Aerie's ophthalmic combo passes first Phase III test

Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:AERI) jumped $13.47 (64%) to $34.60 in early after-hours trading Wednesday after its Roclatan netarsudil/latanoprost ( PG324) met the primary endpoint in the Phase III Mercury 1 trial. The therapy significantly reduced intraocular pressure (IOP) compared with either of its two components alone in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Around YE17, the company hopes to submit an NDA for the fixed-dose combination therapy, pending the outcome of Mercury 2, its second Phase III trial. ...