Charles Duncan with Piper Jaffray,
That is very helpful Robert and Fady. One question in terms of the financial implications of the deal. You have mentioned Tirasemtiv a couple of times. Should you choose to move forward with pure semtiv and another clinical study? Could the upfront payment from this deal are from this expansion fully cover another phase 3 or at least cover the start of a phase 3 with Tirasemtiv in ALS?
Robert Blum, President and Chief Executive Officer
I will take a stab at that. The guidance that we are providing towards the end of 2014 is that we had clarity from FDA that is low vital capacity is an acceptable in point for a potential registration study for Tirasemtiv. And with that clarity, we have engaged further with FDA, another regulatory parties around potential protocols that would enable us to know what a budget and timeline could look like for a phase 3 study that could be a pivotal study of Tirasemtiv for the potential treatment of ALS. As we put together those budget estimates we do believe that this capital inflow from Astellas would go a long way if not all the way to enable us to conduct that study or be it. The study that we are quantum plating is one that has adaptive design elements and in term analysis which should afford us an opportunity to trench capital investment in that trial as we see our results along the way. Until we have a final protocol and the statistical plan that has been negotiated with FDA and other regulatory authorities. It is a difficult question to answer with finality but we will hopefully be able to provide more clarity around that and a potential commitment will be making as those conversations continue in these next several weeks.
Charles Duncan with Piper Jaffray,
Then my last question is regarding the equity ownership that at least the shares that you sold to Astellas are part of this expansion. I am happening to back to check my math on this but I am not so I am not certain or correct on this but I believe that the ownership in Cytokinetics by Astellas is similar to that by Amgen. If you could provide some thoughts on that if it is the case and then how do you anticipate being able to reconcile it to those two ownership positions.
Sharon Barbari, Cytokinetics Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officers
If I get in to the first part of that question is Astellas 2 million shares out of 38 million shares outstanding, so their ownership interest is likely is less than the interest than Amgen has in the company. I don’t think that there is any attempt to reconcile the two of those. Those are two individuals’ decisions made by the respected companies with respect to their ownership interest.
Charles Duncan with Piper Jaffray,
Thanks for the added color. Congrats on the deal.
Operator
Your next question comes from the line of Joe Pantginis with Rob Capital Partners. Please go ahead.
Joe Pankinis with Rob Capital Partners
Hey guys, happy New Year. Thanks for taking the question. Maybe the first question is for Sharon. Could you provide a little more color on the optionality that Cytokinetics has with regard to say first potential timing of being able to opt in. Do you have to wait till after phase 2? Do you have to do it before a certain point? Then the second aspect is as you look at new molecules, how long does Astellas has before they decide to opt in to that particular program or not?
