An unmet medical need exists for a means to deliver surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) to preterm neonates with RDS supported with nCPAP early in the course of the disease. This strategy has the potential to improve RDS prior to the development of respiratory failure, thereby avoiding the need for endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV), or reduce the duration of MV, and the resultant potential for morbidity and complications. The ability to administer SRT via aerosol has the potential to address this unmet need.~Lucinactant for inhalation (AEROSURF) is an investigational drug-device combination product, designed to deliver aerosolized SRT to preterm neonates with RDS who are being supported with nCPAP. The drug component of lucinactant for inhalation is lyophilized lucinactant, a lyophilized form of SURFAXIN® (lucinactant) Intratracheal Suspension. The device component, the AEROSURF Delivery System (ADS), the next-generation device following use of the prototype device in earlier trials, uses novel technology to aerosolize lucinactant for inhalation.~This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of lucinactant for inhalation in conjunction with nCPAP, in comparison to nCPAP alone, in preterm neonates with RDS, as assessed by pre-specified outcome measures. In addition, this study will evaluate the device and the ability to administer up to 3 repeat doses.
This study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lucinactant for inhalation in conjunction with nCPAP, in comparison to nCPAP alone, in preterm neonates with RDS, as assessed by the incidence of and time to respiratory failure and/or death due to RDS in the first 72 hours and 28 days of life. Half of the subjects will receive lucinactant for inhalation and half will receive standard of care (nCPAP alone).