Dendreon Announces the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Will Now Cover Infusion Costs Associated with the Administration of PROVENGE
CMS Updates Coverage Policy to Reimburse for Costs Associated with the Infusion
SEATTLE, Nov 21, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dendreon Corporation today announced the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated their coverage policy to now cover the infusion costs associated with the administration of PROVENGE(R) (sipuleucel-T). With this decision, the coverage of PROVENGE is now consistent with all other infused biologics.
CMS has issued two new transmittals that instruct the local Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) that the costs associated with administering PROVENGE will now be covered and can be billed separately. Additionally, the CMS decision will retroactively cover claims for costs associated with the administration of PROVENGE effective for dates of service on or after June 30, 2011, allowing physicians to collect for all previous infusions.
CMS issued a final National Coverage Decision (NCD) for PROVENGE on June 30, 2011, requiring Medicare contractors to cover the use of PROVENGE for treatment of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate resistant (hormone refractory) prostate cancer. The NCD standardized coverage processes across the country for all Medicare patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate resistant (hormone refractory) prostate cancer and provided the local Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) specific criteria, consistent with the label, on how PROVENGE should be covered.
Since the issuance of the final NCD and the activation of a PROVENGE specific Q-code, which accelerates electronic adjudication of claims, the reported average time to payment for physicians is approximately 30 days.
Physicians with questions regarding securing payment related to past PROVENGE infusions can contact the PROVENGE call center, Dendreon ON Call, at 1-877-336-3736 for additional information.
PROVENGE Indication and Safety PROVENGE is an autologous cellular immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate resistant (hormone refractory) prostate cancer.
PROVENGE is intended solely for autologous use and is not routinely tested for transmissible infectious diseases.
The safety evaluation of PROVENGE was based on 601 prostate cancer patients in four randomized clinical trials who underwent at least one leukapheresis. The most common adverse events (incidence greater-than or equal to 15%) are chills, fatigue, fever, back pain, nausea, joint ache, and headache. Serious adverse events reported in the PROVENGE group include acute infusion reactions (occurring within 1 day of infusion) and cerebrovascular events. In controlled clinical trials, severe (Grade 3) acute infusion reactions were reported in 3.5% of patients in the PROVENGE group. Reactions included chills, fever, fatigue, asthenia, dyspnea, hypoxia, bronchospasm, dizziness, headache, hypertension, muscle ache, nausea, and vomiting. No Grade 4 or 5 acute infusion reactions were reported in patients in the PROVENGE group.
To fulfill a post marketing requirement and as a part of the company's ongoing commitment to patients, Dendreon will conduct a registry of approximately 1500 patients to further evaluate a small potential safety signal of cerebrovascular events. In four randomized clinical trials of PROVENGE in prostate cancer patients, cerebrovascular events were observed in 3.5% of patients in the PROVENGE group compared with 2.6% of patients in the control group.
For more information on PROVENGE, please see the full prescribing information at http://www.provenge.com or call 1-877-336-3736.
About Dendreon Dendreon Corporation is a biotechnology company whose mission is to target cancer and transform lives through the discovery, development, commercialization and manufacturing of novel therapeutics. The Company applies its expertise in antigen identification, engineering and cell processing to produce active cellular immunotherapy (ACI) product candidates designed to stimulate an immune response in a variety of tumor types. Dendreon's first product, PROVENGE(R) (sipuleucel-T), was approved by the FDA in April 2010. Dendreon is exploring the application of additional ACI product candidates and small molecules for the potential treatment of a variety of cancers. The Company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington and is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol DNDN. For more information about the Company and its programs, visit http://www.dendreon.com .
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, developments affecting Dendreon's business and prospects, including progress on the commercialization efforts for PROVENGE. Information on the factors and risks that could affect Dendreon's business, financial condition and results of operations are contained in Dendreon's public disclosure filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov . Dendreon cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Dendreon on the date hereof, and Dendreon undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as required by law.
SOURCE: Dendreon Corporation
Dendreon Corporation
Katherine Stueland
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
206-829-1522
[email protected]