Aerie Pharma leaps on positive Ph III efficacy results for Rhopressa

Shares of US clinical stage company Aerie Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AERI) were up 67% to $30.15 in after-hours trading on Wednesday, after the company reported the successful results of its second Phase III trial for Rhopressa, previously known as AMA0076, a novel once-daily, triple-action eye drop being tested for its ability to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

The trial achieved its primary efficacy endpoint demonstrating non-inferiority of Rhopressa compared to timolol, the most widely used comparator.

This was positive news for the company, which in April this year said the product failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint in a Phase III trial. Aerie later said that the US Food and Drug Administration allowed the drug maker to modify the primary endpoint in the second Phase III trial (The Pharma Letter June 6).