Robert Blum, President and Chief Executive Officer
Maybe just to put a punctuation point on which Fady is saying that. Area that we are perusing together with Astellas really is coming of age part in the pond but it is something that we think is very timely in light of the convergence of interest as pertains to metabolism and bone health and where we said just opposed in the center as relates to muscle biology, the mechanics of muscle contractility. We think combining forces really does achieve toward the force in terms of what we may be able to pursue not only with regard to the mechanism of action with Tirasemtiv and CK107 but others and as will represent potential new treatments across the broader way of indications. With what Astellas does very well and what we do very well combined, we think this is the leading effort of the industry in order to make that happen.
George DelRicco with MLB & Company
Thank you for that and will you also be able to add some more funding for you smooth muscle program for which of course there are a lot of large indications available?
Robert Blum, President and Chief Executive Officer
Very good question, you have followed the company for a while so you know that we have interest in inhibitors of smooth muscle contractility that is an area that continues to get investment in research or be at more modest levels but certainly with this capital inflow, we are in a position now to look across the portfolio at un-partnered programs and see which ones we may want to dial up. So, may be more to follow on that topic.
George DelRicco with MLB & Company
Finally, one last question about SMA, you mentioned the four types, 1, 2, 3 and 4. You mentioned there is no treatment for 1 and 2. It sounds like you are going to go for adolescent and adults which would be 3 and 4. Are the treatments for 3 and 4. First of all is that correct? No2, for type 3 and 4, is available treatment all palliative right now are not really disease modifying?
Fady I. Malik, SVP, Research and Development
To clarify there are no disease modifying or pharmaceutical treatments for all types of SMA. The treatments are supportive and palliative. They have to do with nutritional support, orthodix and things like that to help with mobility. You and other strongest probably know there are a number of mechanisms now that are being developed and they potentially address the root of the genetic cause of this disease. While our treatment is, we think potentially useful because it will improve over all muscle function, it does not do that in pre-say and what we are looking forward to is potentially combining this with other therapies to improve these patient’s outcomes over the long term. I doubt there is a curative therapy in SMA, I certainly hope there would be but even these therapies that address the SMA mutation are lack of expression of SMA, SMN1. Not like they would completely reverse the disease though having another mechanism of action to compliment them I think is important for improving these patients.
George DelRicco with MLB & Company
Thank you very much Fady, Robert and Sharon.
Operator
There are no further questions at this time, I will now turn the conference back over to Robert finally concluding remarks.
Robert Blum, President and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you and thank you everyone for joining us in this teleconference today. We look forward to updating you on further activities of the company as well as relating to steps forward with this expanded collaboration. We advise you to contact us so that we address any other questions that you may have. Operator! with that I would like to conclude the call please.
Operator
Ladies and gentlemen this cast concludes today’s conference call thank you all for joining, you may now disconnect.
