Antisense Therapeutics Limited announced that it has received notification that European Medicines Agency Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products has adopted a positive opinion on the company's submission for Orphan Drug designation on ATL1102 for DMD, a rare and fatal genetic muscle wasting disease where chronic inflammation in the muscle leads to fibrosis and death of muscle tissue. Orphan drug designation in the European Union is granted by the European Commission based on a positive opinion issued by the European Medicines Agency Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products. The European Medicines Agency has forwarded the opinion to the European Commission for its decision on the recommendation. This follows the granting of Orphan Drug designation for ATL1102 in DMD by the US Food and Drug Administration in October this year. The ODD is given to medicinal compounds meant to treat rare conditions that are life-threatening or chronically debilitating and where the treatment provides a significant benefit to those affected by the condition or no satisfactory treatment is available. Orphan status brings development and marketing incentives, such as reduced fees, scientific advice and market exclusivity in Europe for 10 years upon regulatory approval.