Discovery Laboratories Inc and CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc announced a research collaboration to evaluate the combination of their platform technologies for the development of novel respiratory disease therapeutics. The two companies will collaborate on the preclinical evaluation of an aerosolized formulation of Discovery's humanized lung surfactants combined with CollaGenex's IMPACS (Inhibitors of Multiple Proteases and CytokineS) compounds for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

The objective of the collaboration will be to develop and assess formulations of humanized lung surfactant and protease inhibitors as potential treatments for diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Cystic Fibrosis, Chronic Interstitial Lung Disease and Acute Lung Injury (ALI). COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, affects over 100 million people worldwide and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

"Many lung diseases, such as COPD and ALI, are characterized by inflammation and destruction of the connective tissue of the lung," said Brian M. Gallagher, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of CollaGenex. "Periostat, the first IMPACS product, treats periodontitis by inhibiting these pathological processes in gum tissue. We are excited about the potential of Discovery's technology to deliver our IMPACS compounds directly to lung tissue and to improve treatment outcomes for patients with both chronic and acute lung diseases."

"This collaboration with CollaGenex is a further step in realizing the potential of humanized lung surfactants for respiratory medicine," said Robert J. Capetola, President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery. "Data has demonstrated that our surfactant technology has the ability to re-establish airway patency, improve pulmonary mechanics, act as a protective barrier and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Discovery is the only company developing a humanized, engineered version of natural human lung surfactant for the treatment of respiratory diseases that may be produced economically, in large quantities and as a high quality pharmaceutical. The combination of a complete humanized surfactant with a protease inhibitor offers one of the most exciting approaches to improved therapies for respiratory diseases."

Surfactants are protein/lipid compositions that are produced naturally in the lungs and are critical to the lung's ability to absorb oxygen. A lack or deficiency of surfactant is associated with several severe respiratory diseases. Currently available animal-derived surfactants have several drawbacks that have limited their use and consequently, surfactant therapy has been unavailable to many people with respiratory diseases that would greatly benefit from it. IMPACS compounds have been shown to down regulate inflammation and the associated connective tissue destruction which occurs in multiple pathologies, including in animal models of acute lung disease.