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Discovery Labs Reports Third Quarter 2013 Financial Results

WARRINGTON, Pa., Nov. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCO), a specialty biotechnology company dedicated to advancing a new standard in respiratory critical care, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013, as well as recent business updates. The Company will host a conference call Wednesday morning, November 13, 2013 at 10:00 AM ET. Conference call details are below.

Key updates include:

SURFAXIN®: On October 4, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed to the Company’s updated product specifications for SURFAXIN (lucinactant) Intratracheal Suspension. SURFAXIN is the first FDA-approved synthetic, peptide containing surfactant available for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants and the only approved alternative to animal-derived surfactants currently available today in the U.S. On November 8, 2013, the Company announced that it has initiated the commercial introduction of SURFAXIN in the U.S.
AEROSURF®: In October 2013, the Company submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to the FDA to initiate its AEROSURF phase 2 clinical program. The FDA has completed its review and cleared the IND, and the Company can now proceed with its phase 2 clinical program. AEROSURF is a novel investigational drug-device combination product being developed to deliver the Company’s KL4 surfactant in aerosolized form to premature infants with RDS. AEROSURF could potentially provide neonatologists with the ability to avoid invasive procedures and thereby enable the treatment of a significantly greater number of premature infants who could benefit from surfactant therapy and currently are not treated. The Company anticipates results from the first phase of its AEROSURF phase 2 clinical program in mid-2014.
Financial Update: As of September 30, 2013, the Company reported cash and cash equivalents of $21.2 million. In November 2013, the Company completed a public offering of its common stock that resulted in net proceeds, including amounts expected from an over-allotment recently exercised by the underwriters, of approximately $54 million. Additionally, with the initiation of the commercial launch of SURFAXIN, the Company became eligible under its secured loan facility with Deerfield Management Co., L.P. (Deerfield) to receive an additional advance of $20 million, which is expected in early December 2013.

“With the commercial introduction of SURFAXIN, initiation of our clinical program for AEROSURF and our strengthened financial position, we are a much stronger company and better positioned to implement our business plan and achieve our vision of advancing a new standard of care for premature infants with RDS,” commented John G. Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer at Discovery Labs.

Summary Financial Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2013

For the quarter ended September 30, 2013, the Company reported a net loss of $12.2 million ($0.22 basic net loss per share) on 54.8 million weighted-average common shares outstanding, compared to a net loss of $13.3 million ($0.31 basic net loss per share) on 43.4 million weighted-average common shares outstanding for the same period in 2012. Included in the net loss is the change in fair value of certain common stock warrants that are classified as derivative liabilities, resulting in a non-cash loss of $1.1 million and $3.3 million in 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The Company reported an operating loss of $10.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 compared to an operating loss of $10.0 million for the same period in 2012. Net cash outflows before financing activities for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 were $10.1 million compared to $9.9 million for the same period in 2012. The operating loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 includes a $1.3 million investment to prepare for the AEROSURF phase 2 clinical trials.

As of September 30, 2013, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21.2 million. On November 5, 2013, the Company completed a public offering of 25 million shares of common stock at a price of $2.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds to the Company (after underwriting discount and anticipated expenses) of approximately $46.8 million. The Company also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 3.75 million shares of common stock at an offering price of $2.00 to cover over-allotments, if any. On November 8, 2013, the underwriter notified the Company that it has exercised its over-allotment option to purchase 3.75 million additional shares of common stock. The exercise of the option is expected to close on or about November 14, 2013 and result in net proceeds (after underwriting discount) of approximately $7.1 million.

Additionally, with the commercial introduction of SURFAXIN, the Company became eligible under its $30 million secured loan facility with Deerfield to receive the final $20 million advance, which is expected on or about December 3, 2013. The initial $10 million was advanced in February 2013 upon execution of the facility agreement. In connection with the $20 million advance, Deerfield will receive a transaction fee equal to 1.5% of the advance, and warrants to purchase approximately 4.7 million shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.81 per share.

In October 2013, the Company initiated an offering under its at-the-market (ATM) Program with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and issued 713,920 shares of common stock at an average price per share of $2.75, resulting in net proceeds (after a 3% commission) of approximately $1.9 million. Following this offering, approximately $23.1 million remains available under the Company’s ATM Program.

For the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company anticipates operating cash outflows before financing activities of $10.5 million, and approximately $85 million in cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2013.

As of September 30, 2013, the Company reported a common stock warrant liability of $4.7 million, predominantly related to five-year warrants issued in February 2011. These warrants are not subject to cash settlement; however, they have been classified as derivative liabilities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles because they contain anti-dilution provisions that adjust the exercise price of the warrants in certain circumstances.

The Company had 54.9 and 43.7 million shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The Company currently has 80.7 million shares of common stock outstanding, not including 3.75 million shares to be issued upon closing of underwriters’ over-allotment option.

Readers are referred to, and encouraged to read in their entirety the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which includes further detail on the above-referenced transactions and the Company’s business plans and operations, financial condition and results of operations.

Conference Call and Audio Webcast Details
Discovery Labs will hold a conference call and audio webcast on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 10:00 AM ET to discuss the foregoing. To access the conference call and participate in the question-and-answer session, the number for domestic callers is (877) 870-4263 and for international callers (412) 317-0790. The conference call replay number is (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088. The passcode for the replay is 10036729.

The audio webcast of the conference call will be available at http://bit.ly/1962IVM and the Discovery Labs website at www.discoverylabs.com. It is recommended that participants log onto the audio webcast at least 15 minutes prior to the call. A replay of the audio webcast will be available after the call at the Company’s website.

About SURFAXIN®
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved SURFAXIN® (lucinactant) Intratracheal Suspension for the prevention of RDS in premature infants who are at high risk for RDS. SURFAXIN is the first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant approved by the FDA and the only alternative to animal derived surfactants.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
SURFAXIN is intended for intratracheal use only. The administration of exogenous surfactants, including SURFAXIN, can rapidly affect oxygenation and lung compliance. SURFAXIN should be administered only by clinicians trained and experienced with intubation, ventilator management, and general care of premature infants in a highly supervised clinical setting. Infants receiving SURFAXIN should receive frequent clinical assessments so that oxygen and ventilatory support can be modified to respond to changes in respiratory status.

Most common adverse reactions associated with the use of SURFAXIN are endotracheal tube reflux, pallor, endotracheal tube obstruction, and need for dose interruption. During SURFAXIN administration, if bradycardia, oxygen desaturation, endotracheal tube reflux, or airway obstruction occurs, administration should be interrupted and the infant’s clinical condition assessed and stabilized.

SURFAXIN is not indicated for use in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

For more information about SURFAXIN, please visit www.surfaxin.com.

About AEROSURF®
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.

About Discovery Labs
Discovery Laboratories, Inc. is a specialty biotechnology company focused on advancing a new standard in respiratory critical care. Discovery Labs’ technology platform includes its novel proprietary KL4 surfactant, a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant that is structurally similar to pulmonary surfactant, and its proprietary drug delivery technologies being developed to enable efficient delivery of aerosolized KL4 surfactant and other inhaled therapies. Discovery Labs’ strategy is initially focused on neonatology and improving the management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants. Discovery Labs believes that its RDS product portfolio has the potential to become the new standard of care for RDS and, over time, enable the treatment of a significantly greater number of premature infants who could benefit from surfactant therapy but are currently not treated.

For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.Discoverylabs.com.