Dive Brief:
- Rhopressa is an eye drop that targets the dissected tissue, which lead to the development of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) causing glaucoma.
- In a phase 3 clinical trial, Rhopressa demonstrated non-inferiority to timolol.
- The stock rose sharply on Thursday to $30.15 in response to the news (it is down slightly in early morning trading).
Dive Insight:
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, but the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. and the rest of the industrialized world. It affects roughly 2% of people over age 40.
Aerie's Rhopressa impressed in the latest phase 3 analysis, not only in terms of non-inferiority to timolol, but also in terms of meeting its primary efficacy endpoint. This is a major breakthrough for Aerie, considering the fact that Rhopressa did not meet its primary endpoint in April.
Safety results are expected by the end of the year, or in early 2016.