Guselkumab (Tremfya)

Number: 1011

Table Of Contents

Policy
Applicable CPT / HCPCS / ICD-10 Codes
Background
References

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Policy

1. Prescriber Specialties

   This medication must be prescribed by or in consultation with one of the following:

   1. Plaque psoriasis: dermatologist;
   2. Psoriatic arthritis: rheumatologist or dermatologist;
   3. Ulcerative colitis: gastroenterologist.

2. Criteria for Initial Approval

   Aetna considers guselkumab (Tremfya) medically necessary for the following indications when criteria are met:

   1. Plaque psoriasis (PsO)

      1. For adult members who have previously received a biologic or targeted synthetic drug (e.g., Sotyktu, Otezla) indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis; or
      2. For adult members for treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis when any of the following criteria is met:
         
         
         1. Crucial body areas (e.g., hands, feet, face, neck, scalp, genitals/groin, intertriginous areas) are affected; or
         2. At least 10% of the body surface area (BSA) is affected; or
         3. At least 3% of the BSA is affected and the member meets either of the following criteria:
            
            
            1. Member has had an inadequate response or intolerance to either phototherapy (e.g., UVB, PUVA) or pharmacologic treatment with methotrexate, cyclosporine, or acitretin; or
            2. Member has a clinical reason to avoid pharmacologic treatment with methotrexate, cyclosporine, and acitretin (see Appendix);

   2. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

      1. For adult members who have previously received a biologic or targeted synthetic drug (e.g., Rinvoq, Otezla) indicated for active psoriatic arthritis; or
      2. For adult members for treatment of active psoriatic arthritis when either of the following criteria is met:
         
         

         1. Member has mild to moderate disease and meets one of the following criteria:

            1. Member has had an inadequate response to methotrexate, leflunomide, or another conventional synthetic drug (e.g., sulfasalazine) administered at an adequate dose and duration; or
            2. Member has an intolerance or contraindication to methotrexate or leflunomide (see Appendix), or another conventional synthetic drug (e.g., sulfasalazine); or
            3. Member has enthesitis; or

         2. Member has severe disease;

   3. Ulcerative colitis

      For adult members for treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

   Aetna considers all other indications as experimental, investigational, or unproven.

3. Continuation of Therapy

   Aetna considers continuation of guselkumab (Tremfya) therapy medically necessary for the following indications:

   1. Plaque psoriasis (PsO)

      For all adult members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and who achieve or maintain positive clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition when either of the following is met:

      1. Reduction in body surface area (BSA) affected from baseline; or
      2. Improvement in signs and symptoms from baseline (e.g., itching, redness, flaking, scaling, burning, cracking, pain);

   2. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

      For all adult members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for psoriatic arthritis and who achieve or maintain a positive clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition when there is improvement in any of the following from baseline:

      1. Number of swollen joints; or
      2. Number of tender joints; or
      3. Dactylitis; or
      4. Enthesitis; or
      5. Skin and/or nail involvement; or
      6. Functional status; or
      7. C-reactive protein (CRP);

   3. Ulcerative colitis

      1. For all adult members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis and who achieve or maintain remission; or
      2. For all adult members (including new members) who are using the requested medication for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis and who achieve or maintain a positive clinical response as evidenced by low disease activity or improvement in signs and symptoms of the condition when there is improvement in any of the following from baseline: 
         
         
         1. Stool frequency; or
         2. Rectal bleeding; or
         3. Urgency of defecation; or
         4. C-reactive protein (CRP); or
         5. Fecal calprotectin (FC); or
         6. Appearance of the mucosa on endoscopy, computed tomography enterography (CTE), magnetic resonance enterography (MRE), or intestinal ultrasound; or
         7. Improvement on a disease activity scoring tool (e.g., Ulcerative Colitis Endoscopic Index of Severity [UCEIS], Mayo score).

4. Other

   For all indications: Member has had a documented negative tuberculosis (TB) test (which can include a tuberculosis skin test [TST] or an interferon-release assay [IGRA])Footnote1* within 6 months of initiating therapy for persons who are naïve to biologic drugs or targeted synthetic drugs associated with an increased risk of TB.

   Footnote1* If the screening testing for TB is positive, there must be further testing to confirm there is no active disease (e.g., chest x-ray). Do not administer the requested medication to members with active TB infection. If there is latent disease, TB treatment must be started before initiation of the requested medication. 

   For all indications: Member cannot use the requested medication concomitantly with any other biologic drug or targeted synthetic drug for the same indication.

5. Related Policies

   1. CPB 0205 - Phototherapy and Photochemotherapy (PUVA) for Skin Conditions
   2. CPB 0315 - Etanercept
   3. CPB 0341 - Infliximab
   4. CPB 0577 - Laser Treatment for Psoriasis and Other Selected Skin Conditions
   5. CPB 0655 - Adalimumab
   6. CPB 0720 - Abatacept (Orencia)
   7. CPB 0761 - Certolizumab Pegol (Cimzia)
   8. CPB 0790 - Golimumab (Simponi and Simponi Aria)
   9. CPB 0885 - Vedolizumab (Entyvio)
   10. CPB 0905 - Secukinumab (Cosentyx)
   11. CPB 0912 - Ustekinumab
   12. CPB 1009 - Risankizumab-rzaa (Skyrizi)

Dosage and Administration

Guselkumab is available as Tremfya for subcutaneous injection or intravenous infusion. 

Tremfya is supplied in the following dosage forms and strengths:

• Subcutaneous injection:

  • Injection: 100 mg/mL in a single-dose One-Press patient-controlled injector
  • Injection: 200 mg/2 mL in a single-dose prefilled pen (TREMFYA PEN)
  • Injection: 100 mg/mL in a single-dose prefilled syringe
  • Injection: 200 mg/2 mL in a single-dose prefilled syringe
    
    

• Intravenous infusion:

  • Injection: 200 mg/20 mL (10 mg/mL) solution in a single-dose vial.

Subcutaneous injection of Tremfya may be administered by a health care professional, or a person may self-inject after proper training in subcutaneous injection technique. Tremfya solution for intravenous infusion must be diluted, prepared, and infused by a healthcare professional using aseptic technique. 

Plaque psoriasis (PsO)

The recommended dose is 100 mg administered as a subcutaneous injection at Week 0, Week 4, and every 8 weeks thereafter.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

The recommended dose is 100 mg administered as a subcutaneous injection at Week 0, Week 4, and every 8 weeks thereafter. May be administered alone or in combination with a conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (cDMARD) (e.g., methotrexate).

Ulcerative colitis

Induction: 200 mg is administered by intravenous infusion over at least one hour at Week 0, Week 4, and Week 8. 

Maintenance: 100 mg is administered by subcutaneous injection at Week 16, and every 8 weeks thereafter, or 200 mg is administered by subcutaneous injection at Week 12, and every 4 weeks thereafter. Use the lowest effective recommended dosage to maintain therapeutic response.

Source: Janssen Biotech, 2024

Experimental, Investigational, or Unproven

Aetna considers concomitant use of guselkumab with any other biologic drug (e.g., adalimumab, anakinra, etanercept, infliximab, rilonacept, tocilizumab) or targeted synthetic drug (e.g. tofacitinib) experimental, investigational, or unproven for the same indication because the effectiveness of this approach has not been established.

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Table:

CPT Codes / HCPCS Codes / ICD-10 Codes

Code	Code Description
Other CPT codes related to the CPB:
71045 - 71048	Radiologic examination, chest
86140	C-reactive protein
86141	C-reactive protein; high sensitivity (hsCRP)
86480	Tuberculosis test, cell mediated immunity antigen response measurement; gamma interferon
86481	enumeration of gamma interferon - producing T cells in cell suspension
86580	Skin test; tuberculosis, intradermal
96372	Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscular
96910	Photochemotherapy; tar and ultraviolet B (Goeckerman treatment) or petrolatum and ultraviolet B
96912	psoralens and ultraviolet A (PUVA)
96913	Photochemotherapy (Goeckerman and/or PUVA) for severe photoresponsive dermatoses requiring at least 4-8 hours of care under direct supervision of the physician (includes application of medication and dressings)
HCPCS codes covered if selection criteria are met:
J1628	Injection, guselkumab, 1 mg
Other HCPCS codes related to the CPB:
Sotyktu, Rinvoq, Otezla -no specific code
J0135	Injection, adalimumab, 20 mg
J1438	Injection, etanercept, 25 mg
J1745	Injection infliximab, 10 mg
J3262	Injection, tocilizumab, 1 mg
J7502	Cyclosporine, oral, 100 mg
J7515	Cyclosporine, oral, 25 mg
J7516	Cyclosporine, parenteral, 250 mg
J8610	Methotrexate, oral, 2.5 mg
J8611	Methotrexate (jylamvo), oral, 2.5 mg
J8612	Methotrexate (xatmep), oral, 2.5 mg
J9250	Methotrexate sodium, 5 mg
J9255	Injection, methotrexate (accord) not therapeutically equivalent to j9250 or j9260, 50 mg
J9260	Methotrexate sodium, 50 mg
Q5103	Injection, infliximab-hyphendyyb, biosimilar, (inflectra), 10 mg
Q5104	Injection, infliximab-hyphenabda, biosimilar, (renflexis), 10 mg
Q5109	Injection, infliximab-qbtx, biosimilar, (ixifi), 10 mg
Q5121	Injection, infliximab-hyphenaxxq, biosimilar, (avsola), 10 mg
Q5131	Injection, adalimumab-aacf (idacio), biosimilar, 20 mg
Q5132	Injection, adalimumab-afzb (abrilada), biosimilar, 10 mg
Q5133	Injection, tocilizumab-bavi (tofidence), biosimilar, 1 mg
Q5135	Injection, tocilizumab-aazg (tyenne), biosimilar, 1 mg
ICD-10 codes covered if selection criteria are met:
K51.00 - K51.919	Ulcerative colitis
L40.0 - L40.9	Psoriasis

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Background

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-Approved Indications 

• Treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy
• Treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
• Treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults

Guselkumab is branded as Tremfya (Janssen Biotech, Inc). Guselkumab is a human monoclonal IgG1λ antibody that selectively binds to the p19 subunit of interleukin 23 (IL-23) and inhibits its interaction with the IL-23 receptor. IL-23 is a naturally occurring cytokine that is involved in normal inflammatory and immune responses. Guselkumab inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

Labeled warning and precautions include hypersensitivity reactions and infections. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported with postmarket use of Tremfya. Some cases required hospitalization. In addition, Tremfya may increase the risk of infection. In clinical trials in subjects with plaque psoriasis, infections occurred in 23% of subjects in the Tremfya group versus 21% of subjects in the placebo group through 16 weeks of treatment. Upper respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis, tinea infections, and herpes simplex infections occurred more frequently in the Tremfya group than in the placebo group.  A similar risk of infection was seen in placebo-controlled trials in subjects with psoriatic arthritis.

The label recommends evaluating patients for tuberculosis (TB) infection prior to initiating treatment. The prescribing information states to "initiate treatment of latent TB prior to administering Tremfya. In clinical trials, 105 subjects with plaque psoriasis and 71 subjects with psoriatic arthritis with latent TB who were concurrently treated with Tremfya and appropriate TB prophylaxis did not develop active TB. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of active TB during and after Tremfya treatment. Consider anti-TB therapy prior to initiating Tremfya in patients with a past history of latent or active TB in whom an adequate course of treatment cannot be confirmed. Do not administer Tremfya to patients with active TB infection" (Janssen Biotech, 2024).

The most common (1% or more) adverse reactions associated with Tremfya include upper respiratory infections, headache, injection site reactions, arthralgia, bronchitis, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, tinea infections, and herpes simplex infections.

Plaque Psoriasis

In July 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tremfya (guselkumab) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Guselkumab, an interleukin-23 (IL-23) blocker, is a human immunoglobulin G1 lambda (IgG1λ) monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to the p19 subunit of IL-23 and inhibits its interaction with the IL-23 receptor. IL-23 is a naturally occurring cytokine that is involved in normal inflammatory and immune responses. Guselkumab inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (Johnson & Johnson, 2017).

Tremfya received FDA approval based on results from Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind trials (VOYAGE 1, VOYAGE 2, and NAVIGATE studies). In VOYAGE 1 and VOYAGE 2, 1443 subjects, 18 years and older, were randomized to either Tremfya (100 mg at Weeks 0 and 4 and every 8 weeks thereafter), placebo or adalimumab (80 mg at Week 0 and 40 mg at Week 1, followed by 40 mg every other week thereafter). At 16 weeks, at least seven out of ten Tremfya-treated patients achieved at least 90 percent clearer skin, and more than 80 percent demonstrated cleared or almost cleared skin. Improvements were also demonstrated in psoriasis involving the scalp and in symptoms of plaque psoriasis including itch, pain, stinging, burning and skin tightness. Treatment resulted in clearer skin that lasted, as nearly nine out of ten patients who achieved PASI 90 at week 28 maintained that response at week 48. At week 24, more than seven out of ten patients treated with Tremfya reported at least 90 percent clearer skin compared with more than four out of ten patients treated with adalimumab (Janssen Biotech, 2017a, 2017b).

NAVIGATE findings demonstrated the effectiveness of Tremfya in patients who had an inadequate response to treatment with ustekinumab. NAVIGATE evaluated the efficacy of 24 weeks of treatment with Tremfya in subjects (N=268) who had not achieved an adequate response, defined as IGA ≥2 at Week 16 after initial treatment with ustekinumab (dosed 45 mg or 90 mg according to the subject’s baseline weight at Week 0 and Week 4). These subjects were randomized to either continue with ustekinumab treatment every 12 weeks or switch to Tremfya 100 mg at Weeks 16, 20, and every 8 weeks thereafter. In subjects with an inadequate response (IGA ≥2 at Week 16 to ustekinumab), greater proportions of subjects on Tremfya compared to ustekinumab achieved an IGA score of 0 or 1 with a ≥2 grade improvement at Week 28 (31% vs 14%, respectively; 12 weeks after randomization) (Janssen Biotech, 2017a).

Psoriatic Arthritis

In July 2020, the U.S. FDA approved Tremfya (guselkumab) for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic progressive disease characterized by painful joints and skin inflammation. FDA approval was based on the results from two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials (DISCOVER-1 and DISCOVER-2), which were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that evaluated the safety and efficacy of guselkumab in 1,120 adult patients with active PsA who had inadequate response to standard therapies (Janssen, 2020).

Deodhar et al (2020) state that guselkumab, a specific inhibitor of interleukin-23 (IL-23) via IL-23 p19 subunit binding, significantly improved psoriatic arthritis signs and symptoms with an acceptable safety profile in a phase 2 trial. Thus, the authors conducted a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial (DISCOVER-1) to evaluate guselkumab in adults with active psoriatic arthritis. Eligibility criteria included inadequate response to or intolerance of standard treatment, including at least 4 months of apremilast, at least 3 months of non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or at least 4 weeks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for psoriatic arthritis. About 30% of study participants could have previously received one or two TNF inhibitors. There were 381 patients randomly assigned  (1:1:1) to subcutaneous guselkumab 100 mg every 4 weeks (n=128), guselkumab 100 mg at weeks 0, 4 and then every 8 weeks (n=127), or placebo (n=126). 362 patients continued study treatment up to week 24. The primary endpoint was American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement (ACR20) at week 24 in all patients per assigned treatment group using non-responder imputation. Safety was assessed in all patients per treatment received. The primary endpoint was met: ACR20 at week 24 was achieved by significantly greater proportions of patients in the guselkumab every 4 weeks group and every 8 weeks group than in the placebo group, with percentage differences versus placebo of 37% for the every 4 weeks group and 30% for the every 8 weeks group (both p<0·0001). Serious adverse events up to week 24 occurred in no patients receiving guselkumab every 4 weeks, four (3%) patients receiving guselkumab every 8 weeks, and five (4%) patients receiving placebo. Up to week 24, one patient in the placebo group died from cardiac failure and two had serious infections; no guselkumab-treated patient died or had serious infections. The authors concluded that guselkumab demonstrated a favorable benefit-risk profile and might be an effective treatment option for patients with active psoriatic arthritis.

Mease et al (2020) conducted a multicenter, phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (DISCOVER-2) to evaluate guselkumab in biologic-naive patients with active psoriatic arthritis (at least five swollen joints, at least five tender joints, and C-reactive protein ≥0·6 mg/dL) despite standard therapies. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to subcutaneous injections of guselkumab 100 mg every 4 weeks; guselkumab 100 mg at weeks 0, 4, then every 8 weeks; or placebo. The primary endpoint was ACR20 response at week 24 in all patients per assigned treatment group. Safety was assessed in all patients per treatment received. A total of 1153 patients were screened, of whom 741 were randomly assigned to receive guselkumab every 4 weeks (n=246), every 8 weeks (n=248), or placebo (n=247). One patient in the every 4 weeks group and one in the placebo group did not start treatment, and the remaining 739 patients started treatment; 716 patients continued treatment up to week 24. Significantly greater proportions of patients in the guselkumab every 4 weeks group (156 [64%] of 245 [95% CI 57-70]) and every 8 weeks group (159 [64%] of 248 [58-70]) than in the placebo group (81 [33%] of 246 [27-39]) achieved an ACR20 response at week 24 (percentage differences vs placebo 31% [95% CI 22-39] for the every 4 weeks group and 31% [23-40] for the every 8 weeks group; both p<0·0001). Up to week 24, serious adverse events occurred in eight (3%) of 245 patients receiving guselkumab every 4 weeks (three serious infections), three (1%) of 248 receiving guselkumab every 8 weeks (one serious infection), and seven (3%) of 246 receiving placebo (one serious infection). No deaths occurred. The authors concluded that guselkumab was efficacious and demonstrated an acceptable benefit-risk profile in patients with active psoriatic arthritis who were naive to treatment with biologics. 

Ulcerative Colitis

In September 2024, Tremfya was granted FDA approval for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic disease of the large intestine in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed. Approval was based on the safety and efficacy results from the QUASAR study which met its primary endpoint at week 12, 22.6% of patients taking guselkumab achieved clinical remission, compared to 7.9% of patients taking a placebo.

QUASAR is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter, seamless Phase 2b/3 program designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of guselkumab in adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who experienced an inadequate response or who demonstrate intolerance to conventional therapy (e.g., thiopurines or corticosteroids), other biologics and/or JAK inhibitors (i.e., tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha antagonists, vedolizumab, or tofacitinib). QUASAR includes a Phase 2b dose-ranging induction study, a confirmatory Phase 3 induction study, a Phase 3 randomized withdrawal maintenance study, and a long-term extension study through a total of 5 years. 

In the induction trial, patients were enrolled if they had had an inadequate response to or could not tolerate conventional and/or advanced therapies. Patients were required to have a modified Mayo score (mMS) between 5 to 9, a rectal bleeding score of 1 or lower, and an endoscopy subscore no higher than 2. Patients (n=701) were randomized 3:2 to receive intravenous guselkumab (200 mg) or placebo at weeks 0, 4, and 8. The primary endpoint was clinical remission at week 12, defined as a Mayo stool frequency subscore of 0 or 1 with no increase from baseline, a rectal bleeding subscore of 0, and a Mayo endoscopy subscore of 0 or 1 with no friability. The trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating clinical remission rates of 22.6% with guselkumab and 7.9% with placebo at week 12 (p<.001). In a comparison of the guselkumab arm and the placebo arm at week 12, the rates of symptomatic remission were 49.9% vs 20.7% (p<.001) and the rates of clinical response were 61.5% vs 27.9% (p<.001), respectively. Also at week 12, the rate of endoscopic improvement with guselkumab was superior to the rate with placebo (26.8% vs 11.1%; p<.001), as was the rate of histologic-endoscopic improvement (23.5% vs 7.5%; p<.001). Safety data were consistent with the known safety profile of guselkumab observed in patients with the approved indications.

The maintenance portion of the trial evaluated 568 patients who received one of two intravenous guselkumab induction regimens, including the recommended 200 mg regimen, for 12 weeks in the induction studies and demonstrated clinical response per mMS after 12 weeks. Patients were rerandomized to receive a subcutaneous (SC) maintenance regimen of either guselkumab 100 mg every 8 weeks, guselkumab 200 mg every 4 weeks, or placebo for up to an additional 44 weeks. In UC2, 42% of subjects had failed (inadequate response, loss of response, or intolerance) treatment with one or more biologics or JAK inhibitors. The primary endpoint was clinical remission at Week 44 defined by mMS. Secondary endpoints included corticosteroid-free clinical remission, endoscopic improvement, histologic endoscopic mucosal improvement, all at Week 44 and maintenance of clinical remission at Week 44 in subjects who achieved clinical remission 12 weeks after intravenous guselkumab induction treatment. The study found that 50% (n=190) of patients receiving guselkumab 200 mg SC maintenance every 4 weeks and 45% (n=188) of patients receiving guselkumab 100 mg SC every 8 weeks achieved primary endpoint of clinical remission at week 44 compared to 19% (n=190) placebo-treated patients (p<0.001). Moreover, 34% (200 mg) and 35% (100 mg) of patients achieved endoscopic remission at one year with guselkumab maintenance therapy compared to 15% placebo-treated patients (p<0.001).

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Appendix

Examples of Clinical Reasons to Avoid Pharmacologic Treatment with Methotrexate, Cyclosporine, Acitretin, or Leflunomide

1. Clinical diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, alcoholic liver disease or other chronic liver disease
2. Drug interaction
3. Risk of treatment-related toxicity
4. Pregnancy or currently planning pregnancy
5. Breastfeeding
6. Significant comorbidity prohibits use of systemic agents (e.g., liver or kidney disease, blood dyscrasias, uncontrolled hypertension)
7. Hypersensitivity
8. History of intolerance or adverse event.

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References