Surfaxin (Discovery Labs) is FDA approved for Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The FDA has approved Surfaxin (lucinactant) from Discovery Laboratories for the prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), a breathing disorder that affects premature infants.The lungs of premature infants are not able to make enough surfactant, a liquid that coats the inside of the lungs and helps to keep them open. Without enough surfactant, the lungs collapse and the infant has difficulty breathing. Most babies who develop RDS show signs of breathing problems and a lack of oxygen at birth or within the first few hours after birth. Surfaxin is the fifth drug approved in the United States to treat RDS in premature infants. The other FDA-approved surfactants include Survanta (beractant), Curosurf (poractant alpha), Infasurf (calfactant), and Exosurf (colfosceril palmitate), which is no longer marketed.