Limited coverage drugs – denosumab

Last updated on May 7, 2025

 

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Generic name

denosumab

Strength & form

60 mg/ mL pre-filled syringe

Special Authority criteria

Approval period

For the treatment of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis or men with osteoporosis

AND

With clinical or radiographically documented fracture due to osteoporosis

AND

For whom oral bisphosphonates are contraindicated for one of the following reasons:

  • Immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to oral bisphosphonates, or
  • Abnormalities of the esophagus that delay esophageal emptying such as stricture or achalasia

Indefinite

For primary prevention of osteoporotic fractures in women with breast cancer who are receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy

5 years

Practitioner exemptions

  • None

Special notes

  • The Special Authority request must include details regarding a patient's contraindication to oral bisphosphonates
  • Clinical fracture is defined as a symptomatic (painful) fracture
  • Radiographically documented fracture is defined as a fracture identified by X-ray, such as a vertebral compression fracture. This may be asymptomatic

Special Authority requests