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Rhopressa (NETARSUDIL)
Netarsudil reduces intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular meshwork.
Rhopressa (Netarsudil) is a small molecule Rho Kinase Inhibitor developed by AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS INC and currently owned by Alcon Labs Inc. It targets Rho-associated protein kinase 2 to treat ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. Rhopressa was FDA approved in 2017 and remains a patented product with no generic manufacturers. Key safety considerations include potential eye irritation and conjunctival hyperemia. As a Rho Kinase Inhibitor, Rhopressa works by blocking the Rho-associated protein kinase 2 enzyme, which plays a key role in the contraction of the ciliary muscle and the regulation of intraocular pressure.
At a glance
| Generic name | NETARSUDIL |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Alcon Labs Inc |
| Drug class | Rho Kinase Inhibitor |
| Target | rho kinase |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Cardiovascular |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 2017 |
Mechanism of action
Netarsudil is a rho kinase inhibitor that is thought to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) by enhancing the outflow of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork. However, the exact mechanism of how it achieves this effect is not fully understood.
Approved indications
- Ocular hypertension
- Open-angle glaucoma
Common side effects
- conjunctival hyperemia
- corneal verticillata
- instillation site pain
- conjunctival hemorrhage
Key clinical trials
- 24-hour Effect of Rocklatan Compared With Latanoprost in Open Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension Patients (PHASE4)
- Improved Efficacy of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty With the Addition of Rocklatan Post-treatment vs Artificial Tears Post-treatment
- Rocklatan vs Latanoprost Post-DSLT (PHASE4)
- Reformulated PG324 Ophthalmic Solution for Intraocular Pressure Reduction (PHASE3)
- Efficacy and Safety Assessment of T4090 Ophthalmic Solution Versus Rhopressa® Ophthalmic Solution in Patients With Open-angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension (PHASE2)
- Retinal Ganglion Cell Neuroprotection Under Prostaglandin Analogues
- Next Generation Rocklatan (PHASE2)
- Evaluating Injection With the Use of Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic 0.025% on Patients Using Netarsudil 0.02%/Latanoprost 0.005% to Treat Glaucoma (PHASE4)
Patents
| Patent | Expiry | Type |
|---|---|---|
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
| FDA Orange Book | Patents + exclusivity |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Rhopressa CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Rhopressa updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Alcon Labs Inc portfolio CI