Kiwi, The issue is very simple. If AMRN partners for Europe it reduces
the odds for a BO, and would increase the perception that JT's intent
is to keep AMRN independent. If JT's intent is to get a BO for AMRN
then he may decide to GIA for Europe in order to "preserve the
optionality for a BO," while waiting for a decision on the appeal.
My hope is that JT will select a BO proposal before the appeal decision
in order to let the BP be more involved in the process. For example,
certain BP may be confident that they could keep the generics at bay
one way or another. Certain BP may feel they have better political
cloud (with all government branches and agencies) than what AMRN has,
which is essentially nothing except what they can buy.
If a BP such as Johnson & Johnson, with a $400 billion market cap
and a massive lobbying team can't get a positive decision for AMRN
either through the courts or their influence with the FDA, then
no one can! In other words if the right BP were to battle the
generics, they would have much better odds of winning.
Sadly, JT seems more like a bumbling (or maybe mumbling) Barney Fife.
My biggest fear is that he will never sell AMRN,