<<that a negative analysis would not hurt negotiations (not involving SA), and conversely, positive results could only help (i.e., leverage).
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I believe the question that was asked to MV was "what if the SA trial fails"? It was not referring to an interim analysis. If you consider all the possible information that might come from an interim analysis (not a completed trial), you might come up with a few possibilities, that could cause someone ready to sign, to say, let's wait and see how this trial ends. I know everyone will not agree, but it is a possibility.