The Company	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
The Company	The Company Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Aerie”), with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Aerie Distribution, Inc., Aerie Pharmaceuticals Limited and Aerie Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited (“Aerie Distribution,” “Aerie Limited” and “Aerie Ireland Limited,” respectively, together with Aerie, the “Company”), is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapies for the treatment of patients with open-angle glaucoma, retina diseases and other diseases of the eye. The Company has its principal executive offices in Durham, North Carolina, and operates as one business segment. The Company has a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved product, Rhopressa^®(netarsudil ophthalmic solution) 0.02% (“Rhopressa^®”), and an advanced-stage product candidate, Roclatan^TM(netarsudil/latanoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.02%/0.005% (“Roclatan^TM”), both designed to reduce elevated intraocular pressure (“IOP”) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The Company intends to commercialize Rhopressa^®and Roclatan^TM, if approved, on its own in North American markets. The Company’s strategy also includes pursuing regulatory approval for Rhopressa^®and Roclatan^TM in Europe and Japan on its own. Rhopressa^® is a once-daily eye drop designed to reduce elevated IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension that received FDA approval on December 18, 2017. The Company launched Rhopressa^® in the United States at the end of April 2018. The Company also intends to file a marketing authorization application with the European Medicines Agency for Rhopressa^®by the end of 2018. Additionally, the Company completed a Phase 1 clinical trial and commenced a Phase 2 clinical trial in the United States, which are designed to support meeting the requirements of Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency for potential regulatory submission of Rhopressa^® in Japan. These clinical trials have included Japanese and Japanese-American subjects. The Company is also planning to initiate an additional Phase 2 clinical trial on Japanese patients in Japan to support subsequent Phase 3 registration trials that are expected to be conducted in Japan. The Company’s advanced-stage product candidate, Roclatan^TM, is a once-daily fixed-dose combination of Rhopressa^® and latanoprost. The Company submitted a New Drug Application (“NDA”) to the FDA in May 2018 under Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which provides for an abbreviated approval pathway, since Roclatan^TM is a fixed dose combination of two FDA-approved drugs in the United States. On July 23, 2018, the Company announced that the NDA was accepted for review by the FDA and the Prescription Drug User Fee Act goal date was set for March 14, 2019, which represents a ten-month review. The Company is currently conducting a Phase 3 trial, named Mercury 3, in Europe comparing Roclatan^TMto Ganfort^®, a fixed-dose combination product of bimatoprost (a prostaglandin analog) and timolol marketed in Europe, which if successful, is expected to improve its commercialization prospects in that region. Mercury 3 is not necessary for approval in the United States. On July 31, 2017, the Company entered into a collaborative research, development and licensing agreement with DSM, a global science-based company headquartered in the Netherlands. The research collaboration agreement includes an option to license DSM’s bio-erodible polymer implant technology for evaluating its application to the delivery of certain Aerie compounds to treat ophthalmic diseases. This technology uses polyesteramide polymers to produce an injectable, thin fiber that is minute in size. Preclinical experiments have demonstrated early success in conjunction with Aerie’s preclinical molecule, AR-13503, including demonstration of linear, sustained elution rates over several months and achievement of target retinal drug concentrations. On August 1, 2018, the Company announced the expansion of its collaboration with DSM to provide for (i) a worldwide exclusive license for all ophthalmic indications to DSM’s polyesteramide polymer technology, (ii) continuation of the collaborative research initiatives through the end of 2020, including the transfer of DSM’s formulation technology to Aerie during that time and (iii) access to a preclinical latanoprost implant. On October 4, 2017, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Envisia Therapeutics Inc. (“Envisia”) to acquire the rights to use PRINT^® technology in ophthalmology, as well as rights relating to Envisia’s preclinical dexamethasone steroid implant for the potential treatment of diabetic macular edema that utilizes the PRINT^® technology, referred to as AR-1105. The PRINT^® technology is a proprietary system capable of creating precisely-engineered sustained-release products utilizing fully-scalable manufacturing processes. The Company will also focus on using PRINT^® to manufacture injectable implants containing AR-13503, potentially in conjunction with the bio-erodible polymer from DSM. Prior to the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company had not generated any revenue. Aerie commenced generating product revenues related to sales of Rhopressa^® in the second quarter of 2018 following its commercial launch of Rhopressa^® in the United States in late April 2018. The Company’s activities from inception until the commercial launch of Rhopressa^®in the United States had primarily consisted of developing product candidates, raising capital and performing research and development activities. The Company has incurred losses and experienced negative operating cash flows since inception. The Company has funded its operations primarily through the sale of equity securities (Note 10) and issuance of convertible notes (Note 9). Subsequent to June 30, 2018, all of the Company’s $125.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured convertible notes (the “2014 Convertible Notes”) were converted into shares of Aerie common stock. In addition, the Company entered into a $100 million senior secured delayed draw term loan facility that matures on July 23, 2024. See Note 13, “Subsequent Events,” for additional information. If the Company does not successfully commercialize Rhopressa^®, Roclatan^TM or any future product candidates, it may be unable to achieve profitability. Accordingly, the Company may be required to draw down on the credit facility it entered into in July 2018, or obtain further funding through public or private offerings, debt financings, collaboration and licensing arrangements or other sources. Adequate additional funding may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all. If the Company is unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, it may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate its research and development programs or commercialization and manufacturing efforts.

The Company

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Aerie”), with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Aerie Distribution, Inc., Aerie Pharmaceuticals Limited and Aerie Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited (“Aerie Distribution,” “Aerie Limited” and “Aerie Ireland Limited,” respectively, together with Aerie, the “Company”), is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapies for the treatment of patients with open-angle glaucoma, retina diseases and other diseases of the eye. The Company has its principal executive offices in Durham, North Carolina, and operates as one business segment.

The Company has a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved product, Rhopressa^®(netarsudil ophthalmic solution) 0.02% (“Rhopressa^®”), and an advanced-stage product candidate, Roclatan^TM(netarsudil/latanoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.02%/0.005% (“Roclatan^TM”), both designed to reduce elevated intraocular pressure (“IOP”) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The Company intends to commercialize Rhopressa^®and Roclatan^TM, if approved, on its own in North American markets. The Company’s strategy also includes pursuing regulatory approval for Rhopressa^®and Roclatan^TM in Europe and Japan on its own.

Rhopressa^® is a once-daily eye drop designed to reduce elevated IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension that received FDA approval on December 18, 2017. The Company launched Rhopressa^® in the United States at the end of April 2018. The Company also intends to file a marketing authorization application with the European Medicines Agency for Rhopressa^®by the end of 2018. Additionally, the Company completed a Phase 1 clinical trial and commenced a Phase 2 clinical trial in the United States, which are designed to support meeting the requirements of Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency for potential regulatory submission of Rhopressa^® in Japan. These clinical trials have included Japanese and Japanese-American subjects. The Company is also planning to initiate an additional Phase 2 clinical trial on Japanese patients in Japan to support subsequent Phase 3 registration trials that are expected to be conducted in Japan.

The Company’s advanced-stage product candidate, Roclatan^TM, is a once-daily fixed-dose combination of Rhopressa^® and latanoprost. The Company submitted a New Drug Application (“NDA”) to the FDA in May 2018 under Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which provides for an abbreviated approval pathway, since Roclatan^TM is a fixed dose combination of two FDA-approved drugs in the United States. On July 23, 2018, the Company announced that the NDA was accepted for review by the FDA and the Prescription Drug User Fee Act goal date was set for March 14, 2019, which represents a ten-month review. The Company is currently conducting a Phase 3 trial, named Mercury 3, in Europe comparing Roclatan^TMto Ganfort^®, a fixed-dose combination product of bimatoprost (a prostaglandin analog) and timolol marketed in Europe, which if successful, is expected to improve its commercialization prospects in that region. Mercury 3 is not necessary for approval in the United States.

On July 31, 2017, the Company entered into a collaborative research, development and licensing agreement with DSM, a global science-based company headquartered in the Netherlands. The research collaboration agreement includes an option to license DSM’s bio-erodible polymer implant technology for evaluating its application to the delivery of certain Aerie compounds to treat ophthalmic diseases. This technology uses polyesteramide polymers to produce an injectable, thin fiber that is minute in size. Preclinical experiments have demonstrated early success in conjunction with Aerie’s preclinical molecule, AR-13503, including demonstration of linear, sustained elution rates over several months and achievement of target retinal drug concentrations. On August 1, 2018, the Company announced the expansion of its collaboration with DSM to provide for (i) a worldwide exclusive license for all ophthalmic indications to DSM’s polyesteramide polymer technology, (ii) continuation of the collaborative research initiatives through the end of 2020, including the transfer of DSM’s formulation technology to Aerie during that time and (iii) access to a preclinical latanoprost implant.

On October 4, 2017, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Envisia Therapeutics Inc. (“Envisia”) to acquire the rights to use PRINT^® technology in ophthalmology, as well as rights relating to Envisia’s preclinical dexamethasone steroid implant for the potential treatment of diabetic macular edema that utilizes the PRINT^® technology, referred to as AR-1105. The PRINT^® technology is a proprietary system capable of creating precisely-engineered sustained-release products utilizing fully-scalable manufacturing processes. The Company will also focus on using PRINT^® to manufacture injectable implants containing AR-13503, potentially in conjunction with the bio-erodible polymer from DSM.

Prior to the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company had not generated any revenue. Aerie commenced generating product revenues related to sales of Rhopressa^® in the second quarter of 2018 following its commercial launch of Rhopressa^® in the United States in late April 2018. The Company’s activities from inception until the commercial launch of Rhopressa^®in the United States had primarily consisted of developing product candidates, raising capital and performing research and development activities. The Company has incurred losses and experienced negative operating cash flows since inception. The Company has funded its operations primarily through the sale of equity securities (Note 10) and issuance of convertible notes (Note 9).

Subsequent to June 30, 2018, all of the Company’s $125.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured convertible notes (the “2014 Convertible Notes”) were converted into shares of Aerie common stock. In addition, the Company entered into a $100 million senior secured delayed draw term loan facility that matures on July 23, 2024. See Note 13, “Subsequent Events,” for additional information.

If the Company does not successfully commercialize Rhopressa^®, Roclatan^TM or any future product candidates, it may be unable to achieve profitability. Accordingly, the Company may be required to draw down on the credit facility it entered into in July 2018, or obtain further funding through public or private offerings, debt financings, collaboration and licensing arrangements or other sources. Adequate additional funding may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all. If the Company is unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, it may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate its research and development programs or commercialization and manufacturing efforts.