Once-daily glaucoma drop shows promise

Aerie Pharmaceuticals announced positive 12-month interim safety results for Rhopressa, a once-daily eye drop for patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Rhopressa (netarsudil ophthalmic solution) 0.02% inhibits both Rho kinase and norepinephrine transporter and relaxes the trabecular meshwork to increase outflow and lower episcleral venous pressure.

In a previous study, the drop demonstrated non-inferiority to twice-daily timolol after 90 days of treatment. At 12 months, patients showed no new adverse events and no drug-related serious adverse events, while maintaining lower IOP.

"We are very pleased to see that Rhopressa continues to demonstrate a positive safety profile and, very importantly, consistent IOP lowering throughout the 12-month period. Our NDA filing remains on track for the third quarter of 2016," said Vicente Anido Jr., PhD, CEO at Aerie.