AERI Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 15, 2021

4301 Emperor Boulevard, Suite 400

Durham, North Carolina 27703

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (919) 237-5300

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Current Report on Form 8-K/A is being filed by Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) as Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 19, 2021 (the “Original Filing”). The Company is filing this Amendment No. 1 to provide additional disclosure about the resignation of its Interim Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance, Mr. Christopher Staten. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment No. 1 does not amend, modify or update the disclosures contained in the Original Filing.