FDA grants orphan drug designation to Discovery's KL4 surfactant for CF treatment

Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq:DSCO), today announced that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to Discovery's KL4 surfactant for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). Orphan designation provides for up to seven years of U.S. market drug product exclusivity for the designated indication following marketing authorization. 

Dr. Thomas F. Miller, Discovery Labs' Chief Operating Officer commented, "To date, Discovery Labs has successfully procured orphan designations for several respiratory disease targets in both the U.S. and Europe. We are pleased that the FDA's Office of Orphan Products Development has granted orphan designation for KL4 surfactant for CF treatment."

CF is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to the production of thick, viscous mucus that is difficult to clear from the airways of the lung. The abnormal mucus allows for chronic airway infections that lead to airway destruction, decreased lung function, and ultimately, death. Dr. Miller continued, "Previous preclinical and exploratory clinical studies suggest that surfactant may improve mucociliary clearance, thereby potentially preventing further compromise of lung function. Our preclinical and recent clinical experience suggests that CF may be a viable therapeutic target for our aerosolized KL4 surfactant technology."

Discovery recently announced the completion of a double-blind, randomized crossover Phase 2a study that evaluated the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of aerosolized KL4 surfactant in a CF population. The trial was presented at the 2010 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, and the principle investigator concluded that aerosolized KL4 surfactant delivery was feasible to CF patients, was generally safe and well tolerated, was not associated with serious adverse events (SAEs) and demonstrated evidence of pharmacologic response via improvement in mucociliary clearance (MCC) versus patient baseline.   Previously, Discovery reported that KL4 surfactant improved MCC in an established pre-clinical model designed to assess drug effect on mucociliary clearance. 

The U.S. Orphan Drug Act is intended to assist and encourage companies to develop safe and effective therapies for the treatment of rare diseases and disorders. Orphan drug designation in the United States is awarded to compounds that offer potential therapeutic value in the treatment of rare diseases, defined as those affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans. If the company complies with certain FDA specifications and receives marketing approval for the designated indication, orphan drug designation qualifies the sponsor for up to seven years of marketing exclusivity, tax credits related to clinical research, and exemption from the Prescription Drug User Fee Act filing fees.  The Company is also in the process of applying for Orphan Designation for CF treatment in Europe.