Glaucoma drug Rhopressa snags early FDA approval

Aerie Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has approved their once-daily glaucoma drop, Rhopressa, for lowering IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

The approval, which has been anticipated ever since an FDA advisory panel voted 9-1 in Rhopressa’s favor, comes 2 months ahead of the expected date.

Rhopressa (netarsudil ophthalmic solution 0.02%) is a first-in-class therapy that lowers pressure by targeting the trabecular meshwork.

“The approval of once-daily Rhopressa represents the single greatest achievement in Aerie’s history to date, and represents exciting news for patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, and physicians,” said Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD, chairman and CEO at Aerie. “We will hire our sales force of 100 sales representatives early in the first quarter of 2018, and plan to launch by mid-second quarter of 2018.”

Aerie also announced that a new drug application for their follow-up drug, Roclatan—a combination latanoprost and Rhopressa—will be filed in the second quarter of 2018.