Aerie Pharmaceuticals, an Irvine, California-headquartered clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on glaucoma and other eye diseases, has entered into a lease agreement with the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) of Ireland for a new manufacturing plant in Athlone, Ireland.

The manufacturing plant, Aerie’s first, is expected to produce commercial supplies of Aerie’s current product candidates, Rhopressa (netarsudil ophthalmic solution) and Roclatan (netarsudil/latanoprost ophthalmic solution). Rhopressa is in late-stage development, and the company filed a new drug application in September 2016 with the US Food and Drug Administration seeking approval for Rhopressa to lower intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Roclatan is in Phase III development for the same indication.

In Ireland, the IDA constructed the building shell for the new manufacturing facility at Athlone, which includes approximately 30,000 square feet of interior floor space. The IDA has also provided employment and capital investment incentives to Aerie as part of the overall arrangement.

Aerie has commenced equipment ordering and will begin internal construction. Estimated project-wide construction and equipment costs are expected to total approximately $25 million (excluding ongoing labor-related and lease expenses), of which approximately $16 million is expected to be spent in 2017. If approved, commercial product supply of Rhopressa from the plant is expected to be available by 2020.

Source: Aerie Pharmaceuticals