follow-up is 24.6 (4.1, 35.5) months. All patients remain alive at last follow-up. There were no cases of GVHD, graft failure, or graft rejection in the clinical study.
 
The efficacy of ZYNTEGLO was established based on achievement of TI, defined the same as Study 1. Fourteen patients are evaluable for TI. Of these, 12/14 (86%, 95% CI: 57, 98) achieved TI with a median (min, max) weighted average Hb during TI of 10.20 (9.3, 13.7) g/dL. All patients who achieved TI maintained TI, with a min, max duration of ongoing TI of 12.5+, 32.8+ months (N = 12). The median (min, max) time to last pRBC transfusion prior to TI was 0.8 (0.0, 1.9) months following ZYNTEGLO infusion. For the patients who were evaluable for TI and did not achieve TI (N = 2), a reduction of 92% and 3% in transfusion volume requirements and a reduction of 87% and 21% in transfusion frequency were observed from 6 months post-drug product infusion to last follow-up compared to pre-enrollment requirements.
 
All 32 patients in the Phase 3 studies who achieved TI with ZYNTEGLO maintained TI. These patients exhibited durable normal or near-normal total hemoglobin levels with a median (min, max) unsupported total Hb of 11.4 (9.5, 14.8) g/dL at last follow-up.
 
2023 Update
Annual policy review completed with a literature search using the MEDLINE database through November 2023. No new literature was identified that would prompt a change in the coverage statement.

CPT/HCPCS:
C9399Unclassified drugs or biologicals
J3590Unclassified biologics

References: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03207009?term=03207009&draw=2&rank=1. Accessed 11/16/2022.(2022) Zynteglo. Prescribing Information. https://www.fda.gov/media/160991/download. Accessed 11/16/2022.

Locatelli, F, et al.(2022) Betibeglogene Autotemcel Gene Therapy for Non-ß0/ß0 Genotype ß-Thalassemia. N Engl J Med. 2022 Feb 3;386(5):415-427. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2113206. Epub 2021 Dec 11. PMID: 34891223.

Thakar, H.L. et al.(2022) A Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of the LentiGlobin BB305 Drug Product in Participants with Transfusion-Dependent Beta-Thalassemia. Bluebird Bio. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03207009?term=03207009&draw=2&rank=1. Accessed 11/16/2022.


Group specific policy will supersede this policy when applicable. This policy does not apply to the Wal-Mart Associates Group Health Plan participants or to the Tyson Group Health Plan participants.
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