Ustekinumab (Stelara® ) Notification

• Ustekinumab (Stelara® ) intravenous infusion and subcutaneous injection for administration by a healthcare professional

• For patients 6 years and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy
• For adults with active psoriatic arthritis, alone or in combination with methotrexate 
• For adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease
• For adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis 

The restricted product(s) may be considered medically necessary when the following criteria are met:

1. The patient has a diagnosis of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PS); AND
   1. The patient is 6 years of age or older; AND
   2. The patient has tried and had an inadequate response to ONE conventional agent (i.e., acitretin, anthralin, calcipotriene, calcitriol, coal tar products, cyclosporine, methotrexate, pimecrolimus, PUVA [phototherapy], tacrolimus, tazarotene, topical corticosteroids) used in the treatment of PS for at least 3-months [medical record documentation required]; OR 
   3. The patient has an intolerance, FDA labeled contraindication, or hypersensitivity to ALL conventional agents used in the treatment of PS [medical record documentation required]; OR 
   4. The patient has severe active PS (e.g., greater than 10% body surface area involvement, occurring on select locations [i.e., hands, feet, scalp, face, or genitals], intractable pruritus, serious emotional consequences) [medical record documentation required]; OR 
   5. The patient has concomitant severe psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (e.g., erosive disease, elevated markers of inflammation [e.g., ESR, CRP] attributable to PsA, long-term damage that interferes with function [i.e., joint deformities], rapidly progressive) [medical record documentation required]; OR
2. The patient has a diagnosis of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA); AND 
   1. The patient is 18 years of age or older; AND 
   2. The patient has tried and had an inadequate response to ONE conventional agent (i.e., cyclosporine, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, methotrexate, sulfasalazine) used in the treatment of PsA for at least 3-months [medical record documentation required]; OR
   3. The patient has an intolerance, FDA labeled contraindication, or hypersensitivity to ALL of the following conventional agents (i.e., cyclosporine, leflunomide, methotrexate, sulfasalazine) used in the treatment of PsA [medical record documentation required]; OR
   4. The patient has severe active PsA (e.g., erosive disease, elevated markers of inflammation [e.g., ESR, CRP] attributable to PsA, long-term damage that interferes with function [i.e., joint deformities], rapidly progressive) [medical record documentation required]; OR
   5. The patient has concomitant severe psoriasis (PS) (e.g., greater than 10% body surface area involvement, occurring on select locations [i.e., hands, feet, scalp, face, or genitals], intractable pruritus, serious emotional consequences) [medical record documentation required]; OR 
3. The patient has a diagnosis of moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD); AND 
   1. The patient is 18 years of age or older; AND 
   2. The patient has tried and had an inadequate response to ONE conventional agent (i.e., 6-mercaptopurine, aminosalicylates, azathioprine, corticosteroids [e.g., prednisone, budesonide EC capsule], mesalamine, methotrexate, sulfasalazine) used in the treatment of CD for at least 3-months [medical record documentation required]; OR
   3.  The patient has an intolerance, FDA labeled contraindication, or hypersensitivity to ALL of the following conventional agents (i.e., 6- mercaptopurine, azathioprine, corticosteroids [e.g., prednisone, budesonide EC capsule], methotrexate, sulfasalazine) used in the treatment of CD [medical record documentation required]; AND 
   4. If the request is for initiation of Stelara therapy, an initial intravenous infusion of Stelara will be administered; OR 
   5. If the request is for Stelara maintenance therapy, the patient has received an initial intravenous infusion of Stelara; AND
   6. The patient will NOT be treated with the 45 mg injection; OR
4. 4. The patient has a diagnosis of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC); AND 
   1. The patient is 18 years of age or older; AND
   2. The patient has tried and had an inadequate response ONE conventional agent (i.e., 6-mercaptopurine, azathioprine, balsalazide, corticosteroids, cyclosporine, mesalamine, steroid suppositories, sulfasalazine) used in the treatment of UC for at least 3-months [medical record documentation required]; OR 
   3. The patient an intolerance, FDA labeled contraindication, or hypersensitivity to ALL of the conventional agents used in the treatment of UC [medical record documentation required]; AND 
   4. If the request is for initiation of Stelara therapy, an initial intravenous infusion of Stelara will be administered; OR 
   5. If the request is for Stelara maintenance therapy, the patient has received an initial intravenous infusion of Stelara; AND f. The patient will NOT be treated with the 45mg injection; AND
5. If Stelara 90 mg is requested, ONE of the following:
   1. The patient has a diagnosis of psoriasis; AND
      1. The patient has tried and had an inadequate response to 45 mg for at least 3-months [medical record documentation required]; OR
      2. The patient weighs >100 kg [medical record documentation required]; OR 
   2. The patient has a dual diagnosis of psoriasis AND psoriatic arthritis; AND
      1. The patient has tried and had an inadequate response to 45 mg for at least 3-months [medical record documentation required]; OR 
      2. The patient weighs >100 kg [medical record documentation required]; OR 
   3. The patient has a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis; AND 
6. The prescriber is a specialist in the area of the patient’s diagnosis (e.g., dermatologist for PS; rheumatologist for PsA; gastroenterologist for CD, UC) or has consulted with a specialist in the area of the patient’s diagnosis; AND 
7. The patient will NOT be using ustekinumab (Stelara® ) in combination with another biologic immunomodulator agent or Otezla; AND 
8. The patient does NOT have any FDA labeled contraindications to ustekinumab (Stelara® ); AND
9. The patient has been tested for latent tuberculosis (TB) when required by the prescribing information for the requested agent AND if positive the patient has begun therapy for latent TB; AND 
10. The requested quantity does NOT exceed the maximum units allowed for the duration of approval (see table below); AND 
11. For requests for injection or infusion administration of the requested medication in an inpatient or outpatient hospital setting, Site of Care Criteria applies (outlined below)* 

Duration of Approval:

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis induction (IV): 60 days (one-time approval)

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis maintenance (SC): 365 days (1 year)

All other indications: 365 days (1 year)

1. The quantity (dose) requested is for documented titration purposes at the initiation of therapy (authorization for a 90 day titration period); AND 
2. The prescribed dose cannot be achieved using a lesser quantity of a higher strength; AND 
3. The quantity (dose) requested does not exceed the maximum FDA labeled dose, when specified, or to the safest studied dose per the manufacturer’s product insert; OR
4. If the quantity (dose) requested exceeds the maximum FDA labeled dose, when specified, or to the safest studied dose per the manufacturer’s product insert, then the prescriber must submit documentation in support of therapy with a higher dose for the intended diagnosis (submitted documentation may include medical records OR fax form which reflects medical record documentation that shows the length of time the requested dose has been used, and what other medications and doses have been tried and failed).

1. For requests for injection or infusion administration in an inpatient setting, the injection or infusion may be given if the above medical necessity criteria are met AND the inpatient admission is NOT for the sole purpose of administering the injection or infusion; OR 
2. For requests for injection or infusion administration in an outpatient hospital setting, the injection or infusion may be given if the above medical necessity criteria are met AND ONE of the following must be met:
   1. History of mild adverse events that have not been successfully managed through mild pre-medication (e.g., diphenhydramine, acetaminophen, steroids, fluids, etc.); OR
   2. Inability to physically and cognitively adhere to the treatment schedule and regimen complexity; OR
   3. New to therapy, defined as initial injection or infusion OR less than 3 months since initial injection or infusion; OR
   4. Re-initiation of therapy, defined as ONE of the following:
      1. First injection or infusion after 6 months of no injections or infusions for drugs with an approved dosing interval less than 6 months duration; OR
      2. First injection or infusion after at least a 1-month gap in therapy outside of the approved dosing interval for drugs requiring every 6 months dosing duration; OR
   5. Requirement of a change in the requested restricted product formulation; AND
3. If the Site of Care Medical Necessity Criteria in #1 or #2 above are not met, the injection or infusion will be administered in a home-based infusion or physician office setting with or without supervision by a certified healthcare professional.

All information referenced is from FDA package insert unless otherwise noted below.

October 2021: Criteria change: Added Site of Care medical necessity criteria. Policy notification given 8/2/2021 for effective date 10/1/2021.

August 2021: Criteria change: Removed criteria points regarding medication history indicating use of another biologic immunomodulator agent FDA labeled for the treatment of the same condition. Policy notification given 6/1/2021 for effective date 8/1/2021.

June 2021: Criteria change: Medical record documentation required for all indications.

April 2021: Criteria change: Addition of criteria for history of use of another biologic immunomodulator agent (or Otezla) for the same indication; PS: BSA requirement changed to 10%, added option for concomitant severe PsA; PsA: added requirement for trial of one conventional agent, added option for severe active PsA or concomitant severe psoriasis; added requirements to be prescribed by or in consultation with a specialist, that patient has no FDA labeled contraindications, and for TB testing; added maximum units; medical policy formatting change. Policy notification given 2/26/2021 for effective date 4/28/2021.

Further historical criteria changes and updates available upon request from Medical Policy and/or Corporate Pharmacy.