FDA grants orphan drug status to Madison company’s drug treatment Categories: News Madison-based Co-D Therapeutics Inc. said Tuesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug status for a drug it is developing for the treatment of a rare cancer of the inner lining of blood vessels. The Orphan Drug Act provides economic incentives to encourage the development of drugs for diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. With the designation, Co-D will be able to run smaller clinical trials, receive tax credits, seven years of market exclusivity after market approval and other benefits.