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 The drug, Rhopressa, showed that it was not inferior to a commonly
prescribed treatment, timolol, in reducing pressure inside the eye
in patients suffering from glaucoma, or ocular hypertension, the
company said.
Increased pressure in the eye is often a sign of glaucoma, a
condition that could lead to blindness if left untreated.
Results from an earlier late-stage study had prompted the company to
change the main goal of the second study for Rhopressa be as
effective as timolol in patients whose eye pressure was between
20-25 millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
In April, Aerie Pharma said Rhopressa was as effective as timolol in
patients whose eye pressure was between 20 and 26 mmHg.
But the main goal was for the drug to be non-inferior to timolol in
patients whose eye pressure was as much as 27 mmHg.
About 80 percent of glaucoma patients have eye pressure of 26 mmHg
or less at the time of diagnosis.
Rhopressa is estimated to rake in sales of over a billion on
approval.
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Aerie's shares were trading at $29.70 after the bell on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Vidya L Nathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj
Kalluvila)
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