Discovery Labs submits IND application to start AEROSURF phase 2 clinical program

Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSCO), a specialty biotechnology company dedicated to advancing a new standard of respiratory critical care, today announced that it has submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate its AEROSURF^® phase 2 clinical program. The FDA has confirmed receipt of the IND and has indicated that, unless otherwise notified during its review, the Company may initiate the phase 2 clinical program after a 30-day period. Discovery Labs anticipates patient enrollment could begin in the fourth quarter of 2013. The Company will host a conference call this morning at 10:00 AM ET to discuss the AEROSURF program.

"The filing of our AEROSURF IND with the FDA represents an important milestone for our Company and a first step towards a potentially transformational medical advancement for the neonatology community and the infants they care for," said John G. Cooper, Chief Executive Officer at Discovery Labs. 

AEROSURF is a novel investigational drug-device combination product being developed to deliver Discovery Labs' KL4 surfactant in aerosolized form to premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). AEROSURF could potentially allow for the administration of KL4 surfactant to premature infants without invasive endotracheal intubation, and may enable the treatment of a significantly greater number of premature infants who could benefit from surfactant therapy but are currently not treated.

"The AEROSURF program is leveraging important advancements in our novel technology platform," said Russell Clayton, DO, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, at Discovery Labs. "Our synthetic KL₄ surfactant technology was recently validated with the FDA approval of SURFAXIN^® for the prevention of RDS in infants at high risk for RDS. We are now combining our KL4 surfactant with our proprietary drug delivery technologies to potentially deliver aerosolized KL₄ surfactant to patients with respiratory disease, with an initial focus on the unmet medical needs in premature infants with RDS."