Aerie Pharmaceuticals' eye drop succeeds in late-stage study

woman applying eyedroppes, close up

Drugmaker Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Wednesday its experimental eye drop met the main goal of a late-stage study, sending its shares up as much as 55 percent after the bell.

The drug, Rhopressa, showed that it was not inferior to a commonly prescribed treatment, timolol, in reducing pressure inside the eye in patients suffering from glaucoma, or ocular hypertension, the company said.