Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator instructions) We'll move first to Joe Pantginis with Merriman Curhan Ford.
Joe Pantginis – Merriman Curhan Ford
Quick question on the 509 program and then a follow-up on the non-therapeutic platform. Just wondering if we can have a little glimpse into the future, now that you have all this meaningful data in identifying a population, what really the next step would be for studies? I know you said you'd like to do it in hand with a partner, but what a potential pivotal program might be?
Edward Lanphier
Joe, this is Edward. I'll start now if Dale he wants to anything. I think at this point the best thing for us to do is continue with the guidance that we have given and that is that our plan in terms of next steps is preferably with a partner. With that said we have spent a great deal of time with advisors, with regulatory advisors, clinical advisors and I think Dale and his team have a very clear sense of what our different alternatives are not might be, could be, but are. However, at this time I think it’s probably pretty mature for us to get into any specifics with regard to next steps pivotal trials etcetera.
Joe Pantginis – Merriman Curhan Ford
Just a quick question on the non-therapeutics obviously the science article was very exciting and you said it’s certainly a breakthrough with regard to the rat models. I’m asking you to speak for Sigma here, but how are you seeing Sigma looking to monetize in this breakthrough technology?
Edward Lanphier
Well, your caveat to the question was exactly the right one. Let me give a short answer here and then not on the business side, but maybe on the technical elements of this. Philip might want to comment. Sigma I think will have more to say going forward about the application as a Zinc Finger Nucleases in transgenic animal models. So, quite frankly Joe, at this point I would rather punt on that. I certainly think by the time we update again there will be a lot more to say about it, but I would prefer to let Sigma take the lead on something relevant and significant as the data that are represented in the Science Paper and Philip actually in Washington D.C. and he is calling in. Philip, are you on?
Philip Gregory
I think the only thing I would add is that the technology the Sigma have now up and running and are doing a tremendous job of providing to customers. Obviously it’s identical technology that was used in the generation of the knockout rate. So, from a purely creation of a ZFP specifically targeted to an investigators chosen side, that is genome independent and they are ready to go. I know they are very excited about the opportunity this paper generates.
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