Aerie launches glaucoma drug in U.S.

Aerie Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:AERI) today launched its once-daily eye-drop product, Rhopressa, which is designed to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

The Durham, N.C.-based company won FDA approval for Rhopressa in December last year, two months before the agency was expected to make a decision.

“We are pleased to announce the availability in the United States of Rhopressa, the first new drug class in more than two decades for the reduction of intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension,” chairman & CEO Vicente Anido, Jr. said in prepared remarks.

Studies have found that Rhopressa lowers elevated intraocular pressure in the eye, but analysts have noted that the twice-daily generic timolol ophthalmic solution 0.5% is more effective for patients with severe cases of glaucoma.

Earlier this year, Aerie priced an underwritten public offering of $75 million in shares of its common stock. Aerie reported that it plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund U.S. commercialization programs for Rhopressa.

Aerie’s next product, Roclatan, combines Rhopressa with the generic drug latanoprost. The company plans to submit that drug for approval with the FDA in Q2 of 2018, Anido said last year.

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