EXHIBIT 99.1

                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                    AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
                           SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



      In connection with the annual report on Form 10-K of Discovery
Laboratories, Inc. (the "Company"), for the period ended December 31, 2002, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on the date
hereof (the "Report"), I, Robert J. Capetola, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1.    the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d)
      of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2.    the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
      respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
      Company.

      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to the Company and will be retained
by the Company and furnished to the Commission or its staff upon request.

Date:     March 31, 2003                /s/ Robert J. Capetola
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                                        Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D.
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer