Whale, I can't answer your question regarding GEM with any level of certainty. So I won't try. However, I agree with your last point. If they can manage to fund trials without dumping shares, then the price will take care of itself and qualify for NASDAQ uplisting.
Longer term, if they are pursuing a merger/buyout, they may need to clean up the books which an R/S can help do that. However, by then an R/S would not hurt the SH...it could only help them.