EXHIBIT 99.1

    EMEA VALIDATES DISCOVERY LABORATORIES MAA TO MARKET SURFAXIN(R) IN EUROPE

DOYLESTOWN, PA --OCTOBER 27, 2004 -- DISCOVERY LABORATORIES, INC. (NASDAQ: DSCO)
today announced that the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) has
determined that the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Surfaxin(R)
for the treatment and prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in
premature infants has been validated. Validation of the MAA indicates that
Discovery's application is complete and that the review process has begun.

In the United States, Discovery has filed a New Drug Application (NDA) with the
FDA for clearance to market Surfaxin for the prevention of RDS. The FDA has
accepted the NDA filing and has established a target date of February 13, 2005
for completion of review of the NDA.

Christopher J. Schaber, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer of Discovery commented, "We believe the data included in the MAA as well
as in our NDA, strongly supports the therapeutic benefit of Surfaxin for infants
who suffer from RDS. Based on the positive results from our clinical trials, we
are optimistic that Surfaxin will be favorably reviewed by the European
regulatory authorities. We look forward to productive interactions with the EMEA
and anticipate the review to be completed by the end of 2005. If approved,
Surfaxin would represent the world's first engineered version of human lung
surfactant."

The MAA submission was supported, in large part, by data from Discovery's two
positive Phase 3 RDS clinical trials. The first was a landmark, 1294 patient
pivotal study that demonstrated Surfaxin's superiority to Exosurf(R), a
non-protein containing synthetic surfactant. Survanta(R), a cow-derived
surfactant and the leading surfactant used in the United States, served as a
reference arm in the trial. The second trial was a 252 patient supportive study
that demonstrated Surfaxin's non-inferiority to Curosurf(R), a pig-derived
surfactant and the leading surfactant used in Europe.

SURFAXIN - AN ENGINEERED SURFACTANT WITH THE POTENTIAL TO ADDRESS RDS WORLDWIDE

Surfactants are substances that are produced naturally in the lungs and are
essential to the lungs' ability to absorb oxygen and to maintain proper airflow
through the respiratory system. Premature babies are born with a lack of natural
surfactant in their lungs. Without surfactant, the air sacs in the lungs
collapse and are unable to absorb sufficient oxygen resulting in RDS. The
current standard of care for treating these patients is Surfactant Replacement
Therapy using animal-derived surfactants. Animal-derived products are prepared
using a chemical extraction process from cow and pig lung washes or from the
mincing of these animal lungs. Because of the inherent limitations of
animal-derived products, the manufacture of large quantities of high quality
product can be problematic and their use is largely limited to North America and
Western Europe.




Discovery's Surfaxin is an engineered version of natural human lung surfactant
and contains a peptide, sinapultide, that is designed to closely mimic the
essential human lung surfactant protein B (SP-B). Surfaxin, unlike the animal
products, is capable of being produced in virtually unlimited quantities, in
consistent pharmaceutical grade quality, and has no risk of potential
transmission of animal-associated diseases.

ABOUT DISCOVERY LABORATORIES
Discovery Laboratories, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing its
proprietary surfactant technology as Surfactant Replacement Therapies (SRT) for
respiratory diseases. Surfactants are compositions produced naturally in the
lungs and essential for breathing. Discovery's technology produces an engineered
version of natural human lung surfactant that is designed to closely mimic the
essential properties of human lung surfactant. Discovery believes that through
its technology, pulmonary surfactants have the potential, for the first time, to
be developed into a series of respiratory therapies for patients where there are
few or no approved therapies available.

SRT in the neonatal intensive care unit: Discovery has filed a New Drug
Application with the FDA and a Marketing Authorization Application with the EMEA
for clearance to market Surfaxin, the Company's lead product, for the prevention
and treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in premature infants.
Additionally, Discovery is conducting a Phase 3 and Phase 2 clinical trial for
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in full-term infants and is preparing to initiate a
Phase 2 clinical trial for Neonatal Respiratory Failures utilizing an
aerosolized surfactant formulation in combination with nasal continuous positive
airway pressure (nasal CPAP).

SRT for critical care and other hospitalized patients: Discovery is conducting a
Phase 2 clinical trial for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in adults, and is
preparing to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial for severe asthma using its
aerosolized surfactant replacement therapy (development name DSC-104).

More information about Discovery is available on the Company's Web site at
www.DiscoveryLabs.com.

To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical,
including statements as to business strategy, outlook, objectives, future
milestones, plans, intentions, goals, future financial conditions, future
collaboration agreements, the success of the company's product development,
events conditioned on stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future
events, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the private securities litigation reform act of 1995. The
forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from the statements made. Among the factors which could affect the company's
actual results and could cause results to differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements contained herein are the risk that financial
conditions may change, risks relating to the progress of the company's research
and development, the risk that the company will not be able to raise additional
capital or enter into additional collaboration agreements (including strategic
alliances for our aerosol and surfactant replacement therapies), risk of delay
in the company's preparation and filing of applications for regulatory approval,
risk of delay in the fda's or other health regulatory authorities' approval of
any applications filed by the company, risks that any such regulatory authority



Will not approve the marketing and sale of a drug product even after acceptance
of an application filed by the company for any such drug product, risks relating
to the ability of the company's third party contract manufacturers to provide
the company with adequate supplies of drug substance and drug products for
completion of any of the company's clinical studies, other risks relating to the
lack of adequate supplies of drug substance and drug product for completion of
any of the company's clinical studies, and risks relating to the development of
competing therapies and/or technologies by other companies. Companies in the
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks
in advanced clinical trials, even after obtaining promising earlier trial
results. Data obtained from tests are susceptible to varying interpretations,
which may delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. Those associated risks
and others are further described in the company's filings with the securities
and exchange commission including the most recent reports on forms 10-k, 10-q
and 8-k, and any amendments thereto.


COMPANY CONTACTS:
John G. Cooper, EVP and CFO
Kori Beer, IR and Communications
215-340-4699