Rhopressa fails to meet endpoint in Phase III trial for Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension- Aerie Pharmaceuticals

Aerie Pharmaceuticals has reported the results of its first Phase III registration trial (Rocket 1) for Rhopressa, 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 did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint of demonstrating non-inferiority of IOP lowering for once-daily Rhopressa compared to twice-daily timolol, the most widely used comparator in registration trials for glaucoma.

However, Rhopressa demonstrated non-inferiority compared to timolol for patients in the study with IOP below 26 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) at all nine measured time points and numerical superiority over timolol at the majority of measured time points. Rocket 2 results are expected to inform our future strategies, including the potential need for an additional Rhopressa Phase III registration trial. In addition, the company is prepared to commence the quadruple-action Roclatan Phase III trials later in 2015.