Aerie Pharmaceuticals (AERI) Phase 3 Clinical Trial in Japan Studying Netarsudil Ophthalmic Solution 0.02% Yields Positive Results

What’s Going on with Aerie Pharmaceuticals?

Aerie Pharmaceuticals (AERI) has just announced that its Phase 3 clinical trial in Japan assessing netarsudil ophthalmic solution 0.02% has yielded positive results. The trial compared two Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors, netarsudil 0.02% and ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate ophthalmic solution 0.4% (ripasudil 0.4%). Pre-market today, AERI stock saw a gain of 8.43%, up to $14.15 per share.

What Does This Mean for AERI?

Netarsudil 0.02% and ripasudil 0.4% are both used as treatments for open-angle glaucoma and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Trial results demonstrated that netarsudil 0.02% once daily was superior to ripasudil 0.4% twice daily in lowering IOP at week four, which was the primary endpoint of the study. In the U.S., netarsudil 0.02% goes by the name Rhopressa.

“We are pleased to have successfully completed our first Phase 3 clinical trial in Japan which further confirmed that netarsudil ophthalmic solution 0.02% achieves impressive IOP-lowering efficacy in a patient population with lower baseline pressures,” Benjamin F. McGraw, III, Aerie Interim Executive Chairman, commented. “We believe that the statistically superior IOP-lowering of netarsudil versus the comparator in our study may suggest a very bright future for our product in Japan, a market where the comparator product is the only rho-kinase inhibitor commercially available.”

Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company. It is focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of patients with open-angle glaucoma, ocular surface diseases, and retinal diseases. Its main products are Rhopressa and Roclatan. The company mainly operates in North America.