Last Review Date: 01/06/2025

Date of Origin: 12/13/2019

Dates Reviewed: 12/2019, 01/2021, 01/2022, 01/2023, 01/2024, 01/2025

1. Length of Authorization

Coverage will be provided for 6 months initially and may be renewed annually thereafter.

2. Dosing Limits

    Max Units (per dose and over time) [HCPS Unit]:

• 756 billable units every month

3. Initial Approval Criteria¹

Coverage is provided in the following conditions:

• Patient is at least 18 years of age; AND

Universal Criteria ^1,3-7

• Patient will avoid known triggers of porphyria attacks (i.e., alcohol, smoking, exogenous hormones, hypocaloric diet/fasting, certain medications such as barbiturates, hydantoins, sulfa-antibiotics, anti-epileptics, etc.); AND
• Patient has not had or is not anticipating a liver transplant; AND

Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP) † Ф ^1,3-5,7

• Patient has a definitive diagnosis of acute hepatic porphyria* (including acute intermittent porphyria, variegate porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria, or ALA dehydratase deficient porphyria) as evidenced by one of the following:
  • Patient has had elevated urinary or plasma PBG (porphobilinogen) and ALA (delta-aminolevulinic acid) levels within the previous year; OR
  • Patient has a mutation in an affected gene as identified on molecular genetic testing; AND
• Patient has a history of at least two documented porphyria attacks (i.e., requirement of hospitalization, urgent healthcare visit or intravenous administration of hemin) OR one severe attack with CNS involvement (e.g., hallucinations, seizures, etc.) during the previous six months; AND
• Patients currently receiving prophylactic intravenous hemin therapy will discontinue hemin within 3 to 6 months following initiation of givosiran

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

4. Renewal Criteria ¹

Coverage can be renewed based upon the following criteria:

• Patient continues to meet the universal and other indication-specific relevant criteria such as concomitant therapy requirements (not including prerequisite therapy), performance status, etc. identified in section III; AND
• Absence of unacceptable toxicity from the drug. Examples of unacceptable toxicity include: anaphylactic reactions, severe hepatic toxicity, severe renal toxicity, severe injection site reactions, increase in blood homocysteine levels, acute pancreatitis, etc.; AND
• Disease response as evidenced by a decrease in the frequency of acute porphyria attacks, and/or hospitalizations/urgent care visits, and/or a decrease requirement of hemin intravenous infusions for acute attacks; AND
• Patient has a reduction/normalization of biochemical markers (i.e., ALA, PBG) compared to baseline; AND
• Patient will not use in combination with prophylactic intravenous hemin therapy

5. Dosage/Administration ¹

6. Billing Code/Availability Information

HCPCS Code:

• J0223 – Injection, givosiran, 0.5 mg: 1 billable unit = 0.5 mg

NDC:

• Givlaari 189 mg/mL in a single-dose vial for injection: 71336-1001-xx

7. References

1. Givlaari [package insert]. Cambridge, MA; Alnylam Pharm., Inc., April 2024. Accessed December 2024.
2. Sardh E, Barbaro M. Acute Intermittent Porphyria. 2005 Sep 27 [Updated 2024 Feb 8]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1193/
3. Anderson KE. Porphyrias: An overview. In: Means RT, Tirnauer JS (Eds), UpToDate. Last updated: August 05, 2024. Accessed on December 02, 2024. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/porphyrias-an-overview?search=Porphyrias:%20An%20overview&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1.
4. Balwani M, Gouya L, Rees D, et al. GS-14-ENVISION, a phase 3 study to evaluate efficacy and safety of givosiran, an investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting aminolevulinic acid synthase 1, in acute hepatic porphyria patients. J Hepatology:Apr 2019; Vol 70; Iss. 1, Suppl;pps e81–e82
5. Balwani M, Sardh E, Ventura P,et al.; ENVISION Investigators. Phase 3 Trial of RNAi Therapeutic Givosiran for Acute Intermittent Porphyria. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jun 11;382(24):2289-2301.
6. Balwani M, Wang B, Anderson KE. Acute hepatic porphyrias: Recommendations for evaluation and long-term management. Hepatology. Volume66, Issue4 October 2017. Pages 1314-1322. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.29313
7. Wang B, Bonkovsky HL, Kim, JK, et al. AGA Clinical Practice Update on Diagnosis and Management of Acute Hepatic Prophyrias: Expert Review. Gastroenterology. Volume 164, Issue 3, Pages 484-491. https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(22)01356-7/fulltext

Appendix 1 – Covered Diagnosis Codes

Appendix 2 – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

The preceding information is intended for non-Medicare coverage determinations. 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 Determinations (NCDs) and/or Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) may exist and compliance with these policies is required where applicable. Local Coverage Articles (LCAs) may also exist for claims payment purposes or to clarify benefit eligibility under Part B for drugs which may be self-administered. The following link may be used to search for NCD, LCD, or LCA documents: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/search.aspx. Additional indications, including any preceding information, may be applied at the discretion of the health plan.

Medicare Part B Covered Diagnosis Codes (applicable to existing NCD/LCD/LCA): N/A