Discovery Labs Gets $1.9 Mln Fast Track Grant To Support AEROSURF Study

(RTTNews) - Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (DSCO) said it has been awarded the final $1.9 million of a $2.4 million Fast Track Small Business Innovation Research or SBIR grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

This award will provide support for the ongoing phase 2a clinical trial for AEROSURF, Discovery Labs' investigational combination drug/device product.

AEROSURF is in development to provide KL4 surfactant therapy through nasal continuous positive airway pressure or nCPAP for respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.

Discovery Labs was notified in 2010 that it was eligible for consideration under this grant program, and previously received $580,000 to support development activities related to its capillary aerosol generator technology. The company expects to utilize the $1.9 million during this year.

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.

Discovery Labs is enrolling patients into a phase 2a clinical study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of aerosolized KL4 surfactant administered to premature infants 29 to 32 weeks gestational age who are receiving nCPAP for respiratory distress syndrome, compared to infants receiving nCPAP alone.

DSCO, which closed at $1.71 on Monday, added over 4 percent in pre-market activity.