Specialty medical injectable drug program updates: Saphnelo™

Please review the following table to determine changes to our specialty medical injectable drug programs.

Drug name Treatment uses Summary of changes
Saphnelo(anifrolumab-fnia) Indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Add notification/prior authorization requirement and Site of Care*.

Add preferred product.

  • Saphnelo will be non-preferred
  • Preferred product: Benlysta® (belimumab)

*Notification/prior authorization and Site of Care requirements previously communicated in October 2021 newsfeed.

Upon prior authorization renewal, the updated policy will apply. UnitedHealthcare will honor all approved prior authorizations on file until the end date on the authorization or the date the member’s eligibility changes. Providers don’t need to submit a new notification/prior authorization request for members who already have an authorization for these medications on the effective date noted above.

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