Limited coverage drugs – obeticholic acid

obeticholic acid

5 mg, 10 mg

tablet

Initial

For the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) when prescribed by gastroenterologist or hepatologist, in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in adults with an inadequate response to UDCA, or as monotherapy in adults unable to tolerate UDCA, when:

• The patient has a confirmed diagnosis of PBC, defined as positive antimitochondrial antibodies or liver biopsy results consistent with PBC.
  
  AND
   
• The patient has received UDCA for a minimum of 12 months and has experienced an inadequate response to UDCA and can benefit from the addition of obeticholic acid.
  An inadequate response is defined as:
  • alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≥ 1.67 x upper limit of normal (ULN) and/or
  • bilirubin > ULN and < 2 x ULN and/or
  • evidence of compensated cirrhosis
   
  OR
   
• The patient has experienced documented and unmanageable intolerance to UDCA and may benefit from switching therapy to obeticholic acid.

12 months

Renewal

The patient continues to benefit from treatment with obeticholic acid, as evidenced by:

• Reduction in ALP level to <1.67 x ULN
  
  OR
   
• 15% reduction in the ALP level compared with values before beginning treatment with obeticholic acid.

12 months