Antisense Therapeutics Limited advised that the Company has entered into a new Research and Development collaboration with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute's (MCRI) scientific researchers, Dr. Peter Houweling and Associate Professor Shireen Lamande, to further investigate the potential of ATL1102 to deliver breakthrough treatment for the control of immune mediated inflammatory muscle damage in muscle diseases where there is an acknowledged need for more effective and safer treatments. ATL1102 has been shown to be clinically active in Multiple Sclerosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients while antisense inhibition of CD49d has also previously demonstrated activity in multiple disease animal models. The MCRI researchers and ANP have additionally undertaken experimental work that showed antisense inhibition of CD49d in the X chromosome-linked muscular dystrophy (mdx) mouse model of DMD reduces both the CD49d target in the muscle and muscle damage. This data is expected to be submitted for publication in 2021. Having achieved positive results in the mdx animal model now allows for the further study of antisense inhibition of CD49d effects in the mdx model in combination with other DMD treatments including the dystrophin restoration drugs to assess the potential of the combination to improve therapeutic outcomes. This work is to be conducted in the 2nd half of 2021 and is funded through ANP's existing cash reserves. In addition, antisense inhibition of CD49d will be assessed in another animal model of muscle disease where there are similar immune mediated inflammatory features to the mdx model, where it has demonstrated positive effects. ANP is also planning for ATL1102 to be assessed in ANP's ex-vivo cell expression and modeling systems by studying patient blood samples taken from children afflicted by a range of muscle diseases to explore ATL1102's potential activity in these conditions, where there is a clear need for effective therapies. Subject to participant recruitment this work is to be initiated in the 2H'CY21. The MCRI have applied for a grant to assist with further investigations of ATL1102 as described above. The Company also expects to benefit from the non-grant related program being conducted in Australia as it should be eligible for the Australian Government R&D Tax incentive of 43.5% rebate of costs. ANP is presently withholding details on the new disease indications to allow for additional patent protection for the use of ATL1102 in these indications to be filed upon experimental success. Where applicable ANP would also look to seek Orphan Drug designation for additional market protection. The Company has continued to file new patent applications to protect the use of ATL1102 in new immune-mediated inflammatory muscle indications with the submission last year of International patent application PCT/AU2020/050445 to be progressed with patent applications in the National phase. As previously advised, the broader immunomodulatory effects of ATL1102 are being investigated by ANP through the analysis of blood (plasma) samples retained from the Company's Phase II trial of ATL1102 in DMD patients. ANP is presently completing this plasma analysis and is expecting this new data to provide insights on the mode of action and broader biological activity of ATL1102. ANP is planning to file for additional patent protection with this new data ahead of its proposed presentation at an appropriate scientific conference in 2H'CY21.