USPTO issues three new patents to Discovery Laboratories

Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSCO), a specialty biotechnology company dedicated to advancing a new standard of respiratory critical care, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a new patent and Notices of Allowance for patents covering critical aspects of its KL4 surfactant and drug delivery technology platform.

The Company announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 8,701,658 entitled "Ventilation Circuit Adaptor and Proximal Aerosol Delivery System" which provides coverage for our novel disposable aerosol airway connectors which are intended to simplify the delivery of inhaled therapies including aerosolized KL4 surfactant to infants requiring ventilatory support. This patent will expire in April 2029.

Additionally, the Company has received Notices of Allowance for two patents, titled "Lyophilization of Synthetic Liposomal Pulmonary Surfactant." The claims of these patents (U.S. Patent Application Numbers 14/091,608 and 14/091,712) cover composition of matter and methods of manufacturing for lyophilized KL4 surfactant. The patent term of these patents will expire in 2033. The company is initially developing its lyophilized KL4 surfactant for use in its AEROSURF® program.

"Our goal at Discovery Labs is to build a company focused on addressing the needs of critical care patients suffering from respiratory diseases, beginning with respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants," commented John G. Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Labs. "These important new patents are indicative of our efforts to protect the long-term commercial potential of our platform technology. We initially are utilizing lyophilized KL4 surfactant for our AEROSURF development program. And while providing new technologies for these premature infants is our top priority, our longer term goal is to leverage our technology into developing products for other potential indications for which our proprietary KL4 surfactant could be of use."