The Company	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 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, retinal 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, Rocklatan^TM(netarsudil/latanoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.02%/0.005% (“Rocklatan^TM”), previously referred to as Roclatan^TM, both designed to reduce elevated intraocular pressure (“IOP”) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The Company is commercializing Rhopressa^®and intends to commercialize Rocklatan^TM, if approved, on its own in North American markets. The Company’s strategy also includes pursuing regulatory approval for Rhopressa^® and Rocklatan^TM in Europe and Japan on its own, though the products may be named differently in those respective regions. 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. On October 9, 2018, the Company announced that the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) accepted for review the marketing authorization application (“MAA”) for Rhopressa^®, which will be marketed under the name Rhokiinsa^® in Europe, if approved. Additionally, the Company has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial and a successful pilot Phase 2 clinical study in the United States on Japanese and Japanese-American subjects, which were designed to support meeting the requirements of Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency for potential regulatory submission of Rhopressa^® in Japan. The Company is also planning to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial on Japanese patients in Japan by the end of the first quarter of 2019 to support subsequent Phase 3 registration trials that are also expected to be conducted in Japan under its direction. The Company’s advanced-stage product candidate, Rocklatan^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. In July 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. In Europe, the Company is currently conducting a Phase 3 trial, named Mercury 3, comparing Rocklatan^TMto Ganfort^®, a fixed-dose combination product marketed in Europe of bimatoprost (a prostaglandin analog) and timolol (a beta blocker). If successful, Mercury 3 is expected to improve its commercialization prospects in Europe. Mercury 3 is not necessary for approval in the United States. The Company plans to submit an MAA with the EMA in early 2020 for Rocklatan^TM, if the EMA has approved Rhokiinsa^® by such time. Rocklatan^TM will be marketed under the name Roclanda^TM in Europe, if approved. The Company is also focused on furthering the development of its preclinical molecules and technologies focused on retinal diseases, particularly AR-13503 and AR-1105. Through business development activities, discussed further below, the Company has acquired worldwide ophthalmic rights to a bio-erodible polymer technology from DSM, a global science-based company headquartered in the Netherlands, and PRINT^® implant manufacturing technology from Envisia Therapeutics Inc. (“Envisia”), with which the Company has created a sustained-release ophthalmology platform. Using this technology, the Company is currently developing two preclinical sustained-release implants, AR-13503 and AR-1105, both of which are expected to commence clinical trials in 2019. In July 2017, the Company entered into a collaborative research, development and licensing agreement with DSM, which included an option to license DSM’s bio-erodible polymer implant technology for sustained 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. On August 1, 2018, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Collaborative Research, Development, and License Agreement with DSM (the “Collaboration Agreement”), which provides 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. Aerie paid $6.0 million to DSM upon execution of the Collaboration Agreement, with an additional $9.0 million payable to DSM through the end of 2020. As a result, $9.6 million related to the expanded collaboration agreement with DSM was expensed to research and development expense during the year ended December 31, 2018, which included the upfront payment of $6.0 million. The Collaboration Agreement includes contingent payments of up to $75.0 million that may be due to DSM upon the achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones. In addition, pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement, a $3.0 million milestone payment was made during the year ended December 31, 2018 upon the completion of certain manufacturing technology transfer activities. Aerie would also pay royalties to DSM when products are commercialized under this Collaboration Agreement, if any. In October 2017, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Envisia to acquire the rights to use PRINT^® technology in ophthalmology, as well as rights relating to a preclinical dexamethasone steroid implant for the potential treatment of retinal vein occlusion and diabetic macular edema that utilizes the PRINT^® technology, referred to as AR-1105. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company (a) made an upfront cash payment of $10.5 million and issued 263,146 shares of Aerie’s common stock valued at approximately $14.3 million and (b) agreed to make potential milestone payments of up to an aggregate of $45.0 million, contingent upon the achievement of certain product regulatory approvals. Under the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805: Business Combinations (“ASC Topic 805”), including the provisions of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-01 (see Note 2), the Company accounted for the transaction as an asset acquisition rather than a business combination, and expensed $24.8 million of acquired in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) to research and development in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss during the three months ended December 31, 2017. In addition, any milestone payments will be recognized only once the contingency is resolved and such amounts are payable. The Company launched Rhopressa^®in the United States in April 2018 and commenced generating product revenues in the second quarter of 2018. The Company’s activities prior to the commercial launch of Rhopressa^®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 had previously funded its operations primarily through the sale of equity securities (Note 11) and issuance of convertible notes (Note 9) prior to generating product revenues. If the Company does not successfully commercialize Rhopressa^®, Rocklatan^TM or any future product candidates, it may be unable to achieve profitability. Accordingly, the Company may be required to draw down on the $100 million senior secured delayed draw term loan facility (the “credit facility”) that was entered into in July 2018, or to obtain further funding through public or private debt or equity offerings, or other arrangements. 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 acceptable 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, retinal 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, Rocklatan^TM(netarsudil/latanoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.02%/0.005% (“Rocklatan^TM”), previously referred to as Roclatan^TM, both designed to reduce elevated intraocular pressure (“IOP”) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The Company is commercializing Rhopressa^®and intends to commercialize Rocklatan^TM, if approved, on its own in North American markets. The Company’s strategy also includes pursuing regulatory approval for Rhopressa^® and Rocklatan^TM in Europe and Japan on its own, though the products may be named differently in those respective regions.

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. On October 9, 2018, the Company announced that the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) accepted for review the marketing authorization application (“MAA”) for Rhopressa^®, which will be marketed under the name Rhokiinsa^® in Europe, if approved. Additionally, the Company has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial and a successful pilot Phase 2 clinical study in the United States on Japanese and Japanese-American subjects, which were designed to support meeting the requirements of Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency for potential regulatory submission of Rhopressa^® in Japan. The Company is also planning to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial on Japanese patients in Japan by the end of the first quarter of 2019 to support subsequent Phase 3 registration trials that are also expected to be conducted in Japan under its direction.

The Company’s advanced-stage product candidate, Rocklatan^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. In July 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. In Europe, the Company is currently conducting a Phase 3 trial, named Mercury 3, comparing Rocklatan^TMto Ganfort^®, a fixed-dose combination product marketed in Europe of bimatoprost (a prostaglandin analog) and timolol (a beta blocker). If successful, Mercury 3 is expected to improve its commercialization prospects in Europe. Mercury 3 is not necessary for approval in the United States. The Company plans to submit an MAA with the EMA in early 2020 for Rocklatan^TM, if the EMA has approved Rhokiinsa^® by such time. Rocklatan^TM will be marketed under the name Roclanda^TM in Europe, if approved.

The Company is also focused on furthering the development of its preclinical molecules and technologies focused on retinal diseases, particularly AR-13503 and AR-1105. Through business development activities, discussed further below, the Company has acquired worldwide ophthalmic rights to a bio-erodible polymer technology from DSM, a global science-based company headquartered in the Netherlands, and PRINT^® implant manufacturing technology from Envisia Therapeutics Inc. (“Envisia”), with which the Company has created a sustained-release ophthalmology platform. Using this technology, the Company is currently developing two preclinical sustained-release implants, AR-13503 and AR-1105, both of which are expected to commence clinical trials in 2019.

In July 2017, the Company entered into a collaborative research, development and licensing agreement with DSM, which included an option to license DSM’s bio-erodible polymer implant technology for sustained 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.

On August 1, 2018, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Collaborative Research, Development, and License Agreement with DSM (the “Collaboration Agreement”), which provides 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. Aerie paid $6.0 million to DSM upon execution of the Collaboration Agreement, with an additional $9.0 million payable to DSM through the end of 2020. As a result, $9.6 million related to the expanded collaboration agreement with DSM was expensed to research and development expense during the year ended December 31, 2018, which included the upfront payment of $6.0 million. The Collaboration Agreement includes contingent payments of up to $75.0 million that may be due to DSM upon the achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones. In addition, pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement, a $3.0 million milestone payment was made during the year ended December 31, 2018 upon the completion of certain manufacturing technology transfer activities. Aerie would also pay royalties to DSM when products are commercialized under this Collaboration Agreement, if any.

In October 2017, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Envisia to acquire the rights to use PRINT^® technology in ophthalmology, as well as rights relating to a preclinical dexamethasone steroid implant for the potential treatment of retinal vein occlusion and diabetic macular edema that utilizes the PRINT^® technology, referred to as AR-1105. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company (a) made an upfront cash payment of $10.5 million and issued 263,146 shares of Aerie’s common stock valued at approximately $14.3 million and (b) agreed to make potential milestone payments of up to an aggregate of $45.0 million, contingent upon the achievement of certain product regulatory approvals. Under the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805: Business Combinations (“ASC Topic 805”), including the provisions of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-01 (see Note 2), the Company accounted for the transaction as an asset acquisition rather than a business combination, and expensed $24.8 million of acquired in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) to research and development in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss during the three months ended December 31, 2017. In addition, any milestone payments will be recognized only once the contingency is resolved and such amounts are payable.

The Company launched Rhopressa^®in the United States in April 2018 and commenced generating product revenues in the second quarter of 2018. The Company’s activities prior to the commercial launch of Rhopressa^®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 had previously funded its operations primarily through the sale of equity securities (Note 11) and issuance of convertible notes (Note 9) prior to generating product revenues.

If the Company does not successfully commercialize Rhopressa^®, Rocklatan^TM or any future product candidates, it may be unable to achieve profitability. Accordingly, the Company may be required to draw down on the $100 million senior secured delayed draw term loan facility (the “credit facility”) that was entered into in July 2018, or to obtain further funding through public or private debt or equity offerings, or other arrangements. 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 acceptable terms, it may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate its research and development programs or commercialization and manufacturing efforts.